The Games

The Train Ride

My name boomed through the speakers and I was suddenly surrounded by cheering. Why me?! I thought. One slip of paper out of thousands! Most girls from District 1 would love to be a part of the 4th Quarter Quell. I mean, it was the 100th Hunger Games! I felt my mom squeezing me and my dad cheering. I slowly walked up to the stage. My white and gold reaping dress felt even hotter. I wanted to turn around and run back, but it was too late. No one volunteered, which was super rare. I guess they thought that I would do well.

"Now now, everyone, calm down," my escort said. "Now it's time for our male tribute." She walked across the stage and grabbed a crumpled up piece of paper from a bowl. As she unfolded it, she said,

" Pluto Onyx!"

Oh no! Not Pluto! I saw the top of his dark brown hair as he walked to the stage. I wanted to cry. It's one thing for me to get reaped, but my best friend too? This was too much. I secretly have had a crush on him since I was six. The odds were not in my favor. Pluto stood next to me. His dark blue eyes were filled with worry.

"Let's give it up for our tributes!" My escort said. I remembered her name was Orchid. Everyone started cheering. I spotted my parents. I wanted to go to them. My mom was going to have a baby in a month! I want the baby to grow up with a sister! I need to win. But how can I kill someone? I heard someone say my name. Orchid was telling Pluto and I to follow her to the train. I stepped inside. Orchid led me to a room and shut the door. I sat down in a comfy velvet chair. A Peacekeeper walked inside.

"You have three minutes," he bellowed. My mother and father ran into the room. My mom hugged me. I started to cry.

"Shh shh it's ok, it's gonna be ok," my mom whispered to me.

"I want to meet my sister." I stuttered.

"You will. I know you will come back." My dad told me. "You know what? You're gonna name your baby sister!" he said, " Just announce it during your interview with Caesar because he's bound to mention her anyways." I turned towards my mom. Her eyes were wet with tears. She nodded at me.

"Ok times up!" The Peacekeeper shouted. I quickly hugged each of them and gave them a kiss.

"I love you!" I cried out as they left. Orchid walked inside. She didn't say anything. Good, I wasn't in the mood to say anything either. I followed her to the lobby. It was a big room with windows and a dining table the fit four people. I saw Pluto and sat down in a squishy turquoise chair next to him. My long wavy platinum hair was hanging in my face.

"Ok you two, I will leave you for a moment. Try and get to know each other, ok?" I guess she didn't realize Pluto and I have "gotten to know each other" for five years now. As Orchid left the room, Pluto turned to me.

"Ok," he jokes, "what's your favorite color?" I laughed.

" Purple," I said.

" Blue," he smiled at me.

" How's your mom doing?" he asked. I immediately stopped laughing.

"She's fine." I said, "Dad told me I could name the baby." Pluto nodded. " How bout Tristen?" I asked him. Tristen was his three year old brother.

"He's confused," he admitted, "He doesn't understand where I am going and that I might not come back." I felt awful. People are being shipped to the Games, and it's pretty much a death sentence. Orchid walked in with a remote in her hands.

" I thought you guys might want to see the other tributes." Orchid remarked. District 1 was the last reaping ceremony to occur, because it's the closest to the Capitol. Pluto and I walked over to a large TV and sat down on the sofa. An image of two people appeared on the screen.

"Sparkle and Mason, from District 2. Sparkle is seventeen and Mason is sixteen. They're both Career tributes." Career tributes are tributes who have trained for the Games their whole lives. I am a Career, but I haven't gotten a lot of training since I am only thirteen. Pluto is fourteen and has been training for longer than me. Sparkle had long brown hair in a plait, and Mason had buzzed blond hair. They both had brown eyes and a mean look on their face.

" Gidget and Zetta, ages fourteen and seventeen, from District 3." Gidget had glasses and slicked back black hair, and Zetta had spiky red hair.

" Marina and Finn Hudson, sister and brother from District 4. Finn is eighteen and Marina is fourteen." They both had black hair, sea green eyes, and a dark tan. Marina looked nice. I immediately knew I wanted her as an ally.

Timmeeee Skkiiiippp!!!!!

"Heather Oxford and Thread from District 8. Heather is thirteen and Thread is seventeen." Another thirteen! Twelve year olds are the youngest tributes, and eighteen is the oldest. The younger ones are less experienced and usually die first. Maybe Heather will work with me! Thread has dark brown hair and gray eyes. Heather has ombré brown hair, a light tan, and blue eyes. She had a friendly smile on her face.

"Rye and Crin, ages seventeen and fourteen, from District 9." They both looked equally scared. Crin had black hair and brown eyes. Rye had brown hair in a pixie cut and blue eyes.

" Fawn Zorro and Frank Colt, ages fourteen and eighteen, from District 10." Frank had black hair and brown eyes. Fawn looked like a deer and had light brown hair, freckles, and brown eyes. She looked calm and composed, which was weird considering she would probably die in a couple days.

Time Skip jr.

" So there is your competition. Are you scared?" Pluto shook his head. I looked at him with a puzzled look on my face. He shrugged,

" We are Careers. Districts 2 and 4 will want to team up with us. They were the only ones I was worried about."

" Anyone you guys want as allies?" Orchid asked us.

I nodded. " Marina, Heather, and Fawn." Now Pluto looked puzzled. "Well, Heather is also thirteen, and Fawn and Marina look prepared and strong." I explained.

"I wanted Mason, Finn, Sparkle, and Cole." Cole was the tribute for District 12. I was confused. Why would Pluto want Cole? Sparkle and Mason looked mean and I didn't want to be near them, even if it meant they would kill me.

"Well look at the time! It's time for dinner! Let's take a seat."

"Why are there four seats?"

"Well, your mentor will meet us at the Capitol." I nodded. The food was delicious. It made me homesick. It tasted like my mother made it a home. The main course was a rich lamb stew. For dessert, we had lavender panna cotta. After dinner, Orchid led me to my room. I took a quick shower, slipped on a comfy, silk nightgown, and a sunk down into my bed right away. I fell asleep soon after. My head hurt. I want to go home! I thought. The next morning, Orchid woke me up to introduce me to my prep team. It took a while for this to register, but then it hit me: We had arrived at the Capitol.

-End of Chapter-