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.

20. Chapter 20- An Eager Interview

Chapter 20.- Silver Bellcreek

My eyes shimmer as I look at myself. My hair curled, tied into half a ponytail with the rest loose around my shoulders. My lips are pink, my cheeks rosy, my eyelids covered with silver sparkles. And my dress, oh my dress. It has capped sleeves, with a white skirt dropping to the floor, slightly higher in front. And the skirt is covered in designs made of diamonds, swirls and loops, and when I move it sparkles in the light. I'm truly speechless. "Oh, Kensa! It's beautiful, thank you!" I exclaim, barely stopping myself from hugging her. "You will look like a sparkling diamond on stage," she answers. Oh, and I'm opening the show.

Soon enough I'm sitting in the seat closest to the stage, waiting eagerly to go on. I look down the line of tributes; all of my allies look confident and as enthusiastic as I feel. The District 3s look ill, as do the District 12s. Osa looks confident, as does the District 8 girl, Birches. Then they're calling my name, and as if in a dream, I rise and climb the stairs to the stage. I settle in the chair opposite from the host, Octavio Floris. "Good evening Miss Bellcreek!" he says. "Good evening Mr. Floris!" I reply, smiling. "How do you like the Capitol so far?" "Oh, I love it! I love everything in my room, and I love the people!" I answer. The angle that Cordia worked up for me was 'eager and beautiful,' so I'm trying to achieve that in my answers. Kensa really took care of the beautiful part.

"So, you volunteered for the very first Games ever. Can you tell us why this is?" Octavio asked. "Well, ever since the Games were announced I wanted to be in them. The first District 1 girl tribute ever, you know! And when my best friend, Flaire- miss you Flaire!" I call into the cameras, making the crowd cheer, "When Flaire was reaped, I immediately took her place, to keep her safe, and be famous all at the same time!" "And you certainly will be famous, especially with how you're dressed tonight," Octavio says, gesturing to the diamonds. "Aw, thank you Octavio," I reply. "Do you think you can win?" I smile sweetly at him. "Of course I can, and I will." Bzzzzzz "Well our time is up! Good luck, Silver Bellcreek!" Octavio says, and I sweep across the stage and sit back down.

"Glow Overlock!" I sit and watch Glow go up and sit across from Octavio. He's overly confident, more enthusiastic than I could ever be. "Are you confident you can win?" Octavio asks Glow. "More confident than I've ever been in my life. You just see! The next time you see me I'll be crowned victor!" The crowd cheers for him, then the buzzer goes off and he sits back down. Then Lar goes up and gives a good, albeit bland interview. Then Curia goes up, dressed in a black dress, tight around the top with no sleeves, then a short puffy skirt that falls just above her knees. As she clacks onto stage in her high heels she looks deadly.

"Hello, Curia. How are you tonight?" "I am just perfect, thank you," she purrs back. "How do you feel about tomorrow?" Octavio asks her. "I feel more than okay about it. I can't wait to get in that arena." "What weapon do you think you'll be going straight for?" She smiles a sly grin. "Oh, knives. I'll be going straight for the knives." A few more back and forth comments go on, then the buzzer goes off, and Curia clacks back to her seat.

I tune out for the next tributes, especially the District 3s. I only note the District 4s because the girl, Cass? looks so beautiful and unlike herself. The next interview I really pay attention to is Violet's, the little District 5. "Hello Violet," Octavio says. Violet is dressed in a light purple puffy dress, her hair loose over her shoulders. "Hello," she answers in a quiet, tremulous voice. "How do you feel about tomorrow?" She looks up from her lap straight into Octavio's eyes. "I'm scared to go in, but I know I'm not going to hurt anyone, not if I can help it. I'll win the Games on my own terms, and I'll go home." "I know you will, sweetheart," Octavio says encouragingly. My heart breaks for her, so small on the stage. I know she's thirteen, but she seems so much younger. I don't hear much else from her interview, then she comes and breezes by me to her seat.

Now, the District 6 girl surprises me, a lot. I had never talked to her or heard her or anything, until now. Her hair is put in a ponytail that's tied all the way down, and she's dressed in a long navy blue dress with white sequins dotting it. "So, Tulsee Skyforge," Octavio says. "So, what?" she answers back. "How do you feel about tomorrow?" "How do you think I feel? I'm being thrown into an arena to kill or be killed. Oh I feel just peachy keen about it all." I can tell that Octavio is temporarily at a loss for words, then he says, "Well, how do you like the Capitol?" "Oh, I like it, it's just fine, and I do like the people here. Sponsor me okay? Get me back on this stage in two weeks!" Tulsee calls into the audience. I think Octavio is relieved when the buzzer goes and Tulsee leaves the stage.

I am relieved when the interviews are over, just over an hour of them all, and we all go back towards the elevators to take us to our rooms one last time. I look around me; who will be dead tomorrow? And only one of us is coming out. Everyone else will be dead. I can't help but feel nervous at that. While I'm wondering I accidentally step on Birches' dress. She whirls around and snaps, "Watch where you're going, 1!" "Sorry, Birches," I answer, and she stomps off, pushing people out of the way for the elevator. Glow finds me in the crowd and comes over. "Ready?" he asks. I nod, and we step into the elevator. Then the doors close.