Obviously, I don't own the Hunger Games or the idea of the Capitol Games, those belong to Collins. I do however own my imagination and the wacky characters and other non-novel details that are in this fic. I wrote this fic because I wanted Collins to make a fourth book and as un-original as the plot may seem, I put my heart and soul into making this as likable as possible.
Since this is my first real fanfic, I would really enjoy feedback and constructive criticism. (Yes, there will be a few grammar and spelling errors. If you want to fix them, I'd love to have a beta!) By the way, sorry if this first chapter is a bit long and boring, but it does get better (or at least I hope you think so). Thanks for giving it a try! -Risha
Blaze: A cloud passes over the sky blocking the sun and making it darker, the Capitol is ruined. Well, not quite. It's more like a beautiful champagne glass broken into a thousand tiny pieces. It's not totally ruined and it can be fixed, but getting it back to it's original form seems close to impossible.
When you look outside at the buildings you can't really tell how hard this place has been hit, except for a few areas that have been bombed or where the pods went off. The real damage is on the inside. The Capitol has no power any more and it's only been a few months since the Rebels took over, President Snow died, chaos broke out, and the shining Capitol crumbled.
"Blaze stop day dreaming!" Analease yells and I snap out of my thoughts. Oh yah right, we are going to the City Circle for a special announcement from the Rebels. The filthy vermin.
"Um sorry Analease, it's just... I don't know. I promise from now on I'll pay attention."
She smiles her cherry smile and we walk past empty shops and nearly silent streets. In the windows I see our reflection, average Capitol girls wearing nice clothing. Analease is the stand out of the pair. Her blonde hair with fashionable blue and pink highlights, defined cheekbones, ice blue eyes with lime green and neon pink eye shadow, and perfectly caved lips make her face something you'd pay to see. As for her outfit well, lets just say it's worth a ton, literally.
A small pain runs through my chest as I compare myself to her. I wish I could be more beautiful. I have a slight tan and burnet hair, normal hair, with no crazy dies in it. (People always told me I had a non-capitalistic sense of fashion.) In a place like the Capitol however, those things don't make me the most special person in the world.
I have fair bone structure, but nothing that stands out. My face is normal, with slightly wide set eyes and a nose that I feel's a little too large. I guess maybe my eye lashes are okay. They aren't thin and are a shade darker than my chocolate milk colored eyes. From exercising on a daily basis, I've managed to keep my weight down, but having a low metabolism sucks. However, there are more important things than looks to worry about, I tell myself. Still, is doesn't stop me from being self conscious.
The windows we walked passed change to a hard brick wall as we go through a narrow alley. It seems creepy and scary even in the day light. The smells of sulfur, smoke, and trash condense in the small space, making it unpleasant to breathe. Unpleasant and impossible are two different things. Luckily, I'm able to survive the stench.
"Ug, I can't wait to get out of there!" Analease complains waving a hand over her nose to add dramatic effect.
"Yea, your not the only one." I sigh. Analease Snow is one of my best friends, still sometimes she can be so...girly, a true pet of the Capitol. But hey, aren't we all? Most people here have never needed to work a day in our lives, until now.
As a little girl I would play with dolls and go to parties- do anything I wanted. As a young teen I spent money like crazy. I was always so oblivious to the world outside the Capitol. I had no idea that some people were starving and drowning in filth. That is a lie. I totally knew, ever since I was eight, I knew.
It was eight years ago when my father told me,"Dearest Puppet, I'm going to visit some of the districts to see which children get reaped this year. You know how Daddy loves his gambling and how he's never wrong. It's taken years of petitioning President Snow, but now child, I've finally been granted permission to travel to the districts to get close up and personal with this year's tributes. Is there anything you want me to bring back for you my angel?"
At the time, I was very adventurous and wished to see the districts for myself, but of corse I knew that couldn't happen. It was very hard for any traveling between the districts unless it was official business. So, I asked my father for the next best thing I could ask for, pictures.
When he got back I was dismayed. The photos showed horrid things. In District Twelve it showed filthy streets, people in rags, and the poor strewn around everywhere. Even though I wasn't there I could almost here the sound of starving children crying out for food and the smell of unwashed bodies.
After seeing that photograph, I burned it in the stove and watched fire claim District Twelve. I tried my hardest to forget what things the people outside the Capitol suffered. I convinced myself it was just some picture to scare me and became cross with my father. He however didn't seem to mind, but instead was happy to know that it was a good betting season that favored District One. That happened to be the first year my mother allowed me to fully watch the Hunger Games. For weeks afterwards, my nights were restless.
Soon we reach the end of the narrow alley and come into a large crowd of people at the City Circle were the Hunger Games Opening Ceremonies used to take place. It's 11:54, six minutes till the noon announcement. We all look up at the balcony on the second story of what used to be President Snow's mansion. There is a mic set up, but no one standing there. If the Capitol was hosting this event, someone would surely be up there now, for the Capitol is always early. This is obviously a Rebel announcement. They are never on time.
"Analease, Blaze, over here!" I hear a faint sound coming from me left. I turn my head and see Caleb.
A smile crosses my face. The sight of my second childhood friend make my heart beat and send warmth to my cheeks. He smiles a goofy yet attractive grin that only he can manage at me, or rather at Analease. My heart drops. It's obvious that I like this boy. However, patting the moves on him would make me a bad friend and ruin our relationship. Even if he does seem to take a liking to Analease, I won't allow myself to complain.
"Hey are you okay Blaze? You seem kind of low profile." Caleb's concerned voice cuts into my thoughts. Shoot I've drifted off again.
"Y-," my voice is cut off by Analease.
"She is fine! Like always, she has her head in the clouds. Blaze, I though you promised not to drift off in thought again. Oh never mind, I'll just keep Caleb company while you think." Analease, being my best friend for ages, knows how to piss me off. To me it seems that ever since my feeling for Caleb arrived, she's been annoying me more. I feel a slight urge to punch her in her perfect little face, instead I keep my cool.
She is about to tell Caleb God knows what when the loud voice booms over the square. Ha, the spiteful part of me taunts, let Analease know what it feel like to be cut off. Oh just give it a rest, another part says.
Up on the stage Is the one girl responsible for the entire rebellion, the one responsible for the Capitols downfall, the girl I despise for all the pain she's caused my family... Katniss Everdeen. She looks as if the hasn't changed once since her fighting days during the rebellion. She still has a healing wound on her arm and her hair is quite messed up. Even from here you can see a smile tugging at her face.
"I'm here to tell you a brief new message from the District Head Quarters (DHQ). I want every body to stay calm and rational when I say this." She pauses for a breath. I clench me teeth wondering what could be so bad she has to warn us to stay calm. After being bombed and mocked and having our leader assassinate, little can keep up from remaining unruffled. 'Come on Katniss, just bloody get on with it,' I think and she does,"This year we are going to have another Hunger Games..." I hear some people cheering. This is the perfect way to make the Capitol feel better, by hosting a Hunger Games for their entertainment.
"...With the children of the Capitol." She finishes and for a second people are silent as if to make sure they heard correctly. Then it sinks in and I'm the first to raise my voice and shout out my contempt.
AN: I hope you thought this was okay. I edited this chapter because in the first version, her eyes were purple which made her really mary-sue like! Anyways, thanks for reading.