As District 1 enters the town square all eyes are on me. They know that I'm going to be this year's victor. The victor of the 74th Hunger Games.
"Welcome, welcome District 1! Before we begin we've brought a film all the way from the Capitol!" As the film plays I think how should I appear? Strong, merciless? Or pretty and sweet? My thoughts are interrupted by The Mayor saying a few words, now the fun begins.
"As you all know the time has come to select one courageous one man and women for the honour of representing District 1 in the 74th annual Hunger Games. As usual Ladies first." Shrills our Escort, Shine, all of the Escorts say exactly the same thing every year, it soon becomes boring listening to them ramble on. Her hand plunges into the glass bowl full of names.
"Crystal Maze!" I look across to the terrified girl.
"I volunteer." I shout. Then I bounce to the stage, I'm going for the pretty girl thing.
"A volunteer! What's your name darling?"
"Glimmer, Glimmer Belcourt." I beam. I start to wave and blow kisses to District 1 and the cameras, I can see my Mother and Father gleaming where the parents sit. I've trained for this my whole life, I can't ruin it.
"Now for the boys," She grabs a slip of paper and reads it, "Cactus Grovel."
"I volunteer! I volunteer!"Yells a boy about my age, 17.
Shine asks for his name when he gets to the stage and he replies,
" Marvel Sanford." I remember him from the training centre, he throw spears. I saw him throw one once, dead centre.
"Well, here are the 74th Hunger games tributes from District 1! Shake hands you two!" We shake hands and then we are whisked to the Justice building to see visitors.
I examine the room, cream, silk curtains fluttering in the warm wind, beautiful carvings in the mahogany tables and chairs. I sit on the peach, couch waiting. Laborious minutes drag by but when the doors finally swing open, my two sisters, Flower and Sun, and my brother, Ron, all run to hug me as my parents hand me small box. I open it to find a gleaming ring, with a ruby, shaped like a love heart, in the middle.
"Thank you so much!" I cry, they're going to be so proud of me when I win, when I become the victor of the 74th annual Hunger Games. We chat for a little while and my siblings are so excited .
The doors burst open and in comes a peacekeeper, "Your time is up."
My family are slowly led away waving and blowing kisses.
I wait for a while expecting no more visitors, but I'm wrong. The door gently creaks open and a small girl in a white dress creeps in. She smiles and my heart melts, she's not old enough to be participating in the reaping. Her blue eyes glisten in the dimly lighted room. She slowly holds out her hands. She's holding a ruby red Tulip, it's beautiful. I take it out of her hands and whisper,
"Thank you." But suddenly she dashes out of the room, leaving me gazing at this amazing Tulip...