I stand there impatiently waiting for this damn reaping to end. It's dumb. How can the Capitol sit at home and send us into an arena to die? And no one truly wins the games. Someone comes out physically crippled or mentally insane. Either way, the trauma is more sufferable than a kid actually being slaughtered for entertainment.
Other kids stand anxiously, some as pale as the clouds, ready to faint or puke any second. Others are full of fear, crying and whining, terrified of being chosen to get murdered by other children. There are a few who stand calm and collected, either showing bravery for younger siblings or are not worried of being picked due to the odds.
Odds. The Hunger Games motto: May the odds be ever in your favor. Ha. It's a joke. The odds are never in our favor. There isn't a real winner who walks out of the arena. Alive or dead, you lose either way. And even with the districts, we don't have the odds either. We die of starvation, disease, and live in horrible conditions while the Capitol is entertained by our suffering as they indulge themselves in their feasts full of extravagant foods.
Our trashy escort scampers onto the stage. Other kids try to make jokes out of her outfit to ease the tension, but she's a joke herself. Doesn't take much to realize that her hideous, bright yellow hair and her poop brown of a dress with rainbow streaks is absolutely horrendous.
"Welcome welcome, Happy Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favor!" Her squeaky voice echoes throughout the square.
"Now let's start with the females, shall we?" Silence is answered. No one enjoys these games. Only Districts One, Two, and Four enjoy participating and fighting for glory and fame. Us outlying districts don't care since we aren't as rich as the career districts.
The escort strides her way over to the sphere full of female names. I swear, all she needs is a toilet for a hat. It would match her urine colored hair and her poop colored dress.
"Raelene Versille!" She Hollers.
A young girl appears out of the fourteen-year-old section. She looks highly nervous, but then again, who wouldn't be? I don't think I would be all that nervous. If anything, I would be pissed.
She takes her time going up to the stage. She seems unsure of herself and can't believe this is happening. She looks weak but I've seen her around before and she's highly social. If she makes herself likable, she might be a threat in these games.
"Raelene Virsille, age 14." She murmurs. She takes her seat as the Capitol escort strides her way over to the male's reaping ball.
Her hand swishes around, allowing slips of paper brush up against the ball. Her long nails finally pick up a single slip, and placing it in her prickly fingers. She then heads her way back to the microphone and announces a name: "Vulcan Shrine!"
No. This isn't possible. My face hardens like cooling lava as I clench my fists. I feel blood simmer through hands as my nails dig into my palms. An ember of rage boils inside of my heart. No, not an ember. More like a raging volcano that is dispersing fires at extreme heat. That is the level of my rage at this very moment.
I gently make my way up to the stage. I'm doing my best to contain the rage. Usually I'm not one to care, but I'm not foolish either. The games start as soon as your name is announced at the Reaping. Other tributes start to observe you, wondering who they should target first. Also the sponsors watch your every move, and sponsors help keep you alive. If I'm going to win, I need to contain the raging fires inside of me.
"Vulcan Shrine, age 18." I mumble. It is so hard to not let my vocals take over and shout at every single damn person in this awful country called Panem. I am honestly angered with every single citizen in all of the districts and all of the damn citizens in the Capitol, but especially pissed at this damn escort for picking my name out of the reaping ball.
"That is our District Six tributes everyone!" She squeals excitedly. I flinch a bit, my ears ready to implode by the awful sound of her voice. If she were in the games, I'd slaughter her in seconds.
"May the odds be ever in your favor!" She adds. That's it. I can't contain it anymore. I can't help but let it slip.
"Can you shut your trap already?! That voice of yours makes me want to slaughter you. Crawl back into the hyena cave you came from because no one wants to hear that damn voice of yours. I hope the odds are in YOUR favor when the Capitol decides to make you an avox!"
Her face is astonished. Her lip trembles, wanting to reply but she is forever embarrassed in front of all of Panem. Tears swell up in her eyes and she storms off the stage. Damn, I really blew my luck. Whatever. I'll be a force to be reckoned with.
No one comes to see me in the Justice Building. Not really shocked at all, considering I don't have anyone to love. Love doesn't exist in my world. All that I allow to consume me is hatred for this place and isolation. If I'm not close with anyone, no one can hurt me. It's my small way on showing the freedom I have over the president and game makers. They can try to use me and persuade me with family, but family doesn't exist in my book. I can't be used as another puppet in the games, I will fight for myself and not anyone else.
Raelene and I aboard the train. She looks quite upset. I'm sure it's because she's entering the games, but I wonder if it's possible no one visited her. I would ask her, but truthfully I don't really care.
We step onto the train and there are several people on the train with familiar faces. Raelene goes crazy, hugging every single one of them. "I'm so happy to see all of you!" She shouts, tears of joy streaming down her face. For the time being, I guess she forgot that she's entering a game where kids are forced to murder each other.
Her family and friends open their arms, taking her in with joy and happiness. On the other hand, I'm sitting here awkwardly awaiting for someone to greet me. But then I remembered I have no friends nor family. Guess I truly am the lone wolf. Not a single person joined me for this, showing my true isolation that I place upon myself.
We travel our way to the Capitol as they all huddle around and chat amongst themselves. Quite idiotic if you ask me. I give Occisora props for trying to use family and friends as a mere distraction from the event that is taking place, however, I will not fall for this simple twist. The games have begun and I will strategize and figure out each tribute.
District One's Reaping was quite interesting. The boy seemed scared to enter the games, however, he seems quite fit. Although he was reaped, he holds potential. Axis on the other hand is going to be an issue. Her hand shot up to volunteer even though she is only fourteen years old. She seems cunning and skilled, I'll have to keep an eye on her in training to see what she is capable of.
District Two, the Capitol lapdogs, appear next. The boy instantly catching my eye when he volunteered. Haeden seems to be quite the threat physically and socially, but mentally I'm not so sure. Definitely a tribute to keep an eye out for. The girl doesn't seem like much. Yes, she volunteered, but only for her younger sibling. She won't be bloodbath material, but she won't make it past the final twelve, that's for sure.
District Three is a bit unusual. The girl, Ki, was reaped but for some odd reason she seems bubbly and some-what happy. She makes me feel a bit uneasy, I'll have to make a mental note on not to underestimate her. The boy, Jay, seems like a try-hard. He held his head up high like a career would, but in his eyes I can tell he's petrified. I'm not really concerned about him.
District Four is where we have problems. The boy volunteered and I would assume he would be the pack leader. He's definitely going to be the one that is going to be hard to beat. The female volunteered also and although she seems weak, I have a feeling she is waiting to slaughter tributes. She has great potential, that's for sure.
District Five won't be a problem. The girl consumed herself in tears, already giving up before even trying. I will be shocked if she doesn't die in the bloodbath. The boy seems like he will try, but even his best efforts won't get him past the bloodbath. The pair from District Five are true flukes to this year's games.
District Six is us. I ignore myself and only pay attention to Raelene. She's weak and useless, however, she is social. If she plays her social game correctly and learns a lot in training, she may become a potential threat.
District seven is average. The boy seems fit, however, he seems ditzy and clumsy. He won't make it far if he doesn't pair up with an intelligent tribute. The girl seems like she will make it past the bloodbath, but not much longer than that. They're usually axe-wielders so I'll do my best to not underestimate the either of them.
District Eight is lame. The boy did volunteer, however, it was for a friend. It was idiotic for him to do that. He won't last long, I know that. The girl seems average, but something about her makes me want to not over-look her. There's usually one over-looked tribute who makes it to the final eight, and it could be her.
District Nine are bloodbath tributes. The girl, Octavia, is beautiful, however she is weak. And weakness will not get you far. If she doesn't toughen up, her fate is already determined. The boy is twelve. With him being at such a young age, I will already assume he will die in the bloodbath.
District Ten isn't much either. The girl did volunteer, and I bet she will make it a bit far, but nothing past the final eight. The boy seems strong but seems to be lacking mental intelligence, which is why I believe he will be bloodbath material.
District Eleven is pathetic. The boy may have volunteered, but he's twelve. He's probably ready to die and ready to gorge himself in food before meeting his untimely end. The girl seems like bloodbath material as well, only being at the age of thirteen. District Eleven is going to lose this year.
District Twelve isn't as bad as it usually is. The boy is an absolute joke. He volunteered at the age of twelve. He's bloodbath, no doubt about it. Seaver, however, something tells me I shouldn't over-look her. She has true potential. I doubt she will be victor, but she could determine whether I live or die.
The tributes I definitely need to look out for are Axis from District One, Haeden from District Two, and Eugene from District Four. They need to be taken out immediately, but I'm sure they will last a while.
The potential tributes who show promise are Jet from District One, Erin from District Two, Ki from District Three, Amabel from District Four, and Seaver from District Twelve.
Okay, so that's three major threats with five potential threats, making a total of eight tributes who show worthiness of victory. That's only a third of the competition, so the rest should be easy to pick off. Hopefully the careers will do all of that for me, but then again, I'm sure I'll have to do some work as well.
We arrive in the Capitol and the people around me cheer with glee, as I am ready to play the game. We walk out of our train, greeted by colorful and flamboyant folk who live in the Capitol.
My district partner finds it fascinating here, while I am playing the games. I ignore the Capitol citizens; not rudely or disrespectfully, but as if they were lower to me. If you act like a victor, chances are they will want to sponsor you.
I stay in front of my district partner and her family, showing we are not of equality, and I out-rank my district partner. I realize this is working when I listen amongst the citizens who are talking:
"He might make it into the career pack!"
"He will make it far, at least the final eight."
"He seems confident for an outlying district... I like it!"
The people already love me and I have hardly walk amongst these awful people who arrange a game where kids slaughter each other. They repulse me, but I value my life. Therefore, I must play the game strategically if I am to win.
We get to the training center and I immediately crawl in the bed filled with warmth of the fabric created into the blankets and quilts. The pillow I rest my head on is cool, just how I like it. And before I know it, everything seems to drift away, lumber of sleep taking over my body and mind.
I wake up the following morning, finding out my district partner and her family are taking a tour throughout the Capitol. Such an idiot. Why would you want to explore the Capitol? A place where they pay for your blood to be spilled.
I sit around, doing easy exercises. Push ups, sit ups, jumping jacks; whatever I need to do to help stay in shape. The food here is delicious, but it's meant to fatten you up. I won't allow my weight to increase in growth due to a few delicious foods. I'm not as idiotic as I look.
Soon the feast begins, where we gather around the Gamemaker and all of the tributes gathered at a large table filled with extravagant foods, waiting to be plucked by our hands.
The tributes are chatting away with their families and their friends as I sit silently, awaiting for the gamemaker's big speech so I can begin picking up twitches of these tributes. My observant skills will allow me to determine what traits they have.
I was soon interrupted as the Gamemaker begins to speak: "My dear tributes. Friends. Family. We are gathered here to celebrate the lives of these brave people, many of you will, unfortunately, die. But not today. Today we shall live. We shall cherish life. We shall cherish the company of those we love. With good food and music I hope to make these last moments before the games pleasant moments. I want you all to know I am not your enemy." She looks into the crowd looking beautiful and not in the least bit intimidating. "I want to help you. Every one of you. And as a sign of my good will, the leftovers from this feast will be divided them back to each of your family and friends will have food to take back to your district now let's eat, drink, and be merry."
Almost as soon as everyone starts digging in, a peacekeeper emerges to the gamemaker's side, addressing an issue that has occured: "Miss, the district six escort has quit, due to Vulcan causing an abruption and embarrassment of her on television." Oh no, this isn't good.
"Is there any way she will stick around for the years to come?" She asks, very concerned. I guess she liked the District Six escort.
"The only way for her to stay is if you make sure that Vulcan Shrine dies in the bloodbath." The peacekeeper says. And with that, there eyes both turn my way, sizing up whether I'm more worth than their escort.
Good job Vulcan, you just signed your own death certificate.