Chapter 1

"Come here, it's starting!" My mum yelled from downstairs. I was forced to stop exercising and go to her.
Exercising is my only way to escape all my thoughts and the reality. I'm not a career, I don't train for games.
This year are the 275th Hunger Games which is a Quarter Quel and soon the announcement will say what will be a special rule.

I sat down next to my mum. There are two empty seats where my dad used to sit and my sister. The announcement started and President Pure appeared on the screen.

"Greetings people of Panem! This year to remained of that there's no way to forget about the power of the Capitol, family members of fallen tributes from last year's games from age 12 to 18 will be picked."
The first part of his speech left us silent but it wasn't the end.
"Depends on what type of family got descended in the games, your number of slips in the bowl will be different. For siblings there are 30 slips, for lovers 5 and for any other relation 10. Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favour."

We both went speechless.
My mum started crying as she knew that I have now more chances to get picked. How? When I was 11 my older sister at age 13 got picked for the games and didn't make it past the Bloodbath. Now I'm 18 and I thought that I will make it out without getting on the arena, looks like I was wrong.

...

I went to bed that night knowing that my mum is crying herself to sleep. I couldn't do anything about it.
I knew that I won't sleep that night, quietly I got out of the bed and put my shoes on. I opened the window and climbed down.
The night was beautiful, so quiet and peaceful. The days aren't like that, people are walking around with wheat bags, working like there was no tomorrow. As you might guessed, my home is District 9. Our tributes don't win often but we win more than 12 or 3 which honestly is not hard.
"Hey, Florence!" I heard my name being called, I knew exactly who that was.
It was Lee my friend from childhood, we did everything together. We always got into some sort of trouble.
"Lee, quieter!" I whispered. Walking around at night isn't actually illegal but you can get beaten up because of it. I once did and it wasn't fun.
"I heard the announcement." He said.
"Everyone did." I rolled my eyes.
"I'm worried about you."
Lee didn't lost anyone in the games, this year was safe for him.
"At least you won't ever get picked."
We're both 18, it is our last reaping.
"Let's just hope that odds will be in our favour." Lee said.
"Yeah."
Me and Lee sat down on a bench, we were silent and thinking about tomorrow. Soon my eyes started closing and I fell asleep.

...

I woke up in my bed in my house, I found a note next to my bed.
"You're welcome, sleepyhead! ~Lee"
I couldn't hide from the reaping, the clothes were ready for me.

I walked to the living room and noticed my mother.
"You look beautiful darling." She smiled.
"Thanks mum."
In silence we hugged before going on the reaping.

...

I didn't manage to meet with Lee before the event but I made eye contact with him in the crowd.
"Welcome, District 9!" Marina the Capitol lady was on the stage.
"Today, we will pick a female and male tribute to fight in 275th Hunger Games. As you might know, this year only people who already lost their family member in games will be picked." She expected us to be happy but no one was.
"Let's being with woman!"
She got to the first bowl and took out slip.
"Florence Treson!"
Ofcourse, it was me. Who else could it be?
I walked on the stage and heard my mother's scream.
"No! No!" She yelled and cried as the peacekeepers were keeping her away from me.
She had to watch her another daughter be taken to the games.
"Great! Now for men."
Marina took another slip, I prayed for it to not be Lee.
"Luke Cage!"
I didn't know this boy, he was tall and 17.
Luke stand next to me and we shook hands.
"Florence and Luke will represent District 9 on 11th Quarter Quel!"

...

My mum rushed to the room and hugged me closer than ever.
"Please, I can't lose you too. Please Florence!" She desperately begged me, I don't know what she begged for.
"It's okay, mum." I tried to calm her down.
"Just make it past the Bloodbath, okay?" She whispered.
"Okay." I can do that, even if I don't survive all games.
"I love you dearest." She cried and stroked my hair.
"I love you too."
Then I had to watch her screaming as the peacekeepers dragged her out of the room.

Lee walked into the room and I cried to his arms. I couldn't cry near my mum but with him, I could.
"I don't want to die." I whispered.
"You won't. I believe that you'll stay alive."

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top