The 21st Hunger Games

Chapter 5

We arrive at the square 5 minutes before the reaping begins, so we can get checked in.

Adam and I say our goodbyes to mum and dad, then we line up. Two peacekeepers are sitting behind a table with big textbooks infront of them, with dots of blood in each section.

Once it's my turn, the peacekeeper grabs my pointer finger and pricks it, then prints my finger in a section. They scan the blood to identfy me, then direct me to the 14 year old girls section just about in the middle.

I glance over to the boys section across from me, and find Adam staring back at me. He puts the thumbs up to me, I smile back although inside my stomach is churning with nerves. 

My best friend, Annelise joins me. 

"You okay?" she asks me.

I nod in answer, because if I spoke, all that woud come out would be a croak.

Up on the stage,there's three chairs sitting near the entrance of the Justice Builidng. One for the mayor, one for our escort and one for our mentor, Harry Parkinson. He won the 19th Games at age 15, and he's turning 17 later this year. 

Without anytime more time to speak, District 4's escort struts onto the stage to the microphone. Her name's Catherine Pearl, these posh Capitol names irritate me. Seriously, who wants the last name 'Pearl'...ugh Capitol crap, 

She's dressed in a shiny green dress, which I must admit isn't that horrible coming from the Captiol. But her hat and hair are a different story. She's got this ridiculous headpiece, that's obviously supposed to look like a peacock tail. Her hair is a aqua colour and it's styled into a bob cut. Her makeup's crazy too.

Positioned to her left, is the large glass bowl, with all the girls names in it. Same for the boys in the right bowl. 

"Welcome, welcome, welcome!" she exclaims in that irritating Capitol accent, that's impossible not to mimic. 

"Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favor! I present you a very special message brought to you all the way from the Capitol!"

A video starts to play on a large screen to the right side of the square. It explains the Treaty of Treason: In penance for their uprising, each district shall offer up one male and female between the ages of 12 and 18 at a public reaping. These tributes shall be delivered to the custody of the Capitol. And then transferred to a public arena where they will fight to the death until one lone victor remains."

*After the video*

"As usual, ladies first!" Catherine says.

She walks to her left, to the girls bowl. She dips her hand into the bowl, shuffles around the slips, then catches one between her fingers. She struts back over to the microphone. She unfolds the slip. I think everyone is holding their breath. I can't feel my feet or fingers, my whole body is numb with fear.

Catherine takes in one deep breath, then delivers the name no one wants to hear.