Panem, Day of the 73rd Hunger Games - District 12.

Clary POV

Effie Trinket walked on stage. "Welcome, Welcome!" She said, beaming at the crowd, "The time has come to select one couragous man and woman for the honour of representing District Twelve in the Seventy-Third annual Hunger Games." She walked elegantly over to the two choosing bowls. "Ladies first as usual." She declared and plunged her hand into the bowl.

She selected one name and then pulled it out without as much as moving a muscle. She waited a few more seconds and then cried, "Jennifer Peterson!" My heart stopped for a second and I seen people around me stare at me, in shock and horror. "Come on Jennifer, we have only limited time you know!" I took a deep breath and stepped forwards. I moved towards the stage and I seen Peacekeepers wrestling my brother, Jon, and bestfriend, Simon, to the ground.

I mounted the steps and Effie was already picking the boys name. "Rein Athema!"

Rein was Jon's bestfriend. Jon would probably volunteer. "I volutee-"

"Don't Jon!" I seen Rein yell, "Don't do that. It'll rip your family apart!" Jace glared at Jon, and then stalked to the stage. He mounted the steps.

"Well then, wasn't that... exciting?" Said Effie. This was probably more entertainment than the veiwers at the Capitol had wished for from a Reaping. "Well you two, shake hands." She said. I looked at Rein and he smiled weakly at me. We both moved to the center of the Stage and insted of taking my outstreched hand, Rein pulled me into a hug. We held ourselves there for a few seconds before Effie told us to break it up.

She then led us to the Justice Building and told Rein to go into one room and me another.

I sat down in a leather chair and waited for someone to come in. A few moments later, Jon came in. I rose to my feet and hugged him. I felt like crying, but no tears would come. "Jen, you can win this." Jon whispered into my hair. "You will win this. You'll get a group of people together, and you'll win it together. Make an ally of Rein. He knows his weapons and how to out witt anything or anyone."

We then just stayed there, hugging each other until the peacekeeper came in.

Simon came in after Jon had gone and said pretty much the same thing.

My mom came in a few minutes later and handed me a necklace. I had a ring around it and the ring had a little bird in a ring of fire. It was her wedding ring.

She handed me that, kissed me on the head and then left without saying a word.

We boarded the train and I seen my friends crying. I waved to them from the inside and then we pulled away. I looked at the cabin for the first time. It had a diamond light hanging from the ceiling of the train. It was obviously themed to look like the sky or ocean or something because everything was either pale yellow or a faded blue. Jace and I ventured futher into the cabin and we seen a table which seemed to be weighed down with strange, exotic, luxurious food. "Wow." Was the only thing Rein and I said.

At home, we'd make that food last for months, giving small portions out to practically everyone over that time. On here, and in the capitol, this would feed one person for one meal. How was this even legal?

It didn't matter now did it. Rein and I only had two weeks until we were expected to be trained to go into the arena. It wasn't like it would matter if one of us gained weight, we'd probably be killed off withing the first eight hours. Two years ago, both of our tributes made it until the final day.

The boy, Marek, had grown to adore the girl, Yvaine. Then the careers came. Marek being eighteen easily beat the crap out of them, killing them off, one by one. And then Lethal, the district two boy came and brutally murdered Yvaine in the last few hours. Lethal then painted a bright big '2' on Yvaine's chest with her blood. Marek came back, and seen his friend, lying limp on the floor, and broke. Mentally. He and Lethal were the last two left in the end.

Marek went hunting for Lethal and begged him to kill him, claiming Yvaine had been like his younger sister. Lethal smiled at Marek and told him to rot with the others, before killing him with a blow to the head.

It had been one of the most shocking deaths in the Hunger Games history.

I sighed and forgot where I was for a moment. I looked at the large, beautifully decorated, fudge cake which sat with pride of place at the center of the table. I seen Rein help himself to a peice and then Effie laughed, "It's quite alright Jennifer. It won't disolve." I hesitated. "Think of it as a parting gift from the capitol to you." Effie says. "Enjoy the expreriance while you still can." She sipped something from her drink and then dabbed her mouth. I nodded curtly and took a sliver of the cake.

I heard a booming laugh coming from behind me. "That wouldn't help you in the arena girl." Says a gruff voice which can only belong to Haymitch. Our mentor. "If that was in the arena, and you were starving, you would take a quater of that." He says, taking a swig from his glass. I raise a eyebrow at him and he chuckles, "I'm only teasing you. There will never be cake in the arena. That is a promise." He puts his glass down and looks me and Rein over. "Well." He finally says, "I think you two have potential."

"The horn of plenty,

the horn of plenty overflows,

Panem will raise above,

Panem shall raise above,

May our nation never fall again."

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