The First Annual Hunger Games

by Callidora Medea

Following the Dark Days, the President of Panem announces the beginning of the Hunger Games. District 4 girl, Cass, District 1 girl, Silver, and District 7 girl, Oak, are all thrown into the turmoil that is the first Hunger Games, and must choose their alliances; decisions that can mean life or death in the arena. All intend to win. But there can be only one victor.

2. Chapter 2- Five Slips in the Bowl

Chapter 2. – Silver Bellcreek

As I sign my name five times on the slips of paper, I grin at my mother. "This will be an interesting year, Mother," I say, passing the slips to Athie Cumberslip, the mayor of District 1. She drops them into the large bowl on the table at her side. My sister steps up then, eagerly anticipating the two slips that will come from her being thirteen. "Name?" Athie asks. "Shine Bellcreek," my sister with the glossy blonde hair says, holding out her hand for the pen that she will sign with. My brother looks more withdrawn, not as eager as my mother and Shine and I am. I glance at him. "Glint, get over yourself. It's not your turn yet anyway; you have two years to wait." He doesn't say anything, only turns his head and looks out the window of the Justice Building. Shine hands the slips to Athie, who drops them in the reaping bowl. "Good luck, girls," she says with a smile I know is false.

Outside I blink in the bright sunlight. Since today is the day that every person between twelve and eighteen has to enter their names for the Hunger Games, it's been declared a national holiday from work. Shine spots one of her friends and runs to meet her. My mother takes Glint and starts towards home. Even though it's a holiday, I can still see some buildings being repaired, after the Dark Days. There was a lot of damage to District 1, but not as much as the other districts, or so I've heard. District 13 was blown straight off the map- and serves them right, too! My family doesn't want any trouble, but if it comes down to claiming honor for our family and district- I am only too happy to oblige. That's why we didn't protest the Hunger Games announcement.

"Silver! Silver Bellcreek!" I turn around to see who calls my name; my friend Flaire is waving from her place in line where she stands with her older sister and younger brother. She's sixteen, like me, so she will also have her name entered five times. I run over to Flaire. "Are you excited?" I ask her, a smile spreading across my face. She hesitates before answering. "I suppose so. It would be a great honor; just imagine, Silver, the two who are chosen will go down in history as the first District 1 tributes! We would be remembered forever!" Her sister glares down at her, obviously not happy to be there. "It's a fight to the death, Flaire. Death." Flaire waves her off. "You know I could take anyone, Silk. I would be the victor!" Silk opens her mouth to say more, then seems to think better of it and looks off into the distance.

Flaire's brother is fourteen, so he will have his name in three times; Silk is eighteen, so she will have hers in seven times. Neither look as eager as Flaire and I are. Just last month there had been a mandatory news viewing, talking about the rules for the reapings. "Each person between the ages of twelve and eighteen will be required to enter their names in for the reaping for the Hunger Games. Those who are twelve will have their names in once, thirteen twice, and so forth." Then the president spoke about tesserae, which nobody here in 1 would ever think about taking. "Every citizen from every district is required to meet in their city circle on reaping day, with no exceptions. Your Capitol representative will draw first a name from the girls' names, then one from the boys. Any person between the specified ages can volunteer once the name is called, and go in that person's place."

I turn to Flaire. "Would you volunteer?" I ask. She thinks for a minute, then nods slightly. "I think so. If I was feeling brave enough that day." We laugh. Flaire is known to turn into quite the coward when she is placed in situations like this. I stand up straighter. "I would. If my name isn't called, I would volunteer." I look straight into Flaire's eyes. "The honor, Flaire! Remember what you just said? I would go down in history. And wouldn't it be great if District 1 won the first Hunger Games?"

Silk pulls on Flaire's arm. "It's our turn." Flaire says to me, "I'll see you tomorrow! Bye!" I wave to her as she goes in the door of the Justice Building, followed by her less than eager brother. I start to walk back to my home, thinking about my conversation with Flaire. My imagination runs overtime as I imagine what could happen in the next few months. My grin becomes a full mouth smile as I look up at the sparkling blue sky and say, "And the winner of the first Hunger Games is- Silver Bellcreek!"