On the plains of District 15, people with alabaster shirts and pants were gathered together to hear the names of the tributes that would be participating in the 48th Hunger Games. As more people huddled in, a man and woman went to the front of the crowd, slightly afar from everyone else, and talked to one another as to not be overheard.

The Peacekeepers had their hands placed on their guns, ready to shoot them at any moment. With their faces covered from their black and white helmets, their eyes unforseen behind the menacing masks, they looked down at the crowd for any trouble or anything interesting that might be brewing.

After all of the citizens of District 15 were gathered around, a woman with pink eye shadow, blush, and a crazy wig tapped the microphone. The echos of her tapping resonated throughout the room to the crowd and Peacekeepers with a sound not necessarily foreboding, but annoying enough for everyone to turn to her and hear what she had to say.

"Good morning, citizens of District 15," The woman's voice was scratchy and had a high pitch.

"My name is Abbey Ferguson and I'll be announcing the two tributes for the 48th Hunger Games!" Silence filled the void as Abbey proceeded talking, "Ladies first."

A tense sensation filled the air as Abbey stuck her pale hand in a glass bowl and drew out a slip of paper. She unfolded it and announced the female tribute.

"Peggy Anderson."

A pretty female stepped forward and slowly walked towards the front of the crowd. The girl had her long blond hair tied in a ponytail and her eyes were wet with tears. As Peggy made her way up, many people eyed her, their eyes filled with sorrow and sadness.

Finally, Peggy made it to the top and Abbey went to announce the second candidate.

"Now for the latter tribute." She placed her hand in a second glass bowl and pulled out another slip of paper. As she unfolded it, she read the name of the second and final individual to compete in the Hunger Games.

"Steve Harrison."

A boy with blue eyes and short blond hair, about the age of sixteen, stepped forward and began to shiver with fear. The crowd eyed him and felt sorry for the boy as he made his way up towards the crowd. When Steve was in front of the crowd, Abbey talked into the microphone, "Alright! We have our tributes... Family and friends of Peggy and Steve may visit them and say their goodbyes."

As the crowd decreased, both Steve and Peggy were placed in separate rooms with only a window for light.

Sitting on a cold metal chair, Steve stared out the window. His eyes filled with tears and sadness. Flashbacks of an overwhelming memory filled his mind.

"If you get picked for the Hunger Games, be sure to win. Our family is poor and I don't know what we will do if you lose the Hunger Game." Steve's father stared down at Steve right before the picking of the tributes began.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

A loud knock resounded on the metal door of his room. Steve turned around as the door opened. A Peacekeeper and an older man with grey-ish brown hair entered the room. The older man stepped forward.

"Five minutes only," The Peacekeeper said behind his menacing mask and closed the door.

"Well, you got picked..." Steve's father started. He walked around the room and looked around.

Finally, after giving the room a thorough exam, he came to a halt in front of his son. "I'll miss you and pray for you every day!" His voice was soft and melancholy. He placed his hand in the pocket of his jeans and pulled out something.

It was a peridot necklace.

Steve's father gave the peridot necklace to his son. "Peridot is your mother's favorite gemstone.

She gave it to me before she passed away..." Steve saw his father's eyes filling with tears. "Now, this is yours. It's a good luck necklace."

"Thank you..." Steve took the necklace and placed it upon his neck. He looked up at his father and his eyes began to water.

"Your mother loved you so much," Steve's dad began to sob and Steve got up from his chair and softly hugged his dad.

After a long period of silent air in the room with Steve and his father hugging each other, the door opened and entered the Peacekeeper.

"Time's up," The Peacekeeper said. Steve's dad slowly pulled away from him and left.

Moments later, another Peacekeeper came in and opened the door. "Is anyone else here?" the Peacekeeper asked. Steve shook his head and they exited the small room.

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After Peggy was done with her goodbyes, she and Steve, Abbey, and a man called Edward Lord entered the train.

The train was very long with many compartments attached. Four of the compartments were for Peggy, Steve, Abbey, and Edward. The longest compartment was a sort of living room. This compartment had a kitchen, fireplace, dining room table, four long couches, and two TVs.

Abbey and Edward sat on the couches followed by Peggy and Steve who both looked around the compartment in astonishment.

"Whoa!" Peggy muttered underneath her breath.

"Sit," Edward commanded. 

Steve and Peggy obeyed the command and sat across from Edward and Abbey.

"You guys excited?" Edward asked sarcastically. 

The two tributes shook their heads. Edward chuckled. 

Abbey hit Edward on the hips with the back of her hand.

"What?" Edward turned and looked at Abbey.

"Don't you scare them, Edward J Lord!" Abbey glared at him with a looked that withered his core.

"I wasn't trying to," he replied back.

"Sure..." Abbey rolled her brown eyes.

"Anyway..." Edward cleared his throat as if he was going to give a long speech. "You two were chosen for the 48th Hunger Games. You both will train and be tested on your skills in survival. Both of you will have to choose a weapon of choice to defend yourself with."

"When you get off the train," Abbey continued Edward's speech, "you will be escorted to an isolated room where servants will clean you up. Your Dresser will then look at you and decide which outfit would best fit you for the opening. Each District will have its outfit based on the District's reputation, which, for our District, is fighting skills."

"Now, you both have the advantage over other Districts because you were trained to fight from the age of 10," Edward continued, "so I expect great skill shown when you are tested."

"Before the game starts, you will be inserted in a tube that will take you to the Arena and the countdown will begin," Abbey finished."Any questions?" Edward smiled awkwardly.

Both Steve and Peggy were silent as their brains tried to process the information they had just received.

"I don't have any," Peggy replied after a long period of silence. 

"Me too," Steve said.

"Good!" Edward smiled brightly as if he had wished for this response.

"Alright! I bet both of you are tired, so why don't you guys go freshen up and then we'll talk later." He continued to smile at Steve and Peggy.

Both Steve and Peggy went to separate compartments and freshened up.

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