The 25th Hunger Games
Chapter 3
I'm dragged into a dusty old room somewhere in the Justice Building. Old electronic gadgets line the shelves of the room and dust floats freely in the air. I sit in a comfy sofa with my family. My dad is staring out the window, my mother is on the floor overcome with tears and my brothers are the only comfort I have, too bad one of them is asleep and the other is crying his eyes out.
My older sister walks into the hysteria filling the room. She immediately goes to my mother and starts trying to get her up.
"Mom?" she asks gently, "Something's not right, I don't think Ethan is supposed to be a tribute!"
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"Antonio Valerius is the most hated bully in my grade. The day before we cast our votes, my entire grade decided to vote him. That should have sent him to the Arena." She continues.
"Isn't that a bit mean?" my mother says as she wipes her nose with her sleeve.
"Yes, but that's not the point! No one voted you Ethan! Some people don't even know that Mom has kids! Or even a husband for that matter" she says glancing at Dad.
"So what? That means people secretly hate me…" I mumble.
"I think it means that the voting was rigged." She says. Immediately, both my Dad and my Mom reach out to cover her mouth, their eyes wide with fear.
And as if on cue a peacekeeper drags my Mom and me away from the room. Every year, until another female from our district wins, she's forced to go to the Capitol. This time, I have to go along as well.
Soon, we end up facing the swarm of cameras that are capturing our every feature. I have to hold myself from screaming at them, they are using our technology to capture the events of my death. I do make the effort of accidently bumping into this one Capitol lady. It sends her expensive camera into the tracks of the high-speed train. And with a jolt, us boarding the incoming train has been delayed. Peacekeepers drag off the poor lady for, "Attacking a Tribute". Both my Mom and me have a hard time suppressing our grins. The peacekeepers shuffle us into the high-speed train. And the air-lock doors shut with a hiss. Dione and Tin are both already on the train.
"So what should we do?" asks Dione, hand pressed against her face.
"Hope there is wire." Tin says plainly.
"You mean to say we have no chance of winning unless the Gamemakers are feeling nice?" I ask angrily.
Tin responds with a nod. He only won 5 years ago; he won at the age of 17. It must have been rough seeing the tributes from the first year he mentored die.
"Sorry," I say with newfound pity towards the mentor, "So any other advice for me and Dione?"
"Just call me Diane" Diane mumbles, "I hate the name Dione"
Her brown hair is pulled into a ponytail, and her fair skin is freckled with various soldering burns. She is one of the poorer citizens of District 3. The ones who right after school go straight to the workshops to build and design things for the Capitol. I can't help but feel sorry for her, I actually like designing things but the people who end up working in the workshops learn to hate their job.
"Dione's a nice name," my Mom says as she puts on one of her forced smiles.
"Diane's a better one" both Tin and me say in unison. I immediately turn my attention to the outside world.
The train appears to be slowing down, usually it goes 300 miles per hour, but I guess this one goes slower to give the Tributes something to look at. The smog of District 3 slowly fades away, and the mountains of District 2 being to appear from the horizon. District 3 is incredibly close to the Capitol. Only Districts 1, 2 and 5 separate it. Note to self, if we ever try to rebel again, make sure to get District 5 and 11 first. Why didn't they do that in the first place?
"Hey wait a second," Diane says pointing at me, "You and Tesla related right?"
Even though my Mom is a Victor I still find it weird when they say her nickname.
"Actually, her name is Marie." I say annoyed at Diane.
"Right," she says awestruck, "That must have been the reason they voted you!" she continues, forgetting that fact that we must have been hated to even be considered for this year's games.
"Maybe they voted you because of your mouth!" I snap and immediately the smile on her face is gone.
Great, I'm already making enemies…
I turn and find my Mother's You Better Apologies or I'll Get Victor On You, face. I shake my head lightly in rebellion. The next thing I know, I'm in my room on the train. Grounded until dinner like some 6 year-old who threw a tantrum. Thoughts about the Games fill my head. District 1 and 2 probably voted the best Careers they have. Diane and me are doomed.