Prologue

"Panem, a nation bought together by the ashes of another…" displayed on the screen was a circle which encased a bird opening its wings, with leaves climbing the sides. Somehow the bird reminded me of a dove, trying to show the freedom which was 'supposedly' given to the citizens of this new country. From what people had told me, I seriously doubted it. "…together our ancestors built the civilisation we have today…" replacing the emblem; clips of families and communities building houses, fishing, mining and smiling. All the clips looked old but were obviously fake, even the people in the shots were probably actors. "…forging thirteen Districts and one Capitol which protected and loved them all…" next came two children holding hands and smiling. One was dressed in lavish clothes that covered him in multitudes of colour and a broach engraved with the Capitol seal, the other was dressed in a grey-ish dress that covered most of her body and had a necklace which spelled 'District 8'.

At the back of the class, a shout came "Miss, what is this bullshit?!" Everyone wanted to hear what our teacher had to say because they were wondering the same thing; even I was thinking the same thing! She didn't answer but instead pointed back to the screen, indicating where our attention should be.

The voice had gone on to when the trouble started beginning, "…war went on for many years. Unfortunately District 13 perished and 12 defeated," like they were unhappy about that.

"In penance of this war, and the reminder that this must never happen again, the Hunger Games were founded." Hunger games? Was it some trial for food? I knew that was wrong though, why would you have trails for food after a war? It had to be about the war…maybe a punishment?

"For punishment…" knew it "…in trying to eradicate the Capitol which loved them, each District must give two tributes, one male and one female between the ages of 12 to 18, to the Capitol. These tributes will be decided from a public reaping, where another can volunteer to take his or hers place. The tributes will then battle in an arena, until one lone victor remains…" The rest of the video was about the prizes to be won, the joy in being a victor and how it was the highest of honours. I blocked it all out though.

'Battle' and 'until a lone victor remains', span inside of my head. At first I didn't get it. They made you fight and whoever lost would go to prison…or something? Finally it dawned on me what they were inferring, what they were meaning and I couldn't feel anything but disgust!

Disgust at how the Capitol did this. Disgust at how the children actually kill people. Disgust that their parents just let them walk to the reaping's.

The video finished. Silence was all that was to be heard.

Until Miss moved to the front of the classed and started talking, "So, I know this might b -"

"Miss, I don't understand," a girl called Macey interrupted her.

"About the games? Well basically -" Again she was interrupted, except this voice held the same disgust I felt.

"Basically a load of people are sent to kill each other! And it's made out to be some glorious competition, which is worth dying for!" The 'for' rang across the room, drilling into people's brain making them think of the ethics and humanity of it.

It was weird to think that a fortnight prior, we had just found out about this new country and now we were being told about an event which was held there, an event which was horrific and unimaginable. Miss somehow knew what we were feeling, probably because she felt the same thing.

"Look, I know this is hard to understand. I know that. But it's important that you do listen and learn from the next two weeks. It's very important," that's when I realised Miss had a look of sad despair on her face, like she was seeing us for the last time.

"Why?" I asked her. My voice cut through the silence, finally asking a question which would get to the answer of us being here and learning about 'the Hunger Games'. "Why is it important? Why do we need to learn about them?" Every one turned their stares towards me; suddenly realising I was asking the right questions.

"Well, this year it's mandatory to watch them…" she replies back to me but I catch how she fiddles with the ring on her finger.

"So? It doesn't mean we have to learn about them, we just have to know about them. They could just let us learn about the 'Hunger Games' by watching the approaching one," again everyone stares at me, knowing I've asked a question which was sub-consciously on their minds. I also know I've hit a cord with Miss.

"You have to learn about them because…" looking at all of us, she takes a breath "…because…this year two tributes will be reaped from England to participate in the games."

Silence. Silence. Silence. Then the screaming began.