The First Hunger Games (On Hold)

Chapter 2

A tear was asking to fall. I wouldn't let it. I couldn't be weak in front of the audience, witnessing their first girl Tribute. This wasn't part of my plan. But it would have to be now: Do or die. My new mantra. Woohoo.

"Now! Time to pick the boy Tribute!" Lana's clippity cloppity high heels were annoying the crap out of me, God I just wanted to snapp them off her orange heels. She clopped back to the middle of the stage preparing to read the boy's name. Stomp, stomp, stomp like a horse.

"Our boy Tribute: Olin Palka!"

Olin Palka. Boy, my age, black hair, stormy grey eyes and a smile that's hard to forget. He walked up to the stage, and I saw the sadness in his eyes, like he knew it was inevitable. No point in trying to escape. The Peacekeepers would just pull him back on the dreadful stage, where we got to see all the stares. I wasn't known by so many people, but they cried for me anyway. They cried for Olin too, but I didn't. I hardly even knew him. We only ever talked when I got vegetables from his shop, but other times it's just his parents serving. I never saw him around school; he was always with his mates, doing something wierd to a couple of poor girls. I didn't like him much; people were only crying because he was about to fight to the death. He did horrible things to girls, and I hated him for it.

"Happy Hunger Games! And, may the odds be ever in your favour!" Trilled Lana, and then we where pushed into the dark, danky Justice building where I could say bye to Maya and Alyss.

They were my first visitors, and Alyss sat on my lap and wrapped her hands around my neck. She had tears in her eyes, and I was forcing mine back.

"Zai." Maya caressed my cheek, not in a romantic way, in a more of a 'I love you because your my sister' way. I wiped Alyss's tears away, and started to speak.

"Aly, you're fine, you're going to be fine, alright. Use your decieving ways to get things." Alyss smiled at that. She loved her little nickname, but I only used it in the sadest of times.

"Maya. You have to take care of her, and our father." Maya looked down. I knew she would try, but she wouldn't be able to get him out of bed. "And Aly has things to do."

"Zai, you seem to forget that I know and do these things." She swept me up in an embrace, and i hugged her back. When would I get over the fact that I would be dead so soon? But I couldn't let my pain show, for Alyss's sake.

Aly gave me a kiss on the cheek. The Peacekeepers came in and shooed them out. Maya took Aly's hand and let her out, looking at the Peacekeepers as if she would kill them.

My next guest really was unexpected.

Shabby clothes, unshaven beard, long hair, and bone thin.

My father was here.

He sat diwn next to me, and I knew I couldn't hate him forever. I hugged him, and he hugged back. I could sense his sadness, he had lost his wife and was about to lose his daughter. He didn't say much, he never did. but when he opened his mouth to speak, it was raspy and worn.

"Azairah. You gotta win."

I forced a tear back. Win? How could I win? This was the first Hunger Games, for crying out loud.

"Look, I can't win, Mason. I - " I stopped, shocked. I just called my 

father his first name. I nearly slapped my head. I hadn't called anyone dad.... for so many years.

Shock registered on his face as well. It was an awkward silence, until my father gave me a necklace.

"That was your...... your mothers...... for good luck." He said, handing me the necklace.

It was beautiful. Studded with little diamonds. My father often got shards from the factory, so he made mother a necklace from them. It was an 'A' charm. My mother's name was Ariana... My father had never gone to the factory since... since... what happened. I just nodded, and only now did I let a tear fall. My mother would be in the arena with me, sort of. She would be with me... The whole time.

"Thank you." I managed to choke 

out, and I hugged my father tight, and the Peacekeeper took him out. I sat alone, soaking up the silence, and the rain that had began to fall, for my tears.

I was given a sort of cover thing, Lana called it an umbrella. It stopped the rain from getting me wet, not that it mattered that much. I didn't particularly care, though Olin was worried about his dumb hair. I rolled my eyes, and saw he had a district token too. A sort of leather bracelet.

As we got to the train station, I noticed Olin wasn't crying. I assumed he had a lot of girl visitors, seeing as I had to wait for him. I didn't ask him about it though, because he would whisper death threats in my ear.

Lana herded us onto the train. We had no advisor. Nobody to help us. Shit. I wouldn't know what to do and what not to do. I guess we would just have to see until the games.

Olin makes a rude remark towards Lana, which I don't want to remember. Ugh, I hate Olin! He is such a..... I searched my mind for a bad word.... he's a..... dick head! He is such a dick head! Olin approaches me, and I almost whack him across the face.

"Hey baby, want to go to my train carrige?" He said, turning on whatever sick and twisted charm he had.

"Sure." I said. I winked at Lana, and she smiled.

When we got to his carriage, he took off his jacket. I wasn't wearing one over my dress. He sat on the bed and motioned for me to sit next to him. I did. He leaned over, to press his mouth against mine, and I punched him. I didn't hear a break, but he did fall back into unconsciousness.

"Sweet dreams." I said, and walked out.