The Trial Games.

"This is perfect... it's a complete work of art- we will hold these 'Hunger Games' annually, beginning with next year"

The folder's contents were spread across the desk, documents and photographs fanned out on its surface. A picture of a large golden horn titled "Cornucopia", floor plans with directions to hidden "treasures", and a series of photographs; school pictures of twenty four children- twelve boys, twelve girls.

"Thank you sir, but the other Gamemakers and I would like to request a private trial, just to see if everything in the games works as it should"

"Ah... would this have anything to do with the pictured children here?"

"Yes sir"

"...very well. Tomorrow, when the Capitol takes care of District 13- we will preserve twenty-four tributes for the... private Hunger Games trial demonstration"

"Thank you, Mister President Sir"

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I yawn as I awake upon the old sheet-less mattress. The early morning sun has begun to fill our empty home with warmth, revealing the elusive dust particles dancing lightly through the air. I smile slightly as I lazily stretch my limbs until the joints audibly crack.

It was time for school, our first day back since the Revolution against the Capitol was apparently over and done with. Though most of District 13 was in a slump due to our terrific loss, people had finally begun working again- and with the nuclear reactants up and running once more, the school had declared that all students were to return to their studies after our almost year long break.

"Maya, you'll be late if you dawdle!" my Mother calls from her rocking chair outside. "-don't you want to see your friends?"

"I'll get there in time!" I call back. I was already pulling on my sturdiest pair of boots. "Where's Dad, has he already left?"

"He went to the butchers! He'll probably be back by the time you get to school."

That seems about right, I think to myself as I pull my jumper on over the shirt I slept in. Dad always buys meat when times are at their worst, never when things are going well. I suppose he wants to cheer us up since the Capitol was probably going to raise taxes soon because of the rebellion.

"I'll see you when I get home Mom" I kiss her on the forehead after I close the front door. "You be safe. I love you."

"I will Maya."

I always say that when I leave the house, not because I believe she's in any real danger; just because I never want my last words to be something mundane like 'see you later.' That's why every morning before I leave, I make sure to leave with those words- so my Mother is left with those warm, comforting words until I see her again.

The air is surprisingly crisp this morning. This is what I notice as I walk down the old dirt road that runs through town. Every here and there I notice adults opening their stores, some optimistic- others with expressions of dread. The end of the revolution had sparked ideas that we would soon face our comeuppance for rebelling against the Capitol, that they'd punish us beyond our worst nightmares.

I didn't believe that. We were too important for them to challenge. After all, if they fought here – their supply of nuclear power and graphite would be in danger of being annihilated. They wouldn't make that risk after all they had done to preserve it.
So instead of worrying as the rest of the District was I smile in an absent minded manner as I walk. Today I'd be able to see my friends again, all of us being too busy during our "break" to catch up. There was one in particular that I was particularly anxious, craving perhaps, to see.

Behind me, the sound of familiar footsteps crunch down the road towards me. I turn and, with a warm smile- greet the startled seventeen year old boy, who was attempting to sneak up and surprise me.

"Morning" he says, embarrassed that he was caught so easily. "Sharp as ever Maya"

"What, after four years of being jumped by you on the way to school?" I laugh. "Of course my hearing is going to get better"

Crux laughs loudly. I smile as I notice his ears have gone red with embarrassment.

It's been ages since I last saw him. His dirty blonde hair was darker, longer than before- matching the patches of stubble growing over his face. His eyes were still the same brown they had always been though. Crux and I were friends, but I could admit that he was a bit of a bully and a brute to others. He had this tendency to threaten people when he was losing in an argument, and that side of him frightened me.
It was a rare split personality however, and right now- all I could feel is how glad I was to see him alive, well fed and happy.

"-have you seen anyone lately?" I ask as he walks beside me. "I haven't seen much of anyone at all"

"No, not much" Crux's good mood seems to have diminished since I caught him in his sneak attack. "Everyone is still a little worried that their fathers aren't coming home"

"Oh..." I don't want to talk about this. "Guess everyone'll be skipping today then, huh?"

I laugh, nervously. Crux smiles, but he looks even more melancholy while he does so. We walk the remainder of the way in silence, my eyes on the road in front of my feet- unable to make eye contact while I feel so awkward. I should know better than to allow such a conversation topic like that to arise.

Crux's father was dead.

He had died near the beginning of the "Dark Days" as they had come to be called, and no one knew how or by whom. He had left for the Capitol with his friends, but had stumbled back into the edge of town with a knife in his gut late the next day. Crux, hunting early that morning, was the only one to see him die, and had sat there, his father draped over his legs- sitting in a mixture of shock and fear until he was found by the horrified townspeople- who pulled the corpse from his legs and took him home.

That was around the time his frightening personality kicked in. Violent and furious- Crux would lash out at people, but would quieten at the thought of his father. Even to this day, everyone at school knew that it was better to enrage Crux than to let him fall silent. No one knew what went through his mind during those times of silence.

"-hey, Crux! Maya!"

My heart swells as I instantly recognise the voice, lifting itself from the darkness it was just enveloped in. I whirl about excitedly, arms out wide like a plane as my eyes find the boy who just lifted the gloom over Crux and me.

"Holden!"

Holden laughs as I throw my arms around him, squeezing him tightly to make sure he was real. Crux chortles slightly, still a little moody from before- but pats his friend on the shoulder to recognise the reunion. I smile, looking up from where my head was pressed to bask in Holden's warm smile once more.

"How have you been?" Holden gives my shoulders a playful shake. "You seem happy".

"Unusually happy" Crux adds with a smirk, cocking an eyebrow as I flush red.

"N-none of your business," I wrinkle my nose, as I do when I'm embarrassed. "I just haven't seen you in a long time, you know-"

If that were true, I would've hugged Crux just as tightly a few moments ago- but I didn't. I knew why I was so eager to see Holden, why my heart leapt at the sound of his voice.

It didn't take a genius to realise I had feelings for him, and of course I was aware of it- pleased with it in fact. It was a love that had a chance in District 13, even if Holden was a year younger than I was, with him being fifteen and I being sixteen. My mother and father were friends with his parents, and they had even told us of their "ideal" plans of us two being married one day. Though we both protested in disgust, I was secretly disappointed. I wouldn't have minded at all.

To his credit, Holden never let on that he knew my feelings- instead allowing myself to wallow in my shyness. He knew, at least- I was fairly sure he knew. Everyone else did in any circumstance.

We resumed walking, chatting casually about anything that broke the silence in our minds. I giggled, Holden laughed and Crux smirked as our familiar trio arrived at the shabby concrete slabs we called a school.

"Reckon enough people will show up?" Holden asks; his hands dug deep into his pockets.

"Probably not," Crux is no longer moody, now bored. "I'm not in the mood to see some of them anyway"

"You really need to be more friendly Crux" I tease. I nudge him sharply in the ribs. "You'll never win a wife with your terrible attitude"

I had expected Crux's chagrin to show up on his face, but not as intensely as it did. With a brief, hate-filled glare- he briskly walks away and disappears inside the complex, shutting the door with a loud snap. Holden and I exchange glances before following suit.
Though I know I should feel bad for upsetting a friend, I couldn't help but admire my luck. I rarely got the chance to be alone with Holden, and I was thankful for any chance I received.

"-something I said?" I ask, trying not to come off as a completely terrible friend.

"Who knows" Holden shrugs, but he's smiling. "I think it's because of how he was bullying Cisqua before the break started. I figured he had a thing for her and was dealing with it the wrong way"

I laugh, but I'm confused inside. Cisqua? The bossy, self-pronounced student president? Though I couldn't see it immediately, I guess it made sense. Only a girl like that could stay on the same wavelength as Crux.

Suddenly a loud bang sounded from outside, similar to the one the Mayor's car gave when it backfired. I clutch Holden's arm in surprise, then smile sheepishly as he laughs at me.

Today was shaping up to be a very lucky day for me, being allowed time alone with Holden, to talk, to touch. I almost felt as if kissing him here and now would be almost acceptable. But I don't kiss him; instead I smile warmly at him without letting go.

"-I really missed you Holden," I start. Holden's eyes are locked on mine. "Really"

As he opens his mouth to respond, another backfire is heard, then another- and soon four more. Soon the air is filled with the sound of rapid gunfire as the ground begins to shake beneath our feet. Clutching Holden's arm with both hands now, I stare wildly around as screams echo through our school's halls. What's happening?

"What's going on?!"

"The nuclear reactor's going to blow!"

"We're under attack!"

People are screaming outside, and my eyes can see through the murky windows people running from their homes. There's fire, smoke... gas. The air is thick with large, noxious clouds of gas- vibrant purple in color as it spills out of homes into the street where the inhabitants try to flee, digging their nails into their throats as they scream for help.

The corridor is filling with students from all years. I can hear girls screaming and boys shouting. A hand grabs my shoulder and I look up to see Crux clenching his teeth. The shaking is growing intense as the terrible visions from outside grow increasingly more gruesome as the purple smoke seems to be nearing our building.

-the doors slam open, and before I can even glimpse what threw them open- I feel my hands be pulled away from Holden's arm, tearing his jacket as I scream in fright. Crux is shouting my name, Holden's name and my name again as the school begins to fill with a different coloured gas entirely. The gas is brown, like a terrible dust storm.

My senses begin to fade as I squirm in my captor's grasp. They're moving so fast, we're moving so fast- I can see student's horrified faces whirl past me in a sick surge of color. I clench my eyes tight, trying to make it go away- but instead feel my body give in to the strange intoxication of the dust storm.

The screams disappear, soothed into a strange, vaguely recognisable lullaby as my mind drifts into sleep and I think and feel no more.