Flooding Panem: The Hunger Games

Chapter Two: Withdrawing

I can’t feel a thing. For a brief moment my mind is calm before I become aware of the people around me moving outwards as if they’re scared that I’ll contaminate them. I stare around for help. Names spin through my mind. Rose? Merya? Penny? I can’t see any of my friends anywhere in the crowd. It’s only when I see my sister, her face hidden in her husband’s shoulder that I remember that I’m supposed to walk.

Move. Just walk. I'm aware of the Peacekeepers guiding me towards the stairs, but it doesn't seem real. All can do is think about what’s about to happen. I’m in the Hunger Games. I’m going to be forced to kill. And the thought at the forefront of my mind as I mount the stairs: I’m never coming home again. I stub my toe on one of the steps and a small, strangled sound escapes my throat. Sucking it in before I turn to face the crowd, I try to erase my thoughts of my home and family. I fill my mind with the colours of the dawn over the water. I recapture the feeling of the cool salt water against my skin. 

But this calm feeling is only sustained for a moment, only until Errid turns to walk towards the boys’ ball. Then I can feel my lungs shuddering, cracking, gasping for air. My eyes grow wider, my breath heavier. I feel more than hear Laxina’s steady breathing, which helps calm me.

A little. 

I compose myself in time to hear the name of the next tribute. And I almost laugh out loud at the sound of it.

“Marvel Tellic!” reads Errid

And while I can’t bring myself to laugh, a grim smile slides across my lips at the irony that someone who is actually willing to compete is picked. But I catch sight of his mother in the crowd and my smile snaps down. As Marvel walks towards the stage I can see the torture that his mother will go through all over again written on her face. But the rest of the crowd let out sighs of relief. Their children are safe. Some of them even laugh out loud from the relief.

Errid starts to ask for volunteers, but is cut off as Marvel shoves past him and reaches out to shake my hand. I take his hand cautiously; all trust I ever had with him vanished the day of Victoria’s funeral.

We shake hands and turn to face first the mayor so he can read the Treaty, followed by the national anthem. Then the Peacekeepers who’ve been standing at the bottom of the stairs march up them, surrounding us. Now hidden from the view of the cameras, I let a tear crawl down my cheek. But when we enter the Justice Building, I can’t help but be curious. I’ve never been inside it before, and even though it is not in its best condition, anyone could tell that it used to be a thing of wonder. Of course, District Four used to be a place of wonder. But not now. Not since the Civil War.

The navy marble floor is covered in a fine layer of dust and the silver veined bannister that I grip is scratched. The stairs themselves emit uncomforting creaking sounds as we move up them. I notice a broken lift in the corner, surrounded by walls that are covered with cracked paint.

The room that I’m led into is actually fairly luxurious, filled with varying shades of purple. The beaten down carpet releases a little cloud of dust every time I take a step across to the window. I catch the curtain cord as I stare out of the window, and run my fingers up and down it. This, combined with the view of the ocean, finally manages to calm me, slowing my pulse and breathing. It does nothing for the fear.

I turn at the sound of the door opening. To my slight surprise, I see three Peacekeepers standing in the room with me. I thought they had been waiting outside but I guess to the Capitol that would be relaxed security. The sight of them panics me for some reason. Another escorts my dad into the room. “Two minutes,” he says.

I don’t have to move. My dad comes over to pull me into a hug and I begin to cry. I can feel my tears heating up his jacket as he strokes my hair. He doesn’t say anything, doesn’t try to comfort me. We both know the chances of me returning to District Four are close to zero. I can swim, I can make a net and I can fish. Those are the extent of my survival skills.