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.

52. Chapter 52- The Victory Banquet

Chapter 52- Silver Bellcreek

After the viewing I'm taken away to the president's mansion for what they're calling the Victory Banquet. There there's tables and tables of food; chickens and soups and everything I could imagine. Maybe once I would have been tempted by it but today I feel sick just looking at it. We were so hungry in the arena, I can't fathom eating such extravagance now.

I can't show how I'm feeling though. Not tonight. Not here in the president's mansion. Faces flash past me, dyed and tattooed and altered until I feel I'm in an alien world. It's like they're all mutts and we're still in the Games. A plate of food is shoved into my hands and whisked away once I've taken only a few bites. It doesn't matter; I don't want food anyway.

The guests seem to have tried to outdo each other with insane clothing; many of the Capitol people are dressed in silver like me. They seem delirious with joy, and with alcohol. They come up to me and congratulate me on my victory, overly cheerful about the tributes that died. I thank them hollowly. Their congratulations mean nothing.

I get glimpses of the president, which frightens me, but before I can focus on him I'm taken by the arm by Cordia and walked over to more Capitol officials and some sponsors that sponsored me in the Games. I thank them on autopilot.

Once the dawn starts to peer over the horizon Cordia leads me off and takes me back to my apartments on the first floor of the Training Center. I shared these rooms with Glow, and now he's dead.

"That was a success!" Cordia chirps. I nod. "Off to bed! The last interviews air at 2!"

She marches me to my door and pushes me through.

"Goodnight!"

I don't sleep. I sit on my bed that faces the window overlooking the Capitol and I hug my knees, rocking back and forth. I keep the blue and silver dress on and it pool around my feet. Even though I hate it I can still admit that it's beautiful.

I think of home. Of my siblings. My parents. Flaire. And I think of my allies, of Curia and Glow and Violet. None of them should have died. I was wrong. I was so wrong. There's no glory in being the victor. There's only pain.