Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games.
A/N: Thank you for taking time to read my first fic. I do hope you guys enjoy reading. I try to update as soon as I can, send me reviews please. They would very much be appreciated. This chapter is kind of short, enjoy reading the rest. Thanks. XX
Panem, a place on what used to be North America, where pleasure is on one side and suffering is on the other. People, placed in each district representing their own way of specialty in livelihood. 12 districts serving The Capitol, the main city, the place which tops over all. Where the government is, where the powerful people are. Luxury, Masonry, Technology, Fishing, Power, Transportation, Lumber, Textiles, Grain, Livestock, Agriculture and Mining. All of these for The Capitol, working for them, their slaves, their assistants, their pets.
Behind all of these things, a televised fight to the death by kids between the age 12 and 18 in reward of fame and riches after crowned victorious. Randomly picked, an honor for some, and means of certain death for others. The people of each community, or what we prefer to call districts, live their life serving and working hard for the benefit of those who live in The Capitol. While working for them, you await the faith of your children, prepared or unprepared, one draw of a piece of paper with a child's name written on it, to determine whether or not you may come back home again or your life is about to come to an end. This pageant will forever be known as The Hunger Games.
The Career Academy, filled with young people brought in to learn to fight and survive before setting forth into the games, before setting forth in what could be the final chapter of their young lives. Volunteering is considered an honor, this is one thing taught at the academy. They prepare and train you for means of survival and to be certain that your life will surely be saved after the nightmare is over. Most of these kids are sent in at a young age by wealthier families from Districts 1, 2, and 4. Some return victorious, some remain unfortunate despite their training. At the end of the day, they're all kids who are just fighting or their lives in order to come back home to their families and finally say that the nightmare is over.
District 1, one of the richer districts in Panem, providing The Capitol with luxury items suck as jewelries and the like. Everything seems to be in order, working, selling, buying, normal life as it is, but for the young people who are to be possibly sent into an arena of death, it was all training for them.
It's the last week of training. The Reaping for the 74th Annual Hunger Games is in a two weeks and this is the last year of being eligible of being put in the games for Marvel. Hopefully luck is on his side, if he managed to survive 5 years of his name not being picked out of that bowl, then maybe this year the odds will be on his favor as well. He may not be the best at throwing knives or spears, slashing swords and attacking any opponents as well as champions, but this tall and stud boy has been trained if ever his chance has come.
"Marvel Anton Collins! Get down here son. You gotta eat, it's your last day at the academy" His dad calls for him from downstairs.
"Alright dad, I'm coming," He gets up from staring blankly up at the dusty ceiling, wondering what could happen in a few days. He's not like other kids from his district who would risk their life volunteering for the games, he's not as rich as the other families in his district, he's the eldest among 3 siblings and since his father cannot work by himself and his mother was long gone before his baby sister knew her, he had to help provide for his family. He can't afford to be in the games knowing he doesn't stand a chance.
He makes his way down the spiral steps into their living room then went to his dad in the dining area where he was preparing food for the both of them.
"Are Marina and Mario still asleep?" asks Mr. Collins.
"Yeah dad, still very much knocked out cold." Marvel exclaims with a smirk at the end.
"Alright then, so how are things going for you at the academy? Are you finally excelling at any weapon training? You have to because the reaping is coming up and you have to be ready." Mr. Collins asks as they take a seat at the dinner table.
"I'm doing fine, I think it's good enough," Marvel says as he digs into his breakfast.
"Son, this is your last year. Your name has been put in that reaping bowl more than once, if the odds have been in your favor for the past five years, this year may not be your year. Anything can happen now." Mr. Collins lowers his head while picking on the food on his plate.
Marvel understands his father is just saying this out of concern. Nobody can beat the odds.
"Dad, everything is going to be fine. I'm sure someone else is going to volunteer for me, if you attend the reapings, someone will always volunteer once they pick a name. It's ridiculous." Marvel knows it's still possible that it may not happen this year, the volunteers? He's seen his fellow trainees form his district, they don't seem like volunteering. It's just not the Career way for someone to not volunteer but at the end of the day, these kids just want to have a life. Maybe they don't need honor or riches, maybe they just want to live in peace, out of the hands of the Capitol.
"Son, I'm just speaking to you as a father. We already lost your mom, we can't lose anyone else. After a few years, your brother and sister will be eligible to enter the games as well. If that happens and you're not here anymore.. I just can't let that happen." Mr. Collins starts to tear up.
"Dad, as I said, there will always be volunteers. I don't want Marina or Mario to be like them. I don't want them to risk their lives for riches, it's much too dangerous. Our lives are okay as it is minus the trouble from the games. We are a family and I'm sure mom wants us to be happy even though she's not with us anymore. I will do everything to give us a life dad. I just want to feel free. Everyone does." Marvel exclaims as he tries his best to make his dad feel better.
Mr. Collins wipes his face as a tear falls unto his cheek. Understanding what it feels like to be in his son's position, he's been through the process of training and reapings back in his teenage years. He was one of the luck ones to never have been picked and will always feel disturbed as he watches what happens to the kids in the games when it is televised.
"You better finish your food son, Deni sure won't be happy if you're late. It's your last week, you better not shatter your record. You want to have a good image," Mr. Collins says, almost whispering while trying not to show weakness to his son.
Deni is one of the instructors at the Career Academy, Marvel has been her student for majority of his years at the academy.
"Oh, right," He snaps back into reality after seeing the time, quickly finishes the remaining food on his plate and drinks his orange juice. "Thanks dad, always remember, things are going to be okay." He gets up , grabs his bag and waves goodbye to his dad as he makes his way out of the door, closes it behind him and head to the academy.
On his way through the main roads of District 1, all Marvel could think about are the possibilities of what could happen. He may have trained for most of his life but he will never be ready to face the possibility of never returning back to his family. Never mentioning it to his father, at least he's a pro when it comes to holding a spear. If he were a hunter, he would bring home the load for sure. At least he could bring something to the table and won't appear helpless during the games if ever he was picked. Might as well be ready, but being in the games isn't really in his long list of plans to do in life.
One thought slips through his mind, "I wonder where Kelly could be?" Kelly Mainstreen, former victor of the 69th Hunger Games back when she was 14 years old. Kelly had the skills when it came to weaponry and survival, she's extremely talented and has to be one of the best victors coming from District 1. Kelly is currently living at the Victor's Village but at around this time she's gotta be out. Marvel can't stop thinking about her, they met once when Marvel was tending at a jewelry store to earn some extra income for his family. Kelly was there to buy a simple gold chain necklace with an emerald pendant as a gift to her mother who was celebrating her birthday at that time. They talked, exchanged stories and laughs. They became good friends since then.
Marvel finally arrives at the academy as the bell rang and the other trainees enter the main gate carrying their own things. As he ran up the steps to the front door, he bumps into a fellow student by the arm which makes her bag fall to the ground.
"Oh, I'm sorry miss. I was in a hurry." Marvel says as he helps the girl pick up her things on the ground.
"You better watch where you're going next time. I could've been hurt! I'm in a hurry too, you know." the girl exclaims.
"Sorry miss," he says as he picks up the final item on the ground which come kind of notebook with a name written in front.
'Glimmer Mainstreen'.
"Mainstreen?" Marvel thought.
"Never mind, I'll keep you in mind in any case I bump into you again." She scowls and grabs the notebook in his hands as she turns her back on him enters the front door of the Academy.
"Is she Kelly's sister?" He asked himself. "I'll just call Kelly later or maybe pass by her house, just to find out." He was pretty curious about this girl, something odd about her, or maybe something else. She's a bit sassy and Marvel kind of likes that. He has no idea why he thinks that way but maybe it's just how it is.
He snaps back as he remembers that the bell has already rung and might be late for his class. Deni won't like that for sure. He runs through the door, on the way to his training.
A/N: Hey guys, this is just the first part. Don't worry Clato fans, Cato and Clove will be in the next chapter. Send me your reviews, I surely appreciate it. Sorry if it appears kind of raw, this is my first time writing a fanfiction.