133THE MOMENT IS FINALLY HERE! I'VE FINALLY MADE CHAPTER ONE OF THE 48TH HUNGER GAMES! IMPORTANT: I have not gotten all 24 tributes yet. Please feel free to send one in. The character sheet is on my profile page, and you can leave them in the reviews.
Also, I only just finished Mockingjay, and OMG. I'm not going to say anything else in case you haven't read it yet, but OMG.
You may notice that I started with the past tense in the prologue and then switched to present tense for this chapter. I'm going to be doing present tense the rest of the book. Deal with it. ;)
Finally, I just want to give a huge shout out to those of you who have sent in a tribute. You have no idea what it means to me. To be honest with you, I didn't really expect to get any, so thank you. Now, with that being said, onto the story!
Blaze
I sit at the kitchen table, listening to my parents telling my how to act when I volunteer. They keep telling me "what a great honor this is", and how "I need to present myself the right way". I pretend like I'm listening, but I'm not. All I can think about is that I wish I weren't as strong as I am, or as fast, or as good with weapons. Then maybe I wouldn't have gotten into this mess.
Ever since I was eight, my parents have made me train at the academy for the Hunger Games. They soon found out that I was a natural with weapons, especially spears. They realized I had a shot of being picked to volunteer, and because of this, they made me train extra hard. This year, I was finally chosen to volunteer. My parents went crazy when they heard the news. They even had me skip school so that I would have more time to train. I act like I'm happy, but really, I want nothing to do with the Hunger Games. Killing people just isn't my kind of thing.
The only good thing that came out of training was Platinum. We first met at the academy, when I accidently almost impaled her with my spear. We immediately fell in love, and a few months later, we began dating. She is the most amazing girl that I know.
"Blaze? Blaze, are you listening?" My mother asks me, pulling me back into the present. I flinch. "Yeah, I'm listening." I tell her. She nods, then begins to tell me how I need to act while walking to the stage. I have to resist the temptation to roll my eyes.
My mother gets me dressed in a dark blue suit, something that many people in our district can't afford, and then we head towards the city square that hosts the reaping. I sign in, then stand by a pack of seventeen year olds that I know from the academy. They give me a look that tells me they wish they were in my place. Funny. Right now, I wish I were in anybody's place except mine.
The square becomes packed with people. Many are directed to side streets, where they can watch the Reaping live on huge television screens. I shift from foot to foot, anxious. Finally, the mayor begins to speak. He makes his speech about Panem and then announces all the victors from District 1. In all, there have been twelve, four of them dead. Jackla Ragins, the victor who will serve as our head mentor, sits on the stage. The other victors will only help her out.
Our escort, Emaria Flaan, steps onto the podium. This year, she wears a sky blue wig and a matching dress. Her cheeks have been tattooed with flower petals. "Hello, everyone!" She announces. "Are you ready to see the special contendors for this year's Hunger Games?" The audience cheers. "Good!" She says. "As always, ladies first." Emaria reaches deep into the glass of girls' names and pulls out a slip. "Rosebud Graya!"
Rosebud walks towards the stage, looking shocked. Another girl steps forward. "I volunteer!" The girl calls out. I recognize her from the academy. Her name is Ariana Angel. She's only fifteen years old, but that doesn't make her any less deadly. I've seen her skill with a bow and arrow. She's not one to be messed with.
Ariana steps onto the stage. Emaria congratulates her, then walks over to the boys' glass. She pulls out a name. "Garo Havarch!" She says.
"I volunteer as tribute!" I yell. I walk towards the stage, keeping my head held high. My anger towards the Hunger Games boils up inside me, threatening to overflow, but I force it back down. I do not want to do something stupid right now.
Emaria claps her hands together. "Marvelous, marvelous!" She says. "I give you the tributes of District one!" The crowd roars with approval, and Emaria gestures for us to shake hands. As I take hold of Ariana's hand, I look into her eyes. She seems calm enough, but I can see anger, too. Maybe I'm not the only one who doesn't like the Hunger Games.
The mayor reads the Treaty of Treason and dismisses the crowd. Peacekeepers take us back into the Justice Building. I'm directed to a small room with a velvet couch. There I wait until the door opens and my family comes through. My parents immediately begin to scold me about how I didn't act like they told me to. I just nod and tell them that I'm sorry, even though I'm not. My little sister, Velvet, stares up at us with wide eyes.
Once my parents finish lecturing me, we just stare at each other for a moment, not sure what to say. Then they pull me into a hug, and my mother begins to cry, and my father tells me how proud he is, and I keep telling them that I love them, over and over again. A Peacekeeper opens the door and orders my family out, but I don't want them to leave. The Peacekeeper practically has to drag me off of them.
As they go, my sister turns around. "Don't die." She says. I barely manage to avoid bursting into tears.
The next person to come in is Platinum. She doesn't say anything, just pulls me into a long kiss. Then she looks me in the eyes and says, "You have to win. You have to." Her determination startles me a little, but I tell her, "I'll win. Don't worry." She nods. Then she takes out a pendant. It has a symbol of a flame on it. "A reminder to be strong." She tells me. I slip the pendant over my neck, and she embraces me. I hold her, wanting the moment to last forever, but of course, it can't. The Peacekeeper comes and takes her away, and then I'm directed down a long flight of stairs, out a door, and towards the train station. The train pulls into the station and I step into it. Cameramen surround me, and I try to look confident. But right now, I'm everything but confident. I'm afraid. I'm not afraid of dying, exactly. I don't fear death. No, what scares me more is what will happen to Platinum if I die. I can't leave her alone. But I'll have to kill innocent children if I want to get back to her. It's a lose-lose situation.
I hate the Hunger Games.
Ariana
I lie in a bush, completely silent, and wait for game to wander by. I see a squirrel walk past and pull back my bow. I am about to release the arrow when I hear the rustle of leaves and spin around. It's only a bird, digging for worms. I sigh. Normally, I wouldn't be this antsy, but today is a special day. Reaping Day.
As much as I hate it, I was picked to volunteer for the Hunger Games. My parents keep telling me that I should feel honored to get such an opportunity, but I disagree. I think I stand a decent chance of winning. That's not the problem. The problem is that to survive, I have to kill children, children who have never done anything wrong, children who just want to get back to their friends and family alive. Despite what my parents say, I don't want to do that.
I hide my bow and arrow under the bush and pick up my game bag. It only holds two rabbits and a large bird, not nearly as much as I usually catch. I shoulder the bag and then begin to walk through the forest. It's not very large, so it only takes me a couple of minutes to reach the high fence that separates the woods from the rest of District 1. The fence is almost always buzzing, but a couple of years ago I managed to dig a hole underneath of it. I crawl through the hole and head towards my house.
As I walk, I hear footsteps behind me. I turn around and am tackled to the ground. My attacker lands on top of me, holding down my arms, but I knee him in the stomach and he falls off of me with a grunt. I pin him to the ground and prepare to break his nose, but I realize it's only Aquarius, my best friend. "Seriously." I say angrily. "Was that really neccessary?" Aquarius laughs. "Just a little last minute training." He says, getting up and brushing himself off. We continue walking towards my house. "Sorry I couldn't hunt with you today." Aquarius tells me. "My dad needed me to help him fix a water pipe." "Did you get it fixed?" I ask him. "Nope." Aquarius says. "Didn't even come close. My dad decided to just hire someone to do it." We come to my house. It's big, bigger than most. Most people would love living in it, but truthfully, I hate it. In fact, I hate most of the luxuries being rich has to offer. It's just so boring. You never have to work to get what you want. That's why I only eat what I catch while hunting. It's more thrilling then just going out and buying everything you need.
"Well, I'd better go." I tell Aquarius. "My parents'll be getting worried." I step onto the porch when Aquarius calls, "Wait!" I turn. Aquarius opens his mouth, then hesitates. After a moment, he says, "Never mind." "Oh." I say. "Okay." I try not to let the disappointment on my face show. There was something I was hoping he would tell me...
"Hey, Ariana." My little brother Caleb stands in the door, grinning at me. My heart warms when I see him. I hug him and step inside, setting down my game bag. My mother immediately rushes over. "You're late." She tells me. She orders me to go and take a bath. I obey, enjoying the warm water on my skin. After I'm done, she gives me a long, silky dress to wear to the Reaping. I put it on, even though it feels extremely uncomfortable. My mother then puts my hair in a long french braid. I'd prefer a simple ponytail, but I have to "look my best for the Reaping". We're completely ready to go at 2:07, even though the Reaping isn't until 3:00. My parents rush me and my siblings out the door, saying, "Hurry, hurry, hurry!" I don't for the life of me understand why we have to rush so much. The town square is only fifteen minutes away from our house.
We get to the square and I sign in. Some of my friends call me over to where they're standing. They begin to buzz around me like bees. "I can't believe you get to do this!" One of my friends, Marie, squeals. "It's so exciting!" I try to smile and act like I'm happy, but it's difficult.
The mayor gives his whole boring speech, then Emaria, our escort, comes up to the podium. She asks the audience, "Are you ready to see the special contendors for this year's Hunger Games?" There is a roar from the crowd. Then she says, "Ladies first!" She saunters over to the girls' glass of names and pulls out a paper. "Rosebud Graya!"
Rosebud begins walking towards the stage, but I step out before she can reach it. "I volunteer!" I call. I walk up to the stage, making my face unreadable. I don't want anyone to know what's going through my mind. "Ah, excellent!" Emaria says. "Now, for the boys." She puts her hand in the boys' glass and pulls out one of the names. "Garo Havarch!"
Another boy steps forward. "I volunteer as tribute!" He calls. I've seen him at the academy from time to time. I think his name is Blaze. He walks towards the stage, trying to look confident, but failing miserably. He seems angry. Huh. I guess I'm not the only one who desn't like the Hunger Games.
Emaria congratulates us and motions for us to shake hands. Then Peacekeepers take us back into the Justice Building. They take me up a flight of stair and into a small room. In the room is a long couch made of velvet. I crash on the couch and wait. After a moment, my family comes in. They hug me and congratulate me. Then my father draws back and says, "Remember, Ariana. Stick with the Careers. But don't trust them too much. They'll kill you the moment everyone else is dead." I sigh. "I know, dad." I say. Being with the Careers is not what I want to do, but my father had insisted that I join up with them.
Caleb holds out a beaded bracelet. "Here. I made it myself. It's a symbol of our bond that can never be broken." He tells me. I take the bracelet, trying hard not to cry, and then my family's time is up. My older brother, Tony, gives me a reassuring clap on the shoulder, and they leave.
After a while, the door opens again and Aquarius comes through. Before I can say anything, Aquarius blurts out, "I love you." He kisses me, full on the lips. I'm shocked, but I don't pull away. Secretly, I've hoped this would happen for a long time.
Finally, Aquarius releases me. He takes a shaky breath. "That felt good." He says. Then he disappears back out the door as I try to remember who I am.
I stare at the wall, lost in thought. Then a Peacekeeper comes in and takes me to the train station. I know cameramen are all around me, filming my every move, but I'm still in a daze. If I die and never get to tell Aquarius that I love him too...
No. Death isn't an option anymore. I have to win, for my family and for Aquarius. I finger the bracelet that Caleb gave me. I have to make it home.
I must survive. No matter what.
I hope you liked that chapter! Please tell me what you thought of Blaze and Ariana. Also, I am doing sponsor points for this story! I got the idea from cjborange (Seriously, guys, go check her out. She's awesome.). Basically, I am going to ask you guys questions at the end of each chapter. Each question is worth ten sponsor points. I'll also give you two points for each time that you favorite or follow me or my story. Once the Hunger Games officially start, I will put up on my profile page what different things cost. If you have a question about what something costs, please leave it in the reviews. I'll decide how much that thing costs and then put it on my profile page. Multiple people are allowed to pull their points together to buy a gift that's especially expensive. Remember, even if you don't make a tribute, you can still get sponsor points and give it to the person you want to win.
With that being said, on to the sponsor questions:
Q1. What was Ariana's older brother named?
Q2. What was Blaze's token?
Thank you so much to HG for Blaze Hale and BessonsBae for Ariana Angel. As always, Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!