[IT IS A REGULAR DAY IN SUBURBAN FRANCE, 1833*. TWO CHILDREN SIT IN THEIR LIVING ROOM, THE GENTLE HUM OF THEIR TELEVISION DEPICTING A CARTOON OF A CAT AND MOUSE RUNNING AFTER EACH OTHER SERVING AS BACKGROUND MUSIC TO THEIR PLAY TIME. THEIR MOTHER ENTERS THE ROOM AND SCOLDS THEM FOR LEAVING THE TELEVISION OPEN WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR TOYS TO AMUSE THEM. AS SHE REACHES OUT TO TURN THE TELEVISION OFF, THE FEED OF THE CARTOON FADES IN TO STATIC, AND IS INTERRUPTED WITH A FLASHING CLIP THAT DECLARES A GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT.

THE MOTHER, UNSURE WHAT TO DO, CALLS OUT FOR HER HUSBAND. THE FATHER COMES IN TO THE ROOM JUST AS INSPECTOR JAVERT, THE HEAD POLICE OF THE MONARCHY, APPEARS ON SCREEN. HE LOOKS SOLEMN, BUT THERE IS A WICKED GLEAM IN HIS EYES. THE INSPECTOR READS FROM A PIECE OF PAPER.]

INSPECTOR JAVERT: Greetings of peace. In two weeks, we will be celebrating the anniversary of the unsuccessful June Rebellion. Thanks to inside sources, we were able to prevent the uprising before it could even begin. All that were involved in the revolution have been jailed accordingly; however, we do not believe that the time they are serving in prison is enough of a retribution for their conspiring against the monarchy.

In lieu of this, France's top scientists have conspired tirelessly over the past year to produce a suitable punishment: an arena, where everyone who participated in the plotting of the June Rebellion will engage in a fierce competition. The event will take place on the fifth of June, 1833 - for the next two weeks, the detainees; tributes, if you may; will undergo training, and will be presented to the public

Sponsored by some of France's wealthiest benefactors, the event will be nationally televised as mandatory viewing for all citizens. The victor will be pardoned of all crimes against him or her, and will return home to live in luxury.

There will be no exceptions.

[THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT FADES, AND THE CARTOON RETURNS. THE MOTHER IS INCONSOLABLE - SHE RUSHES OUT OF THE ROOM. THE FATHER IS FRANTIC AS WELL, BUT HE MAKES IT A POINT TO STOP IN FRONT OF HIS CHILDREN. THEY CLUTCH THEIR TOYS AND STARE UP AT HIM WITH WIDE EYES. THEY ARE TOO YOUNG TO UNDERSTAND. THE FATHER KNOWS THIS. HE KNEELS TO THEIR LEVEL, NONETHELESS.]

FATHER: It's okay, kids. It's okay. Ton frère...** He's going to come home - he's going to - he's going to win this, this whatever this is.

[THE FATHER STANDS ABRUPTLY, FOLLOWING HIS WIFE OUT OF THE ROOM. THE CHILDREN SHARE A LOOK. IF THEY KNOW ANYTHING, IT IS THAT THEY KNOW THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG. THE SCENE SHIFTS BACK TO THE TELEVISION. THE CAT CATCHES THE MOUSE. THE SCENE FADES.]

x

disclaimer/etc.

all characters belong to Victor Hugo unless stated otherwise. heavily inspired by the elements/borderline alternate-universe in that of Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. primarily e/é.

genres include romance, friendship, angst, hurt/comfort and fantasy.

rated T for language & themes.

the formatting for the intro won't reflect in the rest of the story, don't worry! :] i just wanted to be a little ~*extra*~ lmao.. enjoy!

* I'm all for historically accurate fics, but due to wanting to keep as close to the Rebellion as possible (an important plot line down in the story!), I was forced to compromise fact for fiction. For example: I am aware that the television is invented in 1927, roughly 94 years post when the story is set. Grant me this little margin of error, my amigos. We are in an alternate universe, after all.
** Ton frère - Your brother.