Hi guys! I don't own PJO or HG.
I don't have much to say today, just R&R. Thanks!
Percy opened his eyes and gripped the letter in his hands. Annabeth, he thought. Then he remembered.
He ripped open the letter he was holding, anxious to learn more about these kids, the mysterious "holiday festivities" today, and where the heck he was.
According to the letter, he was in a land called Panem. The leader was an old dude named President Snow. Panem was split into 12 districts, each making different things. The girl, Katniss Everdeen, lived in District 12 with the boy, Peeta Mellark. Percy himself was in District 4, a rich, favored district that mainly focused on fishing. Cool, Percy thought. Fishing means saltwater. Annabeth was in District 3, technology. Good for her, Percy thought. Annabeth was probably inventing something genius right then.
Then he got to the part about the Hunger Games. 24 kids fighting to the death for the entertainment of the Capitol, the rich, spoiled hometown of the President. That was what he had walked himself into? Percy groaned. It wasn't that he couldn't win; he could; it was that he didn't really like killing people. Especially innocent people. Percy decided he'd just find Annabeth, Katniss, and Peeta, and find the nearest lake, take them underwater with a giant air bubble, and let them kill themselves off. Then he'd kill the survivor, find a way out of there, and call the gods to take them back to their time.
The only problem was the finding his way out of there. Annabeth will figure it out, Percy thought.
Annabeth slammed her head against her bed frame. She'd been thinking for hours about how they were going to get out of the arena. Maybe they could just call the gods? But then the Greek gods would be broadcast live on TV to everyone in Panem, and Annabeth didn't think the Mist, which was barely present there in 'America', would be able to hide that.
If they could survive and win, Annabeth had no doubt. But you don't really win until you're the last one standing. Fake their deaths? No, they put trackers in you to check your pulse. Annabeth decided those trackers were her best hope. She'd have to tamper with them somehow.
It was time for the reaping ceremony. Where they drew names to decide who would be in the Hunger Games. Annabeth knew she'd be the female. But who would the male be? She headed to the town square to find out.
"Ladies first!" shouted the loud, accented male voice from the stage. He reached his hand into a large glass ball and drew out a slip of paper.
"Annabeth Chase!" He called. Annabeth walked up to the stage, glad everything was going according to plan.
"Hello Annabeth." said the man. He wore a large yellow wig with clown makeup and stretched lips, like a creepier version of Ronald McDonald.
"Now for the boys!" He shouted, reaching his hand into the second glass ball.
"Jonas McTerry!" A short, pointy-nosed boy screamed. Peacekeepers dragged the boy to the stage.
"Let's have a round of applause for District Three's tributes for the 74th annual Hunger Games!" the man shouted. There was a smattering of applause from a few people in the crowd. Most people just looked relieved.
What a dreadful holiday, Annabeth thought.
"Molly Carp!" shouted a strange woman as she read from a slip of paper. Percy stared at her. Is that a birthmark, a tattoo, or just a coffee stain on her face? he wondered. The woman had a paw-print shaped dark mark (A/N Harry Potter, all the way!) on her cheek. It looked crazy weird.
"Percy Jackson!" he heard, startling him out of his thoughts. He ran up to the stage, whooping and cheering like crazy because he wasn't sure how else to act. Hey, better they think I'm mental than a demigod, right? he thought. Luckily nobody seemed to be looking at him strangely. I guess in District 4, being reaped is, like, a privilege. Maybe that's what it meant when it said it's a Career District, he thought.
Percy and Molly were led into a nice room where they were supposed to 'say goodbye to their loved ones'. Percy wished Annabeth were there. Or his mom. No, he was glad that she was safe at home. Technically, he remembered, she's dead. It was a depressing thought. Or she's a god, he suggested.
There was a knock at the door. "Who is it?" Percy called.
"It's the grocer. Can I come in?" called a male voice.
Percy shrugged. If it was a demon or something, he had Riptide in his pocket. He opened the door.
A tall, kind-looking man stepped inside. "My name's Connor." he said. Percy immediately thought of Connor Stoll, but this man looked nothing like the Stoll brothers. Or Hermes.
"I saw you in the crowd today," the man continued. "You looked pretty sad and alone. I figured you had no family. Here." He handed Percy a pomegranate. Percy decided not to explain why he hated pomegranates, and took it. The man left. Percy threw the pomegranate away.
That was when the Peacekeepers came and took him away.
Reviews would be greatly appreciated. Maybe one review before I post the next chapter? Thanks, guys! Bye!
