Oh god I think to myself. Why? I live in the Capitol. I thought I was safe from the Hunger Games. But no. Not even Capitol children are safe. No Capitol children are ever safe. All around me, girls with dresses every colour of the rainbow, boys in shirts and ties. We enter the roped off area. I kiss my younger brother on the cheek, and leave him to go to the girl section. I know these next few hours will be hell for him. He, and I, are both likely to get picked. We are President Snow's brother's son's son and daughter. This Hunger Games held for the Capitol children who are "directly related to those who held the most power". President Snow is our second uncle. We are directly related those who held the most power. And yet we still have no idea how this reaping is going to work.
As the clock strikes twelve, the last few children hurry in and take their places. I do not understand that if only kids related to powerful beings are to be reaped, why does every kid in the Capitol have to come? I soon find out.
'Greetings, ladies and gentleman of the Capitol. I am President Paylor, as you all know. This is the reaping for the 76th, and last, annual Hunger Games, which will be held using children from the Capitol. Now, here's how this is going to work. There are seven living victors here right now; Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, Annie Cresta, Johanna Mason, Enobaria Keating, Haymitch Abernathy and Beetee Longing. We have a list of all the children directly related to those once in power, this list has ninety-six names on it. Each victor will choose one male name, and one female name from this list to be entered into the Hunger Games, if you are chosen the victor who chose you will be your mentor. This will mean that we will have fourteen tributes. The last ten tributes will be reaped from a pool with every Capitol child's name in it, if you are a regular child that is chosen, you will be appointed on of the victors as your mentor. So, to conclude, this Hunger Games will be held using fourteen Capitol children directly related to those in power, and ten regular Capitol children.'
There is a haunting silence as everybody struggles to digest all this information. So that's why all the children have to attend. I feel a tiny bit better, knowing that ninety-six kids are directly related to those in power. Only fourteen will have to go into the arena. Though I still have a high chance of getting picked, it is much lower than I thought it would be.
'Now,' says President Paylor, 'I am going to read out the list of the children directly related to those in power. If I read your name, please stay in the roped off area. First I will read the females.' She begins to read.
'Anthea Andrews, Caitlin Appleby, Themis Arbritch, Hestia Aria, Hera Aria…' The list goes on and on. I don't listen until she gets to the last names starting with l.
'Daphne Leso, Diana Leso, Sabrina Little, Kali Lobes, Rhea Lotus…' Even though I knew my name would be called, my stomach still squirms when I hear it. I am in a daze for the rest of the reading, the only name that catches my attention is 'Sabrina Snow', because it is President Snow's granddaughter, whom is my friend and relative. She finally finishes the girls with 'Kynthia Zary', and then asks all the girls whose names were not called to leave the roped off area. I look around at all the girls that remain stationary and find Sabrina Snow. I hurry over to her. She looks distraught.
'I'm going to get picked.' She whispers.
'Maybe not…' Even though I know in my heart that she will. I don't listen to any of the boy's names, except when she gets to 'Frey Lotus' when I search through the crowd of boys to find my brother looking horribly sad. She finally reaches the end of the boys and then asks all the boys whose names have not been called to leave the roped off area. I notice that there is a lot more girls than boys. I suddenly become aware of the line of victors at the back of the stage. I wonder which victor I would like if I am chosen. Enobaria scares the living daylights out of me, do I don't want her. Haymitch and Beetee are both quite old and Haymitch is a drunk, so maybe not either of them. Johanna also scares me a bit, so I don't really want her. But I would be okay with Katniss or Peeta or even Annie. Johanna is the first victor to take the list. I suddenly find I am praying that it's not me.