The Trial Games.

A strange, pungent smell wafts through my nose and I slowly wake. I recognise that my left upper arm stings and I can feel something tightly constrict my wrists to a sturdy surface before I even properly open my eyes. Wearily, I allow my eyes to lift open to the almost pitch black room, lit only by a small static filled screen that sputters and spits as fear and panic begins to flood my sleepy body.

'Where am I, what happened, where is this?'

I scream these questions into the dank my mind, eyes wide open as I turn my neck every which way- seeing nothing but shadows while my hands twitch in pain from being buckled down so tightly.

"Hello?!" I cry into the darkness. "Help! Help me!"

The screen, almost if responding- blinds me with its sudden burst of white light. I recoil into my bindings, squinting as a familiar but notorious face has made its place in place of the static. Smiling kindly as he folds his hand upon his desk, the President of Panem stares directly towards me, with a brief nod.

My mouth sags open from the shock, and I am unable to piece together what was happening. If it weren't for the almost blinding unknown pain in my arm, I would think it was a dream. Strapped to a chair in the dark, facing a screen where the President smiled...
Wasn't I supposed to be in school? What had happened for me to be... wherever 'here' was?

"Welcome, children of the thirteenth district" the President spoke, his voice as crisp as any broadcast he had made. "As most of you are aware, the revolt against the Capitol has ended in favour of the Capitol... resulting in your, and the remaining twelve districts loss"

I sit in silence, learning he wasn't speaking to just me, or else he would have addressed me directly. He said 'children'. A bolt shoots through me as I remember the brief, horrific scenes I could remember in the school corridor just before I awoke. Was everyone else strapped to a chair in a dark room like I was? Were they close?

"-I regret to inform you, that in order to set an example for the other districts, your home- District 13, has been destroyed"

My heart stops and my breath ceases. Flashes of my Mother and Father flick through my mind like a flip book before the tears even begin to form in my eyes. What was the President saying- my family was dead? My home?

"However, the twenty-four of you have been given a chance to save yourselves and your respective families" the President smiles like it were a gift, but I don't relax. "It is quite simple... the twenty-four of you are to participate in a trial of a new creation of the Capitol's... the Hunger Games"

Silence for a moment. I've never heard of the Hunger Games before, and I don't understand how they might work. However, at this moment- I don't care. Somewhere, my family is safe but in danger if I can't win this... game show.

I'm smart, at least- I'm not stupid. I might win our lives. Something in my mind rattles, warning me that these games could not be a good thing if this was the prelude.

"The Hunger Games are quite like the coliseum in a way... you will have a small audience to watch as you compete" the President brushed some unseen, invisible dirt from his arm. "-and, also in that you will all be fighting- to the death"

To illustrate this, many screens suddenly light up behind the first. There, wriggling and squirming in their own chairs- I can see my classmates. My eyes flit from screen to screen, recognising each and every child. Twelve year olds to eighteen year olds sit, staring ahead at what could only be their own screen. I recognise several seniors, juniors, Crux and Cisqua- even students who only recently enrolled.
But, amongst the many familiar horrified faces- my heart freezes as I see Holden with an expression of utter terror on his face and I am suddenly very aware that this is certainly not a dream.

"I am well aware that you are all... acquaintances" The president is still talking. "-but do not think that you can escape these games by refusing to compete. The Gamemakers have total control of your arena, and should you prove difficult- you will be removed"

Killed. The playful but murderous glint in his eyes makes his euphemism almost unnecessary.

"You will be armed with supplies that are to be collected from the starting cornucopia, and there will be hidden tools in the arena for you to find and wield- though they are difficult to find and acquire" he chuckles. It's almost too amusing for him to explain. "-however, should the audience take a liking to you- you may even be given gifts from your supporters"

I can see Crux screaming at his screen. Though I cannot hear him, I can see his shoulders shaking as he tries to fight. However, he is staring upwards, where the display of "tributes" are. Somehow, he's trying to speak with another "tribute". I can make out the words "-save you-"

"-should you win, I will grant you and your family freedom... but the moment you die in the arena- your family too, shall be executed in a similar manner"

The screens change, and I am suddenly confronted with my Mother and Father, bruised, beaten and bound to chairs of their own, faceless guards standing either side of them. Father, who had always been strong- is weeping openly as my Mother holds a deadpan expression that can only mean she's been completely broken.

I choke on my tears as the televisions flash back, all of them now picturing the President. His multiple faces all stare down at me, judging but amused. Finally, he opens his arms in an open, welcoming gesture and smiles his best grin.

"I am expecting a great fight, and I will not be disappointed!" he leans close to the camera, and offers a playful wink. "I can only offer you all one tip, and here it is... don't move from the starting plate until the signal... if you don't? Don't say for an instant that I did not warn you... happy Hunger Games"

-It suddenly shuts off, and the lights immediately bloom- illuminating the dark captive room I am bound in. I scream as what feels like hundreds of hands loom from all sides and I am sent into the depths of my mind once more. However, as I can feel my mind closing- the words slip into my ear and disappear almost as quickly as they had been spoken.

"-they're going to love you Miss Maya"