Reader's Note: hey guys first disclaimer I do not own the Hunger Games! second, I'm restarting this story, so forget what the old chapter one said, and if you liked it sorry! hope you enjoy please review! :D
"Hey guys, is that a blimp?" yells a voice to the left of Astra Elysium. The voice belongs to Gemma Harrison, Astra's best friend at her school. Gemma is an athletic girl, with her dark brown frizzy hair pulled into a hundred tiny braids. She has cocoa skin, smooth as a new bright leaf. Her humor and smarts are what make up her personality, though jealousy can sometimes overcome her. But, Gemma is also known for her fashion, as she follows everything about the fashion industry, but would not like to become a fashion designer herself.
Everyone peers up (because what kid isn't overflowing with curiosity?), but doesn't believe her. They know Gemma's tricks and games. Gemma loves to sing, "made you look!"
But, surprised and delighted gasps fill the air. There is some type of aircraft in the sky. A huge, gray, steel round blimp, slowly soaring along, contrasting against the clear, cloudless, baby blue sky.
"What's a blimp doin' in the city?"
"Maybe there's someone famous in it! Shanan McCree!" yells a dreamy admirer, by the name of Sam Weakly, of the well-known, beautiful, way out of the middle school math-nerd's (Sam's) league, top model.
"Shanan McCree my ass! It's the president!" yells an obnoxious (but popular) boy. His name is Spencer Hare, and is drooled over by half the girls in the sixth grade. He's twelve years old and he has an ear piercing. Yes, he is a guy. But to keep his 'oh so cool' demeanor, he found it necessary to place a medium-sized black circle in the lobe of his right ear.
"The president? What would he be doin' in a blimp! He would be in a high-speed limo, with army men with the new 1B7 guns perched on their shoulders-"
"Quit your stupid talk about guns, Sandy, no one wants to hear that crap. Guns, guns, guns, all you boys ever talk about is guns! God, do I fear for Americas future..." The playful voice is coming from a tall girl, who recently went through a growth spurt. Her brown hair with highlights of amber falls to her shoulders in waves, and her bangs hang perfectly. Her white, sparkling teeth and large buck teeth, and her top set of teeth have bright lavender braces attached to them. Her name is Taylor Bones, and she's brighter than a bulb. Not only is she always optimistic and ready to put a smile on anyone's face, she can figure out any problem in a second, whether it be school-related or personal. Only one thing made her upset. Bullying. The only time she cried in front of people was when that horrible boy bullied her. About everything. Non-stop.
"Alright, Taylor, but when I become president and your name is not on the list for the huge party at the White House, think back to this moment.." Sandy pauses, and strokes his imaginary and seemingly long beard. "A nice, long, hard think, and realize that if only you said I wouldn't hurt Americas future you would be at the Wh-"
"Right, Sandy, that'll happen! Likely.." Taylor says, smirking, and rolling her eyes. Sandy puts a hand to his chest, faking hurt.
"You guys are so funny," Astra says with amusement. "Like an old married couple." Astra waits while they process what she says, and cracks a grin when their angry faces turn to her.
"Haha, you should see your face, Tay, your mad blushing! Not as much as Astra does usually, but ya know.." says a perky Lucy Brown. That in turn causes Astra to blush for no reason.
"What's up with that blimp?" Astra asks, to change the subject. Lucy peers up at the sky, and squints her small black bead-like eyes. Her silky black short boy-style hair falls a little above her shoulders, and her pale skin is dotted with equally pale, almost not see able freckles. Lucy dresses in a baggy red and black plaid cotton sweater, and skinny black tights. The tights have silver skulls all over them. Her shoes are brown boots laced up with dirty white laces.
Then, it's as if all the lights have been turned off. Lights? There are no lights outside! But it's sunny and bright one second and pitch black the next.
But there is one thing you can see. The blimp. It shines brightly, and right then everyone realizes there are red lights blinking on and off, attached to the side of the blimp. The red lights outline a huge pearl white screen.
That's when the booms happen. Loud and ear-splitting. They sound like gun shots magnified by one thousand. So many that no one can keep track of adding them. Except Astra. She counts and she hears fifty shots. That could represent a lot, but one thing comes to Astra's mind. The fifty states.
Wide eyes flicker towards the screen as it changes from white to blood red. And a shadow, in the shape of a man, appears on it. The picture focuses, and everyone can see the man. His long neck, covered with throbbing veins, varying from electric blue to a sickly purple.
And Astra notices his eyes. They flicker from one place to the next, fast as lightening. His eyes are cautious, determined, cold, and calculating. They're dark brown, and look like they could be warm and friendly, but that is not who he is.
The man has a daunting look, with the abnormally deep circles under his eyes. You can see his curved back, and from that you know he must be incredibly tall, if he needs to lean over to have his face fit into the shot.
His hair is raven black with chestnut brown and stormy gray speckles throughout, and sideburns travel down the sides of his face. His long lips are set in a smirk, and he seems to radiate arrogance and unhealthy power, even though he is just on a screen.
When the man starts speaking, Astra gets the worst feeling. It's as if someone drags a rake against a chalk board, and set loose spiders to crawl up Astra's spine. Shivers run through everyone, and screams are released from terrified people as the man talks.
"Hello, America. I am President Campbell. President of Potestas. I am here for an announcement. We, the people of Potestas, would like to join with the United States of America. Failure to comply will result in dire... complications. Potestas is planning to take the USA into its expert grasp."
This 'president' pauses for effect, and people around Astra whisper worriedly. What is he talking about? That question goes through everyone's head. But Astra's eyes are trained on the screen.
"President, President Wane, of the United States of America, I give you this warning. Hand over your country. Your technology, weapons, power, are no match for ours. As, of course, you have witnessed today, with our advanced aircraft. You have five days to answer us. You may do that on a news T.V.. You can either accept peace and we shall advance the USA and bring order and strict rules to the USA, so that less crime is acted upon USA citizens. Or you can declare war, which we shall then sadly accept head on. Remember, if you do not answer by the strike of midnight at 12:00 on Sunday, it won't be good. And, you can't find us. Thank you, please resume your activities."
Gasps are heard as the man is gone from the screen, and in the place is a crest set against a light pink background. The crest is a shield, and upon the blank white of the shield is a dark black griffin. With wings stretched high, the griffin snarls and rears its hind legs, while baring it's long, deadly-pointy bright gold fangs.
Then the impossible happens. The blimp, along with the screen, disappears.