DISCLAIMER: Anything you recognize belongs to Suzanne Collins, or to others holding rights to the Hunger Games


1st Games: Marcie O'Malley, District 12, age 15


They had all promised to die as heroes, as proud rebels, never bowing to the Capitol's evil rules. Sent into a sandy killing field, surrounded on all sides by cheering, jeering people of the Capitol in the stands, they were supposed to race for the pile of weapons in the centre. They were supposed to fight and fall until one remained, the winner of the Treason Games.

Instead they stand together in silence. Heads held high, staring back at the crowd until the cheers turn to insults and demands of the guards. After ten minutes the first shot is fired. The tall, strong boy from District One breaks the silence as he screams for his shattered knee. The rest stay standing, silent, unmoving, waiting for their turn.

Bang. Crack. Boom.

Shot after shot, scream after scream, one by one they all fall down.

Her turn comes near the end. The first shot takes her through the stomach, cutting a burning path through her insides. She fights through the agony and forces herself to stay upright. The second shot cracks her shin and she collapses to the ground with the others, writhing and moaning, but never ever giving in.

One by one they bleed out to the moans and cries of agony, the roiling waves of anger and disappointment washing from the crowd, until only she is left. She doesn't realize she's the last one alive until the white men stand over her, ready to shoot until the call over the lead man's communicator stops them.

"Hold your fire, we still need a victor. She'll have to do. Take her back and make her cooperate."

The bag slides over her head and she doesn't see light for a very long time.