No matter how many times I tried to comb down my messy brown hair after sleeping on it, it just came back up, like a resistant spring. My hair is pretty unsettlable, even after adding water to it. I walked over to the window and looked outside, a habit of mine every time I'm trying to get ready for the day, as I tried to get my hair to settle. I expected to see the same usual things: The trees that are dotted around behind my house, the green shimmering blades of grass after the morning's rain, and the woods through the gate in which we had to hunt. But there was more that I saw.
There were tens of hovercrafts flying above across our district. I forgot about my hair and quickly ran downstairs and outside to see what all of this was about. The hovercrafts were flying away into the horizon. I just shrugged and walked back inside, lazily slapped some water on my hair, got dressed, and walked back downstairs. Just then, I heard an explosion and screaming in the distance, followed by more explosions. I ran outside and made out smoke and the faint figures of hovercrafts dropping bombs in the distance. District 13 was getting punished for its uprising. A warning to all of the other districts that the Capitol would not give pretty ends to those who defied it.
I heard our house's TV turn on automatically to give an "Important Announcement!" I ran back inside to see the TV, followed by my little brother, Alan, who just ran downstairs, apparently aroused by the faint explosions. Our parents were killed by Peacekeepers when they tried to form an escape plan through the forest when the Capitol was treating us poorly. Sure, District 9 people could hunt and survive in the wild well, but it wouldn't take long for the Capitol to track us down and kill us or turn us into Avoxes.
President Han appeared on screen and said, "District 13 is being bombed due its uprising. I want you to never, ever due something like that! We don't want to hurt any of you, except if you're threating to us." We knew that was a lie, because the Capitol still treats us like dirt no matter how peaceful we try to be. We're like slaves to them. "Keep this as a lesson," President Han said. "And as a reminder, we will give every district an annual punishment. Now, don't defy us!" The announcement ended and the TV turned off.
That happened only yesterday.
I am Jay, a 15-year old male from District 9. I have just started writing in this journal. I will figure out what kind of 'punishment' that the Capitol will give us and try to stop it. I will record any of my findings in here. For now, I need to rest. I've been feeling post-traumatic and sickly. I'll write what I find out when I wake up tomorrow.
