Chapter 4

Chapter 4

A Chapter by Zman135

    Swoosh! Another one of Veronica’s arrows hit the bulls-eye.
    “What do you mean we’ll see him soon?” she questioned in a look of pure terror, but still loading her next arrow and pre-aiming the target.
    “Á toute à l'heure means I will see you very soon in French so we need avoid any situations that would give him an excuse to get close to us.” I said briskly before sending my own arrow into a target, dead center.
    “And it does make little to no sense for him to let off like that...” she paused, shooting yet another  arrow into the yellow circle,
    “Exactly, but I can only imagine what he could do to-”, I cut off because my arrow hit the line between yellow and red, “Why do you always do better than me in athletics?” I laughed.
    “Why do you always out do me in academics?” she countered, and sent an arrow at the target without looking away from me. It hit dead center along with the other arrows.
    “Oh, I’m not that great.” I said pouting.
    “Really? Then how did you catch Aubrey’s French?” she asked, loading her last arrow.
    “I’m sure it was just chance, if it was something like Spanish you would have had it before me.”
    “Sure I would’ve” she snorted before shooting her final bulls eye.
******************************************************************************
    I started on my way home from school. Me and Veronica had different academic classes this semester, she has Classic Literature while I have Geography, so it was a boring four hours wasted every day going over what I already knew. It was already 9:40 when I walked into the boy’s dormitory, so I went up the stairway that led to my room. I had twenty minutes until my recommended bed time, so I sat on my bed thinking about what Aubrey could be planning.  Whatever it is, he seemed very excited about it, which means it would be very painful. And it would be before his term as president is up, or it wouldn’t be public enough for his liking. Which means it would be tomorrow or the day after... but he would be to busy getting his things together to leave office at the end of the match and the day after would be spent greeting the candidates...
    I finally gave up and tucked my self in my bed, waiting for the clock to change to 10:00 before closing my eyes and retreating to the depths of my mind.



    I opened my eyes to the beeping of my alarm clock. I jumped from my bed and quickly hit the off button, terrified. It was just a dream, I thought, you know he could never get away with that!
    This time I took my time in the shower, bile still threatening to shoot up my throat. I eventually got out of the shower and hit the button for the clothes. Today the rack held outfits of every color imaginable. I pulled out a dark purple suit and made my way to the town square.
    The large area was packed with people from all over the sector, but the first person I saw was Veronica, dressed in a beautiful green dress. My mind completely locked up.
    No, no, no! It’s just a coincidence. I thought frantically trying to escape the vivid picture of Veronica sobbing in that very green dress. She spotted me and a huge smile spread across her face.
    “Hey!” she yelled, running to meet me.
    “Hi” I simply replied.
    “Well, the best day of the year is finally here!” she said sarcastically, breaking the lock my mind had previously been in. We began to walk to our roped off quadrant for fifteen-year-olds, making small talk but only for the sake of knowing we were together and not alone.
    I couldn’t stop starring at one man sitting at the edge of the platform set up in the middle of all the roped up areas. He had dark hair and green eyes. He looked incredibly dangerous and was in his late 40‘s. His name was Alex Gaither and had been the dictator of Snickery twenty years ago and was the only leader sector 16 had. When your term in office was up you went back to your home district and become the leader of it.
    After waiting what seemed to be forever the Alex stepped up to the platform. We walked past the two giant screens, one with every boy’s name in the sector, and the other with every girl’s name. When the he reached the podium his speech started, the one given every year in every district; about how at one time, when a nation named United States existed, a large group of anarchists tried to overthrow the government they had gained every nation outside of  and half of the United States it’s self on their side. When they finally attacked the capital, they thought it was going to be a surprise. But they where expected and killed almost immediately.
    The planned overthrow was to close for comfort, making a need for change. So Snickery was formed, every nation under one government and divided into fifty sectors. And then it was decided that if anyone wanted to control the government, they didn’t have to attack it, just step up and say you want to be a candidate for the match (but no one has ran a “campaign” from district 16 in a god century) The tribute then either has to kill ninety-nine other canidates or team up with some. Once the games end, they are to choose what type of government they want, rather it be Monarchy, Democracy, Dictatorship, Oligarchy. and so forth. But they can change it at any time if they feel they’re loosing control. Once the speech was finished an extremely flashy man with turquoise hair and a pink suit that could only be Frankie Anfeald made his was to the podium.
    “The day of Glory has finally arrived!”, he spoke in an overly excited voice with capital accent all over it, “I will now begin the candidate selecting process. Let’s start with the girls, shall we?”
    He then proceeded over to where the girl’s names were listed and pushed a button that made the names highlight, flickering one by one, picking up speed with each name until it was a dizzying blur of light which made my stomach clench back into a nauseated state.
    Just please don’t land like my nightmare, I begged
    It landed perfectly on Veronica Hammond’s name. My heart stopped. It just stopped. I couldn’t feel anything. I almost didn’t feel Veronica get up from beside me. She looked horrified and I was starting to feel the exact same way. She looked at me with tear filled eyes. With trembling hands, I put my two pointing fingers together then pointed at my self. Which meant; The same is going to happen to me. She simply nodded and made her way to the stage. My nightmare had became reality, Aubrey was punishing us in the worst way possible, and in front of every person in the world. Veronica made it to the stage and was greeted by Frankie.
    “Everyone, this is your female tribute Veronica Hammonds. Does anyone want to volunteer?”  As the tears rolled down her cheeks, no one even dared to breath. That’s when she actually began to sob.
    Veronica was then led to an empty chair next to Alex. He looked at her and actually showed sympathy towards her, probably thinking about what she’ll be going through. Frankie then pushed the button for the boys name. I knew it would land on me, so I began to prepare a little speech for all of Snickery to hear; common of most candidates who plan to run but a few forced candidates have been known to make one as well. When the name Callen Adams was highlighted every eye was on me. I actually found the power to smile through the whole walk to the platform even though I was thinking about my family back in sector 41.
    Each sector had a sort of specialty to it, kind of like how the state Idaho used to be known for it’s grade A potatoes and how the country Saudi Arabia drilled oil. Sector 41 is the fabric sector and the main export is clothing goods. But here in 16, entertainment is the export. Whether it be music to acting, it all happens in 16. Luckily I had learnt a thing or two about acting here or keeping up this facade would be much more difficult. I reached the platform and stood next to Frankie still smiling.
    “This is your male candidate. Any volunteers?” The crowd was even quieter than when Veronica was up. “Very well then, we will no-” but I cut him off.
    “I would like to make a speech.” But this speech will probably be the first directed to the current leader and not the public. I thought humorously. Frankie’s eyes lit up as if he’d just won the lottery.
    “Yes! Please, please!” he screamed jumping up and down, clapping like a giddy school girl.
    “I would like to wish Aubrey farewell from office and that I know that it wan’t a stroke of luck that me and Veronica are forced candidates. And that we both know exactly how and why they were, and I’m actually amused by it. If it’s war you want, then it’s, War. You’ll. Get! I would also like to wish the other candidates the best of luck because they’re gonna need it.” I finished, still grinning ear to ear. My speech confused everyone except Veronica, who had a grin bigger than mine, and Alex who had a look of thoughtfulness and curiosity plastered onto his face. I then took my seat next to Veronica.
    “Thank you Callen for the... umm... interesting speech. And there’s you’re tributes! Now they’re off to the capital to prepare for the games!” After the anthem played we were rushed through town to a long stretch where a large expensive plane landed upon our arrival. Frankie told us to get on and like that, we were off to the capital.
    Me and Veronica got into two recliners next to each other while Alex went into a room down a hallway and Frankie went to see how diner was progressing. I looked at Veronica and we both burst out laughing.
    “How did you know we would get chosen?” she asked after the laughter died down.
    “Let’s just say I’m so smart i figured it out in my sleep.” I joked, and she just broke into laughter, but understood what I meant.
    Well president Aubrey, I thought proudly, how does it feel to think your plan was cracked in such a short amount of time that I had a speech ready to go just for the occasion?
    Our laughter quickly faded and the silence made fear of what was about to come cloud my thoughts. But almost instantly a thick blanket of unconsciousness wrapped itself around around my mind, pulling me into a black abyss of nothingness.



© 2010 Zman135


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Zman135
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Added on August 25, 2010
Last Updated on August 25, 2010


Author

Zman135
Zman135

Prestonsburg, KY



About
Hey, I'm Cole. I'm 17 and I attend Prestonsburg High School where I'm a senior. I've learned fairly recently that even best friends come and go so treat them like they'll be gone tomorrow. I'm a Chri.. more..

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A Chapter by Zman135