The 175th Annual Hunger Games

Chapter One

Flux Perthshire's P.O.V.

Tomorrow is reaping day. My brother, Lewis, is scared out of his mind. I, on the other hand, am excited. Lewis is twelve and has had not nearly enough experience in Training School. I'm seventeen, so I've had plenty of experience. I've thought about it, but I don't think I'm going to volunteer. My father died a few years ago, he committed suicide after my sister, Ally, died in the Hunger Games. My family depends on me to keep them alive.

This year is the One Hundred Seventy-Fifth Annual Hunger Games, or the seventh Quarter Quell. Every Quarter Quell, the Hunger Games have some kind of catch to them. My family and I are watching President Maryland give a speech about the Hunger Games.

"One hundred seventy-five years ago, the thirteen districts of Panem started a rebellion against the Capitol. As they failed to overthrow us, we wiped out the entire 13th District. To show the districts what we are capable of, we have started the Hunger Games. Two children, aged 12-18, are chosen from each district to participate in the games. Every twenty-five years, we celebrate the games with a Quarter Quell, and this year is the seventh Quarter Quell."

President Maryland reaches his hand into a small, black box. He pulls out a small slip of paper and reads off of it.

"The tributes for this year's Hunger Games, there will be one reaping, every eligible child, from the districts an the Capitol, will be reaped from one big bowl,"

The Panem seal appears and disappears.

This is going to be a great Hunger Games. Those Capitol kids won't stand a chance in the arena. Then again, I might not be able to participate. If every tribute will be in one big glass ball, District 4 might not even be in the Games.

Before I know it, I'm lying on my bed, falling asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

Xadriana Felyx's P.O.V.

Even today, I still am in total shock. How? Why? Who would think that President Maryland would even think of putting Capitol children into the games. It is ridiculous. I won't stand a chance in the arena. Maybe I won't even get reaped.

My friend, Cathileena Strohm, and I walk to the reaping. We enter the sixteen year old section for Capitol members. The crowd is humongous. Instead of the escorts reaping tributes, President Maryland does. After he gives a speech, he reaches his hand into the bowl. He pulls out a slip of paper.

"Monica Brown" he grins as a girl happily struts onto the stage.

"I'm 18 years old and I am from District 1," she says.

"Jacob Walters," the President says as a small boy walks onstage.

"I-I'm twelve," says the boy,"I-I'm from District 7."

"Cathileena Strohm," he says happily into the microphone.

Next to me, I hear Cathileena gasp. She steps out of the crowd, but before she gets to the stage, I can't help myself from yelling, "I volunteer!"

I run up to the stage and say into the mic, "I volunteer as tribute,"

"Oh, okay," grins Maryland

"My name is Xadriana Felyx, and I am sixteen years old, from the Capitol," I didn't need to say the last part, given my aqua-colored hair. I try to zone out the rest of the tributes' names after I sit down.