Thirteen-year-old Alex fights her twin brother Max in the training area for The Hunger Games, a fight to the death. Her older brother Marvel and younger brother Justin, Marvel is seventeen and Justin is eight, watch from the crowd, it's a very close battle between the twins. Most of the crowd is cheering for Max because he's a people person and Alex is a closed off person. Having her sword to Max's throat the crowd and teachers gasp. Alex won the battle.
"Great job sister." Max smiles.
"You were great, Max." Alex grins happily, both of them breathing heavily.
"And there you have it." Their trainer smirks, "Alex, let's see if you can take on Marvel."
"Give my sister a break. She and Max have been fighting each other for a half hour." Marvel steps in.
"In the arena you don't get breaks." The jerk glares at her older brother.
"She's thirteen, give her a freaking break!" Marvel growls darkly.
"No. Now get up there." Rolling his eyes, Marvel picks up a fake sword and faces his sister.
"We all know Marvel will win." Alex mutters.
"Go full out against me, Alex." Marvel speaks to Alex. Nodding, Alex stretches her sore muscles getting ready for her brother's attack.
"Go." The jerk calls out.
Circling each other, analyzing each other's movements, Alex predicts every move.
As Marvel grins, he charges at Alex, but she blocks every move. That is, until he knocks her feet from under her and disarms her from her weapon.
"Time." The jerk smirks, "Twenty-five minutes."
Breathing heavily, Marvel pulls Alex to her feet as she pants.
Living in District One, it's not too bad of a bad place to live. They have a good amount of Peacekeepers because they live so close to the Capitol. They have luxury and is the second richest place to live, besides the Capitol. They build and make the Capitol's things, like the tribute rooms, and everything within it. That's the only one Alex can name from the top of her head. At the same time, they are very close to the Capitol, 'friendship' wise. They are always working together and treat each other with respect.
Alex likes the president of Panem, President Snow. He was very kind when he sent them food and visited the Mayor of District One. Alex was around playing the year before and she got hurt when a Peacekeeper bumped into her.
President Snow helped her up and made sure she got home safe before he went to do his thing. President Snow is Panem's celebrity and every move he makes decides the fate of the people.
Arriving home from training, just before the Reaping, Alex is nervous but excited. What Alex and the kids do to help their parents is working. Alex, Max and Justin help their parents while Marvel works in the tunnels in the mountains. They bring the money in to stay alive. Nothing in life is free. It all comes at a price.
Jumping into the shower, Alex washes her hair and scrubs the skin to rid of the sweat the best she can. As she climbs out and dries off, Alex slips on her fancy dress and slips her hair in a half-up and half-down style.
"You ready?" Alex hears her mother's voice.
"Yeah." Leaving her bedroom, Alex follows her mother downstairs. Slipping on her fancy shoes, Alex is ready to go.
"Remember, Alex and Max, if you know someone from your age group or in the twelve age group, try to volunteer." Their father speaks proudly.
"Yes, Sir." Alex nods.
"Okay." Max agrees. Wanting to make her father proud, Alex knows she will volunteer if she can.
Leaving the house, they head to the heart of District One, where the train and the Justice Building stands.
After getting checked in, Alex stands in her age group with the other girls. Seeing their worried faces, Alex stands tall.
"Hey, Alex." Turning her head, Alex spots Marvel's best friend Glimmer.
"Hey." Alex smiles shyly.
"Good luck."
"Thank you. You too."
Glimmer is Marvel's best friend and is eighteen. She used to babysit Alex and Max when they were younger. Now she babysits Justin.
Listening to the speech from the Capitol, Alex watches the video about the war that took place seventy-four years ago. The Rebellion from the districts.
"Now, let's find out who our two tributes are." The man from the Capitol smiles. Heading over to one bowl, he pulls out a slip of paper before returning to the mic. Not hearing her name or Glimmer's, Alex spots a girl from her age group start to move out of line.
"Kelly." Alex gasps recognizing her. Stepping out of line, Alex pulls Kelly behind her, "I volunteer as tribute." Alex speaks up strictly.
"Very well." The man grins happily. Inviting Alex up, she makes her way toward him. Climbing the steps, the man turns to Alex when she stops next to him, "What is your name?"
"Alex." Alex answers.
"You are one brave young girl."
"Thank you."
"Now for the gentlemen."
Calling out Marvel's name, Marvel walks proudly over. As soon as they are in the Justice Building, they are sent to their two different rooms. As their family comes in to see them, they give them the final words of advice.
Just as her father is leaving, he turns to Alex.
"I'm proud of you, Alex. You and Marvel are making everyone proud. You will make me proud even if you do die."
Sitting on the train, Alex is in her room in silence. Mostly memories repeat in her head, the day Justin was born, Max and Alex's birthdays that she remembers, Marvel's first best friend she met, Glimmer.
Alex never really got to say goodbye to Max, Justin and her mother. Her father dominated everything and kept her for a short time. Alex never even got the chance to hug them. Starting to regret her choice to volunteer, the regret is there, but she knows Kelly is thankful for her choice. Kelly may be a better fighter than she is on some levels, but Alex did beat her in the fight that morning.
Deciding it is time to get something to eat and drink, Alex walks out of her room and heads to the main cart. Putting some food she knows she can handle on her plate and filling her glass up with some water, Alex sits down next to Marvel.
"It's okay to be scared." Marvel whispers to his only sister.
"Dad wouldn't like it." Alex mutters.
"I know, but just know it is okay." Nodding, Alex takes a bite of her food as Marvel drinks some of his water.
Soon, their mentors Cashmere and Gloss join them. Cashmere is Gloss's sister, which is funny because besides them, Alex and Marvel are the only siblings that have come from District One for the Games.
Learning they are to show some of their skills, not all of them of course, to intimidate their competition, Alex and Marvel nod in agreement.
Arriving to the Capitol, Alex and Marvel are led to the car that will take them to the Training Center. Waving at the crowd together, Marvel takes Alex's other hand to take her away from the crowd.
After checking in and getting cleaned up, Alex gets put into a silky smooth dress with leggings. Wearing high heels and having her wavy hair straight down, Alex knows they are getting ready for the Tribute Parade.
At the main area with the horses and carriages, Alex looks around at her fellow tributes. Spotting a dark girl in a blue dress, the girl looks around her age, maybe twelve. Wishing the girl didn't have to go through this, someone should have volunteered. Noticing everyone is older than she is and a lot taller, Alex rolls her eyes.
"You okay?" Marvel whispers.
"Yeah." Alex nods looking at him with fury in her eyes, "You see that girl over there in the blue dress?"
"Yes. What about her?"
"Please help me protect her?"
Sighing, Marvel knew this would happen.
"I'll try." Marvel agrees.
"Thank you."
As the Tribute Parade begins, the siblings climb up onto their carriage and the horses begin to move. Waving at the crowd and smiling, Alex knows when the crowd gets louder, something is going on. Turning her head to look behind her, she spots fire. One of the district's tributes is on fire! But how? As the horses slow, they go into a semi circle making Alex turn back around. As they stop, Alex turns to look to find that the tributes from District Twelve were the ones on fire.
Listening to Snow give a small speech, Alex smiles feeling honoured to represent her district with her brother.
Unable to sleep, Alex sits in the living room in the middle of the night watching the Reaping ceremony. Learning everyone's names, Cato and Clove from District Two, Foxface from District Five, Thresh and Rue from District Eleven, finally, Peeta and Katniss from District Twelve.
"Hey." Looking over her shoulder she spots Cashmere, "Why are you up? You have training in the morning."
"Can't sleep." Alex admits.
"What's keeping you up?" Cashmere wonders taking a seat.
"I guess, wondering who the competition is and trying to come up with a way for my brother and I to both survive and go home."
"Only one can live, Alex." Cashmere reminds her.
"I know, but we can bend the rules right?"
"I don't know." She whispers.
"How come you are awake?"
"I heard the television and wondered why it was on."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Cashmere smiles and pats Alex's shaky hand.
"It's alright, Kid. You should go to bed and get some rest."
"Okay. Good night, Cashmere."
"Good night, Alex."
Getting up, Alex leaves and the second her door is closed, Alex's fear takes over. In just a few days, the fight of the death will begin.