Title: A Capitol Experience
Author: Claratrix LeChatham
Blurb:
An average, violent, bloody, Hunger Games. The tribute who will win is not decided, and you, the Capitol, have the power to keep your favorite alive. Happy Hunger Games! The Games have begun!

Excerpt:
Our mayor did eventually make an appearance; such lateness as his is frowned upon by the Capitol, however. More than likely, we will have a new mayor next year. Our current one has been increasingly inflammatory against the President. We’ll miss him, nonetheless.

I found it impossible to fully comprehend what he was saying, beneath his thick District Ten accent, and the voices of my peers. Theano, in particular. She grates on my nerves uncomfortably.

The speech the mayor was making came to a close awkwardly. Our escort, however, was vivacious as always as she skipped up to the platform. She was wearing an over-emphasized pair of glasses, though I had no doubts that her vision was perfect, and her hair was alternating streaks of purple and gold. The look did not complement her in the least.

“I know you’re all just as excited for the Hunger Games as me. This year, District Ten will have a victor!”

She performed a strange dance, pumping the air with her fist and alternately gyrating. It was likely awkward to do, and even more uncomfortable to watch.

We all breathed a sigh of relief when she stopped, and dizzily walked to the bowl from which the girl’s name would be chosen. A lesser person than I would have been hoping for Theano’s name to be pulled, but I was simply focused on my name not being chosen.

“Hypatia Leanodas!”

I hesitated. I had seen enough snippets of previous reapings to know that I was supposed to walk up to the stage to be led into the justice building. But how had I been picked? My father would rather starve than apply for any tessarae.

Out of thousands of slips, I had been only one. The odds, as any escort would put it, were in my favor.