Chapter 2- Something is very wrong
We never hunted. I turned and left Conor at the fence. I wasn't going to tell anyone. Why? Cause stress, panic, they probably wouldn't even believe me anyway. Even if they did, they wouldn't pay any heed to it. Conor was smart but he couldn't predict the future. But the Capitol was about to predict the future of 24 people going into the arena. Spoiler alert, 23 of them don't have a future. I see a slick black car parked outside our house and can see the door closing. That can only mean one thing. Effie Trinket has arrived. I walked as slowly as possible, making sure I waste as much time as possible. By the time I am opening the door, it is quarter past eleven.
"ATHENA!" A shrill voice followed by a bustling of skirts came flying at me. Everyone in our family knows that I am Effie's favourite. I am "Beautiful, excel at everything and charming. Quiet like me only younger." According to Effie that is. "This year will be dramatic and life changing! IT WILL BE THE BEST YEAR EVER!" Everyone stared at her. "Effie, how exactly are these games going to work?" I ask, receiving stares. "People's names are drawn from a ball, then those people have to go into the arena!" said Effie cheerfully.
"To—" began James. "Fight. To the death." Came a voice from behind. Haymitch came out from the crowd of people. "Now, enough chit chat, the announcement is about to start." Everyone made their way into the living room, Effie rearranging seats so she was sitting just about on top of me. The TV was on and zoomed in on the face of the President of the Capitol, President Paylor. She stood there for about a minute, probably letting all from the other districts time to tune in.
Then she began:
"The Hunger Games started off as a punishment for all those rebels who fought during the Dark Days. This continued for 75 years, until the 75supth/sup Games or the Quarter Quell, when we rebelled against the Capitol and their Games. That was 15 years ago. Today, we will announce the very last ever Hunger Games!" A roaring round of applause came from behind the camera, but the Presidents face just frowned. Something was wrong. "And so, we will now chose at random, the special event for those who are reaped to go into the arena for."
Paylor walked over to a large ball with maybe 1,000 tiny slips of paper, maybe more. She put her hand in and pulled out one. She opened it up and barely stifled a gasp. She walked back to the stage, but she had lost all her coolness. She looked almost anxious. Something was very wrong. "For the 76supth/sup Hunger Games, to show that no matter how you may show bravery and courage, there will always be fate. To show this..." The President stopped and looked like she didn't want to continue. Instead, a tall sharp woman took her place and snapped the piece of paper right out of her hands.
"To show this." Her voice rang out around the stage, sharp and cold, "Victors that competed and lived in the 75supth/sup Hunger Games will go back into the arena. To make the number rise to 24, their children will be reaped. If the numbers are still not at 24, then and only then will the celebrities of the Capitol's children will be reaped. That is all. The reaping will be in two days." With that the TV turned black. My mother and father just sat there staring at the blank TV. I was right. Conor was right. Something was very, very wrong.