The 26th Annual Hunger Games.
Flint Auberon! I hear my name called as it is read out from the large clear ball. And yet I'm supposed to be grateful? I should be happy that I have just been entered into a televised battle to the death? Outrageous. I've only started training a few years ago! I stand there startled as I look around. Everyone is staring at me. It must be real… but why? This year one of the older tributes was supposed to volunteer. The 17 and 18 year old guys with large muscles that are skilled with almost any weapon and can dominate in an arena. Why are they not volunteering? I'm 14! I'm not ready!
I stand there waiting as my palms begin to sweat. "Flint Auberon? Where are you?" says the District 1 representative. Am I the only one that thinks it's slightly ridiculous to walk around wearing a fluorescent yellow wig with a matching yellow dress? I finally realise that the odds were not in my favour at all as I make my way up to the stage in front of the Justice Building.
I am shown to where I should stand, next to the female tribute. Emerald was her name. She was a tribute that volunteered for the games. I never really knew what her surname was, but I guess that won't matter anymore. She was 18 and she had long blonde hair. Her blue eyes were the colour of a cascading waterfall. Her beautiful lips formed as smile as she waved to the roaring crowd. Now I know why nobody volunteered for me. They wouldn't be able to end the life of this angelic girl. Plus, she is skilled when it comes to using a spear, whether it is for throwing or in combat.
I can just make out the faces of my mother and father. My mom has a blank expression on her face as a tear makes its way down her cheek. Whereas, my father seems overjoyed. I can't make out if it's because I may have the chance to bring pride to our district, or if it's because I will be facing my certain death. I try to ignore it as I am pulled off stage by a tall figure.
It must be my mentor. His name is Dazzle. I don't know his surname either, but I know he is a good mentor. Our districts tributes have been doing so much better after he won and began training. He won a few years back, when I was 7. In the games, he slashed his way to victory by using a large silver sword. When there were only 2 tributes left, it was him and a female tribute from District 4. She had a bow, so it was hard to attack her without being hit first.
The 2 tributes had trouble finding each other in the arena, so the Game Makers sent in a swarm of muttations. They had the form of brightly coloured Butterflies, but they were like Tracker Jackers! They quickly brought the female tribute from 4 to the cornucopia. She was wounded by the mutts, and she was hallucinating. Only minutes after, Dazzle was chased to the cornucopia too! He saw the girl crawling on the ground helplessly. But when she saw him, she got to her feet, and dashed into the greenery. The trees were tall, but thin. They had a sticky sort of moss that gives you a terrible rash when you make contact with it. Several tributes died from just touching it, and even more by clawing themselves to death when scratching it.
Dazzle dashed through the trees, the direction she went, and saw her, tiptoeing about with an arrow loaded. She was still badly injured, and she jumped every few seconds because of her hallucinations. But an arrow would still be fatal. Dazzle had to think fast, so he began silently hacking away at a large tree with his sword. It took only a few seconds, because he had such amazing strength. The girl however, was now right behind Dazzle, wondering what he was doing. She was about to release the string, and let the arrow fly, but something stopped her.
Dazzle jumped out of the way, but his right ankle got caught. He was considered lucky by the entire nation of Panem though, as the female tribute was completely squished by the tree. Dazzle was now the victor. The Capitol gave him a new ankle, and after a couple of months, he was fine.
This was how he became my mentor. Emeralds mentor however, will be a different victor. Probably a girl. Dazzle has short brown hair (just shorter than mine, which is goes down to my eyebrows), and brown eyes. We look quite similar. It is possible that we are related because we lived in the same area of District 1. But now he lives in the Victor's Village, so I'll never know.