I stood up, as did Aragog and Mother, and took my scarf, wrapping it around my lower face, like this morning. They did the same and followed behind me as I went out, making sure the door was close firmly behind me. Then we made toward the Square, making sure to be on time before the gates were shut. A crowd was already there, but they weren’t huddling together like before the sickness. Each family had their own space, separate from the others. Mother, Aragog and I hurried toward an empty space in the middle of the crowd. We pass by Violet’s family, who were all huddled close together for warmth. Violet had her face hidden in her overlarge sweater, only her eyes could be seen as she stood next to her mother. She gave me a short wave and I waved back, resisting the urge to run over and hug her. I pushed my mother and Aragog into the empty space and stood beside them, waiting anxiously for the mayor to begin. Three chairs were set on a stage that had been set up, including a podium, a stand, and a mike. Only one chair was filled and Mayor Oshiro sat there quietly, waiting for the other two seats to be filled with the appearance of the president himself and an escort from Government City. When the clock of the Square struck twelve, I heard a government car drive up to the gates. All heads turned to look just as an official hopped out of the car and opened the door on the right. A tall man stepped out, dressed in a crisp dark suit and matching shoes. His light hair looked dull in the frosty air and it was neatly combed. A white woman with a bowler hat came from the other side of the car. The gates were open by two officials and the man and woman walked into the Square. Everyone immediately stood up straight, focusing on the man.

“President Trumpkin, welcome to the Fire District,” the mayor greeted politely. President Trumpkin nodded in polite greeting. “Thank you, Mayor Oshiro.” When I saw his face, it had an almost evil look about him and I shudder, already disliking him. The woman, whom I now recognize as Amelia Bennet, followed the president up to the stage and they both settled on the two chairs that had been empty once before. She had a cheerful look on her face and I wonder how anyone could be as cheerful as she was on a miserable occasion such as this. Mayor Oshiro stepped up to the stand and adjusted the mike. He began a long speech of the brilliance of the government when they had thought of this Game and how the elemental Districts and Government City came to be. Each year, it was the same. The long old speech, the announcements. I had heard it so many times, I could practically recite it to anyone who asked. Not that anyone would. After the mayor finished his speech, he gestured to Amelia Bennet and gave her a warm welcome.

Amelia Bennet clopped up to the mike in her little heels as the mayor sat back down and gave everyone a wide and bubbly smile. I couldn’t help but notice Aragog’s distaste at the bubbly aura and had to press my mouth to my scarf to stifle the giggles.

“It’s such an honor to be in the Fire District and see all your lovely faces here! I’m sure you must be very excited to know who the government has chosen to participate in this year’s Game!” she began in an over-cheerful voice. She paused, as if expecting us to clap. When we didn’t, she gave a wave as if to dismiss the mistake and continued on. “The names will be announced in a minute. Now, however, is to issue some new rules about this year’s Game.” Again, she paused, to let her words sink in. Murmurs spread around the crowd like wildfire, wondering what new things were to be added to the Game. Aragog nudged my arm and I looked at him. “What?” I whispered. “I bet they decided to put some more deadly things in the Place,” he whispered back. By ‘they’, he meant the government. I pondered shortly over this thought, turning back to Amelia Bennet, who had started up talking again.

“I’m sure you’re all wondering what new rules have been added. No need for worries, it’s not anything dangerous of course. As you can see, each five Districts is named after and stands for an element; the Fire District, Ice District, Water District, Earth District, and Air District. In the Place, the weather and setting would change occasionally standing for each element. You will be allowed to use your magic, if you were born with your District’s ability and each person the government has chosen is born with their elemental ability. Of course, there will still be only one winner of the Game; everyone else has to die.” She said the last sentence so casually, I would’ve thought she had been talking about something as easy as buying bread. And a part of her words scared me, where she announced that the chosen people were born with the elemental ability. I was born with it, and had first discovered that I could create fire with my bare hands when I was trying to make a fire in the house to warm ourselves. I had been no good with wood at all and Aragog was, but he had been out that time. I grew frustrated and threw the wood down, then rubbed my hands together furiously. I felt a hot and tingling feeling between my hands and when I drew my hands apart, a flame had appeared, dancing into the air. I was surprised because I hadn’t known I had been born with the ability of fire magic. Later, when Aragog came home, I told him about it. Then we found out that Aragog was also born with the ability. It was only two years ago and I had never really bothered to use the magic. Everyone was silent. They were waiting for the names to be announced in which Amelia Bennet was taking pleasure in keeping us waiting. “And I’m sure you're all excited to find out the chosen ones?” she chirped. Everyone murmured quietly. Amelia flounced over to President Trumpkin who stood up and held out a piece of paper. I stared at the paper, wishing I could see through it. Amelia took the paper with the tips of her fingers and click-clacked back to the stand and, smoothing out the paper, cleared her throat. It was deathly silent in the Square. Then Amelia opened her mouth and started reading with President Trumpkin standing next to her, surveying the Square.