"The Hunger Games" belongs to Suzanne Collins, not me.
A/N: ok this story may sound like a "war on terror" story but it's not. I'm still not sure but I think it save to say Seam is a village of south Asian country. Yes Capitol is present day America (SORT OF), Peace-keepers are Nato forces, Hob is "Karkhano Market". Rebels are Taliban. That being said doesn't not mean I root for any of that (i-e: WAR). It's just what I think The Hunger Games feels like in real life. Come to think of it:
"Fiction is Fact buried beneath all the Lies"
So before you accuse me of portraying the worlds (both real and imaginary) wrongly do keep in mind, it's my first fic ever and it'll make sense once I update more chapters. Please Do Review and tell me what you think.
I'd like to thank Honeylime; she was my Beta for this chapter.
Lastly I'd like to thank DustWriter for enhancing this.
Peace on earth
This story is based on a world, which is now called "Panem" and has 13 districts and a ruling state called "Capitol."
Back in the Dark Days each district was a separate country with its own government and rulers but after fatal World War 3 most of the world population died and a new world order was passed. 160 countries of the world were divided into 13 districts creating a collective world called Panem. Now, Capitol, the super power makes laws and has the overall charge of all the districts.
In the year 2000, District 13 rebelled against Capitol and a war ensued. Many District 13 rebels took refuge in District 12, drawing the Capitol's wrath. Using its peacekeepers, Capitol took complete charge of 12 and fought the rebels for the next several years. The people of 12, especially those from "Seam," a small village at the border line between 12 and 13, suffered crossfire between rebels and peace keepers for years and was negatively portrayed as a terrorist district all over Panem.
A warm day of June
Seam, District 12.
Katniss POV:
I stand in the doorway, too excited and at the same time scared of the manila envelope that lies harmlessly on my bed. This envelope holds the name of my Host family. I'm procrastinating. I know it won't be long before an overly enthusiastic Effie runs into my room asking me where I got placed. I decide to take my time and open that envelope when I'm ready. I reach out for the parcel, feeling its weight in my hands. It's a bit heavy for its size. I unwrap it and analyze the contents. It contains 5 booklets and some papers titled "Guidelines" detailing the terms and conditions of my stay in Capitol. I go through the booklets and then I take out the papers titled, "Guidelines."
The first page tells about the "Exchange Programme," according to which each year 240 bright students called "Tributes," between the ages of 12-18 are selected through an evaluation test. These tributes are then sent to Capitol where they experience the Capitol lifestyle. The tributes are to live with a Capitol family, who hosts them, providing food and lodging. Each tribute is supposed to attend public school and live for nine months in Capitol, afterwards returning to his/her district to continue education at a local college or university.
The actual Guidelines begin on the next page, which states, "Each Tribute is to abide by the rules stated below. Any violation of the rules by the tribute during his/her stay in Capitol will result in immediate termination of the programme."
The rules are as follows:
Tributes are to spend their allotted days in the municipality in which they are placed. They are not allowed to leave before informing their mentor.
It hasn't happened before but the Capitol just wants to keep track of its precious little Tributes.
The next rule says:
Every Tribute will have his/her own mentor who will keep the Coordinators of the Exchange programme up to date with all the activities the Tribute indulges in during his/her stay at the capitol. The tribute is obligated to keep in touch with his/her at least mentor once per month.
A mentor is the person who makes sure the Tribute is spending a safe time in capitol. He's basically the guy who will check on you that you're still there, not plotting something against capitol.
Each tribute will receive a monthly allowance known as "sponsorship," which the mentor will deliver after each update session.
It is one of many duties of mentor to get you sponsors. Sponsors are mostly people like wealthy scientist and researchers of well known universities that are willing to sponsor your stay at capitol. They are actually exploring your potential towards any field of science/arts/technology. The mentor usually highlights your capabilities. I wonder what my mentor; Haymitch would have to say to convince people to sponsor me. Effie knows Haymitch personally though I haven't met him yet. She told me he's the best at mentoring, He'll make me look good to sponsors and I shouldn't worry about it. I hope she is right. My only strong asset is English literature and not many researchers look forward to sponsor that. Most want a technology whiz kid.
Each tribute will be placed with a well-off Capitol family that will look after the Tributes during their stay at Capitol. Tributes must try under all circumstances to be part of the family, participating in the household affairs of the family.
Honestly this part scares me the most. What if my host family isn't amiable to district rats, as some call us? There have been few cases of harassment and slavery inflicted on Tributes, and so further rules were made to ensure the safety of the district Tributes. Unfortunately those previous cases were swiped clean and no justice was done to the Tributes. I just really hope my host family isn't like the snobbish Capitolites who think poorly of everything that's not Capitol. I hope they'll be broad-minded and not look down on District 12 because of its affiliation with the District 13 Rebels. Many of the Capitolites think District 12 to be still under the power of the rebels. I and many children like me have lost our families to the crossfire between 12 and Capitol a few years back. Now District 12 is under Capitol's rule. The next rule says:
It is mandatory for each Tribute to contribute minimum 2 hours of his/her weekday to the family, helping with whichever chore the family picks for her/him as a token of gratitude for their generosity towards the Tribute.
Well of course I can't live there for free. Everything comes at a price and so does Capitol hospitality. I don't like owing to people, and its fair I work for them as payback for food and lodging.
Each Tribute is to attend a public school in the vicinity of the town and attend 90% of classes by the end of the year.
I'm more than happy to follow this rule. I wonder if high schools are as fun as they show on cable.
Each Tribute is to attain at least a "B" grade in all the Exams held during his/her session.
I'll get an "A", I think hopefully.
Each Tribute will be given protection by the laws of Capitol and will also be punished according to the Capitol Law if found guilty of murder, drug dealing, owning weapons, stealing, forging, etc.
These were the modified rules that still sound like Tributes could be a potential threat to Capitol citizen safety.
Each tribute is to report to his/her mentor if he/she is mistreated by the host family. Tributes are also obligated to report any incidents of racism by the host family or people around him/her.
I hope my host family is not that low and that I'll only know for sure once I open that envelope.
There are many other rules that I skim over. Some protect the family; some protect the Tributes.
I finally put down the "Guidelines" and consider doing what I've been delaying. "Time to find out who will be my host mom and dad," I huff, like there is no other option left. I'm still surprised Effie hasn't barged in on me. She knows how anxious I was at breakfast, though it must be killing her to give me the time I need. Effie is the one who introduced me to this programme. She runs the Capitol-funded community home that houses thirty girls like me: some abandoned by families, some orphaned due to war, others who ran away. She was once an elite Capitolite, but after the war she gave up everything and came here to this quiet green and gray village matted with coal soot. She's still a Capitolite, her accent and appearance has not changed, but her heart did. She lost many people in the war, before leaving to settle here. Though she acts like our mother, she still demands we call her by her first name.
I sigh and collect all five booklets and The Guidelines and carry them to a trunk at the foot of my bed which houses all my favorite novels. Some pirated, some misprinted. They have all been bought at the Hob, a black market where you can buy second-hand clothes, donated by Capitolites, smuggled food stuff (that was supposed to be Capitols aid to the "Peace keepers" fighting in District 13), pirated books, somehow working electronics and movies. Though I can't afford most of the things I still go to the Hob but mostly to pay visits to Greasy Sae's book stall. Father used to take me there to buy me story books. She knows me well and lets me borrow second-hand or pirated prints on the condition that I take care of them and return them on time.
I climb in the bed grabbing the manila envelope fumbling with the seal, just to kill time. The seal pops open quickly, much to my dismay. "Here goes nothing," I mumble to myself. The first thing that I take out is a letter by the host family to me. I was told two months ago to write one to the host family and send a few pictures of myself. It was strange writing to no one in particular telling them what I liked, what interested me in Capitol and stuff like that. Effie had also gotten me into a soft sky blue dress and shot few photos of me on her iPhone to send to the host family.
My host mom's name is Romessa Mellark and my host dad's name is Zeus Mellark.
They have sent me a letter. From her loopy hand writing I perceive Mrs. Mellark to be a sophisticated, fine Capitol woman who wears nothing but expensive, designer clothing. My host mom portion says she always wanted to have a daughter and she can't wait to meet me and treat me like her own, and that she can't wait to dress me up. That part made me laugh because I'm going to be a disappointment to her, just like I was to my own mother for being a tomboy. Well, there is the silver lining. At least the host mom likes you, I think to myself. Her letter ends by revealing that she owns a catering business and caters many elite parties alongside her husband who runs a successful bakery. Her leisure time is mostly devoted to spas, which she finds rejuvenating.
The host dad portion is not too long. He just tells me about himself, a little bit about Merchant Place, and his sons, mentioning that everyone is so excited to meet me. He tells me he owns a bakery and that he would like me to visit him there. Maybe this is his subtle way of saying;" I'm expecting you to work here". Well, I do have to work, so maybe the bakery won't be too bad. I don't know if I can bake, though. In my home I mostly do chores like cleaning and washing dishes. I like cleaning stuff; it helps me take my mind off things. At the end of his letter he mentions sending photographs. I put the letter down and flip the envelope, dumping the photos onto my bed.
The first photo is of a bakery, taken from the outside. The glass window has "Mellark's Bakery" painted on it in loopy golden italics behind which mouth watering baked goods are on display. The next photograph is of the house from the outside. It's sturdy and much nicer than the Justice Building, which is considered to be the finest piece of architecture here in District 12. There are many other photos of the interior of the house, which looks like it's straight from the pages of a home décor magazine.
The next photo is of my host parents. Mrs. Mellark looks as sophisticated as I had imagined her with her pert nose, high cheek bones and blonde hair. Mr. Mellark looks benevolent with his graying blonde hair smiles warmly in this picture.
The next photo featured three boys standing side by side according to their heights. The middle one smiling animatedly, both his arms slung around the boys standing at his side. .He wears a lavender button-down shirt that is a slightly darker hue than his hair and black skinny jeans. His goggled-sized Harry Potter glasses sit on his pert nose making his face look quite skinny. I knew right away this was Rye "Life of the Mellark households" as Mr. Mellark describes him in the letter. Bannock is blonde but looks brawny with his shirt sleeves rolled up exposing his one arm embellished with tattoos. He smirks at the camera, arm crossed.
To Rye other side a guy shorter in stature then both of his bothers but broad shouldered as bannock stands, leaning into Rye's side. Azure eyes, the color of an unclouded spring sky, captivate me. That's the first thing I notice about Peeta Mellark. I stare at his eyes longer then I intended to .Damn this HD camera. I try to avert my gaze but I'm spell-bound by the warmth his eyes hold. I've never seen such a beautiful blue. I've never seen a blue so beautifully blue but then again I haven't seen many things to compare his eyes to. He has blonde hair tousled suggested it was teased by one of his brother right before the picture was taken, smiling not as animatedly as Rye nor as intimidating as Bannock. It's an anomalous feeling: like I don't feel alien anymore. Capitol is a big world different with its skyscrapers. The idea of going there intimidates ad overwhelms me at the same time. But oddly I find myself feeling "Everything will be OK" when i stare at his eyes
But I chastise myself. I'm not the type to swoon over boys. I have my virtue. Right this moment I vow to myself "I'll keep my guard up, I can't be distracted by his beautiful eyes. I have to avoid Peeta Mellark as best as I can."