The End of Innocence: The 72nd Annual Hunger Games

The Last Talk

I remember when Father brought me to the factories down near the Fern, the poor part of the district, one of the boilers exploded which sent me flying backwards hitting a tree. The pain that surged instantly through my weakened body felt like it would never end. Well, that's the feeling I feel now. I gulp and my lip trembles as I hear the autumn wind whistling through the hollowed buildings of the Square. I know I have to move towards the stage if I don't want to be embarrassed or removed by force.

"Where are you, Max?" Treena asks to the crowd. All eyes from around me stare deeply, anxiety and panic rises within me. I can feel my heart beating through the cloth that sits upon my skin. My hands begin to tremble.

"He is NOT entering!" A voice says from the stage. This brings me back to reality again, it's my Father. My hands get sweaty and I feel my mind collapsing as it swirls around until I get dizzier than I already was. But yet, I don't move. Perhaps my father won't allow me to enter these Games. The longer I wait, the more eyes stare at me. My face goes blank as my hands start to shake from behind my back. One boy, perhaps a year or two older than myself begins to whisper to another boy beside him that I should get a move on.

The Mayor grabs my father aside and hushes him, telling him to be quiet as he tries to give him reassurance. It's then I realise the odds are inevitable. I turn to my brother panting and shaking with tears forming in my eyes, maybe he will volunteer for me, he is older and quicker than I am, he would certainly last longer than me in the Games.

Instead, I'm met with a blank looking gaze staring at the ground, his hands clawing at his leg. Why won't he look at me? Yet alone volunteer? Nobody dares to make eye contact with me anymore, which I find slightly rude in this fucked up situation.

I need to walk up to the stage, so I turn to go outside. I take in every step is as if I'm standing on ice. As I'm walking out, I hear voices from behind me saying how unfortunate I am and a few boys from the crowd offer hand shakes. I can't get emotional now, though. I need to stay strong, cameras are all on me now. I walk up the long stand of path that leads up to the stage. I'm breathing heavily as everyone watches me, most people know me. They know I'm Traeolach Reynald's son.

Peacekeepers form a barrier to stop me from running, which I believe is the best option. I am unsure of what I would do if I had the ability to flee at a seconds decision. I step up on the cold hard rock steps that lead up to the stage. My footsteps echo throughout the Square. I look at Treena as I walk up and she puts out her hand to help me up.

 "Wonderful." Treena squeals. "The two Tributes are chosen!" She looks at the crowd and smiles, nobody smiles back. It's like this every year, not one person ever smiles, the only smiling they get is when a Tribute comes back a Victor. This is not really common.

I look at Lesa. I've never seen her before. I am younger, after all so I wouldn't be in her class but in all of the regular size of District 9, I've never seen her ever before. Even when my father has to collect the I.D's of every single civilian every year, I'm always there and yet I never seen her before.

"Now go on you two, Shake hands, be good sports..." Treena says in a chirpy manner.

Lesa plays along and doesn't seem afraid anymore. She grabs a hold of my hand and smiles. I do too, even though now I'm more afraid and scared than I ever was. All eyes from District 9 make me shake even more. I don't even know what is going through my head besides the mere thought of my life being stripped from me. It looks like I won't get that deer leg after all.

I look back at the crowd with much more detail. I look at my brother and in an instant I begin to resent him. Why can't he look after me? But yet a part of me knows there is such limits a family has up to the Reaping. I know I have tears in my eyes but I'd rather the crowd try guess if I was crying than for me to wipe them and confirm the theory for them.