The First Hunger Games

Chapter 1

Authors note: As usual because this is fan fiction, the rights belong to Suzanne Collins for the idea of the hunger games. Original characters are all my own creation.

Blye's POV: 

We stood in the square, in rows. Children. Twelve year olds in front. Eighteen year olds in the back. Boys to the left. Girls to the right. Many of us confused and scared, why are standing here? Especially like this. Why aren’t are parents allowed to stand with us. Why are there cameras? Questions racing through my mind, chasing round and round. There are two glass bowls on the stairs, one in front of the boys, one in front of us girls, and a microphone set up in between. The doors of the Justice Building open with a loud thunk, presenting us with our Mayor, Beaufort Pyrmont, and an eccentric dressed man. The man was wearing all orange, including his hair, eyes and skin. HIS SKIN. How does one simply change the colour of their skin…? Mayor Pyrmont stepped up to the microphone, a glisten of something troubling in his eye. “I’m very sorry to have to call this district meeting, especially after the tragic events we’ve been facing in the last few months. I must tell you know, for my sake, the following announcement is in no way endorsed by myself. Please, direct your attention to the screens and remain calm” spoke Mayor Pyrmont.

I turned my direction to the large screen on the right, which showed the Capitol seal. “This is a public announcement, from the office of President Grandis Snow,” spoke the screen. ‘This can’t be good…” I thought. And it wasn’t. “In light of recent events, I have decided that a celebration in necessary. A celebration of the Capitol’s success. The Capitol’s success in controlling our country. The Districts, you, rebelled against a greater force. And in your rebellion, District 13 was vanquished. Even after District 13 was eliminated, you continued to rebel. Obviously, the destruction of a district was not enough to quell you. In order to demonstrate the power of the Capitol, a yearly celebration of the Capitol’s victory will be held, every year, from now until the end of Panem. Each year, 2 tributes from each district, between the ages of twelve and eighteen, will be taken a put into an arena. And fight, to the death until only one tribute remains. Any incompliance or rebellion against this ruling will result in immediate and public execution. You have brought this on yourself,” spoke President Snow. The screens turned dark

There was only silence. No one moved. No one spoke. No one made a sound, not even a cough. The orange man walked to the microphone, a small skip in his step, and a smile on his face. What kind of sadistic person smiles after an announcement like that? “Welcome! Welcome, to the first annual Hunger Games! How are we all this morning? Aren’t you excited?” he spoke. “I’m Scorpii Wellwood, district fours escort. My job is to reap the tributes, travel with them to the Capitol, and get them ready for the Games! Now, to select the tributes, I will select one name out of each bowl. One boy and one girl to represent their district. But, if you want to be in the Games and have not been selected, you can volunteer. All you’d need to do is call out ‘I volunteer’ and step forward to take the persons place. But the person you are volunteering for must be of the same gender as you. Let’s begin! Boys first!” Scorpii trotted over the glass bowl in front of the boys, containing, what I assume, the names of every boy between the ages of twelve and eighteen in the district.

He jammed his hand into the bowl swirling the pieces of paper around. Pleased with his swirling efforts, he picked up a piece of paper and walked back to the microphone. Opening the piece of paper he spoke, “And the first tribute ever for District four is… Otto Rivendell!” I froze, Otto, my brother, called up. The square was silent. No one volunteered. I wish, I wish I wish, I could volunteer. My brother. Of the thousand or so boys eligible, it had to be Otto… Dazed, I barely managed to hear the final word of the name of the female tribute “…Rivendell”. What? You have got to be kidding me. “Blye Rivendell” repeated Scorpii. You are kidding me. Me and Otto. Confused and scared I walked towards the stage, up the stairs and into the waiting arms of my brother. “Are you to siblings?” asked Scorpii. I nodded, feeling sick to stomach. Otto and I broke apart, still holding one another’s hands. I search the crowd, trying to find our parents and younger siblings. I find Swann, our three year old sister, sitting on our father’s shoulders with a big grin on her face. So innocent, completely ignorant to what’s going on. So young, so delicate, so innocent.

Otto and I are escorted inside the Justice Building and into a large room, decorated with paintings of the ocean and sea-life. We sit down on the plush couches, huddled together in silence. Our parents walked in, tears running down their cheeks like rain droplets on a window pane. Swann and Magnus, our seven year old brother, trailed behind. Our parents enveloped us one at a time. I had so far managed not to cry, but hearing my parents say “I’m so sorry we did this to you” over and over to us set me off.

Magnus crawled into my lap, head on my shoulder. “I don’t want you to go. I want you and Otto to stay here. I’m gonna miss you. Please come back. I want both of you to come back,” he cried into my shoulder. I felt a tear slip down my cheek. I tried to hide my face in his hair, nuzzling into his soft curls. I couldn’t control myself though, the tears kept on coming, faster and faster, drowning my face and wetting Magnus’ hair. A knock on the door startled me, it was Scorpii. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but we must be getting off. We have a schedule to adhere to,” he spoke, in his stupid Capitol accent, “Please finish up your goodbyes, we need to leave. Peacepeekers will be in in a moment to take the two of you to the train.”

Magnus slid off my lap, running over and hugging Otto. I stood up and walked over to my mum. “Good bye Princess, I’m so sorry. I’m so very sorry,” she spoke softly. I hugged her tightly. I looked at her and smiled, “at least you still will have Swann and Magnus.” We parted, I to hug my father, and her to hug Otto. “Good bye my darling, and may you forever be in our hearts. You deserve so much better,” and after saying that, my father, a man who I have never seen cry, burst into tears, sobbing indelicately into my hair. I pulled him close, hugging him tighter than I ever have before. I let go just as I heard the door open, the Peacekeepers had arrived to take us away. I ran quickly to Swann, hugging her deeply, remembering how excited I was to finally have a sister when she was born. I hugged her until I had to be pulled off by the Peacekeepers and dragged out the door. I remember looking back and seeing Swann on the floor, screaming. Screaming for Otto to come back. Screaming for me not to leave.