DISTICT ONE
Victoria Nicholas is met by Mayor Avery at the train station. She looks that the man, slightly overweight and balding, then tentatively extends her hand. He shakes it with his sweaty one quickly.
Her voice, clear and crisp, rings out in the mostly empty station. "You know why I am here?"
The Mayor nods. "Yes, although I can't say I approve. Do you not think it is barbaric?"
Victoria internally agrees. "No. It is your just punishment." The line had been given to her by the capitol. "The Reaping is at noon, yes?"
The Mayor nods, his head shining in the stark artificial light. "It is nine, I will show you back to your housing so you may prepair."
Victoria gave a slight nod.
Three hours later, she was standing on the platform, giving her mandatory speech, introducing the crowd to the concept of The Hunger Games, of the Reaping, of the rules. The children stand in clusters, scared that the would be called to their death.
Victoria reaches into the Girl's Reaping Ball. She pulles out a piece of paper. The crowd is silent.
"Gabriella Mason."
A small girl, with mousy features and appears to be no more then twelve years old, pushes her way forward from a group of children who must be relations, trying not to cry (and failing).
"Would anyone like to volunteer to take Gabriella's place in the history books?"
First, she sees a hand, then an arm, then a face of a girl, older than Gabriella, but not by much.
"I would." Her voice is loud, her features molded as if by plastic. "Nevaeh Evan."
Victoria nods, wondering what Gabriella means to Nevaeh if she volunteered to take her place.
Nevaeh takes her place next to Victoria onstage, Victoria reads the Boy's name.
"Landon Riley."
This boy looked about twenty, but Victoria new he was no older than 18. She asked for volunteers. There was no one.
The ceremony ends, they leave the stage.