I stood on the metal plate, in the middle of a dark and abandoned town square. My name is Cipher Caprio. I am just fifteen years of age and I can't believe I was reaped into this twisted game. I never thought my name would come out of the glass ball, but it did. The one good thing that has happened in the past few days is that I got a ten as my training score. I may not be a Career being from district eleven, but give me a sword and no one can touch me. Before I stepped on this stupid metal plate I was told by my stylist Gavin Baker, that I was tipped for the final six. Ha final six, I don't plan on being in the final six, I plan on killing the final six. Now after all the positive things are done going through my head it's time for the bad part, I have a TEN; I'm going to be the first one the Careers are going to kill. Winning doesn't sound so easy now.

This was the sixty-fifth Annual Hunger Games. A bloody event put on for the Capitol's pleasure. Where the citizens for the city could watch teens fight to the death, choose favorites, and place bets. I was both a favorite among the Capitol citizens, and tipped to finish in the last six. At least. Tens of thousands of dollars in bets had been placed on me to win the Games.

I took a deep breath and looked around the arena. Clearly, this year it was not an arctic wasteland or a mountain range like the previous years, but a damn city. I can only imagine the places other tributes could be hiding, just waiting for someone to take a wrong step. Some of the buildings were about six stories tall; a tribute with a bow and a set of arrows could easily kill from up there.

All twenty-four tributes stood in its dark town square. The ground was made with wet stone, and all the buildings surrounded it. I look to the left of me and see an old run down town hall, it looks like a descent place to hide and live in while others fight it out. Only realizing soon after how stupid that idea was, not only am not a coward, that would also be the first place everyone would look if they wanted to kill someone. The only reason someone would possibly hide in there is to commit suicide. After making a mental note not to hide in the town hall. I look further in the distance and see a massive clock tower, it seems to be working, maybe I can rely on the clock tower for the time of day if I need to. Directly in front of me, was the Cornucopia. A giant golden horn shaped like a cone with a curved tail. Weapons, food, water and back-packs scattered around it, everything that will help us tributes survive this game of death. I see a sword fifty meters in front of me, my ticket to victory. Funny that it's by itself every other item is easily five meters away it, but I need that sword.

I saw Nicole Caprio, my sister, and other tribute from District 11 looking my way. I made eye contact, and she gave a small nod. The alliance was on. We had a discussion the previous day about who to have as allies, the final decision was that we wait. She had received an eight in training. That was about average for most of the tributes, except for the boy from district three, who ended up with a two, surprisingly enough he was seventeen and looked as though he was a career, being six foot five and all muscle, but I'll wait to see how well he does. Obviously, we were both offered to join the career pack, I turned down the offer immediately while Nicole didn't give a response, I wonder what her answer will be.

I looked back over at my sister and saw her saying something, but I couldn't understand what she was saying. And that's when the commentator's voice filled the arena.

Claudius Templesmith was a legendary commentator. His voice was like cold velvet.

"Ladies and Gentlemen" he boomed. "Let the sixty-fifth, Annual Hunger Games..."

silence.

I focused on the sword, it's what I need to win, it's all mine. So was the bag that was a few meters away from it. My eyes locked, as Templesmith's voice shouted:

"BEGIN!"