Chapter 1 – Capitol's Announcement

Being the Mayor's son is far from pleasuring, people think that you have it easy just because your father has some money, or that you think you're above the laws of the district, they never stop to think that the person they see day-by-day might not be the same as he presents himself to be when he is protected by the seclusion of his house, they weren't there to endure the childhood beating up and humiliation he disguised as 'disciplinary actions'. It was never easy for me, the money made little to no difference in my life, and the things I went through made me a cold person, untrusting, distant.

As I made my way over, the thoughts clouded my mind, as they did every time I had to go back home from work, it was hard not to think about how messed up my family really was. We were all released earlier from work, so we could be home at the time President Snow had scheduled the announcement of the 4th Quarter Quell. No one was really looking forward to it, we'd just possibly lose two more children, or four if they decided to do like in the 2nd Quarter Quell. It was already the 100th Hunger Games' edition, but it never got any easier to see our youngsters being ripped from their home and thrown into an arena to kill each other. As much as I tried not to dwell on the subject, it always managed to make my mood even worse, and the presence of my family would not make it any better.

I was not prepared to the announcement, for all I knew, anything could happen and the feeling on my gut told me that bad things were about to come, not that I'm superstitious or anything, I just learnt to trust my subconscious side. As I sat on the couch alongside my family, we all stared at the screen in silence, our hearts beating loudly within their cages, if not in anger, then in fear, it was not fair, never fair.

Not long after that, the Capitol's logo faded, giving place to President Snow's face. The man looked much older and worn out than the last announcement he made. It could be pitiful, were it not for the fact that he was constantly ruining the lives of several families throughout the whole Panem. As he began to speak, I coiled my palms in fists as an attempt to contain my anger. There we go again.

"Welcome to the 100th edition of the Hunger Games, and also the 4th Quarter Quell. This year only male tributes will be chosen from the districts, regardless of their ages, though if the last two standing are from the same district they may both come back home. We aim to remind the rebels that you're never above the Capitol's punishments, but also that we're not the enemy here. Happy Hunger Games."

Disbelief was written across my features when President Snow finally finished his little announcement and the image faded from the screen. Once again my gut feeling was right; I was not safe, never safe. Suddenly my expression morphed from disbelief to anger, this Quarter Quell was wrong in so many levels. Standing up, I quickly made my way to my room; I was done with the day, actually, with everything. The reaping would be in two weeks.

-x-

When I woke up the next day to go to work I could not even remember falling asleep. The anger had been boiling within my system and it was hard to think about anything. All around the district everyone was wearing a grim expression, wives that could lose their husbands or sons, families that could easily be dismantled for the entertainment of the Capitol. We were barely even humans to them.

Arriving at the facility where I worked as a Weapons Tester, I was faced with the same grim expression I had seen upon everyone's faces on my way there. No one was happy about the announcement, of course, why would they be? It was just their way of killing altogether the remnants of faith we still had inside of us. Before I even realized it, I was glaring at everyone, and no one in particular. I blamed the Capitol, and I hated the fact that I worked to make better weapons for their games and their so called peacekeepers.

"Grant?" Leo's voice snapped me out of my haze. He was one of the few people I could actually call friends, and also my co-worker, the inventor of the weapons I tested. It was not unusual for Fitz to talk to me when I arrived at work, but something on his face and the tone of his voice made me think that there was something wrong with the man, he looked worried, and scared, what could be understandable, given our current situation, but I knew him better than that, it was not about himself.

Bobbing my head quietly in a nod that was meant as a greeting, I made my over to where Fitz was standing. "Yes?" My voice came out calm and collected, as per usual. It was impressive how I could mask my feelings and make it seem like nothing ever bothered or disturbed me, even if the situation was as bad as this one. Leo didn't grace me with a response, instead he turned on his heels and started walking towards his lab, knowing that I would follow behind, that by itself meant that whatever he wanted to talk about, it was private, but that didn't bother me in the slight.

Upon arriving at his lab, Fitz quietly lowered his slender physique onto the chair, one of his hands already elevated to the level of his head, allowing his palm to cover his face, which was a sign of distress, not unusual on Fitz. "Is there any way your father could take you out of this?" His question caught me by surprise, not because he thought that being the Mayor's son could grant me a way out of this, instead due the amount of concern contained within the man's words. It was rather impressive how he could worry about me in a moment like this. Not to insult him or anything, but I had way more chances of winning the games in case I was chosen at the reaping than Fitz. His scrawny frame and lack of fighting skills would definitely lead him straight into death. It was amongst that line of thoughts that I realized something, I didn't want Fitz to be chosen either.

Releasing a silent sigh, I stalked towards the shorter man, stopping in front of him, so my hand could land on his shoulder, applying a soft squeeze to the muscle. "There isn't, but don't worry about it, Fitz, they won't choose me." The thought wasn't as comforting as it should be, if it wasn't me, it would be someone else we knew. There was no happy ending.

For the second time in the day, Fitz caught me by surprise. His slender arms wrapped tightly around the middle of my torso in a vice-like embrace. I didn't know Leo had that much strength in him, neither did I know how to react, so settling for what was safe; I ran my digits across his hair. "Everything is gonna be alright, Fitz." It was a lie, I knew that, Leo knew that, but still it was needed in the moment. We had to cling to our last hope.