The Premiere Hunger Games:

Panem's First Victor

Chapter 2: Not Just Tributes

My forehead is ice-cold against the window pane; rain mists down outside, yet the sun shines through the grey clouds in long, beautiful rays. I love this view. I've never been outside of District 2. It's forbidden. There are two rows of very high electric fences that run the entire perimeter of the District. The only places I know – not including the places I've seen on TV or studied in class – are my house, school, and the Square. District 2 has been unified for almost two decades – since then, the Dark Days and The Uprising have left scars all over Panem. District 2 – according to my parents – however, has faired a lot better than many of the other Districts. Many of us are actually Capitol descendents, including my parents, which probably explains why we've faired better than some of the other Districts. But those connections are much less these days; I'm still going to be put in the arena, certainly no strings my parents can pull. I feel quite cold and shivery despite being in one of the lavish studies in the Hall of Justice. What am I going to do? I'm scared of the unknown. I'm soon to be whisked off to the Capitol, presented, prepped, and in one week, I'll be standing in the arena ready to fight for my life. 23 other young people know how I feel right now: wondering how they will survive in that arena. Alice, will she be crying right now too? That's when I register that I myself am crying, and why not admit it: struggling to breathe through my nose. I back away from the window slowly holding my head to the ceiling to stem the flow of tears. I can't see myself surviving in the arena, however; presenting myself in the Capitol should be fine. I do have a…certain charm, or at least a sociable personality – if a little impulsive at times as shown by my response to Pauli asking for my name at the Reaping. No, my only fear is the arena and what the Games will force me to do. No! I won't do it; I can't kill another young boy or girl. It's not a natural capability, I don't have the will. Really Joseph? You can't envisage killing under extreme conditions?...They're kids from my country! One's even from my own District. Nearly all the young people are on good terms in District 2; I have a lot of friends at school and in my neighbourhood, is there a future where I can see them again? This thought only upsets me further.

I hear footsteps. Are they taking me to the train already? The double doors are opened by a pair of Peacekeepers.

'Your family is here to say goodbye,' one tells me avoiding my eyes, 'I'll call them out when it's time to go.' What do the Peacekeepers think of this situation? Are they truly just Capitol lapdogs? Then I see my mum and dad walk in.

'Mother!' I run into her arms, I nearly lift her off her feet; I'm close to 6-ft-4 so that tends to happen a lot.

'Jose,' She sobs, not letting me go, 'I…you…can't die!'

'I won't.' I say automatically, although I have a 1 in 24 chance of surviving, not great. From her shoulder I look to dad, he looks helpless. I pull mum off and move to dad, I hug him; it takes a few seconds for him to register the hug and respond.

'Joe. You be strong okay. You're a good man, you can survive.' Dad says in determined calm.

This is so cruel, is all I can think. Letting me say goodbye, hearing my parents plead for me to stay. It's crushing me. Mum encircles her arms around all three of us. We stay like that for a while in silence which is much better than hearing their sad voices. Somehow we end up sitting around the big wooden table by another window. Mum wipes away my tear tracks with her warm sleeve; she's not done that for at least a decade.

'You're a good son, our only son.' She croons. It's all I can do not to curl up and refuse to leave this room.

'What am I going to do?' I ask breaking the silence, my voice doesn't crack, but it's in a higher register.

'You…you get them to support you,' Dad says looking at me suddenly, 'the Capitol folk, if they like you they can help you out.'

'But they're watching to see us die, why would they help us?' I ask looking from mum to dad.

'They'll probably be betting on Tributes, ones that look strong, and fight to survive. From what I understand certain Capitol people can sponsor Tributes with gifts for survival.' Dad explains, I can tell that his giving me information is helping to calm him down.

'How do I look strong? and gain support?'

'Show your character. Don't show that you're scared.' Dad offers.

'I am scared.' I admit quietly. Mum holds my clenched fist, dad grips my shoulder. Suddenly the thought strikes me: this is surely crushing, but at the same time, this is building me up, giving me something to fight for, they must know this. I'm grateful they're here. If I take it a day at a time…I might be able to manage what lays ahead of me…not the Games themselves, but all the pre-show events.

'Should- Should he try and ally with that Alice girl? Or another tribute?' Mum suggests to Dad.

'I don't know, is it allowed?' Mum shrugs, 'What do you think Joe?'

'But if I team up with someone...eventually one of us will have to die though…and how can you trust someone in a Game like this?' I say.

'I'd wager other Tributes will feel the same way as you – an ally means a stronger defence, and possibly more sponsors.' Mum says. It's true. I feel that's true. And if I'm being completely honest I would ally with Alice here and now. She's from District 2, this is her home too. That look in her eyes when we shook hands…she was just as scared as I am, but maybe her look said something more. Allies? I'd much rather go into these games with her as an ally over fending for myself. I'm suddenly very aware that I lack survival skills. Not a good feeling.

'Maybe I can risk it…' I say slowly.

'You'll figure it all out.' Dad says trying not to sound hopeless. Do they think I'll die? Who knows, Will I? Maybe I can outlast the others somehow. 'There's not much we can do for you Joseph, they're going to take you soon, all I can promise is that we won't give up on you. You can do this.' I look at dad for a while trying convince myself that it could be true. Mum pulls out something from her pocket: It's a silver coin, it's about the size of a badge and it has a pin on the back.

'Grandpa's coin.' I say recognizing the silver piece; it's passed down my mother's family for generations. Mum presses her lips to it, and then pins it on my white collared shirt, over my heart like a medal. To me it signifies bravery or something. I could use a talisman for survival. I smile at my parents. 'Thank you.'

'You can wear it for us.' Dad says.

'You be brave.' Mum adds nodding, and not crying which is strengthening.

Footsteps sound outside again. Oh no, our final farewell!

'I love you mum and dad! I'll try…hard okay.' I manage. They hug me together and help me up. I slowly register their goodbyes, their last minute advice, their love, mum's caress through my hair, dad's pump on my back. Then the Peacekeepers are pulling them out. 'NO!' I cry out 'Don't take them away!' The doors are about to shut behind them, I see their faces saying farewell, 'I'll make it home! I will come back!' I shout this time. The door snaps to a close. 'NO!' My fists are pounding on the door like an animal. 'I'll make it home! I will come back!' Rings in my head, but what will it take to return home Joseph? SuddenlyI stop my violent attack on the door. My hand finds the coin on my chest. I'm angry and I'm hurting, but it doesn't matter. I've just figured it out: I know exactly how I'm going to play it.

Rushing, I look at my reflection in one of the glass cabinets in the room trying to arrange my features. My previously styled brown hair has become ruffled, my blue eyes are irritated and puffy, and my posture is curved inward: I look weak. I pour some water from a vase of flowers into my hands and wash my face. Then I work on my hair and fringe making it look a bit neater and styled. There, that looks acceptable. My eyes are less puffy and I look fresher. I neaten my clothes, tucking in my shirt again, rubbing my shoes, and arranging Grandpa's coin. I look almost the same as I did pre-Reaping. When the doors open again I don't resist. I walk determinately upright as I'm guided out an exit and into the back of the Mayor's car. It is a black and gold thing with large straight square glassy windows. It's almost more of a carriage. I sit in the back to the left and look out the window trying to imagine this is an adventure and not a nightmare. Pauli arrives with Alice and they pile into the back. I don't bother to acknowledge the others but I can hear Alice sniffling quietly.

'Ah' Pauli sighs dramatically, 'this is it! It's nice to have the Reaping out the way, to be honest I was a little nervous, it is the first one.' I record in my head that at least Pauli seems friendly enough, if a little vain. Pauli's tall and thin, and currently wears a tailored navy suit, lime green tie, and green eye liner making him look like some sort of clown gone corporate or something. His oiled black hair sits above a wide, pearly white grin. 'It all went rather well though I thought, and the Mayor certainly knew how to welcome his guests…' Pauli twitters on regardless of our lack of attention. Houses flash past, I see a few people still heading home, how I wish I was one of them. 'My wife will be so proud! She chose this tie you know, at first I thought "Lime green, really?" but then I thought "look, no". It's high time to push lime; it is SO underrated I feel…' This time I look at Pauli half annoyed, half amused, he is so oblivious to the horror of this situation. Alice looks around too, and half smiles at me, clearly thinking along the same lines. 'OKAY you two, we'll arrive at the train station in couple of minutes, make sure you smile for the cameras alright – as your official escort, it is my duty to guide you through to the Games.' Pauli suddenly becomes serious. 'And I am determined that you will both make me proud.' This rubs me the wrong way. I'm not here to make anyone proud! Especially not you and your stupid Capitol! I decide to rethink my neutral impression of Pauli, now I detest everything about him, from his lime green tie to his ability to sit their and 'guide' us to the slaughter. I know it's not quite his fault…and at heart… I do sense he is just here to help me. I'm just angry and…so, so tired. I wonder what Alice is thinking. Wait. I shouldn't care.

We arrive at the train station and I'm surprised. The place is packed with people. District 2 has come to say goodbye. Everyone I know is there: my parents, the Mayor, my friends from school, the various merchants. Peacekeepers are attempting to hold back the crowd ensuring there is a clear path from our car to the open train door. My door is opened so I step out. I can hear my name being called. From all around I see faces; some are shouting good luck and farewell, others are shouting profanity and calling for this all to stop. They need to be careful; if the Peacekeepers catch them…they could be killed. I find my mum and dad's faces in the crowd and smile. I'm ushered along however; I've already said my goodbyes. Hands grip me as we make our way to the train, I grab them back, hold as many as I can. I say goodbye to my friends, say goodbye to all the people who showed up for us. Because it's not just for me; they're here for Alice too. I can also hear her name. At one point, the crowd moved in so close that Alice and I are being marched along shoulder to shoulder.

'How you doing?' She whispers in my ear so I can hear over the crowd. What does she mean? I'm really, really not sure if she's serious. I decide to go with my instincts.

'I'm alright, just scared for what's ahead.' I whisper back, and then I stop. 'Why do you ask?'

'I'll explain later.' She says smiling a large smile. What is she trying here, is she going to use me? I hate feeling ignorant. Then it hits me. The cameras are here. I'd forgotten since the shock of seeing such a huge crowd to see us off. She's playing this up for the Capitol. What will this look like? We're happy? Strong? Or something? Alice certainly has managed to transform her composure into someone who looks perfectly relaxed. No more sniffling. We're at the train doors now. I sense that once I step onto the train, I will lose the world I know forever. I turn around desperately to drink in the scene; I don't want to forget the support District 2 has shown us. Suddenly Alice has grabbed my hand and is holding it up. Whoa! She's sure of herself – or maybe I'm not trying? What will this look like? Clearly I'm not the only one with a plan. The crowd is going crazy. I sense Alice is trying to show something. Perhaps that we're glad to sacrifice ourselves for our District instead of the others, that we'll take the blow to satisfy the Capitol. Suddenly, I admire Alice; she's already manipulating the power we now have. For we are not just Tributes. We are symbols for our District, for Panem itself. Though we may hate the situation and the status, we 24 are now, and temporarily, very famous – but I haven't forgotten: there is only one winner. Pauli climbs into the train behind us.

'Come along Tributes.' Pauli orders, it's clear that he is loving the spectacle. Then Alice does something quite unexpected. She stands on her tip-toes and kisses me on the cheek. The crowd roars in pride. I look at her slightly shocked and mad. What was that for? I have only a second to ponder the situation when I'm pulled onto the train and the doors close. Jolt! In my heart and in the train. Yes…that was the first time a girl has kissed me, but what's concerning me is: What is her angle? So much for knowing how I was going to play it. One moment I think I get her, the next…Alice is full of surprises.But will Alice's stunt for the cameras damage or strengthen my odds in the Game? For now that the train is leaving District 2, I can see, the Games are all that matter now.