The explosion rattles the walls of the bunker, as my mother lets a loud shout. "Mother, please be quiet!" I snap through the darkness, and she does so. We listen to the world as bomb after bomb goes off, and somewhere around dawn, a message rings out.
"To the Citizens of the Capitol:"
I jump at the voice of Claudius Templesmith, now either on the side of the rebels, or being forced to speak.
"The City has fallen to the rebels. All citizens will be required to report to the city circle by noon today for housing reassignment and distribution. You have six hours. That is all."
My mother has been squeezing my hand, and now I cannot even feel the limb. She is crying, and has been nearly catatonic since my father was killed in district 2 a few months ago. She hasn't spoke a word, but when she is upset tends to make low guttural moans. At seventeen, I have been in control of her since that time. And now, I will need to remain strong for her, and get her to the circle on time. By the time I dress us both, and get above ground, it is nearly eleven. The streets are packed from side to side with citizens forcing their way to the cities center. We follow the crowd wherever it turns, and eventually, pile into the side streets of the circle. I climb a pipe on the side of a building, and see we are all packed, and that this will be as far as we'll get. I slide into the crowd, and take my mother's hand.
"We're just going to stay here for a while." I say with a smirk, and try to be patient as the doors to the president's mansion, and out steps a woman with long gray hair, and horrible gray eyes. Her face is broadcast on giant screens, which I am now sure is all across Panem. She clears her throat and begins to talk. "My name is Alma Coin, and I have been elected president by the rebels of district thirteen, and I will now be taking over as president of Panem, in place of former President Snow. Begging today at sundown, these new laws will be taking effect. First, unlike the citizens from the districts, you will not be permitted to travel anywhere at this time. Second, All citizens will be granted to new housing to permit the influx of rebel soldiers and guards proper housing. Third, you may, at any time, be granted a guard or soldier to house in these assigned living quarters." She allows this all to sink in, before she begins to speak again.
"And finally, as retribution for the deaths in both the Hunger Games and this war, the capitol will offer up the children of it's highest ranking citizens to participate in a game of reparations. It will follow the ceremony of the original Hunger Games, but will only occur once. That is all."
So, that's how the rebels will make us pay for our birth, our existence. We will be forced to play the games they were forced to play themselves. I can't help but feel sorry for these children, until I realize that my father was one of the richest men in the Capitol. My name will be entered into the reaping. And because of his status, I doubt I will be overlooked.
I am going to have to fight for my life.