Power to the People: The Thirty-ninth Hunger Games

Chapter 8

Arter "Omega" Wire POV

Wires, pistons, programs... there's much more variety than people think when they think of factories. Most of us in Eight have the conventional factory jobs like unwinding yarn and cutting fabric. Most of our electronics stuff it outsourced to Three, but sometimes we have problems that need to be fixed but aren't big enough to haul in an expert from another District. That's where I come in.

I was always a bright student. I thought I was born in the wrong District, but there's a place for me here. The powers that be noticed my exotic skills and separated me into specialized classes to prepare me for technical work in the factory. While most of my schoolmates learned the most basic math and science and spent the rest of their time in the factories, me and three other students learned about why the factories work in the first place.

"The factories in Eight work on alternating current, or AC," our teacher said. We looked down at the wires in front of us. Most of them were coated with rubber in various colors, but a few were naked.

"In case of an emergency, simply break the circuit with a single, simple cut," the teacher continued. "Just be sure to use an insulated material, such as rubber-handled scissors."

We all bent over our desks to practice. The teacher flipped a switch and I heard electricity humming through the wires. I took my scissors and rested my hand against the largest wire, which was blue. I opened the blades-

SNAP! Sharp energy jolted through my arm and flung me back. My muscles clenched until they felt like they'd snap. Everything went black and cold.

Something was crushing my chest. It pounded my ribs, then let up for a minute. My hand felt raw and hot. Air rushed into my mouth, and I forced my eyes open. My teacher was crouched over me blowing into my mouth. She pressed my chest once more before she saw I was awake.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

"I think so," I said. I was so confused I didn't know what to do.

"What day is this?" she asked.

"The fifth?" I said.

"Follow my finger," she said. She waved it in front of my eyes and I watched it. She helped me to my feet and I saw the other three students were clustered in the corner staring at me. One of them was crying.

"It's all right," the teacher said to them. "Class is dismissed for the day. We've had enough excitement. Arter, I'll come home with you and tell your parents what happened. We'll stop my the nurse and take care of your hand."

Everything started to come back into focus. I must have brushed a live wire. My finger was missing a patch of skin and the flesh seemed curled back. I could have died. I almost did. I could have died just like that. I'd never had to be afraid of death before. It was always far away. Right then I learned how close death was. It was as easy as flipping a switch.

Silver Flower POV

Reaping Day. It was supposed to be like reaping grain, like the Capitol was "reaping" the best of us to be with them. In the Districts, we knew what it meant. It meant the Grim Reaper. The Reaper took two of us and we never came back.

I'd been to five Reapings. I cowered in fear with the others as we all hoped the name on the slip was anything but ours. We'd have sent our best friends or our sisters if it meant we were safe. This would be my last one. I wrapped my arms around myself and shuddered as the tape began.

I never like Remus. It wasn't that he did anything to upset me. I knew the Games weren't his idea. I'd always been afraid of adults, especially men. They didn't seem to realize how much stronger they were than girls. Any one of them could do whatever they wanted with me, and that was the way it would always be. He Reaped the boy first, and he called for Arter Wire. He looked younger than me, and I didn't know him. He looked very brave for someone about to die.

What happened next surprised me. I'd been waiting for Remus to read the next name, and I felt the hate I could never express threatening to boil over. Every year two of us die. We mourn and we wail, but no one ever stops it. No one does the one thing they could do to save a life.

"Paisley Kruse!" Remus called. A girl stepped out of the line in front of me. She was crying and she was hunched so far forward she looked almost like she was crawling. She stood beside Remus and looked out at us without hope.

It's not right, I thought. No matter how many times it happens, it's not right. So stop them. Do something. Show greater love. Don't let her die. It's not right.

"Do we have any volunteers?" Remus asked. That's when I surprised myself.

"I volunteer as Tribute!" I yelled. The girls around me pulled back like I wanted to take them with me. As soon as I did it, I realized what it meant for me, but something higher than fear drove me. Even though I was trembling and felt like I was going to faint, I walked up next to Remus. Paisley ran off the stage the second I was done speaking, and I was alone with our escort. Up close, it was easier to see how old he was, but he was still scary.

"What a brave girl," Remus said. "Please, tell us your name."

"Silver Flower," I said. I'd just done the most selfless and stupid thing anyone in Panem could do. Even though I knew what it meant, I was glad.

I had some questions about reservations. I hold spots until I'm finished with all the Reapings I can do. Then I'll put a last warning in the final Reaping, and if the Tributes don't show up in about two days I give the spots away.

The forum's at forum/LadyCordeliaStuart-Hunger-Games-SYOT-Forum/184107/ if anyone's having trouble finding it.