Stupidity Killed the Cat
Disclaimer: I was told that if I didn't include one of these blindingly obvious statements in my fanfic then my story could be removed… I have no idea whether or not this is true so I'll include one just to be on the safe side. I'm obviously NOT Suzanne Collins, and therefore do NOT own the Hunger Games.
Ugh. I. Am. So. Bored. I hate reapings. We wait… and wait….. and wait….. And then finally we get to listen to the mayor drone on about the Capitol. I think I've already expressed my opinions on how almighty the Capitol is… And then when the mayor finishes his speech we get to listen to the guy from the capitol.
Our old escort retired the year after…. After it happened. And we got the guy from One. He likes to talk a little about how honored he is to be here, and how he's sure everyone of us would make an amazing competitor in the Games.
Too bad that only two of us can compete. Right? Too bad we can only say goodbye to two of our children, probably forever. Too bad they can only transform two of us into murderers. Too bad they can only kill two of us off, force us to die by the hands of other children, kids that we might be friends with in a different lifetime… in a different world.
No, I'm not bitter. What gave you that impression?
Clove stands next to me. Only three more years until she plans to throw her life away. Even if she lives her life won't be her own. There will be no such thing as privacy. Her life will belong to the Capitol.
Our Escort, Umm…. What's his name? I know it, it's…. it's…. some kind of ridiculous capitol name… I know it starts with an A…. Asp… Ask…. Al…. Am…. Ash… I give up. Our escort, whatever his name is, finishes talking and decides that the boys get picked first this year.
"I'm gonna do it." I look over at Clove. Her face is lit up. She looks like she's about to cry. I wouldn't put it past her to be listening while pretending to be looking around, bored, but… Did she actually find him… inspiring?
"Just wait. You'll have a better chance if you wait." I whisper back.
She shakes her head. "No, it has to be now. I want to prove something! I know I can win this. But I want to do it against the odds. I don't just want to beat the other kids, I want to beat the odds, and the Capitol! I want to be the one they never expected to win! I'll do it for you…" her voice softens "They hurt you… and I'll beat them for it!"
She can't be serious. This can not be happening. Not again. "Clove, you're from Two. You could be paralyzed from the waist down and they still wouldn't be surprised if you won."
She shakes her head "I'm going for it." She absolutely refuses to see reason.
I don't hear the name of the boy that… whatever his name is, calls, or the name of the one that volunteers to take his place. The next thing I know he's already reaching into the giant, clear ball containing the slips with the girl's names on them.
"Terra Nulkan" He calls. A girl marches to the stage from the back. One of the older kids who would volunteer anyway if they weren't called. She glares at everyone as she passes, trying to look intimidating in the hopes that nobody will dare volunteer and steal her chance at glory, or her chance at a very slow, torturous death, whichever comes first.
I glance over at Clove. Her shoulders are squared and she looks determined. Damn it. I can't do this, not again. I'd be okay, I've watched enough of my friends die to not shatter into a million pieces if she loses but it won't be good for me either. I'll probably turn into one of those emotionless robots.
Our escort has finished introducing Terra, there's no more time to think. Clove takes a deep breath, stepping forward just a little, getting ready.
"Do we have any volunteers?" The last thing I notice before I completely lose all of my self-control is how white his teeth are, the purest white I've ever seen.
"I volunteer." But the voice isn't Clove's…. It's mine.
"Excellent, come on up." He smiles again.
Clove stares at me, shocked. I've never expressed any desires to be a tribute to the games, quite the opposite. I make my way to the stage. I smile. I shake hands with our- no my escort. I shake hands with the boy who will have to die if I'm going to survive. And I think to myself that this, which from one point of view could be considered volunteering myself to be slaughtered, is probably the most selfish thing I've ever done in my entire life.
A.N.: So… how's it going. Yes, I know it's been like, forever since I last updated. No, I honestly don't really have that good of an excuse. SORRY! But, sometimes I feel like nobody is even reading this. So, I skipped all the character development and background and kind of plunged right into the plot, I just didn't like what I had done with the story so far…
Guess what today is? My Birthday! I turned 14 years old at 5:10 this morning…. I really hope none of you guys are stalkers…. So review, pretty, pretty please. For my birthday? I promise if I get 2 reviews with actual feedback I'll have the next chapter up by Tuesday (U.S. east coast time zone) As always flames are welcome, seeing as I'm a pyromaniac.