The 25th Hunger Games
Chapter 2
I wish yesterday didn't go so quickly. Then maybe I would have something to cling to as I left for the Reaping. People my age stood around me, the sun beating down on our pale faces. Half the crowd had glasses, confirming the stereotype that District 3's children have bad eyesight. My Mom is up on the stage, along with Tin, our most recent male victor. What a dreadful name; who names their kid after their line of work?
"Welcome, Welcome!" beams a lady on stage. She's in her forties I think, but she looks much older. Her skin is dyed deep purple and her face is wrinkle and blemish free but it looks much to tight to be not altered. She has green whiskers and stripes running down her face. She's one of those Capitol freaks that think they look beautiful like that. In reality they look like monsters.
"What a lovely crowd" she says glancing at the emotionless faces of the children of District 3.
"Now as you know, this year is different!" she says a little to happily, "Instead of regular reaping, you got to vote on whom to send. I feel like this Hunger Games will be particularly riveting. Now there has been a slight change in plans, the Arena's setting will change depending on who is the most popular Tribute! So play it well, District 3!"
"Happy Birthday, Ethan!" I hear from behind. I turn and find a group of snickering teenagers. "And may the odds be ever in your favor!" they say getting the attention of almost everyone.
"SILENCE!" the lady on stage yells before continuing on with her speech about how the games started. After a dreadful 30 minutes of standing around, I see that she is finally finished with her speech.
"Now, Ladies first" she says as an assistant hands her the card, "The people of District 3 voted Dione Rossi as their Tribute. A big round of applause for Dione Rossi!"
The audience pulls off a weak hearted clap as panicked yelps escape Dione. The Peacekeepers drag her up on stage as her horrified friends and family watch.
"NO!" she shouts attempting to free herself from the arms of a Peacekeeper.
"Someone wake me up!" she yells frantically, "Please!"
Her family's sobbing could be heard as the crowd went silent.
"I volunteer as Tribute!" what I assume to be her older sister yells.
"No no no! There is no volunteering this Games. What an added edge!" responds the lady on stage smiling.
"Please!" her hysterical older sister yells. "I'm begging you!".
Eventually, Peacekeepers drag the older sister away. Talk about adding insult to injury.
"Let's move on from that minor distraction, now the Gentlemen."
A different assistant passes her an envelope. I press my hand to my face as she begins to read off the card.
"Antonio Valer-" she says, only to have her microphone cut off. A large man walks on stage and crosses to her. He whispers something in her ear. I could only make out the words: Son, Tribute, and Change of Plans. The lady on stage nods and hands him the envelope. The man gives her the new one. There's a commotion off to the left, apparently, Antonio Valerius had just fainted but that is not the reason they stopped because soon the lady on stage begins to read it again.
"The people of District 3 voted…" she says pausing to read the name, "Ethan Minerva as their tribute!"
And bam! It's like I'm punched. No wait, someone actually punched me. The Peacekeeper's drag me up to the stage as I spit profanity at the top of my lungs. My legs turn to jelly as I face the crowd of people. My mother, just a few steps away from me, falls to her knees as she hears the death sentence. The cameras make extra effort to get her sobbing on tape.
"Happy Hunger Games!" she wishes us as we are dragged offstage, "And may the odds be ever in your favor!"