Prologue
I don't understand what they mean.
"A new treaty has been passed"
The rebellion just ended, the Capitol won, don't we have enough to worry about, another treaty.
"Every year from now to the rest of time there will be a Hunger Games, each branch will offer up two tribute girls and two tribute boys to fight to the death. They will be reaped in a public ceremony, for every boy and girl between the ages of 12 and 18. As they grow older their name will be entered in more times. This is punishment for the Rebellion, also a tesseare can be additional times entered into the bowl in return for oil and grain to feed ones family. The tributes will be escorted to the capitol and train in the art of defense, only one will come out alive, these games will be broadcasted on T.V. and will be mandatory to watch, the first Reaping is on June 3rd, may the odds be ever in your Favor." President Green concludes.
I hear mummers around me, hushed whispers, and small cries of disagreement, one girl begins to cry. What do they mean a fight to the death, only one will come out alive? I'm trained to know these situations and asses them accordingly, to find the most logical solution, but nothing happens.
I turn to my mother whose face is as white as chalk; her hands grasp Sophie's tightly.
"Mom" I ask in a hushed whisper. "I'm 13"
She continues staring off into space her mind distant and far, her only link to Ekaterina is Sophie's hand.
"What's happening?" Sophie asks pulling away for a moment to look mother in the eye. "Sissy, what's going to happen to us?" I wish I could answer her question, but for one of the first times in my life I couldn't answer a question she asked me.
I sit at home still confused, they'd explain it at school I know they would, they would have too, why wouldn't they. I still thought about it I wouldn't forget it. May was nearly upon us and I still had a couple years left of school. What if I was chosen, how would Sophie make it?
"Laura you should go to sleep you have school tomorrow" Mom called like nothing had happened that day. I guess this was how she forgot, pretended it never happened.
"Okay mom" I said tinkering with my new electronic, five ways, 18 colors, and seven ring clock I had made before setting the alarm and laying down.
School didn't explain much, they just had us enter our names and age, and our names printed out on small slips of paper. My name was printed out twice and a sign-up sheet was posted.
"This is for Tesseare sign-up, if your family needs food sign your name on here and the number of tesseare you need" Our teacher explained.
School is usually my favorite place to be, with all the advanced classes, they trained us for the science and electronics we would send to the Capitol. That's what the Ekaterina's gave the capitol, just like the Tomas were Transportation and goods, Janus were art and textiles, Madrigal were food like grain and fruit, Lucian were sea-food and lumber. We all contributed, and they depended on us.
"Now class today we will be studying the Treaty of Treason in replacement of your normal classes" Our teacher shouted. I heard several shouts of protests including my own but we all sat down and listened as our teacher explained how most likely one of our deaths was going to happen.