The 56th Hunger Games

by cosmokim

Told from the point of view of a Capitol viewer, we see the hair raising story of a brutal Hunger Games with vicious tributes. All sorts of people compete, and for the first time the story of a Capitol viewer is available. MUST READ.

1. Reaping

Reapings

I sit down on the couch in my classic Capitol home. The reapings will begin in just a few short minutes, and I can't bear to miss them like I did last year. Well, the Games hold the country together and I love the tributes, hoping that I will pick the correct tribute to sponsor. Because, really, sponsoring the right child will help me become richer than my dear father.

The TV screen is now black, and getting brighter is the number 1. It spins and dances around the screen before settling in the center with the word "Luxury" under it. Then I see a view of the District 1 square and the escort. I don't really pay attention to the words...nobody does…, but I do pay attention to a girl volunteering for her district. She gives a cocky smile.

Then I see a boy chosen, but unluckily for him, nobody volunteers. Tears streaming down his cheeks, he walks slowly to the stage where the escort greets him with a smile. He looks fifteen, maybe sixteen, and it is very rare that nobody volunteers for the male tribute in District 1. I guess they don't want to after they saw Iron Fletcher die on television last year. I had nightmares for months.

Then the District 1 reapings are over and the screen is black once more, and the number 2 bounces across the screen until it stops with the word: Masonry, right under it. The escort is visible, then he draws a piece of paper. When he reaps a tiny thirteen year old girl, an older, stronger girl with a cocky smile volunteers. She walks up with her head up high and slaps the escort on the back.

The boy was an eighteen year old who seemed all too happy to be selected and meets the female tribute with a smile and shakes hands with her. They laugh and the escort says something to the screen and the entire district goes bananas. In District 2, reaping is not a solemn affair.

After that, the reapings lose their exciting air, and I see small children, no more than twelve or thirteen, selected in the districts of 3, 6, 9, 10, and 12. The rest of the tributes seem very capable, and I am wondering which one to choose to sponsor.

Then President Snow himself appears on the screen telling us that we should start preparing to sponsor our tributes, and the interviews would be on in three weeks at 11:00 A.M. I was very excited, and got my slip of paper out and decided to write down,"D2M", which is the standard Capitol way to write"District 2 Male." I just know that I have sponsored the right person.