The Mutant Games
Disclaimer
Me: Hi people!
Max: Who are you?
Me: *sarcastic* The owner of the Hunger Games and Maximum Ride! Now do the disclaimer. (Holds out cookie)
Max: Lilygarnet doesn't own any book… Gimme the cookie!
Chapter One
When I woke up, the sky was an ashy gray. I slipped outside to hunt in the woods. I'm Maximum Ride and I need to survive the Reaping. The Reaping is when a Capital picks one girl and boy from each district to fight to death. I was so scared because Ella, my sister, had just turned 12, which meant that she could be picked for the Mutant Games. In the woods I met up with Fang, my friend and fellow hunter. "You're late Maxine." he said, teasing me. When we first met, I had muttered my name and it sounded like Maxine, not Maximum. Fang and I are pretty close though. Anyone else who calls me Maxine will get a dagger to their neck. I pulled out my bow and arrow from a hollowed out part of a tree and aimed for a bird. I shot it and Fang ran to get it. After killing five birds, we went to the M.B.M, a black market. I made a bee-line for Slimy Sue, an octopus mutant. One of her hands accepted two birds, and another ladled out soup for Fang and me. I managed to choke down the stew; tree bark with a little bit of honey, and walked away to trade with other people. When I was done, I waited for Fang at the entrance. Fang was approaching so I left. He was carrying a bird, probably chicken, slung over his shoulder as his hair clouded up his eyes. I had gotten herbs for mother, meat, and one piece of candy for Ella. My father would usually do all this, but he's dead. Died in a science lab in the Capital, which gives me one more reason to hate them. Fang and I parted our ways as I walked home. We lived in the poorest part of District 12, the Mutants. You see, some Capital jerks had the nerve to mutant regular humans. I'm only one of the ones who have gotten scarred. Fang is also one. My mother used to be one of Them, but she stopped and is a doctor. She and Ella get to be normal; I'm the only freak in the house. Ella was wearing a pretty white dress and patiently waiting as mom did her hair in ringlets. Mom nodded at me as I walked in and jerked her head to the table where a beautiful flower-filled blue dress was waiting. I went into my room and tried it on. It was stunning; better than anything I had wore before. I braided my dirty-blonde hair as I shivered. Finally, we were all dressed as we made our way to the town square. The Reaping happened here, every year. I went to the 14 year old section as Ella meekly walked to the 12 year old section. A lady with pink hair, Effie, would call out the names. Just as the yearly Mutant Game announcement came on, I spotted Fang and nodded at him. He nodded back, understanding. When we were 12, we had promised each other that if we were reaped, the other would take care of both families. Like he has to worry. Effie started blabbing about how the Games were created as gory images flashed on the screen behind her. Peacekeepers were keeping an eye out for rowdy behavior. After Effie had finished talking about how the 13 Districts had rebelled the Capital and that District 13 was destroyed, she smiled and said "May the odds be ever in your favor!" As she drew out a name for the girls'. It was Ella.
