It has been fifty years since the last Hunger Games. In the 74th Hunger Games, two victors emerged. Peeta and Katniss, the two victors, sparked an uprising, causing the 75th Hunger Games to be sabotaged leaving no victor. The districts upraised and overthrew the Capitol.
The districts, including a rebuilt District 12 and 13, have been living in harmony up until a few years ago. Unfortunately, without a strong central government, Panem began to collapse. Many rich citizens, especially government officials, moved to the Capitol and took control. Some citizens in the districts opposed this migration, but the poor district citizens had to spend most of their energy trying to stay alive.
With a much stronger central government, citizens in the Capitol, who had much harder lives since the rebellion, were starting to get better treatment. As they got richer, the districts got poorer, and soon things were back to the way they were. With everything back to the way it was, the infamous District 13 tried again to upraise. While the rebellion was slightly more successful than the original time, District 13 still disappeared quickly after trying to rebel. The affairs of District 13 were a mystery to the other 12 districts, and the Capitol government only stated that District 13 was no longer part of Panem.
Then the Capitol came out with a new statement. As a punishment for the rebellion, the Hunger Games would recommence. Outrage filled the districts. Many citizens were killed, including many soldiers of the Capitol, but in the end, the districts were simply too weak. One change would be made to the Hunger Games though. In response to the Capitol citizens' wishes for Peeta and Katniss to survive together, the rule change for the Hunger Games made it possible for two victors to survive the Hunger Games. The tributes would declare their partner before the interviews.
I am one of the tributes for the 76th Hunger Games. My name is Ceth Harrison, and I am a 16 year old from District 12. Normally, I would be at an extreme disadvantage because Districts 1, 2, and 4 would have been training for the Hunger Games, but there has been no need to train since the Hunger Games were abolished fifty years ago. In fact, I might be at an advantage this year because I have a living mentor, Katniss Everdeen. Peeta died during the rebellion, and Haymitch died about 20 years ago.
My counterpart, Helena Miller, is one of my friends. We would run together in the summer and we had class together in the school year, so we are pretty close. I know that we will be partners in the Games.
After we are chosen, we shake hands and are taken to a holding room. I say goodbye to my family and friends. Of course, it was sad for everyone, but I had more important things to think about. I have confidence that I will make it back, and my family can get along fine without me in case I don't, so I don't cry. I ask for advice from my grandparents, who were alive during the Games. They tell me to take advantage of my running abilities.
"Ceth, you are a fast runner. You have run every inch of this town and so has Helena. Don't leave the Cornucopia empty handed, but avoid the middle. That's where the careers will be." My grandfather said.
"Dad, there won't be any careers. The 76th Hunger Games are a surprise to everyone, so they haven't been training." My mom said.
"Don't be so sure. I bet at least one district has kept training tributes just in case. Ceth, watch the reapings. If there are any volunteers from Districts 1, 2, or 4, they are Careers. Or suicidal."
"You'll be home by Thanksgiving." My grandmother said.
I believe my grandfather about Careers. I saw the Hunger Games coming as soon as mandatory television viewing became law when there was something important to see. The televisions in the town center were generally used for the Hunger Games before the rebellion. If I, a 16 year old, could predict the Games, many adults must have as well, especially the ones who lived through them.
Our hour with visitors is up, and Helena and I are taken to a train. Katniss is with us as well as our escort, Franetta. Katniss seems incredibly unhappy. From what I remember seeing her in town, she was always glum. Most likely this even more sour mood resulted from the Games recommencing. Franetta, a very typical escort (from what my grandparents told me), shows us the recaps of the reapings. As Grandpa predicted, there are volunteers. The males from Districts 1 and 2 volunteer and the female from District 4 volunteers. Surprisingly, the male from District 11 is also a volunteer. They look strong, but I still believe I can win.
The youngest tribute is a 13 year-old girl from District 7. She looks terrified and weak. Her glasses fell off as she walked on stage, and, crying, she mouthed the word please as her escort asked for volunteers. Nobody did, but when the male tribute, Anthony Thayer, was called, a volunteer walked confidently to the stage. The young girl saw the volunteer's face, and immediately broke into tears yet again.
"No!" She screamed. "Don't, Garth! Don't volunteer!"
Anthony Thayer looked at Garth. "Penelope is right. Don't worry, Garth, I'll bring your sister back with me." Garth says something to Anthony before walking away.
Anthony turned down a volunteer! I'm disappointed because Garth appeared much weaker than Anthony. Anthony may have had a fighting chance, but he promised to side himself with a puny girl, so he will doubtfully be victorious.
On any other day, this moment would have touched me, but today I have abandoned emotion for logical thinking. I have abandoned love for apathy. But I know I must stay in character as the optimistic, cheerful guy I was to gain sponsors and to avoid alienating Helena. I suspect she is doing a similar thing on the inside though. I suspect all tributes go through this process.
That night, we feasted. Tomorrow is the Opening Ceremonies.