When the thirteenth district was destroyed, the Capitol easily overtook the remaining twelve districts. The years of destruction and pain were over, and although the Capitol demanded the districts to repay the Capitol, no one was expecting what was soon to be called, The Hunger Games.

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District 1

When I woke up, I found a small child on my bed and myself face to face with my extremely irritated mother.

"Get up!" she growled. She pulled the blanket off of me and forced me to my feet. "I've been trying to wake you all morning! The entire district is supposed to meet in the square in an hour. Now get dressed and eat breakfast, then help Litto." She rolled her eyes and then went into the kitchen to fix me and my little brother breakfast. I looked over at my three year old brother chewing on my blanket with an adorable little smile on his face. As annoying as he was, no one could resist Litto's big green eyes and cute smile. I walked over to my mirror to decide what I was going to do with myself today. Staring back at myself, I saw a half-asleep girl with short blonde hair, green eyes and extremely pale skin. As much as I try to tan all I ever succeed in doing is giving myself horrible sunburn. I began to brush my hair into a small ponytail and then applied some makeup. When I finished I put on a green dress and matching boots, and began to help Litto. After finishing his hair and putting on his clothes. I carried him downstairs to eat his mashed bananas.

"Thanks for helping with Litto, Syaria." My mother said when I got downstairs. "Yeah, no problem" I said as I grabbed an apple and some crescent shaped bagel-waffles.

When we got to the square, it was packed. There was some children around the ages of twelve and eighteen in a roped off section of the square, and when we arrived I was pushed into a section with some other seventeen year olds. My mother and brother found me and started to come over to get me but I shook my head and mouthed that I would be alright. On the stage there were two glass balls and two empty chairs. The mayor came onto the stage escorted by a few of the guards that liked to call themselves "peacekeepers" and the entire square became silent.

"As you all know, the Capitol was not pleased when the districts declared war which caused many of us to lose loved ones. I have invited you all here today to announce the Capitol's way of making sure we never repeat those dark years. Every year there will be annual games where two tributes from every district will be brought to the Capitol. Although we do not yet know what will happen in these games, everyone in Panem will be required to watch it publicized on television every night. Now I am pleased to announce the lovely Gila Freegorn. He stepped aside to reveal and young woman who was obviously from the Capitol. Her bright purple skin and neon yellow hair was horrifically matched by a blue and orange striped dress with purple polka-dots. You could feel the silent disgusted gasp of everyone in the square as the woman walked to the microphone. She began to talk with an extremely over done Capitol accent, "Good morning district one. I am so pleased to be here and be your first escort for The Games! Now let's get the ball rolling! Inside each of these glass balls is the name of every child in District 1 age twelve to eighteen. "Ladies first" she said in an overeager tone, and reached her hand into the giant glass ball. She pulled her hand out and read out the name. "Syaria Jazdake".

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Standing there waiting for the boys name to called was agony. I was praying so hard that my name would be drawn. Going to the Capitol would be the best thing that has ever happened to me. I could start a life there and become rich and famous. When my parents died a few years ago my life has been nothing but horrible here in District 1. Having to avoid the peacekeepers and steal food from the trash would have been unthinkable to me just a few years ago, but it's now a daily routine. Going to the Capitol would completely change my life for the better. If I won The Games I may become an instant hero in Panem. When Gila Freegorn walked over to the glass all I was almost shuddering with excitement. "It's going to be me. " I thought. "It has to me! No deserves it more than me!" The moment Gila Freegorn pulled the slip of paper out of the ball I already knew it was me. I began to walk up to the stage with Syaria Jazdake before my name was even read out. "Hawker Pladery" That moment when she read out my name in her annoying accent was when I knew my life was about to change.

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Inside the Justice Building, the peacekeepers allowed me to see visitors for a few moments before boarding the train to go to the Capitol. My mother and brother came rushing in and immediately hugged me.

"Mom…" I said. I'll only be gone for a few weeks! No need to be all overprotective. How bad can The Games be? I won't get hurt, and if I do the medics in the Capitol can heal almost anything."

"I know sweetie but I just want to let you know that I love you. And no matter how amazing the Capitol is remember they are the ones who killed your father. Don't let them change you." She smiled and hugged me again. When the peacekeepers came back to get my mother and my brother, I picked up Litto, gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and told him to stay out of trouble while I was gone. I gave my mother one last hug and before she left she said "Hurry back soon!" and with that she was gone.