Post by countlivin on Apr 23, 2019 4:06:05 GMT
The man on the projection spoke with such a forceful splitting tone, Aura's head could have burst. It was as if he was trying to hammer the words into the crowds' skulls with volume alone. They need not hear these words again. Twenty-four get shipped off to die every year, and the Capitol regarded it as a joke. Aura already knew the announcement by heart.
"And without further ado, I announce the Twenty-Fifth Annual Hunger Games!"
The young man did not waver in his gaze upon the sea. He touched the small white rose in his breast pocket. "What does it mean to you, Gamemaker?" His tone was wistful.
"What does what mean, sir?"
"The concept of hope?" He took the rose and dropped it from the balcony to land in the fountain below. "To me, and to any quality citizen of the Capitol, it is nothing more than a word. But like any word... If it is used incorrectly, in harmony with its brothers and sisters, it can mean your death. So choose carefully."
"It is a truly special occasion. For this year's Games marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of your salvation."
"No, you are not a fighter," her father spoke to her. "You are many things, honey. Many wonderful things, but you are not a fighter. If you try to be a hero, you're going to fail."
"I'm coming back, Dad!" Penn shot back with a defiance that shook the table. "And when I do, this family won't ever have to worry again. No one in this District will."
"And yesterday, President Coriolanus Snow decreed that, in celebration of this magnificent event that unites our nation, a special rule will be placed upon the Games, to quell the ambitions of those who might disagree with our methods."
For an instant, Saul lost his footing. He'd never fallen from the trees before, not when they were his home... Nothing on the ground was truly his, but the orchard... At least, within the branches he could be away from the world below. It was the only place in the whole world he could forget everything.
And then Saul found the last branch. He didn't have to climb farther to see what had become of his orchard. The space that once bore fruit for an entire District was now inhabited by stumps and scorched earth. Those trees had been the only thing Saul could call his own, and now they were gone.
"This year, we will demonstrate that you are still free to choose for yourselves, and that all citizens, regardless of District, are still children of Panem."
"Aura, you can't leave!" Corvin exclaimed, slamming the door to wall in his sister. Aura flinched. The top hinge was the only thread left. After she left for the Games, there would be nothing to protect her brothers except for that door. "If you leave, we'll have to go back with Uncle Crispin. The last time-"
"While I'm still breathing, you won't be anywhere near Crispin," she told her brother. "I'm coming back, you know. And if I don't...take Barker and run... And don't look back. Don't ever look back. Because the moment you do, they'll know where you are. Relax... In a few months, this family will have another victor."
"For this year, there will be no Reaping. You shall choose amongst yourselves which tributes shall represent you. YOU decide for your District."
"You are nothing. It's time you got that through your skull, fish boy." Ronn scowl burned fire-bright. Marten's knuckles were white, and his fingernails bit into his palm. "You're going in that arena, and the moment the timer hits zero, if you're lucky, you'll make a minute." He waited a moment and then scoffed. "You and your bloody inmate fath-"
Marten Lewis was a monster, and his father's son. At that moment he could no longer deny it. He grabbed the boy by the scruff of his neck and shoved him underneath the current in a swift motion. He held him there until he began to gasp for breath. "YOU'RE NOTHING! YOU'RE NOTHING! YOU'RE NOTHING!"
"And so, this year, we speak to not only tributes, but to every child of Panem. Heed our words."
"I respectfully disagree, sir." Theo shook his head, careful to ease the quaking. "If hope is anything, it's glue. It doesn't reduce civilization to dust... It raises it higher."
President Snow spun around with the barest hint of malevolence in his piercing blue eyes. "Well..." He chuckled lightly after a few seconds of shared silence. "I suppose we shall agree to disagree..."
"May the odds be ever in your favor."
THE HUNGER GAMES
BOOK 1: THE PAWNS
"And without further ado, I announce the Twenty-Fifth Annual Hunger Games!"
The young man did not waver in his gaze upon the sea. He touched the small white rose in his breast pocket. "What does it mean to you, Gamemaker?" His tone was wistful.
"What does what mean, sir?"
"The concept of hope?" He took the rose and dropped it from the balcony to land in the fountain below. "To me, and to any quality citizen of the Capitol, it is nothing more than a word. But like any word... If it is used incorrectly, in harmony with its brothers and sisters, it can mean your death. So choose carefully."
"It is a truly special occasion. For this year's Games marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of your salvation."
"No, you are not a fighter," her father spoke to her. "You are many things, honey. Many wonderful things, but you are not a fighter. If you try to be a hero, you're going to fail."
"I'm coming back, Dad!" Penn shot back with a defiance that shook the table. "And when I do, this family won't ever have to worry again. No one in this District will."
"And yesterday, President Coriolanus Snow decreed that, in celebration of this magnificent event that unites our nation, a special rule will be placed upon the Games, to quell the ambitions of those who might disagree with our methods."
For an instant, Saul lost his footing. He'd never fallen from the trees before, not when they were his home... Nothing on the ground was truly his, but the orchard... At least, within the branches he could be away from the world below. It was the only place in the whole world he could forget everything.
And then Saul found the last branch. He didn't have to climb farther to see what had become of his orchard. The space that once bore fruit for an entire District was now inhabited by stumps and scorched earth. Those trees had been the only thing Saul could call his own, and now they were gone.
"This year, we will demonstrate that you are still free to choose for yourselves, and that all citizens, regardless of District, are still children of Panem."
"Aura, you can't leave!" Corvin exclaimed, slamming the door to wall in his sister. Aura flinched. The top hinge was the only thread left. After she left for the Games, there would be nothing to protect her brothers except for that door. "If you leave, we'll have to go back with Uncle Crispin. The last time-"
"While I'm still breathing, you won't be anywhere near Crispin," she told her brother. "I'm coming back, you know. And if I don't...take Barker and run... And don't look back. Don't ever look back. Because the moment you do, they'll know where you are. Relax... In a few months, this family will have another victor."
"For this year, there will be no Reaping. You shall choose amongst yourselves which tributes shall represent you. YOU decide for your District."
"You are nothing. It's time you got that through your skull, fish boy." Ronn scowl burned fire-bright. Marten's knuckles were white, and his fingernails bit into his palm. "You're going in that arena, and the moment the timer hits zero, if you're lucky, you'll make a minute." He waited a moment and then scoffed. "You and your bloody inmate fath-"
Marten Lewis was a monster, and his father's son. At that moment he could no longer deny it. He grabbed the boy by the scruff of his neck and shoved him underneath the current in a swift motion. He held him there until he began to gasp for breath. "YOU'RE NOTHING! YOU'RE NOTHING! YOU'RE NOTHING!"
"And so, this year, we speak to not only tributes, but to every child of Panem. Heed our words."
"I respectfully disagree, sir." Theo shook his head, careful to ease the quaking. "If hope is anything, it's glue. It doesn't reduce civilization to dust... It raises it higher."
President Snow spun around with the barest hint of malevolence in his piercing blue eyes. "Well..." He chuckled lightly after a few seconds of shared silence. "I suppose we shall agree to disagree..."
"May the odds be ever in your favor."
THE HUNGER GAMES
BOOK 1: THE PAWNS