Chapter 2

"Follow me, ill lead you home," Those words rang in Alice's head. She just couldnt seem to lose them. She walked through the woods, but stopped when she came to a barbwire fence. The sign attached to the sharp looking fence read, 'Do not cross' and had a picture of a lighting bolt on the bottom half. Alice poked the fence with a stick and nothing seemed to happen. It was safe to cross. She slid underneth the fence and kept walking. She came to a small run down town.

"Hello?! Can anyone help me get home? Or tell me where I am?" She walked into the town and saw people walking towards the center of the town, so she followed. 'Whats going on' she thought to herself. She heard a woman's name as she got closer. Everyone was standing in neat rows.

"Welcome! Now, the time has come for us to select one courageous young man and woman to represent District 12 in the 74th annual Hunger Games. May the odds be ever in your favor," Her voice rang through the microphone. Her loud dress and green hair took Alice's atteintion. "As usual, ladies first." She walked over to the side of the stage where a big bowl was waiting for her, filled with neatly folded strips of white paper. "Primrose Everdeen!" All the atteintion shifted over to a small girl standing near the front. She slowly started to make her way up to the stage.

"Prim? Prim?!" She heard another scream. 'This place is very strange' She thought.

"Volenteer, Alice," She turned around to see the cat behind her.

"Volenteer? Why on earth would I do that?" Alice asked.

"My dear, if you dont volenteer, that young girl will die," Cheshire said with his usual grin.

"What?! Die?! I cant let that happen!" Alice worried. "I-I volenteer as tribute!" The crowd turned to look at Alice.

"Well then, come up here sweetie!" The microphone sqeaked. "Primrose, you can go back." Prim went back to where she was standing to begin with. "Now, what is your name?"

"Alice."

"Well, Alice, you are District 12's very first volenteer!"Alice stood on the stage scared of what might happen. "And now for the boys." She walks over to the other side of the stage and stuck her hand in another big bowl. "Peeta Mellark!"

"What?" He said quietly. "Did I hear that right? I cant move." Peeta slowly made his way to the stage, only stumbling a couple times. He stands next to Alice. "Your so brave, Alice. I'm postive you will get more sponsors than anyone. People love an exciting show. Maybe, you'll even win."

Alice and Peeta were led inside the building behind the stage and told to stay in dark small windowed rooms. Alice waited for 10 minutes trying to see out of the small window. The door burst open and Alice jumped.

"You have a vistor, miss. She goes by the name, Katniss," The guards loud voice boomed. "You have 5 minutes."

"Wait! I dont know anyone named Katniss!" Alice shouted after the guard escorted a older teenager into the room and closed the door.

"Who are you?" Her voice was cold.

"I should be asking you the same question. Who are you and why are you visiting me?" Alice was nervous.

"You volenteered for my sister, Prim," Katniss replyed.

"I didnt want to see that young girl suffer, and, um, what exactly did I volenteer for?" Alice asked and saw a confused look on Katniss's face.

"How do you not know? You do live in Panem, right? You should know."

"Oh, right! Duh!" Alice lied. "Could you just refresh my memory?"

Katniss let out a loud sigh. "The Hunger Games is a brutal blood bath between all 12 districts. The let you loose in a giant arena and make you fight to the death on live television."

"Wait, I could die? So the cat was right."

"What cat?"

"Nevermind. I'll try my best, but i really dont think im cut out for this."

"You can do it, Alice. You have to! All of District 12 believes in you. Your our hope! Take this mockingjay pin as a token of my appreciation, it will give you courage!" She gives Alice the pin and she puts it in her pocket. Katniss walks out the door and into the hallway.

"Poor girl. She isnt going to make through the first day. The careers will tear her up." Katniss said to herself. She walked up to a door and heard a loud banging noise. She looked out the window and saw a tornado heading towards the building. "Alice!" She screamed as she ran back towards the room Alice was in. But she was too late. The tornado had already ripped the building and sucked up Alice.