Chapter 2.

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The 65th hunger games reaping was tomorrow, the capital were having a big party to celebrate it. Everybody who is anybody  shows up each year, they find their joy in watching these helpless children fight to their death, desperately crying to the cameras, begging for someone to show them mercy.
But to no avail, the Capitol were all ice when it came to the districts, merely objects rather than people who breathed the same air as them.

Very ironic how my Fathers name is snow, he's the coldest of them all, with each step he takes it's like icicles form all around him, his stony face barely cracking a smile, and when it did he beared an almost snake like resemblance.

I think I was the only person there not enjoying the atmosphere, knowing the reaping will pluck 24 innocent children for their slaughter.
In another life that would be me, I could easily have been born a district child.

My mind begins to wander on the districts and how differently their lives go on. If I had to pick one maybe it would be district 4, fishing. All the different fish they are experts on, and the water they get to swim in all day long. I'm no good at swimming, not really a necessity here in the capital, and nothing's done for just the sake of it here.

Come to think of it, I'm not really too good at anything, there are no skill sets I could hold to my name.
You don't get much of a childhood when you're in the capital, but it's more than those in the hunger games so I am in no position to complain.

When I'm snapped back to reality, all the colours of the fancy, ludicrous clothes begin to blur into one as I become nauseous at the way they celebrate innocent deaths. I scramble around the chaos to find my father.
Eventually I find him mingling with other stony faced residents.

'Aw look at her in that little dress, such a little sweetheart isn't she' I heard one of them coo as if I wasn't standing there in front of them.

'Father I'm not feeling too well, so I'm going to head home if that's okay?' I knew it wasn't okay, I was meant to be playing along, acting like all the rest. It's what I'm always supposed to do, but I never seem to play the part right.

Snow just responds with a nod and ushers one of his servants to take his life long disappointment away.

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The dreaded morning has arrived; the reaping. Everyone is gathered around the huge television placed in our dining room. Eagerly awaiting whose innocence will be ripped from them today.

A buffet of the most extravagant food was laid upon the table, all the different colours and flavours were indescribable.

Isn't it funny how the capital feast like kings whilst the districts starve alone, it's a messed up system and there never seemed to be a way out.
The guilt resonated around me everyday that it was my own flesh and blood, my father who supported and enforced this capitalist system. It was every man for themselves out here.

I was lost in my thoughts for much of the reapings until I had a pinch in my side forcing me out of my trance. My father pretended to hug me as he muttered in my ear.

'Alia will you get that gormless look off your face and act like you want to be here!'

'I don't want to be here father that's the whole point. I don't enjoy it like the rest of you.' He looked at me disgusted.

'You better remember that you're a snow Alia, and remember it soon, for your own good.'
A smile was plastered upon his face when he spoke so no one sensed any tension, but his icy eyes told me a different story, his threat resounding in my ears.

'Come sit dear, right next to your father come on.' He made sure everyone around heard his fatherly 'love' as he guided me in a seat next to his own.

Casting my vision upon the TV I nervously played with the bracelet around my wrist. It was a beautiful bracelet, a thin silver band with gorgeous red roses intertwined, it was my mother's and I luckily got ahold of it before my dad took everything away she owned. I'm not sure whether he really noticed it was hers or not, he never pays much attention to anyone other than himself for more than a couple of seconds. If he did know I'd be surprised since he hated everything to do with my late mother, I was never told why, and I doubt he'll ever tell me.

The escort for district 4 appeared, bright pink everything. Pink hair, pink shoes, pink puffy dress, and when you looked close enough she even had pink false eyelashes. She much reminded me of the prawns that lay in front of me on the table, in fact they may have looked more appealing than her ridiculous outfit. I don't know what it is with the capital fashion, but I tend to avoid it whenever I can. Sporting a white dress today with laced long sleeves and simple white pumps.

'And the lucky boy to represent district 4 in the 65th annual hunger games is...
Finnick Odair!'

He had already volunteered himself, tributes from districts 1, 2 and 4 are known as careers. They spend their whole life's training with victors and become the deadliest, most threatening tributes. Tributes outside of the career pack rarely win, they have all the odds stacked against them.

The room erupted in glorious chatter as they feasted their eyes on the young boy walking up to the stage.

'Isn't he a sight for sore eyes.'
'Just bring him to the capital, we'll have fun with him.'
'Don't district 4 have such attractive men.'

Cringing at the many crude remarks it was obvious he was no older than 15, I couldn't believe their choice of words. 'Men.' He's just a boy, they're all just children.

As they continued to analyse the victim like a slab of meat I watched his eyes wander through the crowd, most likely soaking up all the glory he was getting.
It always confused me why people would volunteer to go into the lions den, why they would willingly kill. It really was a game for them.

He had a brave and smug look on his face and if any fear was travelling through his mind he was an expert at hiding it. As he shook hands with his fellow district four volunteer he exchanged a proud smile with her.

And as Finnick stood on the stage, he was the perfect representation of arrogance. But as cliche as it sounds, I think my heart may have skipped a beat and my world stopped spinning for a second.

It would never be the same.

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