The First Hunger Games

Mac's Big Surprise

 Someone screamed. Probably another assembly worker down on the other side of the line who got something stuck between the wheel and belt. Seconds later, two men walk past Mac with a stretcher. Mac had just got done fixing the engine that powers the whole factory. She walked through the assembly lines dodging people left and right. Most of the people in the factory knew who she was because she came there almost every day to fix things that were broken or needed some minor repairs, so they either waved to her or said hello as she passed. She finally made it to Mr. Schneider's office, she knocked and waited.

"Come in," he said. Mac walked in with her tattered blue jean hat at her side.

"Sir, I've finished fixing the engine and oiling the wheels," she said standing straight with pride. Mr. Schneider opened one of his desk drawers and pulled out her usual pay. A pouch of coins. He sighed and dropped it onto the counter. Mr. Schneider was a grumpy old guy. Around the age of 60 or so. His graying brown hair poked out slightly from under his cap as he wiped sweat away from his forehead. Noticing her stare, he looked her dead in the eye with his deep green eyes that reflected a pit of misery until she backed down. He stood, his 6' frame towering over her. He walked to the door and opened it with one lanky arm, shooing her out.

"Thank you, sir." She says and takes the pouch in her hand, slipping it into the pocket of her overalls. Mr. Schneider nods and Mac leaves. She slides on her hat and walks to the exit. On her way, she passes a line that is making power chips. Mac slips over undetected and swipes one. She puts it in her pocket and walks calmly out the door. Once outside, she turns down an alleyway hidden by boxes and tarps. She moves a couple of the boxes and uncovers a dark green door. Before she goes in she looks around to see if anyone had followed her. She saw no one and quickly opened the door. She shut the door behind her and quickly went down some stairs. She reached a room that was deprived of sunlight. In the middle of the room was a large workbench with a bunch of yellow, blue, red, and green wires in a huge pile. There were a few other things but what was most eye-catching was the pair of black and white gloves. They weren't ordinary gloves, no. These gloves where something that Mac had been working on for the past two years now. They were gloves that protect you. Gloves that stop things and people from hitting you. They were force field gloves. Mac had been working on them for months. Snatching wires, chips and other materials from factory's she did repairs in. Her last attempt had ended in a tiny explosion. Which ended up destroying everything on the table except her notebook. Fortunately for her. Every idea she'd ever had was in that notebook if it had been destroyed she would have been ruined! Mac let out a breath as she sat on the bench. She pulls the chip out from her pocket and placed it carefully on the table. Taking one of the gloves in her hand she delicately slid the chip into the plugin. She watched delightedly as the gloves hummed to life.

"AWWW YEAH! I did it, I did it, I did it!" she yelled as she ran around the room in triumph. Now she'd just need to get a chip for the other glove. She snuck out of the workshop and discreetly made her way home. What Mac couldn't have known, however, is that she was being watched. She smiles to herself, happy as can be. She turns a corner and heads down a darkened alleyway. Then ducks behind a stack of wooden crates. She hears the footsteps. "I knew it!" she thought. She hastily hides the gloves in her pocket and gets ready to ambush. The person walks past her, she reaches out and grabs his arm. She pushes him up against the wall and puts one hand on his chest, the other hand in the air ready to punch whoever he was square in the face.

"Whoa, Wait!" Mac now has a chance to look at this person. Its a boy, about 16 years old, Mac's age. His hands covered his tan face to protect it from Mac's unforgiving fists. She paused, looking him up and down, his green eyes shining in fear. Mac almost had to laugh. Here they were Mac's 5'6 frame holding this giant against a wall who was fearfully looking at her.