Tahan Jacobs, 20

Victor of the First "Unofficial" Hunger Games

Imogen wasn't kidding when she instructed us just to show up, and she'd take it from there. She is a compelling woman. I've always dreamed of having that much power. Can you imagine being a wanted criminal in the most powerful country on earth, and still have this much pull?

The plane ride itself is something relatively new to me, especially sitting up here in the first class. I have a lounge chair all to myself where I can stretch out and lay down in the seat. It's a bed.

Davantae sits in the little nook right next to me curled up and asleep. He was nervous about flying, but then I reminded him that even though he doesn't remember it, he had to fly to get to the prison last year.

In the end, I just gave him a sleeping medicine, and he knocked out the second his head hit the airline pillow.

I wonder what it's like in Saudi Arabia. I've never been to another part of the world. I never really saw a reason to go outside the fact that maybe I could get out of the four trapping walls that are suburbia and all she has to offer. Which sadly she doesn't have that much.

When the wars started countries began to close their doors to the United States. We already had bad relations with Saudi Arabia from a long history of wars and violence, so the fact that the downfall of the country is coming from there is a little humorous.

The truth of the matter is, it wasn't safe for Americans to travel the world because of the leadership that we were bestowed with. And now I'm ready to change everything. Or, at least help change everything.

"Passengers, we will be arriving in Saudi Arabia in about 15 minutes. Please take this time now to use the bathroom, and to finish whatever activity you're doing." says the flight attendant over the intercom. "Have your passports ready, as the government has gotten very strict, and have your bags ready to go."

Davantae wakes up and stretches his arms over his head. He smiles at me as he glances over and sees me in my little nook. "Good morning, babe," he says as he yawns. "How did you sleep?"

"I didn't," I say with a grin. "I've been too excited."

The flight attendants begin to walk around and collect the trash from the different passengers, and we are told to buckle up because the plane will be landing soon. My ears start popping as I feel the elevation begin to drop.

When the plane lands, it takes us about 20 minutes to file out of the first-class section of the aircraft, and by the time I'm on firm ground again, I can almost kiss it. I liked flying, but being in the air for so long just wasn't something that is ideal for a person such as myself.

The first thing I notice when I step into the airport is the intense heat. Even inside the building, the air conditioning cannot mask the hot air seeping into the airport. We walk into the lobby to collect our baggage, and see a sign that reads "Tahan and Davantae."

Davantae grabs our baggage, and I make my way through the crowd of people and walk to the guy with the sign. He smiles as he sees me approach, and extends his hand for me to shake.

"Hello, Ms. Tahan," he says. "My name is Reshaim. I am your driver today. We will take you to Ms. Imogen."

"Thank you," I say with a nod as I gesture towards Davantae. "This is my boyfriend, Davantae. We are excited to be here."

He gestures for us to follow him, and we make our way through the airport weaving in and out of the way of people that are running around trying to make their flight. The fact that everyone is being excessively busy and running around only adds to the heat that we have to endure.

If I thought the airport was out, that was nothing compared to the sun the second we stepped out of the airport. The driver walks us over to a limo, and I smile as he opens up the backdoor and takes our bags from us and puts them in the trunk.

The air conditioning is on in the limo, and because of the tint of the windows and the cold air, we are finally getting some relief from the heat.

"Well, we will be arriving in swag," says Davantae with a smile. "Have you ever kissed someone in the back of a limo, babe?" he says with a boyish grin.

"Not the time, Tiger," I say with a chuckle. "But to answer your question, yes."

"Wait, what?"

"Different time, different story," I say. "What do you think she wants with us? I don't want to say that I'm nervous, because I'm not, but I'm not-not skeptical. You know?"

"No, I understand completely," he says. "All we can hope is that she listens to us and what we think needs to happen. We don't want to destroy our country. We want to end the President's reign."

I pause as I look at him with confusion. What does he mean we don't want to destroy the country? That's exactly what I want to do. I want to get rid of the country that has caused me so much grief. I want to get rid of the country that is corrupt and allows children that are in rehabilitation to kill each other. I want to get rid of the country that has us having to fight for our fundamental rights of privacy, and control over our own futures.

I want to rid the world of the poison that the United States has become, and I want to reinstate in a new country, and a new vision that Imogen has in store.

"Right, Tahan?" ask Davantae skeptically. "You faded on me there."

"I don't agree with you," I say plainly.

"What do you mean you don't agree?"

"I want this country to end, Davantae. We need a new era. The only way to fix corruption is to destroy the corrupted area. We've been so wronged so many times by the United States, and it's time we finally take control over our destiny."

"Not in that way, Tahan." says Davantae sternly.

"We don't even know what she's going to say!" I retort. "If she wants to kill Veyne, and the entire political office that allowed that to happen to me, then so be it! I'm tired of always having to feel like I'm watching behind my back-"

"I will not sign up for this if we are killing innocent people."

"I WAS INNOCENT!" I scream. Tears start to well up in my eyes as I look at him with a pleading look. I want him to understand that I'm not a monster. But I wasn't supposed to be in here. I wasn't meant to be a criminal. "She made me guilty," I say as tear start to pour down my cheeks. "I'm the Frankenstein that she created, the prototype. I want this all just to end. I'm tired of walking down the halls of my house and seeing Madison jump out at me. I'm sick of seeing Maiya every night when I close my eyes. I just want peace."

"Ending the country won't bring you that, Tahan." he says softly as he extends his hand and lays it on mine.

I pull it back and look at him. "It's going to have to," I say sternly. Looking out the window, I see the different places that I never thought I would see fall away into a blur as the limo drives by. "It's going to have to," I repeat.

Okay, well, the next chapter will be the meeting with Imogen, and then after that will be the final chapter of this story.

I have an announcement:

Since my time of being on this site, I've been the target of a lot of hate. Whether that be through askfm, pms, reviews, even skype. I have grown tired of it, and it is with a lot of relief, but at the same time sadness, that I say that Crash Landing will be my last story ever on Fanfiction. After the initial submission process, I cannot promise that I will be around to reply to PMs. I also can't promise fast updates, but I can promise it will get done.

I'm tired of the people in this community that continue to make it toxic.

The Crash Landing deadline for submissions has been pushed back to July 6th.

Keep it classy,

Caleb