CHAPTER FOUR

Brin

I speak up. "President, I know I am not alone when I say that I have no clue how we could just allow 13 to roam freely and play by their own rules."

"Ah, Ms. Jennings, let me explain...," Lansa looks up at me only long enough for me to see that there is a whisper of a smile on his lips. "What if there was a way to allow 13 to live free from the rules of our current government, the way they wish it would be, yet give the other twelve districts reason to not again rebel?"

"Well then that would be great sir, but-"

"And what if we could stage a fake downfall of 13, but somehow let 13 still survive without further rebellion?"

"President Lansa, sir, I don't know what-"

"And what if yours truly knew how to make this all happen?"

"What do you mean sir?"

" Now this is where that deal comes in. You see, perhaps we can speak with the rebels' leader and ask them to give up their hopeless rebellion in turn for their own government. We will tell them that they must go unnoticed, of course. We couldn't, very well, have a group with a different government status just wandering around. We will be able, therefore, to be done with the rebels and to have the rest of our districts under control. Opinions?"

"I think that's a wonderful idea!," exclaims Wynona. "There is obviously no hope going down our current path, so why not try this?"

Mumbles of "brilliant", "great", and "extraordinary" are passed around the room. A thought hits me.

"President, how do you think the others, other districts I mean, react to one districts downfall. Don't you think that they would want to rebel for the sake of 13?"

"Good question my dear, good question," he answers, calm and collected as usual. "We have to show them that they do not rule this land, that they are weaker than government, and that we have the control. Any suggestions on how we might show them this"

"We could kill some to set an example for others." Walter chimes in after, so quietly, watching our conversation. "Not just in thirteen, but in all the districts, kill some to show the others we could do the same to them."

Some are nodding, others are unsure. Words like sadistic are running through my mind. Why kill innocent people. I do not voice my opinion though, in fear that the others will think I'm weak. Instead, I remain stoic.

"That sounds like a pretty fair thing to do!," Wynona screams with a bubbly enthusiasm. I would like to smack her. "Let's do it!"

"Well aren't we eager," Lansa says. "But there is a major ramification in this process you speak of. Where is the hope? We need to give the districts something to root for. I say we devise a... a game. We could arrange a fight to the death, like our ancestors, the gladiators did. Only, with more people. A couple per district."

I think I'm going to lose my meager breakfast. I bite my tongue and hold my stomach as I listen to what comes next.

"But, sir how will we choose the people?," says an unidentified voice. I don't care to look in the direction of where the comment came.

"How about a lottery?" says Walter.

"What a wonderful idea!," Lansa chuckles, "A lottery it is!"

I have to stop this I can't let this monstrosity continue. " Um.. Sir... Don't you think" I clear my throat " Don't you think... um... oh! What if the people chosen from the...um, lottery are not well? Sick or old. I don't think that would be a... fair fight."

Lansa rubs his head, as if considering this possibility was a burden to his mind. "I suppose you're right Jennings. We need people for this lottery to be able to fight. To be full of energy. To be... young."

I don't want to know what he's about to suggest. I don't think I can handle what he's about to suggest. I don't think I could live with myself if I know that this was the result of my question.

"We need the lottery to consist of children," he says. I crack. I ask to be excused to use the lavatories. He says "most certainly, Ms. Jennings, most certainly". As soon as the wooden double doors close behind me I run towards the bathrooms. Run as fast as I can, but the tears beat my running and I am crying long before the stall door shuts.

How could we put children through a fight to the death? How could everyone in that room be cold blooded. Even Wynona. I've always known she was a bit off, but this... this is unbelievable. They can't be serious, a part of me says, this is too crazy. But a bigger part of me is telling me the truth. Telling me that of course they're serious, of course they are. Why would they have cause to lie. I leave the stall and clean myself off. Looking in the mirror, I see my hair is a bit disheveled so I run my fingers through it. My eyelashes are wet with salt water and I wipe them with a piece of paper and give them a moment to dry. I return to the big, red room and take my seat.

"We have come to a decision," the president informs me. "The fight to the death will consist of children from the ages of twelve through eighteen. Each district will have taken from them one girl and one boy through the means of a reaping. They will then be taken to an arena in which they will fight until there is one victor. That one victor, no matter what district they are from, will be showered with gifts and riches. All of these events will be televised. Also, myself and a few choice others will be moving to a place called The Capitol. In this place, no one will be reaped. We will just watch the games as they happen. I do wish I could take all of you with me, but unfortunately I can only take my family due to lack of resources at the moment. For those of you who have children, your children will still have to enter but not as many times as the other children. I apologize for this but am not sorry for the control it will give our government. We've all agreed this is best... Oh how silly of me to forget this event will be known as The Hunger Games.

I feel my body hit the ground. Everything goes black.