The 25th Hunger Games

Chapter 1

I immediately regret opening my window during the night. As far away the Victor's Village is from the city, the smell of smog still pierced its way into my nose. I pull myself up from the bed too quickly; my head collides into the bunk bed above me.

Just a regular morning, I think sleepily, although tomorrow won't be.

I pull my still asleep legs out from underneath the blanket and pick the glasses left on my nightstand. It takes me a few minutes to realize they are broken, an early birthday present, I suppose.

Every year, my District celebrates my birthday by sending 2 kids to their doom. It's beyond painful to have your birthday the same day as the reaping. The Capitol sends two kids from every district to fight in an arena, "In a pageant known as The Hunger Games." Their logic behind it is that it maintains order. Since when was killing off innocent kids order?

Right, the rebellion, I think as I pull one of my spare glasses from my drawer.

Exactly 25 years ago, the 13 districts failed in their rebellion against the Capitol. District 13 was obliterated and the other 12 were scared straight by The Hunger Games. So much for the brave rebels.

I grab my backpack and make my way outside the large building I call home. It beats the apartments that the other kids are forced to live in, but I still feel guilty living here all my life. I didn't even have to win one of the Games to get here; my mother took care of that for me.

I slowly walk down the pavement, shoes coming into contact with blistering cement. Soon the beaten down school building can be seen; of course it's overshadowed by the giant factory behind it. To my left I see a group of girls talking, shaking about whatever topic floats in the cool air around them. Girl talk? No. Hunger Games worrying? Yes.

I look around to see the faces of the possible tributes. From brutes to weaklings, anyone can find themselves inside the Arena. The girls will be mentored by my Mom, who had only recently won. She won the 15th Hunger Games at the age of 16. She was the first Female to win in our District but we have 4 male Victors. They won by luck or wire, never by sword or dagger. Our district is just glad we have Victors; poor old District 12 hasn't even had a single Tribute escape the bloodbath.

My gloomy thoughts are interrupted by the bell. Time to learn about our depressing future making Electronic Toys for the Capitol. I make my way into the Workshop classroom, the sickly sweet smell of soldering causes my nostrils to flare.

My overly enthusiastic teacher greets me with his iconic, "Howdy!"

Forget the reaping, my life is hell as it is and I'm one of the lucky ones. In my seat I notice that what we were working on yesterday wasn't there.

"Okay class," he says behind a fake smile, "Today, in celebration of The Hunger Games, we are going to learn to build and solder a weapon!"

"Is that even allowed?" asks a voice from the back of the room.

The teacher responds with a nervous laugh, "Of course it is!" he responds with his usual enthusiasm.

"You should make Ethan show us! He's probably going to volunteer at the reaping tomorrow!" says one of the class bullies, which is stupid because no one can volunteer this time due to the Quell. Every 25 Hunger Games, a slight twist of the rules are made to provide the Citizens of the Capitol something to look forward to. Months ago, it was announced that every person in the District gets to vote on the tributes. Whoever gets the most votes gets the privilege of knowing that his peers hate him or her. You could guess whom I voted for.

"Now settle down class, any one of you could be a tribute this year" says the teacher in an attempt to bring the class in order.

"I voted for Ethan!" blurts out another bully even though that is against the rules.

"He's practically built for it!" she says pulling my skinny right arm into an ironic flex. The whole class bursts into nervous laughter. I guess the grain of truth that anyone can be Tribute still remains.

"Guess who I voted for!" I snap at the bully, "Cause if we are both going to be in the games, I hope I am the one who gets the pleasure of slicing that smile off your face!"

Immediately, the class falls into silence and the girl pulls away from me. It's taboo to wish death in the games upon someone. Unless of course, the victim is me.

"Go home, Son." The teacher mumbles, smile turned into a droopy frown, "Go see your Mother…"

I leave my Dad's presence and the silent classroom and travel down the hallway, tears in my eyes. 15th birthday tomorrow and I have the odds of being put in the arena. Soon I arrive at my home, Mother at the door. She puts her arms out offering a hug. I can't say I turned down that offer.

I sleep the rest of the day away. Horrible nightmares of people I love getting reaped fill my dreams, nightmares of an alternate reality where my mother lost her games. I awaken to my younger brother, Danny, shaking me in an attempt to inform me of the obvious.

"You were screaming in your sleep," he says plainly with his teddy bear in hand.

"No duh" I say, too angry to realize his concern for me.

"A bunch of mean people at school told me to say goodbye to you" he says, tears in his eyes. "I keep sayin 'Where will he go?' but they keep on shaking their head."

My anger fades from me as I look into his sad eyes.

"Please don't go…" he whimpers as tears fall. My mother realizes his presence in my room and quickly whisks him away to the kitchen for a glass of milk. I fall into another nightmare as his sobbing dies down.

"Goodbye" I mutter in my sleep, "Goodbye, Danny"