This time last year and the 74 years before that, the city circle was filled with bright hair, happy people and the feeling of anticipation was in the air. Everyone was waiting to see who got picked, everyone was already betting on favours to win. But not today. Because today they knew that their children weren't safe from the horror of the Hunger Games.
Katniss stood in the shadows of the stage with the remaining victors who had voted yes for this torture to be forced upon the Capitol as it had been to the Districts. She glanced out across the huddles of the crowd, watching mothers hug their daughters and fathers giving their sons a pep talk as though they were already gone despite the fact the Reaping hadn't started yet.
Peeta wasn't here, the one person Katniss needed most in this situation hadn't come with her. He originally voted no to the idea of one last Hunger Games for the Capitols children whereas she said yes. He stayed behind in District 12, which was becoming a popular district due to its celebrity status, because he said he wanted no part of this. Katniss knew there was another reason though, she knew it was because this was where he was tortured and this was where he was hijacked and she would stop him herself if he ever wanted to join her due to the risk of him falling back into that Peeta.
Effie Trinket walked out into the middle of the stage and cleared her throat, this caused a instant hush across the crowd. This year she was sporting deep indigo coloured ringlets that just touched the top of her shoulders that gave the impression of the Victorian Era. Her dress was no less extravagant than her hair, which was a lighter purple, to not clash with her hair of course, dramatically puffed out at her waist but came back to her legs just beneath her knees to give the impression of a ball. To Effie choosing the kids to go into the Hunger Games was no hard ordeal, she'd been doing it for years but when it was her own people she suddenly seemed less...perky.
"Welcome to the Capitol Games." Her shrill voice rung out across the circle, she might have been expecting a cheer but all she received was silence. No one was happy about this, not even the remaining victors who were beginning to regret their decision. Katniss wondered about how this was playing out across the rest of Panem, whether or not everyone else was approving when watching with no fear. She expected the Districts where Careers usually come from were upset that they couldn't be invloved whereas District 12, apart from Peeta, were probably relishing in the happy mood. "I expect you all know the drill. You've watching it enough times." She said with a little giggle, trying to lighten the mood which was unsuccessful.
As Effie walked over to the bowl with mountains upon mountains of names inside, it was obvious that the loss of 23 people wouldn't be a shame as there were many more to take their place. Or this was Katniss's way of thinking to make herself feel better as her chest tightened with nerves when Effie placed a long, slender hand into the bowl and swished the paper around. It was as though she was teasing everyone but Katniss knew she was too dumb to think of that, this was just Effie trying to make a show.
She grabbed a slip of paper and walked back over to the microphone sat in the middle of the stage. "Gwendolyn Snow." The name barely escaped her lips as the commotion started in the crowd and the 76th Hunger Games begun.
A/N:
Thank you so much to anyone who reads this, this is the first time I have written in a while so I'm a bit rusty and I do know that this chapter is quite short but think of it as more of a introduction than a full length chapter :)
Next one will be up soon.