A/N Hello! Joseph here! It's time… for launch. The Games are beginning. And in the end… only one will survive. Any predictions?

Also, santiago. poncini20 pointed out that we didn't reveal the Training Scores. That's mainly because the scores were just a formality we had to get over, and it has no real value to the plot

District Nine Male, Emmer Hawes, 16 Years Old

I roll over in this too-soft bed, but I can't get comfortable. And it isn't the bed. I can see the first rays of light shining from the horizon through my window, and I bury my face in the pillow.

It's Launch Day.

Today, I might die. Demetria might die. Rosalie, her partner Levi, Sawyer, Sonya from Three, everyone else I've gotten to know, any of us, of even all of us, might be dead by the time that sun goes down.

I hear the door being thrown open, and I hear my stylist, Xena, chirp "good morning." I groan and stay where I am. She approaches me with her six-inch nails.

"Fine, fine. I'm getting up," I grumble. I see her smile and leave. I quickly dress myself and follow. Outside, Demetria is standing by the elevator with bags under her eyes.

"You didn't sleep well too," she states.

"Yeah."

"So this is goodbye."

"Yeah, for now. Try and find me at the Cornucopia, and we'll decide where to go from there."

"Okay, I got it. I'm not scheduled to leave for another 10 minutes."

"Okay."

Xena leads me to the roof, where a hovercraft is waiting to pick us up. Once aboard, a woman dressed in white inserts a tracker into my arm. I rub the area and feel a hard bump. Xena tries to get me to eat, but I don't have the appetite. I take a few spoonfuls of scrambled ostrich eggs, but it turns to sawdust in my mouth.

There hovercraft stops, and I'm led into the catacombs underneath the arena. Xena opens a door and enters. She looks around before ordering me to take a shower. Honestly, I don't feel like doing anything right now, but I also don't want to deal with her fingernails. I quietly oblige.

When I finish, she gives me my uniform. It's a waterproof jacket, along with a waterproof pair of pants and a belt. There's a olive green inner shirt, and the boots are made to keep out water. This is gonna be a wet arena. I pray that it doesn't require swimming.

Soon, a robotic voice commands me to step on the pedestal. What if I don't? What if I choose to stay?

"Go," Xena says.

"What if I don't?"

She gets closer to me. "The Capitol sees all," she purrs, "It sees your District, it sees your family, it sees... a pregnant sister-in-law."

I shudder and quickly step onto the cold metal platform.

"5…4…3…2…1…"

"Bye bye," Xena says, smiling. I don't think I've ever hated someone so much.

I'm suddenly plunged into darkness, and though it can't be for more than a few seconds, it feels like forever.

My heart is pumping inside my chest. My hands are jittery with fear. I'm thust into light, and though I can't see, I immediately notice the smell.

It's like... Rotten fish. Spoiling grain. Human and animal waste. I feel the warm, humid air, and there's a slight breeze. My eyes adjust to the light, and I see that we're in a circular clearing in the middle of some chaotic, run-down street market. The Cornucopia sits in the middle, 100 yards from every tribute, and the ground is made of old stone slabs. Green mountains shrouded in mist are in front of me, behind me, and to the left, and the mountains are also filled with weird small hut-like things. The entire market is built into the mountains. On my right side, I can see a natural harbor, opening up to the blue sea.

"Let the 57th Hunger Games begin!"

Claudius Templesmith's voice booms, and the countdown begins. I frantically look for Demetria, and I see that she's seven spaces to my right. I can't see Rosalie, but I see Ajax glaring at Sawyer. He's doomed. I wave at Demetria, and she eventually sees me. I point to a few backpacks, and she nods, also pointing to a scythe nearby. It's a little far for comfort, but if I don't get it, we'll be defenseless. Better defenseless than dead. I point to the mountains on my left. She nods.

"10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1"

"Booooonnnnnggggg," the gong sounds as everything turns to chaos.

A/N Review please!

If you must know, the arena is based off of Jiufen in Taiwan, famous for its night market. Look it up; it'll give you a better idea of the arena.

See you soon!

Which POV do you think is coming next?