Chapter 2 Henrietta Spinner
I feel so safe in Caythin's arms, I bury my face in his chest. I could never repay Caythin for everything he has done for me, given me a home, supported me, stand up for me. Tears start to form in my eyes when I looked at Caythin's, light blue in color. Many people are passing us, I see Michael, he shoots me a dirty look then moves on. Why does Michael hate me so much? I've never done anything wrong to him, why?
"We should get moving." I tell Caythin.
He lets go of me and holds my hand as were walking into Central Square. I see the Shoe shop, the Bakery, and other buildings surrounding the newly painted Justice building in the middle. I remember when that Justice building was under construction about a year ago, when we all were force from our own districts to live here in 13.
Next to it was a stage-like platform, which I guess, is going to be used for the Reapings. We all go to our lines, the oldest on front and the youngest at the back, separated by red ropes. TV crews are perched up on building, like vultures to a dying animal, training their cameras on everyone.
There are two monitors on top of the platform, peacekeepers covered every exit and guarded the rope line. Out of no ware, two big glass balls, full of little papers, materializes on stage, then our district's mayor, Kyle Macflinn, shows up on stage with a microphone accompanied by a lady with short blue hair, wearing a bright blue blouse type of clothing, skin lighter than snow and a couple of peacekeepers.
They both step aside while the anthem starts to play. After the anthem, Macflinn goes up on the microphone and starts talking about The Dark Days, Panem, The Hunger Games, the reason why we have the Games, and the recreation of District 13. Panem was built on a continent used to be called North America; Panem is consisted of a capitol and 13 outlaying districts. The Dark Days, a term used for the years of the first revolution against the Capitol. Originally, before the Dark Days, District 13 was used in mining graphite and was the center of nuclear weapons development.
Rebels in 13 tried to take control of nuclear silos in the district but failed miserably and resulted in the destruction of 13 by constant bombing. After the revolution, 12 districts are defeated, the 13th one completely destroyed. Thus started The Hunger Games, an annual event in which the districts are forced into sending one boy and girl to an arena where they fight to the death. The winner of the Games is called the Victor and is given an unlimited amount of money and fame Intel the Victor dies. By now Macflinn is talking about the recreation of District 13. District 13, for 75 years it's been nothing but a pile of rubble, Intel last year.
District 13 is recreated as a death camp for rebels and there "associates." In other words, 13 is created to house the families of the rebels. Since most of the districts tried to rebel in the 2nd revolution, we have a percentage of people from each district besides District 2. Macflinn stops talking and the anthem starts playing again, I don't know why. Out of no ware, I see President Snow.
"Welcome ladies and gentlemen to this years reapings." Snow says with a dark tone in his voice,
"I would personally pick our lucky boy and girl to be send off to the exciting Hunger Games, but before we do that, let's look back at our previous Games."
He directs our attention to the two monitors above him. Many clips of previous games were shown to us,
"Who could ever forget the year of Cameron of District 6? Or the year of Haymitch? Or especially the year of Katniss. What exciting Games we've had."
What exciting Games we've had? What is wrong with that man? Innocent children being forced into fight each other is conceder exciting?
"I will now start the reapings, and as always, ladies first." the crowed goes silent.
His hand is gliding around the bowl, ever so slowly, somewhere in all those papers, there are at least 6 of them with my name on them, Caythin has about 12. our first months in 13 were brutal, there was a food shortage, this forced many people to sign up for tesserae, that bitter grain and oil that lasts for about 4 days, this adds to the papers in the glass balls. We were lucky that we were old enough to be able to sign up for tesserae, others weren't so lucky; today I'm 15 while Caythin is 16.
The TV crews are trained at Snow's hand, slowly; Snow is taking his time with this. Snow finales choses a paper.
"Citizens of District 13, your female tribute is," he opens up the paper,
"Henrietta Spinner!"
