I remember when the train suddenly came to a stop. My cart door was yanked open and there was a man that I could've sworn looked like he was wearing a storm trooper outfit. He had a large gun I'd never seen before. He yanked me out of the cart. "Hey!" I shouted trying to break free, "Get your hands off me!" I saw that we had stopped in Africa and that there were tons of soldiers taking everyone else too. I even saw them attempting to grab my parents. My dad fought back and tried to attack the soldiers before one grabbed a gun. I heard a gunshot and then saw my dad fall to the ground. My eyes widened. "No...No! Dad!" I tried to run to him but the soldiers threw me into a separate train and locked the door. I tried to break out but I couldn't. This wasn't like our train. It had more advanced technology. Through a little window I saw a man throw something in our train. Shortly after, it exploded.
I tried to process through my mind what just happened as the train moved. We were kidnapped, they killed my dad, they destroyed our home, we're going God knows where now. I thought. Eventually, the door hissed as it slid open. I was about to attack our kidnappers before they tased me. They took me to a room where I saw my other friends being taken into a room one by one. They took me there and strapped me to a chair. They injected something into me and I yelled in pain. "Yeah, hurts like a bitch doesn't it?" One man said. I felt slightly dizzy. "Who are you!? Why are you doing this!?" I shouted even though they only heard roars. Or so I thought. "The serum worked. He can speak." One man said. My eyes widened. I didn't have time to say anything before they put me back in the train.
The train drove us to what looked like a deserted village. They introduced us to a house saying it's where we lived now. District 12.
3 years later
My eyes snapped open to hear a familiar scream. I sat up from my bed to see Marty terrified. I didn't have to ask what was wrong. It was clear he'd had another nightmare. I hugged him trying to comfort him. "Shh, Marty it's ok. It was just a dream." I said. "It was me..." He choked out, "They picked me..." I looked him in the eyes. "Marty, your name's only been in there once. They're not gonna pick you." I said. I stood up and began to walk downstairs. "Where're you going?" Marty asked. "Hunting." I replied. I walked downstairs and grabbed my jacket. I heard barking and looked to my side to see Marty's dog, Goldie. One of the animals that wasn't injected with the serum. It hated me. "I'll still cook you." I warned it and walked outside.
I passed by the bakery on my way to the district boundaries. I remembered shorty after we were taken to District 12 for the first time I went out to search for food. I was so hungry I nearly passed out once I reached the bakery. I could see two people. No...animals. Panthers. One was an older female who was scolding a male who looked about my age. When the female went back in the bakery, the male broke pieces of burnt bread and threw them to some un-serumed pigs (Un-serumed: Hadn't been injected with the serum that allowed animals to speak). I stared at the bread longingly. Then I saw the panther was looking at me. Then he looked down at the bread, then back at me. He threw the rest of the bread in my direction. I picked it up, wiped off the mud, then looked at the panther. He said nothing and went back into the bakery. I grabbed the bread and took it to the others. It wasn't much but it was all I could salvage.
I got to a fence that had a sign saying: District borders! No entry! I slipped through the fence and went into the woods. I pushed a log over to find my quiver of arrows, and grabbed my bow out from a tree. I hid my weapons so I wouldn't risk the Capitol finding them. I moved quietly through the woods. Then I heard footsteps that didn't belong to me. A deer. I readied my bow and aimed for the deer. "What're you going to do with that when you kill it?" The deer darted and I shot my arrow. I missed. I turned around. "Damn you, Gia!" I hissed. Gia chuckled. "It's not funny." I said as she approached me. "It kinda is." She smiled. I rolled my eyes. Gia grabbed a rock and threw it into the bushes. A group of birds came flying out, and I shot it down. Gia and I chuckled as I went to retrieve my arrow.
Suddenly a loud noise came from above us. I recognized it instantly. It was a Capitol ship. I took Gia and we hid under a bush. That ship gave me a grim reminder: today was reaping day. Later, Gia and I sat in a clearing with a good view of the woods. "We could do it y'know." Gia said. I looked at her. "Do what?" I asked. "Take off. Run away." She said staring into the distance. I sighed, "they'd catch us." Gia shrugged. "Maybe not." I shook my head. "We wouldn't make it five miles." Gia sighed. "Well if we could, we could take the others with us. Venture out, see what we can see." I chuckled. "Marty in the woods?" I asked. Gia chuckled too. "Maybe not." We sat there and stared into the horizon. "Oh! Check this out." Gia grabbed something out of her bag. Fresh, warm bread. "Oh my God! Where'd you get this?" I said grabbing my half. Gia nodded. "I got it from the bakery." I swallowed the bread and sighed contently. "Happy Hunger Games." Gia said. I pulled my Effie Trinket impression. "And may the odds be ever in your favor." Gia and I laughed even though I knew that the Hunger Games was no laughing matter.
On our way back to the house, I stopped by the market. That's when I saw a golden pin. It was a bird. "What's this?" I asked the shopkeeper. "It's a Mockingjay." She replied. I ran the pin through my fingers. "How much?" I asked. "Keep it. It's yours." The shopkeeper said. I looked at her. "...thank you..." I said. When Gia and I got back to the house we got ready for the reaping. I took a shower and brushed through my mane. "Alakay..." I turned to see my mom. Tears formed in her eyes. I hugged her. "I'll be ok, mom." I said. I knew that she was not only worried for me, but still sad about dad. I found Marty staring in the mirror. He was wearing a nice jacket. "Hey Marty." I said. He looked at me. "Hey" he replied. I handed him the pin. "What's this?" He asked. "A Mockingjay pin. As long as you have it, nothing will happen to you. I promise." I said as I pinned it to his jacket. Marty looked at me with fear in his eyes. "It'll be ok." I said.
We made our way to the District 12 square, where the reaping a were held. Although I held Marty's hoof tightly, he was still trembling while staring at the dirt. We walked up to the desk. "Name?" The man asked. "Alex Lyon" I replied and held out my wrist for them to take a blood sample. "Name?" He asked Marty when he got up to the desk. "M-Marty Stripes" Marty said nervously. I winced when he got his shot. When we got to the square I realized I wasn't holding Marty's hoof anymore. I searched for it before I saw Marty was no longer beside me. I was about to push through the crowd to find him but it was too late.
Effie Trinket bounced up to the stage happily. I frowned. I still don't get why they think The Hunger Games are amusing. I thought. "Welcome, Welcome!" Effie said happily, "to the 74th annual Hunger Games. May the odds be ever in your favor." She smiled. No one smiled back. We were forced to watch the same video as always. Explaining Panem, The Hunger Games, the districts, blah blah blah. "And now to choose our tributes." Effie's announcement made me flick back into focus. I was able to see a scared Gia on the girls side. She noticed I was looking at her. "It's ok." I mouthed. She forced a smile and gulped. Effie ran her hand playfully through the glass jar of names before she picked one. "Marty Stripes."
My blood ran cold. I felt dizzy. I nearly fell onto the person behind me. How is this possible?! It was one of a million! My eyes darted back and forth wildly searching for Marty. I finally saw a black and white figure moving towards the center. Uncontrollably, I pushed through the crowd to the center of the square. "Marty!" I shouted. I saw him turn around to see me. Two guards held me back from him. "Marty!" I struggled. I was in so much of a panic that something slipped past my lips that I couldn't control. "I volunteer! I volunteer!" I slipped off the guards and glared at Effie. "I volunteer as tribute!" I announced.
I could feel everyone's eyes on me. "It looks like we have a volunteer!" Effie announced. I ran to Marty's side. He was screaming. "Alex are you insane?! You can't go!" I held him. "Marty, I want you to go. Go find the rest of the gang." I said sternly. He refused to let go of me. "No! Alex I won't let you!" I saw Vitaly in the crowd and beckoned him over. He seemed to already know what I wanted. He walked over and lifted Marty up to carry him home. "Alex! No! No!" I stared at him as Vitaly left. Some guards led me to the stage. When I stood in front of the crowd, Effie put the mike to my face. "What's your name?" She asked. I stared into the crowd. "Alex Lyon" I choked. Effie giggled. "Well let's all give a big hand to out volunteer, Alex." She said clapping. No one clapped for me. Instead, everyone did the gesture of our district.
"And now for our next tribute." Effie stuck her hand in the glass jar and took out another slip of paper. I prayed in my mind that none of my friends would be picked. Please don't be Gia, please don't be Stefano, please don't be Gloria... "Nolan Fang" Effie announced. My eyes widened. I knew that name. It was the name who's owner gave me the bread three years ago. I stared as he walked onto the stage. "Now as you should know, the tradition is for our tributes to shake hands in good luck." Effie said. Nolan held out his hand waiting for me to shake it. I glared at him for a moment before I hesitantly shook his hand.
We were taken into the justice building and I was left in a room alone. I knew this would officially be maybe the last time I see my friends. No. My family. They were all the family I had. Marty, Gloria, my mom and Melman came first. Marty wrapped his arms around me and cried into my shoulder. "Alex they called my name! You shouldn't have volunteered!" He said. I patted his back. "I'll be ok, bud." I said. Then I stood up and glared at my mom. I put both my hands on her shoulders. "Listen to me. You listening?" I asked sternly. My mom looked surprised at my stern tone and nodded. "You cannot- you WILL NOT clock out. I may not be around to keep everyone alive. And no matter what you see on that screen you need to fight through it. Got it?" I said. My mom looked at the floor shamefully. I sighed and pulled her into a hug. "It's ok mom." I whispered. Marty tapped me and put something in my hand. "T-to protect you..." He said. It was the mockingjay pin I gave him. I knew I couldn't win. I didn't know how to fight! A couple of arrows won't get me anywhere. But I'll try. For my family. A peacekeeper orders them to leave. We said our last goodbyes and soon I was alone again. Just then the door swings open and Gia walks in hugging me. "Alex you need to get to a bow." She said. "What if there aren't any?" I asked. "Make one. You know how. It's just like hunting." She said. I shook my head. "Gia this is different. They're people. I've only killed un-serumed animals." I stated. "Alex." She looked in my eyes, "I know you can do this." The peacekeeper came in and pulled Gia out.
On that day I knew my life would either end or change forever.