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.

17. Chapter 17- Joy and Bubbles

Chapter 17.- Silver Bellcreek

A 9! I got a 9! Glow and I both cheer, since we got the same score. Kensa and Cordia are ecstatic. "You two are the shining stars of the Games!" Cordia says, a bit teary eyed. "Shh!" I say, seeing Lar's face come on the screen. 7. "Not bad," I say. Then Curia comes up, and she's got a 9 too. The District 3s pull the unsurprisingly low scores. The District 4 girl, Cass, not Call, surprises me with her score of 8. "I didn't know she was good at anything!" I say. Nobody really responds.

I don't pay much attention to the rest of the tributes. The District 8 girl, Birches, who is really good with a bow and arrows, pulls a 9. Kensa looks at me. "You watch out for that one. That one is dangerous." Then it's Beade, who gets a 7. I look at Glow. "I think we have some good allies, don't you think?" He gives a quick nod. Osa, the District 10 girl who came up to me at the parade gets a 6; the District 12s get a 6 and a 4. Vibius, the announcer comes back on. "Tune back in tomorrow, Panem for the tribute interviews!" Then Cordia switches the television off. "You two are Panem's shining stars!" she says. "You're going to do so well tomorrow!" I get up and run over to Glow and hug him. He's surprised for a minute, then returns it. "Goodnight everyone!" I say, then dash off to my room.

I know I won't be able to sleep, so I decide to try out the buttons in the shower. I get in and press some buttons that create a flow of pink bubbles that smell like strawberries as they come out of the tap. I tap another button and a stream of warm water washes away the strawberry bubbles. After that I turn the tap off and step out. I put my hand on a sensor and a current goes through me, drying me and untangling my hair. I walk back into my room in a robe and choose a set of white pajamas that have hearts on them.

After all this I'm starving. So I order a bowl of stew that has carrots and beef in it, all doused in a heavenly sauce. So I sit in a chair and eat the delicious stew while reading a book I found on one of the shelves in my room, written before Panem existed. Moby Dick. It's dry and boring, so I finish my stew quickly and put the book back where I found it. Then I get into bed and turn out the light.