PART ONE
#Chloe
In District 11 it was a gloomy day. The Capitol’s reaping ceremonies were more like choosing people to die rather than a celebration for our district. Hardly anyone survived and to make it worse, it was a quarter quell. This year, the 100th Hunger Games. There would be six tributes from each district, meaning 72 tributes in total. I just hoped to make it through this year. One more year and it would be over for me at least. My friends were both 16 and we were all lucky enough not to be chosen yet. At 9 o’clock, we all gathered in the center for the reaping.
Today, we had been given a day off for the reaping.
“Hello, hello, Everyone!” Our escort cried. “Today three young men and women will be selected to fight in the hunger games. As usual, ladies first.” She plunged her hand into the bowl. “Emily Green”, a girl of about 14 stepped up, trembling. “Ava Ross”. What! It could not be me! I stepped up to the stage. “Lucy Smith,” my friend stepped up beside me. Watching your friend play in the games was bad but being in the games with them is worse.
“Now time for the males.” I hardly listened to her until I realised my friend, Alex had been called up too. How likely is it that me and both my friends had been chosen?
We found our train and inside, well it was beautiful. A crystal chandelier hungover from the ceiling and in the middle was a long table piled with food. How come the Capitol have this type of food whenever they want, and we wouldn’t have anything half as good if we saved up for months? I thought. Meat and vegetables were piled upon at least twenty different dishes. It might have been enough for thirty people. I certainly had never ever seen so much food all in one place in my life. After that, you could just use a small control by the left side of your plate and chose a pudding. When you were ready. Everyone also had their own compartment with a bed and cupboard. I was too exhausted when I got to my compartment to do anything but sleep.
#Thea
As I woke up from my slumber, I couldn’t help thinking about what would happen, there would only be one winner, who could be victorious. What if I win and Alex and Lucy dies, or what if I win and Lucy dies and Alex wins? He was always boasting that he was stronger than us and could wrestle a tiger with one finger. What if we are the last ones standing what would happen? Questions swarmed inside my brain until I had a piercing headache. I couldn’t believe what had happened yesterday. Both of my friends were called out, it was like a coincidence. Did Madam Jane pull out our names on purpose or was it random. I couldn’t bear to think that we were so close friends and now we had to compete against each other, that was like the opposite of friendship.
I jumped out of bed and before my eyes and wondered what my mum and brother were doing. Maybe my brother would have gone out in the woods by himself this time without me to shoot some rabbits and hunt down some wolves to give to our local farm for some milk or bread. If he is very lucky he would even get some birds, those were very rare to get. They were all soaring high in the sky going wherever they wanted to. My dad used to teach us to catch birds. He told us how to stay undercover until the birds come close and plan where to shoot. One wrong move and the birds will all flutter away. Well, that was when my dad was alive he died in a devastating plane crash. It was all as quick as a flash. My dad used to explore the curious world, he would find various different animals and bring them back home, but one dreadful day he was on his way back and suddenly, the plane dropped out of the sky. I could picture mum working hard to babysit other children. She says that it is fun meeting new children and it is fun playing with them, but I don’t really see the point of staring at a child all day until their parents come home. I know that she worked hard each day and so did my brother.
#Alicia
“Ava，” trilled Madame Jones, “Time for breakfast!” I gave a nearly inaudible groan as her voice popped my thoughts like bursting a bubble. Eventually I managed to drag myself downstairs so I could finally have breakfast. Immediately, the platters were filled with sausages smoked meats and eggs. Eating them made me think about my family and how they would feast on the food if they were here now. Across the table Madame Jones was keeping the conversation going, hopping from one subject to another all the time so I could barely catch up. After I lost track of the conversation, I got bored focusing instead on the meal.
After we all satisfied ourselves, (Madame Jones taking the longest) Madame Jones allowed us to call her Tulip and she introduced us to the drunken man I had seen at the table, called Mayta.
“What?” I thought, “We have a drunken man as a guide?” I caught Alex and Lucy’s eyes and I could tell they all were thinking about the same thing. Tulip announced we had a few hours until we started having visitors which would be a problem. I wanted to forget about it all but obviously the Tributes had all faced this. And I thought that was exactly what the Capitol had planned. Hopelessness. Finally, the moment of dread arrived as the grandfather clock in my room tolled 10, almost frightening me out of my skin. God knew why I hadn’t noticed it before. A small shriek notified me that Lucy had not noticed the clock either. I trudged downstairs after a few minutes. My mind still spinning with thoughts from the reaping up today and … about the games.
#Chloe
“Hello, Tributes.” It was our stylists. “Ava, you’ll be with me, Lucy will be with Lavinia, and Emma, you’ll be with Roger.” Announced a cheerful young woman. “Follow me.” She led me off the train and into the Capitol. It was the strangest place I’d ever seen. People with their skin dyed purple and with gems implanted in their hands and face were rushing to and from a huge store, carrying large shopping bags. “Probably getting ready to watch another Hunger Games,” I thought dismally. “These people would applaud us when we died.”
My stylist took me further into the city, past candy-colored buildings to an extremely enormous block in what I thought must be the center of the Capitol. Thirteen stories high, and full of large windows. “Hurry up!” I suddenly realised that my stylist was a block ahead of me. I had been dawdling behind, staring at the training centre thinking about how large it was when it was actually two blocks away. “Sorry,” I muttered, running to catch up.
The training centre was almost twice as large as it had been from two blocks away. Four peacekeepers stood at the door in their white uniforms holding machine guns and let us pass through into a large reception room…
# Thea
I couldn’t believe how mammoth the room was, the crystal chandelier hung above our heads as we walked through the well polished floor. I had never seen a place so neat and tidy like this before, you could even see your own reflection on the glistening floor.
“This will be your room key, your room is just up the stairs, the second one to the left. “ I looked up to see the most peculiar man looking at me, he had tattoos all over his face and had his eyes pierced too, he winked at me like he knew that I had something special in particular. As I walked up the shining, stone floor, I noticed that everyone was staring at me, I looked down trying to avoid everyone’s eyes wondering why they were staring at me. As my stylist, Ruby opened the door, I couldn’t believe what was inside waiting for me. I had a massive double bed, my own shower and my own 60 inch television. I peeked outside the window and couldn’t believe how high we were on the ground. From here the massive city now looked like a small city with a train track.
“ What do you think of your room Ava? Do you like it here?” said Ruby. ‘What do I think?’ I thought ‘I think that this is by far the most beautiful place I had ever seen. On the other hand, in 3 days time I will probably get killed and never come to this place again. But instead I say “ It is one of the most spectacular places I have ever seen! I have never been in a room this big, furthermore, have it all to myself! ” I give her a half smile.
“Good!” she said, “ Here is the key to your room, I have a spare one in my bag, in case you lose it !” She laughed. I didn’t get the funny side of it but laughed anyway. “Oh, and if you need anything, like a drink, press the red button on the telephone and they will get it for you!” With the last exclaim, she turned and left the room…
#Alicia
On the table sat an immense, polished telephone. Beside it was a list of complicated electrical things the telephone used, like linking to a projector, but underneath, there was a list of all districts’ competitors, my companion servant, Pearl and Ruby. I phoned Ruby and a millisecond later, Ruby answered the call. She must have lots of things planned for me since she blurted out,” Perfect timing!” before I could open my lips. “listen to Pearl. Do what she says. It is the ‘skill test.’ ” I flopped on to the bed which was decorated with Jasmine flowers. Some seconds later, the smell of Jasmine hit my nostrils. I sit up. Jasmine. My sister. Jasmine competed in the 97th hunger games. She got into the top three then died since a Wolf named Mae stabbed her. The Wolves were the team formed of the first girl tribute and last boy tribute of District 1, 4, 7 and 10. They rooted out all the weakest players, then once it consisted of only them, broke part and took ages rooting the last left out.
Suddenly a girl who looked friendly and about my age took me down. I was due 7th last, but we had a feast-like meal that distracted me from my worries. Pearl was really comforting too and chatted with me, occasionally interviewing me also preparing me. We looked at others’ tactics until I left the table which I had been watching from, to the spotlight. You had to really concentrate since people watched it live on televisions, like the one in my room. Nothing stood out to me except a sleek, glossy and polished bow and arrow. Running my hands over the smooth bow, I loaded it. No-one was watching. I made them. I aimed at the target, but in my mind I had much more interesting targets.
A wine glass
At the last moment I spin around and shot. The arrow had the effect intended. It shattered the glass but preserved the man’s fingers. There was complete silence and everyone scribbled my name on their Want-for-ally sheet. Not including Lucy, Alex, Emily and strangely enough the baker’s son from town who had once saved my family since I gave them a nod that stopped them from doing so. The head gamekeeper who’s wineglass I shattered announced “22!” 22 the top score! I got to have the weapon reserved for me! Every one’s faces were a picture of shock except Alex’s who quite often saw me shoot. Even I couldn’t believe it. I got the top score! Now wait and see if I would get 100% on my “after trained” test!
#Chloe
| My friends Lucy and Alex also had high scores, Alex using throwing knives and Lucy surprising me with her skill for sword-fighting. Lucy had never gone hunting with me and Alex so it surprised me that she was so good until I realised she had been practicing by herself for years with a stick on a tree (Lucy would never kill animals) so when we took the elevator to our rooms I felt more confident about surviving. Whoever heard of three tributes winning a game?
The next days flew by and I found that the Wolves weren’t just good at fighting, they were amazing. It wasn’t shocking that they were good at fighting because all the tributes knew they had been trained from childhood. It was the fact that the districts had the resources to practice archery or sword-fighting for the games which wasn’t allowed. The wolves had considered taking me and Alex into their group, but we weren’t going to leave Lucy and join the Wolves especially because they had killed my sister. I was getting good at throwing axes and really good at archery, my hunting experience helping me and Alex at survival. Lucy wasn’t so lucky. She hadn’t come to hunt with us so she had no idea which plants were edible. I had learned from Alex who had learned from a book his family kept which contained all the edible plants that his family had discovered were safe to eat. Mostly what we did in the day was going from station to station, practicing survival skills, making traps, sword fighting and camouflage. After that, we would have lunch together, the Wolves sitting on a table together and everyone else sitting with tributes from their district. Very soon, it would be the interview. |
# Thea
I was horrible at interviews, well that was what everyone says anyway. They say I couldn’t look at the camera without going red in the face. Then I realised that if I don’t look at the camera nobody could see me. As the sun rose down, I couldn’t help to notice that Lucy was beginning to quiver, it was like she had tremor. Alex walked over to me and told me, “She can’t kill an animal and do you think that she can kill a human being?” I understand why Alex told me that, once when she saw that we killed a deer, she immediately tried to cure it and even suggested that we should take it to the vet even though it was fully dead. But we need Lucy, she is the fastest out of the three of us and she is the best at treating people like her mum, Lucy’s,mum treats ill people and she takes care of them.
That night came before I knew it, I realized the short amount of time I had left. I remembered what my dad used to say, that if I practice it will make perfect. I went onto the roof and practiced with my bow and arrow, whenever a bird flew past I shot it trying to get the arrow right in the heart. In the first 5 shots I missed the bird, after a few more attempts, I managed to get it through the body. I tried for half an hour when I hit the first bird right in the heart. I was proud of myself, but I tried again just to make sure that it wasn’t luck. Fortunately, I did it again. I kept on going until I heard a voice behind me. “Leave some birds for me!” I span round to find Alex, with a bow and arrow. Alex was always better than me at hunting, he would spend half the day in the woods. After an hour of shooting birds, the birds began to go back into their nests. We counted how many birds we shot in total and surprisingly we shot 55 right through the heart and missed 32. I went back into my room and thought about what a big day lies ahead of me.
#Alicia
I felt like I had slept for no more than a few minutes before getting roused by Pearl，who had to attempt five times before she dunked my head in ice cold water, which finally woke me. After she helped me dress in camouflage clothes, she sent me to visit Ruby who handed me the bow and arrow I had reserved and told me, “Run for the huge red packs. They are really useful.” I barely had time to thank her when a bright light encased me.
There was a minute’s silence as everyone stared around. The backpack was in front of a wolf. I nodded at Alex, Lucy and the baker’s son, Asher. The starting gun was fired and immediately everyone started running. I scooped up the backpack then ran towards the place where my allies were standing, already fighting. As soon as I touched my bow, the attackers vanished into the woods. opening my pack, I gaped at everything that was stuffed in. There were tools of all shape and size, even a sleeping bag and food! I did not have time to even gasp since soon after, wolves came charging.
The leader of the Wolves Carried a 3 feet long curved knife brandishing it in the air. Their eyes glowed blood red with rage, making the sun fade away, birds gone silent and trees ice frozen. I too was frozen in fear. I was overwhelmed by this vicious pack charging at me. Luckily, Asher heaved me up a hollow tree which was immense. I could not think! Robotically, I grabbed the tree, relying on my instinct, the instinct of staying alive! I almost lost my grip, but Lucy gave me a hand up. Tugging at a “leaf”, I found it was actually a camouflage green, lightweight umbrella! Yes! The umbrella! The defensive umbrella! The defensive umbrella that can block poison, arrows, bullets and any blade. The only problem is that it could only be used in far-distance combat, otherwise anyone could take it away from you…
#Chloe
Looking around, I saw the wolves swarming around the trees staring through the branches to see where I had gone. I expect that the skilled tributes outside of their group get attacked first, so they won’t be a threat which is why me and Alex are being hunted down now. But as always, the umbrella hid us from them and we sat apprehensively, listening hard. We couldn’t shoot them, there were too many. One failed attempt would give away our position. So, we sat as quiet as mice,
waiting for them to leave. Fortunately, they heard tributes in the distance talking loudly. Some stupid tribute thought they were completely safe and could risk it. A few moments later, screams and shouts pierced the air as the tributes were killed. “Lucy! Alex!” I hiss, “we’ve got to get out of here.” They nod and we take our red packs with us to the other side of the arena, which was a large, rocky mountain. No other tributes were here so it was an ideal place.
There was a hidden cave halfway up that was hidden by ivy and rocks that I had found a day ago. We were hunting for food when I came across it. A few edible plants grew across the entrance and I pushed aside the ivy to find a huge cave. Lucy and Alex had been delighted to move in since we had been sleeping out in the open for the last couple days, an easy target for the wolves. It would be much safer to be somewhere hidden. A little more than half the tributes had been killed on the first day, luckily including many wolves. The nightly reports told us that 56 of the 72 tributes were dead and so far we were living quite peacefully……
#Thea
I knew we couldn’t stay hidden forever and I was right, by the time the afternoon came there were only a few plants left and we were all tired of eating plants. We tried to persuade Lucy to come and hunt with us. But she told us that she was petrified of blood and couldn’t stand it. Alex told Lucy that there was a better chance of us surviving in a trio than leaving a man behind. After a few more persuasions Lucy finally caved in and came with us.
We found our way through the deep, wild forest. The deeper we went the more we could hear more animals surrounding us. As a rabbit came scuttled along the floor Alex shot it right in the eye. We put it in our red bags. Suddenly we heard a loud rustling in the bushes like a deer had come. We all went behind some bushes, fortunately, we were all disguised from the uniform they had given us. We heard panting in the bushes and then some loud voices. “What are we looking for again?” cried a voice. I looked up to see a duo of wolves standing there gasping for breath. Me and Alex signaled to each other, this was the perfect time to strike. Before the other wolf could respond, me and Alex sunk an arrow right through their hearts. Lucy screamed not daring to look at what had happened. There lying on the ground were motionless bodies of wolves. We moved on looking for more animals. “I still can’t believe you shot the wolves, they could have had a decent future you know!” whispered Lucy. I couldn’t help a smile touch my eyes, Lucy was always like that, always thinking of other people before her. Before us stood a crystal clear lake, we filled up our canteens and headed back as the sun was rising down.
After a day of hunting, we had caught a deer, 3 rabbits and lots of birds. We figured out that this will last us for 2 days. Lucy lit up the fire and we began to cook a rabbit and a duck. After we had finished our dinner the reports had come in again and there were 61 out of 72 tributes left, that means that there were only 12 left including us. A glimmer of hope crawled onto me. Maybe we could survive, but I didn’t want to jinx that yet…
#Alicia
That night, I crept out since I felt unsettled. Asher wasn’t dead yet and since he had saved my life once I felt obliged to find him. After all, I really hate owing people, even if I know them. In the hunger games I can never stop owing him and even in 11 he saved my life at least 2 times. I can’t leave him behind. Luckily, he is was on the other side of the mountain, so I didn’t have to search for very long. As I come crashing, he mistook me for a wolf and his knife is poised at my heart. I roll my eyes at him, and with a relived sigh he lowers it. Without delay, I demanded him to come with me, but he really has no sense when he objects. Even with the short distance between our hiding spots it takes ages for me to get back with Asher. I could not make out the time when we got back but I was full of fatigue and dropped off into a dreamless sleep.
I was only roused in the morning by Lucy tickling me with a mockingjay feather. I spluttered and I heard Lucy, Alex and Asher lapsing into laughter behind me. Irritably I dusted myself off. The laughter stopped abruptly as we heard sniggering from just outside the cave. Unmistakably wolves. I shove them to a concealed corner of the cave, and we are just in time. I loaded my bow and prepare to shoot but Alex shoves me back and stepping out into the open he threw his knives. All of us tried to pull him back but he was more immovable than Asher was. The new leader retreated and most of the wolves followed. However, a particularly violent one smashed Alex’s skull and ran off. Asher managed to catch him and lay him on the floor. We couldn’t do anything but to comfort him that we wouldn’t leave him alone and he would always be our best friend. Poor Lucy tries to contain herself but couldn’t help weeping. This situation was hopeless. Even the capitol could not mend this wound. Piercing screams echoed around the mountain. The wolves must have banded up to slaughter the new, squeamish leader.
As Alex’s last words escaped his lips, his eyes fluttered close and he took his last breath then died. We were all hysterical.
#Chloe
It couldn’t be true. Alex, my hunting partner, couldn’t be dead. The world had just ended, so why had the games not stopped? The cannon sounded and, slowly, the truth began to sink in. I felt more than ever that district 11 had to win. For Alex. A full hour passed, us just staring in silence out into space. Finally, Asher spoke up, “we need to move our hideout. The wolves know where we are, and they probably come back with more forces.” Everyone nodded and we set off looking for an appropriate spot. The forest would be no good since most people were hiding there and we could not risk losing each other, not after what just happened anyway. The wolves would be scouring the mountain, top to bottom so that wasn’t safe either. After 10 minutes of hurried discussion, we decided that the field was safest.
Being from district 11 had its advantages because all of us knew which of these plants were edible. Even Lucy and Asher knew because we were the ones who collected the plants at harvest. Here would almost be as good as the mountain for hiding though we were more vulnerable down here, out in the open. 8 people left. I felt close to home already. “BOOM! BOOM!” The cannon fired as two more tributes were killed. My eyes snapped open and cautiously, I looked around for any tributes and I found Asher and Lucy still asleep. Of course, it was very likely that no wolves had found us, but it could have happened. Three other tributes were left and all of them were wolves which would be allies until they had tracked us down and whoever was left would win. If only we could have cheated the system so me, Lucy and Asher could all have won…
#Thea
As the sun rose again, I saw that nobody had slept well, we all knew that could be the last day we would see each other again, or we could take the victory. As Alex was gone we needed a new leader. Nobody spoke for a while and then Asher said, “First we need to find out where the wolves are hiding, they would be looking for us as it could be the only day that the sun will shine boastfully in the sky. Then while they are looking for us, we will help ourselves to their cave, which will probably have food and when they give up hiding from us we will be waiting for them, then we get a kill each, BOOM! We have beaten them and we have one for Alex.” I knew that he was right, we couldn’t sit here all day waiting for the wolves to come and hunt for us. We should hunt for them first. We ate some birds that we had saved. I noticed that it was not the same without Alex everywhere was very quiet without Alex trying to lighten the mood.
Once we had finished we decided to cram whatever we could find and hide the others so if the wolves were thinking what we were thinking they wouldn’t find any food. After a quick discussion we decided to go to the forest, Lucy was the cleverest one of us and she decided to look for areas that had lots of leaves because that was probably where they would try and hide because wolves like to stay hidden. We searched high and low in the forest and tried to find their hideout but it was useless. We found some really good concealed places but there wasn’t any sign of the wolves. We sat in a place we had found and ate lunch. I was becoming more and more hopeless and dreary as we had done a lot of walking and I hadn’t slept much either. We voted to have a quick nap and become refreshed and have more energy for killing wolves. My eyes became heavier and heavier until I couldn’t resist them any more.
I didn’t know how long I had slept for, but what I do know is that we all woke up hearing voices, it was clear that there was more than one voice. It was ‘them’…
#Alicia
I shook Lucy and Asher awake muffling their surprised and indignant shouts. Soon enough though, they realize what is happening and we creep silently through the forest tailing the unsuspecting wolves. The floor is lined with twigs and dehydrated leaves, so we take off our shoes and creep through the place. We could not attack since the situation was way too risky. One failed attempt and the wolves would attack. More than once we had to sneak into bushes to avoid being noticed. The wolves work their way to the meadow where they be live us to be hiding. Then as they searched, we attacked. Asher threw a malice they left behind and it hit the person who killed Alex with the malice exactly as he injured Alex. I shot an arrow through a lethal looking girl’s neck. I was surprised to see Lucy kill the last sanding by thrusting her sword in the person’s body. Just then the cannon sounded.
Now we had to fight to the death.
#Chloe
Before anyone could speak, a screech tore through the air and a flock of monstrous birds swooped down on us. All of us screamed and sprinted towards the trees for shelter. Unfortunately, Asher didn’t make it. One of them dived and grabbed him. I turned sharply and ran further into the dense undergrowth. I did not wait to see what happened next. Lucy was crying as we struggled through the bushes, since Asher had been one of her friends. That next to Alex’s death too, two of her best friends had been killed.
15 minutes later, we were panting on the floor of pine needles, clutching at stitches. The horrible birds had apparently disappeared as we couldn’t hear their hooting. Now only one of us could win the games. It wasn’t possible with two people was it?
I woke up with a start. I was lying in my comfy bed back in district 11 and it seemed that the reaping had not started yet. My dream had been very strange. No. I wasn’t in district 11. It had to be the capitol. Nowhere in district 11 was that nice. Why was I in the capitol? The dream couldn’t possibly be real. Where was Lucy?
I sat up. I needed to find Lucy. Outside my room, I could hear people arguing. I walked over to the door and saw Lucy trying to get in. “Ava!” we ran to each other. She didn’t know how we had both gotten to the capitol either. We were led to a side room across the corridor where our mentors sat around a table, waiting in silence. Pearl was there too and all three of them cheered when we came in. It was the first time that someone from district 11 had won and two people too…
#Thea
I couldn’t believe it, a mixture of relief, anger, gratefulness and sorrow all rushed into me. I couldn’t believe that we had won this, it couldn’t be real that we were both alive me and Lucy, but the excitement didn’t last for very long as I remembered how we had lost two very close friends. I could tell that Lucy was thinking the same as me because she was trying hard to force the smile, like I was too. Everyone was congratulating us and saying how lucky we were to be alive. I knew that this was very special and we were very lucky, but I also knew that life wouldn’t be the same without Alex or Alisha. I wouldn’t have anyone to go and hunt with anymore. I had to focus on the good things and try to forget Alex or Alisha for a while, even though that seemed impossible to do. We joined the big feast, there were rows and rows of food everywhere you could see filled with glamorous food. That was when I suddenly realised that I hadn’t had much for the past 2 days. We sat down to start having a big feast. There were lots of people all looking at us, through the window and everywhere in the Capitol. Me and Lucy sat down, the place in Capitol was as glamorous as ever, I was so used to eating with my hands that I nearly forgot how to use a fork!
We tucked in straight away, I gulped down the juice, scoffed down the pancakes, I had nothing as good as this since the day we had the interview, which seemed a long time ago. Me and Lucy ate as much as we could until our stomachs couldn’t resist anymore. Pearl was the most jumpy of all, this was because we had an interview that was coming up as we had won, she said that she had been working for 6 months trying to put it all together. Even though we hadn’t been here for 6 months. We had discussed what we were going to do today. We would be having an interview in the morning and then we would be reunited with our families. I couldn’t wait to see my mum again. This was going to be the first time we have met face to face instead of a face timing her. I couldn’t wait for the day to end. We would be back in district 11 after today and things would go back to normal (well almost)..
#Alicia
After moments of lame fussing, Pearl ushered me into the practice room with Lucy. She made us recite answers for our interviews with normal sweet tones, starting with a smile, while smiling and ending with a smile. Pearl was satisfied with me since I have a sort of talent for reciting. Also, I gave incredibly convincing smiles. After we had done, my cheek muscles were aching from overuse. When Ruby got started on what I was to wear, I walked into a room crowded with dresses. After painstaking hours of trying on outfits, Ruby decided on a long, violet, silk gown with all kinds of jewels embedded into the cloth. While Ruby pulled out a fur- cardigan for me to wear, I heard sighs from the other room, I realized Lucy was having a as painstaking time as I was. I had to wear high heels and believe me, Ruby and other women in the capitol make it look easy. I also had a fake daisy crown to braid into my hair! That night I fell straight asleep in peace for one of the first times in that week.
When I woke up, the smell of baking bread, scones, muffins, cakes, cupcakes, brownies, blondies, waffles and pancakes hit my nose. Quickly slipping into a plain black dress and black tights that Ruby had prepared, I tiptoed downstairs and found Lucy and Tulip chatting with the greatest cook of all time, Heather. On seeing me, Heather, Lucy and Tulip waved and I grinned, desperately trying not to look like I haven’t ate for 55 years. I must have failed, since Heather gestured to the oven and the oven shut down, gesturing we could eat! Every thing on the table seems to have passed at least a drop of syrup in the mixing and making, or the serving. I counted 5 cakes countless pancakes, innumerable waffles, endless brownies and blondies, thousands of scones, 7 loaves of bread , millions of cupcakes and muffins… It is just impossible to not get carried away with it all!
When we had filled our stomaches, Lucy and I were finally allowed to see each other with our costumes on. Lucy wore a short dress with fake, glistening flowers and her hair done up in an elaborate flower- braid. She also had a short denim cardigan! I was the opposite, gems instead of flowers, purple instead of white, denim instead of fur, hair down instead of hair up…Wow. After standing there, we joined hands and prepared for the interview…
#Chloe
Soon, we were walking onto the stage, smiles pinned to our faces, as the people watching cheered and waved. The interview was tricky, with lots of awkward questions. The capitol almost seemed to be trying to catch us out or something. Lucy saved me a couple times from those, but it was quick thinking that kept us from revealing that we hunted illegally. By the end of the interview, I was shaking. What if I had accidentally let it slip? It was a relief to walk off the stage, away from those cameras. Pearl assured me that I was brilliant but that didn’t keep me from fretting.
Next, we would be seeing our families again, but it wouldn’t be the same for me without Alex. I wondered how my family and friends managed it, watching me, Lucy, and Alex all put into the games, only two coming back. Still, only one person was meant to survive so it was highly unlikely that any of us would live anyway. We hadn’t had a victor for at least 60 years. How other victors stood the celebrations I couldn’t imagine. Unsurprisingly, most of the other victors were wolves but apparently, the richer districts had more victors.
An hour later, we were boarding a train to take us to district 11, relaxing and think how it be back home. We would move into victor’s village now. Only one of those houses had actually been lived in me and Lucy would be neighbours. It would be kind of strange though, living alone. I wouldn’t need to hunt any more to survive. There would be nothing else to occupy my time. What else would I do?
When we arrived, a wave of noise hit our ears. The cheering was deafening. We were swarmed by people the moment we stepped off the train. Everyone was chanting “WE WON THE GAMES!” At the top of their voices. It was party time!
#Thea
It was the first time that I had seen District 11 so wildly, we were normally used to seeing people fertilising crops and working so hard. It was like they were taking a long break. They were all overjoyed and elated, their faces were normally fatigued. I couldn’t wait for the party to start.
People started to congratulate us, they threw champagne all over us and kept on chanting, it was chaos. Lucy whispered something to me, but I couldn’t hear her over the catastrophic noise they were making. We were greeted by our escort , her face was indescribable, she had a mixture of surprise, greatfulness and merriment.
I had never seen what stood waiting on the other side of the grand doors. I couldn’t believe my eyes, before me everything was made out of gold. There was a big feast on the beautifully laid tables, I looked at Lucy and by the looks of it she was flabbergasted, we had always thought that district 11 was always crammed with hard working people but it was like that the other side of the double doors was another world. I couldn’t believe it! Our escort told us to take a seat and tuck in. Throughout my life, all I had was plain bread and meat from what I had hunted. But before my eyes were juicy chicken, there was bread and so many other things. Even though I had a lot of breakfast, I still had managed to contain all of the food and stopped when I was stuffed. I looked around again and saw that there were a lot more pictures than I thought there would be. There were pictures of lots of people fertilizing crops at the corner of my eyes I saw that there was a long list of people who had gone to the hunger games and hadn’t survived. I looked at the list and saw both Alex and Asher’s names were on it. The names brought back all of the memories. I didn’t have enough time to study the list closely because everyone was done eating…
#Alicia
I hadn’t noticed that Lucy was sitting next to me until I felt a drop of water on my shoulder. Tearing my eyes away from the list I saw someone with their face buried in a lace-lined handkerchief that was identical to the one Heather gave me. It was Lucy. I couldn’t blame her after all. I took her hand and traced the edge of it a expression of grief and mourning on my face. As Lucy stopped crying, we were led to our new homes on the fancy side of district 11.
When I entered my house, the first thing I saw and smelt was something like Gemma’s signature blondies baking in the oven. Then I saw Riley my personal chef and Heather’s daughter bustling to and fro in the immaculate kitchen. When they were ready, I tried to restrain myself but encouraged by riley and my stomach I ate seven! Lucy busted in and saw my full mouth and soon the whole room was giggling.
#Chloe
The next week passed by in a rush. People were crowding round us in the street, asking for autographs. There were also countless meetings I had to attend to with Lucy. It was like I was running around the streets all day. I felt kind of guilty about being so rich, having such wonderful food while my other friends all had to find some desperate means to stay alive. When all the excitement had cooled down, I realised that the victory tour was just tomorrow. It was placed cleverly just after the rush of activities had slowed. Now we would be facing the families of the tributes in the games people who smile and cheer us but secretly loathe us. I was half glad that the capitol provided us with speeches because I had no idea what I would say to them.
The next day came too quickly. Before I knew it, Ruby was ushering me off to put on my outfit. She had designed a floor-length metallic pink dress which dragged around my feet like I was standing in a puddle. To my disappointment, I had to wear high heels though they were much lower than last time (probably because they saw how much I stumbled when I wore them.) Lucy wore the same dress as me except hers was a metallic blue. The train ride was quite long because we would be visiting the capitol first and be staying there for one night and the same for each district until we get to district 12.
It was going to be a nightmare, but of course all the other tributes have stood it so there wouldn’t be an exception for me. It seemed bizarre that I was lying in bed, blissfully unaware of what would soon come to pass, just a month ago…
#Thea
We first had to start the ceremony in District 11 where we saw the bodies of two true heroes, Alex and Asher, we spoke proudly and loudly making sure that everyone knew what true heroes they were and how they were courageous they were and how they had risked their own lives to save ours and if it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be standing here. Lucy was crying again, tears streamed down her face, seeing Alex and Alicia’s bodies, inside I was guilty, but on the outside I had to put a brave face on because the crowd wanted a strong and invincible leader that had won the hunger games. They were heroic. I took one last glance at them before we were applauded by the sound of defining chaos and applause, we were guided back onto our train.
As we were on the train, even though there was delicious food that sat on the table, I didn’t have much of an appetite, even though I needed the energy because I was going to have a long day visiting 10 more districts. I couldn’t believe that I was going to come face to face with the families of the people district 11 had killed. They would probably hate us because we had killed their family members, they would probably greet us with dirty looks. We still had a long way to go to District 10. I didn’t know what to do anymore so I went back into my small apartment on the train. The apartment had a single bed, a small cabinet to keep things, a sliding wardrobe, a wooden desk that had a lamp beside it and a glistening fresh bathroom that smelt like fresh mint. It wasn’t much but you couldn’t ask for more because I was probably only staying here for 2 weeks.
#Alicia
Really, I didn’t know district 10. I thought it was just a bigger version of 11 but instead of crops, they tend to livestock. As it drew closer, I saw barbed wire piled on top of reactive metal plates and electric wire lining it. Not a chance of escape. Madame jones are guided into a brick house where we have scrumptious tea with rich and creamy hot chocolate piled high with marshmallows. Mmmm. When we are finally guides onto a stage thing, the mayor makes a speech making us sound not like murderers but innocent girls who murdered to attempt to stay alive. For one moment I actually consider believing him, but it was all lies. We were given two useless plaques.
Then we gave a silly speech about the courageous tributes of 10, and rebellion broke out…
#Chloe
At first, they just looked at us, disgusted, and gave us dirty looks. Then, further into our speech, it was apparently too much for them and they leapt onto the stage yelling, throwing all they could grab hold of. I held on tightly to Lucy as we darted through the furious mob unnoticed, to the huge red bricked building in the centre of the town. “Well, that’s one visit ruined.” Lucy muttered darkly, “I have no idea why they give us such idiotic speeches either. It just causes rebellion.” I frowned. Lucy had started changing. She would normally have tried to see the bright side of things and be cheery. The games had changed everyone. Which was why it had to end now.
I thought that the capitol would be cleverer than to create fighting in districts but that was until I heard gunshots echoing around. Before, I might have been frightened, but now I just felt angry. I wanted to fight back. Nobody was going to boss me around anymore. A rebellion was coming, and I would be part of it.
Everyone was very subdued that night. Even Ruby and Pearl were quiet for once. Next, it would be district 9 we would be visiting and though it probably would be just as bad, I looked forward to that just to get away from this district; away from all the glaring eyes following us wherever we went. They wouldn’t dare attack us after what happened yesterday, but it was enough knowing that they wanted to. Luckily, we only stayed there for the rest of the morning before we travelled to district nine…
#Thea
The train ride was long and quiet as nobody said a thing. It was quite boring sitting there looking at the wall wondering why they made such a hustle. ‘It was probably because they were jealous! Jealous because those wolves had failed to win. The whole district was in chaos!’ I thought to myself. It was a long ride and we had breakfast which was a variety of pancakes and fruits. This was again going to be a long day in district 9. I prayed hoping that this district would be better than the last.
We arrived just after we had breakfast, I was apprehensive about how this would turn out. We walked up to the wooden stage and we made up a silly speech about how they were unfortunate that they went into the hunger games. In District 9 it was different from District 10. The people were crowding the bodies looking sorrowful, they were not arrogant like the people in District 10. It almost made me cry, but I remembered that we needed to act brave because they need courageous people to win, I needed to be brave. I was just finishing my speech, when Lucy started shouting at the people “YOU DIDN’T WIN THE HUNGER GAMES BECAUSE THEY WERE TO BAD! HOW COULD THEY LET YOU DOWN LIKE THAT! WELL THAT’S TOO BAD YOU LOST! WE WON AND THEY DESERVED TO BE DEAD BECAUSE THEY WERE RUBBISH!” I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears. Lucy was a tranquil person who didn’t like to shout, but she had just made the crowd agitated…
#Alicia
I soon realized her main purpose. She continued with a “WELL, IF THE SILLY CAPITOL DIDN’T MAKE THIS STUPID GAME, THEY WOULD HAVE SUVIVED! IF YOU WANT IT TO STOP, THEN REBELL!” I nodded, twisting my face into a scowl at the justice building and the CTTV cameras and at the poster with Panem’s president, President Selete. Cheering erupted from the onlookers. And we beamed real smiles for the first time since the interview in public. I could hear shouts of “Yippee! Hurray!” and “Rebel!” This joy of being allowed to argue for once, turned into anger at the Capitol. Soon, people charged at the peacekeepers of 9 snatching Glocks from them and driving them back. Madame jones smiled from the train, watching as the place was plunged into a series of battles. We were scooped up onto a crowd of enthusiastic protesters. We rode to the justice building, handed Glocks and Hunger games outfits and put onto the ground. The door the the mayor’s work room opened, and the unsuspecting mayor was pushed to the window by Lucy to the already broken stained glass window. “The drop, the Glocks, the jagged glass, which one would kill the mayor first?” I thought. Lucy decided, called me over and we shoot! Bang! In my mind I can see Selete’s flag being replaced by the rebellion flag that 10 made. Lucy’s sword, my bow and arrows, Asher’s malice and Alex’s throwing knives surrounding them all…
#Chloe
Perfect. A rebellion. I was going to avenge Alex and Asher’s deaths. Smirking, I followed Lucy into our train to wait, pushed by panicked guards. Dinner here looked in doubt, seeing all of the chaos here. It would probably be in the train. Pearl and everyone else on our train were laughing to my astonishment. I’d thought that they would have been reproachful and angry at us, instead, they were laughing and giggling so much that they could hardly stand. Ruby beckoned us over still doubled up, tears streaming down her cheeks. I looked out of the window to where she was pointing and had to grab Lucy tightly to keep from falling over. Outside, people had unchained cows and donkeys and charging the guards with carving knives. This made the guards run for their lives and it was funnier to watch than you would think. Strangely enough, the guards which still had their guns actually weren’t using them and some of them chucked them over their heads onto the pavement. I thought they were crackers, throwing their only hopes away like that.
Next morning, we would be visiting district 8, hopefully screwing that one up too. Lucy is more tactful than I knew and had plans figured out even before I had thought of the victory tour itself. Tomorrow will turn out like today if her estimations are correct. The “wolf” districts will be like district ten, whereas the others will act more like district 9 according to her logic. I’m not sure about it but it’s the best chance we have, according to Lucy. Until tomorrow, I would try to enjoy the fun here while I can because honestly, I want to get back at those idiots who started these hunger games and caused so many people sadness.
#Thea
Everyone on the train was acting nicer than usual to us, they were offering us drinks asking if we needed everything. I was enjoying myself for the first time in ages. I looked over at Lucy, it was the first time I had seen her simile since the hunger games. I couldn’t believe how brave she had been, from a shy, apprehensive person to now someone who is arrogant and courageous. It was like the world was turning and fast, she had started a rebellion. We were addressed to our rooms after staying up for longer hours. Before we went, I congratulated Lucy on being so brave. “Without the hunger games none of this would have happened.” she told me and with that she went into her apartment.
We arrived an hour later because everyone was too distracted. I looked out the window and there was a huge district, there was textile all around the floor. I remember reading that the best armour was made from district 8. We went up onto the stage. It was clear that everyone in district 8 had already seen the previous speech because everyone was chanting rebellion at the top of their voices. For the first time the crowd was pushing to get a look at us. We stood proudly at the stage and said our speeches, telling them about the rebellion and how if it wasn’t for them none of their people would have died or will die in the future. At the end of our speech everyone in district 8 put 2 fingers up, showing they want peace. It was a lovely way to end our speech, it was clear that everyone agreed with us. It was a good start and we had 7 districts left.
#Alicia
Lucy was looking particularly ugly according to her prep teem, but I thank Laviana since she said it was usual, especially as we are starting rebellion, to lose sleep. I wore a longer than floor length dress that was velvet coloured. I noticed that we wore the same dress. I murmured to Lucy, “I feel like wearing a carpet” Apparently, Ruby heard and said, not at all annoyed “well then, shall we trample over you?”
Laviana must have found it funny since we heard giggles and footsteps. There were whistling and sighs and we knew 7 was approaching. I found Lucy in her room reading a script. We recited and recited. When I was there, I was so overcome with nerves I completely forgot, but we trained so hard I spoke like pearl enthusiastically. People came to life, cheering and stamping their feet and throwing rough pieces of cube-like wood into the air, and that was the last thing we saw of 7 before we got onto the train…
#Chloe
If this was the victory tour, it had become the rebellion tour every district was inspired and fought against guards. Lucy’s plan worked out perfectly. We weren’t even staying for dinner since the districts were in such chaos and even better, I didn’t need to wear those silly dresses. But what I thought was the best bit of all was that, at this rate, there would be no more hunger games. I didn’t think they would be able to retaliate, but that was until the bombing started. Fortunately, all of the districts were smart enough to build secret underground mini-cities to live in if the capitol sent bombs out. So to the capitol’s surprise, nobody was to be seen when they came over to shoot. Not even the guards knew because these underground cities had been made ages before guards were sent out to keep the districts in order. It was like a city, only it was underground with rooms for people to live in instead of houses and no shops. Everyone had to share all supplies so I guessed that it was more like a house with too many people.
The bad thing was that we still had to visit the capitol. Personally, I thought it was an extremely terrible idea. I know it was the victory tour and under normal circumstances I would be fine but we were starting a rebellion against them so they probably would want to kill us. If, by some chance we survived this, that would really be something.
After that, I would finally go home. Back to my family and friends. Only, I wouldn’t get a break. Instead, I was meant to lead a fight against the capitol, which I had absolutely no idea how to do. I just wished things were back to normal.
#Thea
It had been a long couple of weeks but we were nearly there, after we finished saying our speech in district 1 (our last district) we would be going. We arrived in the most beautiful district we had ever seen. Everywhere was well polished and there were immense buildings looming over us. This was the most luxurious district we had been to. The stage was already well polished. It was clear that everyone in the district were keen with the rebellion idea because they kept on shouting ‘REBELLION’ at the top of their lungs. It was catastrophic but it was a proud moment as well.
We made up a speech and it seemed like everyone in the crowds agreed, they all looked smart because of how rich the district was. After we had finished the district, I felt a huge weight being lifted off my shoulders. We had finished all of the districts but still had to go to capitol. It wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. We celebrated with a huge feast on the train, everyone was in a cheerful mood. It had been a long day and I didn’t even realise how hungry I was until I saw the delicious food on the table. I kept on stuffing food down my mouth until my stomach wasn’t capable of holding any more food. It was pretty dark after we had finished dinner and we were told to get to sleep because there was going to be a long day before us as we were going to be visiting capitol next. This was going to be the toughest day yet.
#Alicia
This was the first time I had seen President Selete face to face since the interview when I saw a ferocious tiger look in his eyes. The journey was surprisingly short. and close to district 3. I remember how they had been slightly more apprehensive than all the others, only being coaxed when they saw all the other districts during our speeches, cheering yelling, applauding throwing, chasing guards. Before I knew it, we arrived and were greeted by …President Selete! We were greeted by an ice-cold tiger-look and an effort at a smile to Ruby and Lavinia, which turned sour. We waited for them in another room. The wall wasn’t very soundproof, so we heard shrieks and an evil, “too late now” then Selete’s panicked cry of, “don’t!” and a message appeared at the door.
I read it aloud to Lucy ‘“We were paid to dress you like dolls and make you look ridiculous and ickle- pretty. We just could not so we are getting shaved” ‘Then it burst into flames. The screams melted into weeping and I heard Selete say, “well, well, I suppose it means more doll wigs!” I knew what he meant. We were the dolls and since their hair was so fine, they could make us wear the wigs created by the hair. Maybe they would die it and make our hair longer. Either way, it was not good. I felt sorry for them. Now I knew what lengths they had gone to help us. They look as ugly a scan be, wearing their immaculate, perfect pretty dresses, but bald…
The tour went well, but they half-heartedly dressed us like dolls and, as I thought, they lengthened our hair with this new machine that permanently dies and permanently connects it, making it like our hearing. It looks different, though I can’t complain. Our pep team was treated like pets and was always snick erring at our stylist’s hair, so I bet they did their job…
#Chloe
To be fair, most people in the capitol wore wigs when they thought their hair was too ugly, but It was different though if your hair was pretty. I imagined that it would be terrible for them but at least it wasn’t permanent. Nothing else bad happened during our visit, though President Selete made it clear that she would get us back for starting a rebellion from her glowering looks across at us. I hated to think of what she was planning.
When we arrived back in district eleven, we found the whole place deserted. Nobody was there except a few bemused security guards. When we questioned them, they replied that one day they were watching over the district one day, and the next, everyone had vanished. Only Lucy and I knew the secret behind it, but we pretended to be confused. I whispered to Ruby, Lavinia and Pearl what was going on, telling them to try to keep a straight face. It was useless trying though because as soon as I told them they burst into fits of hysterical laughter. I spent the rest of the day with Lucy, trying to make plans while our stylists and Pearl chatted next door, often breaking into fits of giggles which was good to hear because our stylists had been solemn and moody ever since their hair had been cut off.
We pretended to go to bed early but we would sneak into the entrance at midnight, making sure the coast was clear. Obviously, capitol people aren’t used to midnight escapades because it took us at least ten minutes to rouse each of them. As soon as one of them was half-awake, they would fall asleep again. We couldn’t carry them downstairs, so we had to result splashing them with icy cold water from the tap which woke them up quite fast but also made them agitated at us.
Benjamin
When I woke up in the early hours of the next morning, I saw the daily newspaper, lying half-open on the desk next to my bed. Wan and weary, I read the front page: PRESIDENT SELETE RESIGNS! I rubbed my eyes, not believing that President Selete had resigned. Last night, at midnight, the president had resigned. After 20 long years serving as president, Selete, aged 44, has resigned. The new president has been elected merely hours ago, his name is President Wordsworth, aged 35. The Capitol has now refused to go on with the rebellion as Selete resigned. Ava Ross, 16, Lucy Smith, 16, and, although dead, Alex, 14 are the real heroes of the Hunger Games this year. President Wordsworth will have an interview with the 2 heroes this afternoon discussing how they coped with these hard times and will be rewarded. And with the weather…
I stopped reading there, I could not believe it, “The Rebellion is OVER!!!!” I screamed at the top of my voice.
I could not wait for this afternoon to begin…
#Alicia
Pearl came in, her face almost… chair bittersweet, I guess. She perched on a chair near my bed.
“You might want to know that Ruby and Lavinia’s hair has grown back a bit. At the moment it is merely skimming the tops of their shoulders, but there are some significant changes. Lavinia’s hair is naturally curly, and Ruby’s is ginger!”
I gasped. The stylists have always wanted their hair as described by Pearl!
Also, President Selete is making a speech today. I can’t tell you some parts, but let’s just say Selete was trampled over since everyone wanted to see the new flag. The new flag is the rebellion flag that 10 made. Also there is doing to be a hunger games with all of president Selete’s children and grandchildren. He has 20!
#Chloe
“Okay,” I said. I didn’t know whether to be happy or sad. As much as I hated Selete, I’d experienced the hunger games myself, and it wouldn’t be good for them to happen again. And who benefits from it? Killing the districts’ children didn’t help the capitol; they just used the hunger games for entertainment. Killing Selete’s children wouldn’t help the rebels, it would just be revenge. There might be some sense in creating hunger games for the people in charge of the capital and the game makers, but what was the point in sending children of those people in those games? Those children hadn’t done anything wrong. It wasn’t their fault that their parents had done horrible things. But I guessed that since Selete got trampled and was already dead, we could hardly force him into it.
I came downstairs into my kitchen and found Ruby waiting there for me. Her hair had grown back and as Pearl had described, it was dark curly ginger. She looked much happier than I had seen her last time. “Did you know? District 11 is the new capitol now. Wordsworth is Asher’s dad! Come here! I’ll need to prepare you for your interview this afternoon.”
“Oh, yes, I almost forgot,” I muttered. After an hour, Ruby had my outfit sorted which, according to her, was super fast. I ran down to Lucy’s house and found her grumbling as Lavinia tried dress after dress on her. “Honestly, something simple would be fine!” then she saw me and cried, “Ava! Did you hear the news!” I nodded and asked, “when will you be free?”
“According to Lavinia, at least an hour. Who would think that trying on dresses would take so long? I’ve already been stuck in here for an hour.” She grinned and asked, “been easy for you? You’re out early.”
“Yes, only took me an hour.” I smiled. Things were almost back to normal.
PART TWO
Benjamin
1 year later
The night was cold and windy, however, it was not nearly as warm as President Wordsworth’s party inside the vermillion rooms of the Presidential Suite. A brightly lit chandelier hung over the warm, welcoming hall. They were celebrating Wordsworth’s 36th birthday and there was much excitement in the city. It was seven minutes past midnight, although it looked more like 5 hours earlier. Ava, Lavinia, and Ruby, all 17 now were all celebrating the huge event. The dead body of Alex had been found 2 days earlier and had been given a proper burial in the nearby cemetery. Ava, Lavinia, and Ruby had attended his funeral the previous day. On his gravestone, it read: Alex Bosworth aged 14. He lived his short life worthily and may his faithful body here rest in peace for many years to come. Looking away from his grave inside the great hall, and far out into the forest, may the memories of the 100th annual Hunger Games reside there forevermore. All was well.
But do not think that this is the end of this story…
This was just the beginning………………………………
But what happened to the Ex-President Selete?
#Alicia
I knew Selete was dead, but every week the same dream comes back. It started on the 11th of the 11th month. Selete’s body had been found in a building covered in grime. It hadn’t been repaired yet. It was so lifelike that anyone would overlook it. No-one believed me except a few people. Lucy, Lavinia, Ruby, Pearl, my family and servants. The dream went like this.
It was Selete’s last speech. He was saying his last words “Well, well, well. How come this has happened? Ava and Lucy both getting out hmm? Like Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen?”
Then, instead of the crowd’s hisses and jeers, was irresistible cheering. Everyone was joining in.
Then, they attacked us. Most we could fend off, but others had the wolves’ power…
#Chloe
The same dream would come again and again and then, Selete turned into a mutant wolf, the size of a truck. It would howl madly, its glinting eyes surveying the crowd murderously. Then the crowd was no longer humans cheering but wolves howling and yapping, writhing and lashing out wildly. Then Selete rose up out of the shadows, covered in dirt and cobwebs like a long-forgotten doll. He just stared around and muttered incomprehensible words and got devoured by the wolves. The dreams gave me an unsettled feeling like there was something I had forgotten to do.
Constantly, Lucy had to remind me that we were perfectly safe and that Selete wasn’t going to come back for revenge. I wasn’t so sure. There was a piece missing in this puzzle and I was going to solve it. “Tomorrow,” I thought. “Tomorrow I’m going exploring.”
The next day, I asked Lucy to come out so we could investigate the scene. At first, she refused as she said that there was simply no reason why I would want to see it for myself and waste a day seeing what I already knew. To convince her, I told her, “I won’t stop asking, I’ll drive you batty,” she sighed and agreed reluctantly. But I had to agree that it hadn’t been worth it once we arrived. It was an ordinary street corner with a man, so covered in dirt you could hardly see him.
I was quite dispirited when I returned home and even a tea of Heather’s best jam buns couldn’t cheer me up. “What’s the point?” I asked myself grouchily. “So there isn’t any mystery at all what was the point of trying anyway? There wasn’t anything bad, or was there?
Benjamin
11 Years Earlier
Time: 23:11 Date: 11th of November Year: 2011 Selete had been President: 11 Years
There was a sound of thunder. Walking into the eerie cave, President Selete noticed something. He had been tricked. “This could not be, however,” he told himself. It was a distress call from one of his most trusted comrades. But just as Selete was thinking, a sound of rocks crumbled and a second opening was visible. It emitted a dim yet luminescent light. Selete looked up. A shadowy figure loomed over him. “Ahh, President Selete…” “I was expecting your arrival…” “Who are you?” Asked Selete in a quavery voice. “Allow me to introduce myself” “I am the 11th Earl of Southampton and I was employed last year, exactly last year.” Said the mysterious figure. “But wha..what exactly is your name?” Asked Selete once again in a quiet voice. “I am Earl Wordsworth and I am 23 years old.” “My full name, however, is Count Wallace Robert Wordsworth IV, 11th Earl of Southampton since last year.” “I made you come here in order to fulfill a promise.” “Go on” Said President Selete. ” The promise is, I regretfully announce, that you MUST let ME become President of the Capitol.” There was a pause in which Selete almost fainted. Finally, Selete announced, in a whisper, “Okay.” Then, Wordsworth vanished.
President Selete was actually benevolent. He was the real hero.
Count Wallace Robert Wordsworth IV was the real villain.
Alicia
I had read this in Selete’s diary which I found stuffed on one of my bookshelves, next to my favourite book, A little History of the world. For a few moments I sat there on my big beanbag in the kitchen. Riley was stirring the gravy to go with tonight’s meal, Turkey with carrots, sweetcorn and peas and mash. I started stammering so Riley sighed and came over, but after seeing what had been written, too, was alarmed. We dashed over to Lucy’s house where Lucy was giggling while arranging countless flowers. I never had a knack for that. It was stupid.
Once we had explained everything and they had read what had been written, we were all immediately running towards the site of my and Lucy’s dream. I knew we had to start another rebellion against President Wordsworth. How could he have tricked all of the districts and got away with it? I was extremely bemused about how to start another rebellion. It wouldn’t be as easy as the last. I didn’t know how to do it everything seemed blurry and incoherent. After all President Wordsworth wasn’t going to make a speech anytime soon. How could I make him?
The next day I visited his office in his mansion at the end of the road. I didn’t know what to say but Lucy helped me. She said we needed to make an important announcement about the past and what we had found out. President Wordsworth looked a little suspicious, but he said nothing he couldn’t be otherwise we would be suspicious, but he didn’t know that we knew that he was the bad person. He allowed us to make this speech. We didn’t know how to start but if we started this suspicious way then we could get arrested, so we made it sound like an ordinary event; just a little speech. But at the end we announced what we had seen and heard, and we showed them Selete’s diary projected onto a vast screen behind us. Everyone could see each word and then you what actually happened now. From one of the boxes behind us that looked ordinary enough (as well) people could see weapons and they clambered up onto stage and grabbed them before charging off and running towards Wordworth’s mansion where he was watching from one room looking extremely panicked.
#Chloe
A few days later, I was in my kitchen thinking about the “second uprising” or, so it was called by the people in district twelve. The president Wordsworth seemed to have vanished though all of the doors and windows were locked shut. Some people said he ran off into a secret apartment in his mansion but I didn’t believe them. Meanwhile, I had my own suspicions. Most people thought I was bonkers but I believed that he was using a secret passage around district twelve, a theory reinforced by the fact that people kept mysteriously vanishing around town without a trace. Nobody noticed at first but then people became suspicious about what was happening. Within a week, everybody was in a panic, afraid to leave their homes in case they were next. Even though I suspected Wordsworth, I couldn’t figure out what motive he would have to take our people. I guessed it was to make them slaves to help him get along, or to make him a kingdom below ground so he could still be president. Currently, my worst fear was that he would try to invade by brainwashing those kidnapped people so that they would rebel and take over.
Anxiously, bit my thumb, thinking. There was definitely a piece in this puzzle that I was missing. I put my worries aside. Lucy was coming over to have a good chat; something we hadn’t had for ages. But Lucy never came. I called her on the phone. Nothing. I knocked on her door. No answer. I began to panic calling her again and again. Surely, she hadn’t vanished like the others. Not when I needed her most. Lucy was always there for me. I would’ve sat down and sulked but just then…
Benjamin
I saw the silhouette of a mysterious person. And then. Darkness…
When I woke up, I saw that I had been imprisoned. But who did this? But then I remembered: President Selete was actually benevolent. He was the real hero. Count Wallace Robert Wordsworth IV was the real villain. It was Wordsworth who did this, there was no doubt about that, all that time that I had spent reading and re-reading over those same lines in Selete’s Diary. I pondered first with hardly any hesitation at all, but then I began to feel worried. What happened Lucy? Where was Wordsworth and what was he trying to plan now? Questions upon questions piled in my brain. I looked down at the stone floor. And near a nearby bench, I found a pickaxe. Maybe…Maybe I could somehow dig myself out of prison? The prospect in itself was a rather crazy thought, not to mention that I could be caught by high-security guards patrolling the prison. “Crazy” I told myself but in fact it was the only option for it. After all, it was an extreme circumstance. I picked up the timeworn but still workable pickaxe. CRASH! went the sound of iron against the cobbled floor. To my surprise, no guards heard it. After digging for twenty minutes or more, I made a huge breakthrough: my theory was correct! President Wordsworth did, in fact, use tunnels to dig and capture people, I had found his network of tunnels! But now, there was one problem that became evident: How was I supposed to navigate around, meanwhile I heard the footsteps of guards up. I began to panic. I tried to run forward through the tunnel however I found my way blocked by a mysterious figure. He took off his mask. It was Ex-President Anthony Selete. “Follow me” said he and then we ran, as fast as we could out of sight from the guards and we plunged into the icy darkness.
Alicia
I wondered how he could navigate the tunnels in complete darkness, without a match or a light, but it soon became evident. There were familiar patterns in the walls that Selete recognised. When the darkness became almost unbearable, Selete lit a lantern and we walked on.
Suddenly, the light flickered and went off. Selete placed it in the middle of the path and jumped over it, motioning for me to do the same. The paths grew thinner and thinner, gesturing that a house was nearby. We entered a house that looked strangely familiar. Lucy ‘s house. Selete turned his head to one side and turned on the fire alarm. People poured onto the streets, heading for the us. We snuck upstairs and my companion opened the attic with much effort. Lucy was trussed and, using special technology, gagged with her mouth open. Wordsworth was leaning over her, holding a bottle of poison.
I started painting myself black so I could camouflage with the musty attic. I started to undo the knots that bound her. First her feet, then the ret of her body, creeping up like a caterpillar on a tree. While Selete and Wordsworth battled, I painted Lucy black. we threw the occasional kick or punch at him. There was such a commotion that everyone came rushing. Even with everyone there, fighting, we couldn’t overthrow him. That was the day I learn to suspect everyone. Because some people, actually half, were Wordsworth’s rebels.
I was horrified.
One by one, our rebels turned black. The whole army, eventually, turned black. Only then did I realise the danger. There were lights in the attic. Like a panther, I crept towards the them. Lucy, catching my idea, thew me a length of curtain she had been bound with. Even though we were colourless, the battle still did not tilt our way. Hurrying to the empty butcher’s shop, I grabbed the sharpest blade, and re-joined the battle. There was only a glint of silver as the blade flew across the attic. It buried itself deep inside Wordsworth’s side and with a strangling gasp, he fell down.
#Chloe
Wordsworth was dead but that didn’t stop all the evil carrying on. It was depressing how many people were actually on his side versus the 25% of us that were against the whole lot of them. Even Hannah, Asher’s little sister, said to me the other day, “we have to get all of them back for it don’t you see? We’re better this way of course!” I went around and observe those people on Wordsworth’s side and notice that the tonne of people who were against us were the ones who were captured previously. It didn’t take a lot of brainpower to figure out the puzzle. Obviously, the people had been brain-washed by some weird machine that Wordsworth created. Nobody would serve him willingly, would they? I hoped not. That would mean someone I knew very well (I knew everyone in district 11 particularly well) wasn’t kind and friendly after all. Which was a real shame as I never thought that people from district 11 would ever follow Wordsworth after his secret had been revealed. Me and Lucy had had many talks following Wordsworth’s death and Lucy had come up with a puzzling question which should have been one of our first queries though it was the one that came last. Why did Selete carry on the hunger games if he was actually benevolent?
At the rate things were going, there could possibly be rebellion within 24 hours. Nobody had even bothered to elect a new president or explore Wordsworth’s secret caverns. Nobody did much of anything really. It was like the district was holding its breath, waiting for something. A few days into that blank period and I became restless. I decided to go exploring. Lucy came with me and soon we ready to go. “We’re finally doing something!” I thought exultantly.
Benjamin
The true Hunger Games was about to begin.
After all of this time, A civil war had begun in District 11 and was soon spreading to the Capitol. The rebels on Wordsworths’ side had decided to elect a new leader – Earl Cameron II. He desired revenge. We decided to elect Ex-President Selete now 45 years old but still as powerful as before. I could tell a battle was bound to begin. And I was proved correct. Selete’s force of just over 6,500 people was up against Cameron’s force of over 15,000 people. The odds were a million to one. We had no chance of winning. Then I remembered. “May the odds be forever in your favour.” This sharply rose my confidence in winning this battle, then I heard Selete announce to our side: “People, do not worry, we could possibly win this battle if you out your mind into it.” In a sorrowful tone he added, “May the battle begin!”
Immediately, simultaneously, Selete and Cameron both roared over the mutterings of the people, “CHARGE!!!”
There was a sound of a gunshot.
And then The Battle of the Capitol had just begun.
Immediately, nearly all of the people of The Capitol started to fight. Amidst all of the horror and screaming, I , Lucy and Selete were the only people not attacking. “What are you waiting for?!” Said Selete, “We need to fight!” “Ok!” I said back to him. Selete was just about to give me the thumbs-up sign when behind him, one of Cameron’s protectors proceeded to shoot an arrow at him. Without thinking, screaming, or even telling Selete, I lunged and reflected the arrow with my sword its gleaming iron blade shining in the sunset. “Thanks!” muttered Selete as he saw my incredible feat. “Now let’s get a move on.”
I smiled for the first time in ages. The battle had just truly begun.
Alicia
From the exploring that Lucy and I had done I had found an incredible discovery. If you were drugged with the foul drug that Wordsworth invented, your life could go back to normal with this discovery. I slipped away with Lucy from the battle unnoticed. We tiptoed back to a pretend evil snack and sweet shop. With the workers we slipped pills into can drinks, coated them with chocolate, food dyed them and shoved them into sweets.
I watched triumphantly as more and more people spilled onto our side after a brief explanation of what had recently happened, made by either me or Lucy. However, I was astounded to see that Cameron was cocky enough to be shaving his beard while reading. Stealthily I crept towards him, my heart in my mouth. Lucy and Selete also came, armed with the finest weaponry possible. I crept onto his backstage, shot all the guards and crept up the ladder until only my arrow was there. I shot Cameron and his last words were, “I surrender!”
Then the war ended.
Our story ends there. Everything went back to normal, but our story never will die. It lives on, in the hearts of poets and song tellers, each version so different you can never tell which is true. But you have just heard the real story.
The End