Chapter 3
#3 of Hunger Games 2.0
"Ladies first!" echoes Effie into the microphone. After Effie reached into the glass ball, that's when the hysterical pleas began. "Meadow Islington!" she calls. The frightened girl walked nervously up to the stage, only to hear Marrissa cry out "I VOLUNTEER!"
Meadow stopped in her tracks only to see a determined looking Marrissa thunder down the aisle to hug her. The girls were close friends, and you can imagine how they cried during the hug.
The peacekeepers marched over to the scared and shaken girls to take Marrissa away. "My goodness, like mother like daughter" muttered Effie, under her breath. "Let's continue with the boys". As Effie reached into the other glass bowl, Delta walks up past the watching Peacekeepers. "I'm in. doesn't matter the name, I'm in." A peacekeeper steps in front of him, and stops him. "Go back to your place kid" he says.
Delta steps to the right, and walks along. As he reaches the stage, he removes a dagger from his shirt, and throws it into a crack between TV screens. "That enough persuasion for everyone watching?" he says, looking at the cameras, then the Peacekeepers.
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As Delta took his spot, hearing nothing from the Peacekeepers, a Peacekeeper whispered something into Effie's ear and a TV screen lit up, showing the young face of Serena Snow, President Snow's granddaughter. She opens her eyes, revealing the piercing snake gaze of her grandfather. "To the residents of District 12, I am Serena Snow, your new leader. I might seem young, but my knowledge and wisdom run deeper than looks appear. "As you know, under my rules, the hunger games have been reinstated". The reason being, that you people still deserve to be punished for the dark days. Also, under my rules, the parents of the District 12 tributes, should they be those of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, should also compete, for a personal reason. Any defiant act, will result in punishment, depending on how severe the actions of those involved are. That is all." And then the TV screen went blank and the tributes ushered inside the building.
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"Well, that girl should learn to let go of her revenge thoughts" said Peeta, inside the room with his children. "She's crazier than her grandfather"
After the screening of Lady Serena's announcement, Peacekeepers collected Peeta from the watching parents, and after some struggling, finally got out of their grip, but not to run, just for comfort of walking normally.
"Darn right. I never thought this would happen, but the chance was still there" commented Gale.
Peacekeepers come in, and take Gale out, and some take the family to the waiting train. But instead of the normal Capital train, it's the District 12 coal train, with wooden carriages and broken tables. "This dump? Where is the other train?" asked Peeta. All he got was a push and he was inside the nearest carriage. As Delta got in, he was stopped and checked for weapons, after his incident on the stage. Marrissa climbed in, and went to the seats, looking around for a cushion.
"Why are we on this train dad?" Marrissa asks
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"I think its part of Lady Serena's plan" answered Peeta, just as Delta jumps in, disarmed of any weapons.
"Let that bruise remind you of what I know!" he shouts to the guard, holding his dagger tauntingly.
"Calm down son. Here, I brought a spare for you." Peeta tosses another dagger to Delta, and he catches it, happy for the usual weight in a hidden sheath.
"Where's Effie?" asks Marrissa.
"With the driver. They got a luxury carriage for her up front" Peeta replies.
As the day ends, they find a soft spot on the floor, and fall asleep. In the morning, they find the usual breakfast from District 12 waiting nearby. Once they finish breakfast, they notice the capital in the distance, and then they see nothing as they enter the tunnel.
"When we reach the view of the public, don't let their opinion deter what you have planned." Says Peeta. "Aah, I have someone who wants to see you" as Haymitch enters the carriage.