The Capitol's Star: Chapter 10
As the first Districts begin to move, the crowds go wild. I know this because my parents always talked about it. Panem's anthem is booming over all the crowds. Maxwell and I look at each one straight in the eye. "Good luck." He says. "You too." I reply back. Just as I said that, our chariot lunges forward. The two black horses pulling us start off slow, but soon they reach a full gallop. The Capitol must know that I'm a Citizen, because all of them scream once they us. They throw roses at us and chant our names. Mostly my name, but I can hear Maxwell's as well. I'm bewildered by the noise, but I feel in my element. Maxwell seems calm. I reach for his hand, and he jumps startled. I raise both my eyebrows, and smile. He slowly reaches for it, but then I tug it closer.
Now the chariots are gathering in a half circle. The odd numbered districts on the left, and the even ones on the right. I watch the chariot from 10 go the opposite direction. Then we halted to a stop. Shortly afterwards, the chariot from 12 arrives. I know exactly what happens next. President Hayes will probably say, "Happy Hunger Games. Have fun killing yourselves, kids."Soon enough, President Hayes will emerge from one of his huge tower complexes and give a speech about "bravery, courage, and sacrifice." Joy.
While we wait for his speech, I glance around at the other chariots. The pair from 2 is trying to achieve the "knights in shining armor who want to kill you" look. They definitely pulled it off with the sharp weapons attached to their waists. The kids from 5(both appear to be 14 or younger) look terrified, and the girl can't stop shaking. The oldest competitor appears to be from 6,around 17 years old. His partner and he were wearing silver costume, but they appear to be more metallic than 3's attire. "I have to say though, those two were special to me." I can hear Derek's voice ringing in my head. Where is he?
The crowd begins to settle down. I'm relieved, because I thought I would go deaf if I heard any more cheering. Maxwell is facing the opposite direction from me. "Did you like it?" I ask him. "Yeah. It was different." He replies. He turns around to face me. I stare deep into his eyes until we hear the anthem booming over us. President Hayes emerged from his tower, waving and smiling. His wife follows him while linking arms. A firm hand gesture from him silences everyone.
"Greetings Panem. It is my honor, and pleasure, to welcome you to the Annual Tribute Parade for the 24th Hunger Games." He states. For a few seconds, the crowd erupts into joyful cheers and applause. Then he raises his hand for silence. "Tributes, we welcome you to the Capitol. We, the Capitol, are extremely glad that you've offered your lives up so future generations can prosper. You will always be remembered." He concludes. I can barely contain my laughter at his remark. No one remembers the deceased tributes once the Games end. Only the victor. Every once in a while, I write down the names of some of the tributes that I hear about. My mom and dad have always kept me informed about who did what in the arena. Ever so often, I'll hear something that I want to remember. Or someone in my case. Sadly, I don't think Rachel remembers anyone from the 20th Hunger Games.
Genevieve Hayes also adds, "We are so very excited for this event." In unison, the Hayes say," Happy Hunger Games!" And the odds will never be in our favor. The chariot from 1 starts the line again, and all the other chariots follow. Once our chariot leaves, I feel a knot in my throat. Will my friends remember me if I don't come back? Will Rachel still view me as her best friend? How will my family react if I don't make it? And if I do, will I ever see be the same person in their eyes? Will they view me as Destiny, victor of the 24th Hunger Games? Or Destiny, the betrayer of the Capitol? I must have been so caught up in my thoughts, that I didn't realize that Maxwell was staring at me. He doesn't say anything. I wonder what I look like in his eyes.