The Trials of the Chosen

Chapter 1: The Gong

Rye surfaced from the launch room and the countdown began.
60
Where was he? He tried to think.
58
The trials, of course, he knew that.
56
They would begin soon. What should he do?
54
Should he run to the cornucopia, that was at least 3 hundred yards in front of him, or away from it?
52
He searches the surrounding area looking for something, anything.
50
As he searched he looked at each tribute, he remembered some of them.
48
The ones that stood out because they had made a lasting impression, because of their interview or their score in training or just their general memorability.
46
The girl from District 4 was to his left, she had made an 11 in training.
44
The boy from district 7, three people to his right, and the way he had trends the crowd at his interview.
42
And across from him, both tributes from 9 were blood-related in fact they were twins, he knew everyone in the capital loved them.
40
And 6 people down to his left was her. The girl from his district. District 12.
He got hit with a sudden wave of memory

There was too much nous, though no one said anything, as the reaping began. There was a pounding in his head as they began to pull the name for the female tribute. You could cut the tension in the air with a knife and they read the name "Willow Mellark," there was silence as Willow made her way to the stage.
When she arrived, she was hugged and they asked if anyone wished to volunteer. He crossed his fingers and prayed.
"I volunteer as tribute." it was a firm voice, Rye looked up to see a girl with dark blonde hair and a sturdy frame walking towards the stage as Willow began to descend.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Willow was safe she would be fine.
The girl stopped Willow and whispered something in her ear, it was short that it was almost unnoticeable. Once the girl made it to the stage they asked her for her name and came up with it. "Haley Miles" they announced. He knew that name and realized that she must be the butcher's daughter.
They moved on to the boy's name, Rye felt the boys around him shift in anticipation.
"Rye Mellark." if it was possible for it to get even more silent it did.
He slowly made his way to the front where when they asked for volunteers no one spoke up. He heard the girl, Haley scoff, he wasn't sure why.
"I present to you your tributes for the first-ever chosen trials." They paused for applause but there was none. "Now shake hands."
Rye went to shake the girl's hand but before he could even think Haley had spit into her hand and held it out to him. He was confused and a little grossed out. Instead of shaking her hand he grabbed one of her fingers and shook it sheepishly. She scoffed a second time. Then they were swept away to say their final goodbyes.

20
He was brought back to the present, which he hated. He noticed that he was still looking at Haley and was about to look away when he saw her staring back.
She began to shake her head slightly and pointed behind her. The jester was so small he almost didn't notice.
She was shaking her head hoard and continued to point.
Did she not want him to enter the cornucopia. If so, why? Was she trying to help or hinder him?
Why would she help him, but then again why did she volunteer?
He didn't know her so he decided he wasn't going to trust her.
16
Instead, he did the opposite of what she had been suggesting.
As the last few seconds began to count down he got ready to run forward to a pack about 2 hundred yards in front of him.
10
His head was pounding
9
His palms sweaty
8
His ears ringing
7
He heart racing
6
He began to rethink everything
5
Maybe this was a bad idea
4
Maybe he should listen to Haley
3
2

To late now

1

The gong sounded
Rye ran, he ran as fast as he could manage, strat for the bag.
Out of nowhere, he was hit with something and all he knew was that he was being dragged away. Someone was dragging him to what he could only assume was his death.