"You heard the lady," Iver told me, gesturing to his door. I halfheartedly smiled and traipsed out of his room and towards the dinner table, glancing up at Miranda and a pale man with wrinkles on his face (must be an elderly) and white hair with a small white beard.

"This is President Snow." Miranda nodded towards him, smiling brightly. "Obviously, he's president of the Capitol and of all the Districts. Next year's Hunger Games, one of you will be District Four's advisor for the Hunger Games since you know how it works... that is, if you survive..." she added, her face falling. "So, since this is the first annual Hunger Games, we have to make do with our handsome president!" Miranda squealed again, cheerfully beaming.

"Sit down, sit down," President Snow offered, waving at the chairs. I obeyed him, believing that if I commit a wrong in his presence, I would be blown to smithereens. At least, that's what my dad always said what would happen if I disobey the mighty President. Why wouldn't I believe him? President Snow started the war between the Capitol and the Districts, causing my brother's death...

I started to hyperventilate as I think of my dead brother, deceased and passed because of the man standing before me. I wheezed and clutched at my chest desperately, heaving with each ragged breath. Iver's eyes grew wide, and he grasped my hand before I fell to my knees. "Luna, are you okay? You have to be okay!" he whispered, shaking me a little bit, a note of panic in his tone. Eventually, after a few agonizing moments, I lay on the carpeted floor, my breathing regulated and alive.

"I-... I'm fine," I murmured, pushing myself up into my chair, my cheeks heating with embarrassment. God, help me. How could I win a Hunger Games against bloodthirsty hounds believed to be humans when I almost pass out whenever I think of my brother?

"Lovely," President Snow rumbled in his rather creepy voice. Yeah, right, I thought angrily, but forced myself to look calm.

"Okay, let me explain the Hunger Games to you in more detail," Snow went on. "Twenty-four tributes in all are going to fight each other to death-"

"But why?" Iver interrupted, his eyes glittering with rage. "Humans will go extinct if these Games go on-"

"I beg you to let me finish my sentence, Mr. White," President Snow interrupted pleasantly. Iver sat back in his seat silently, though his eyes still betrayed his anger. "Twenty-four tributes in all are going to fight each other to the death, but didn't you pay attention to the video my men have put up for you? The answer to why is because you have started war with the Capitol, and you must pay for your recklessness."

"That wasn't our fault!" I exclaimed, frantically gesturing to Iver and me. "We didn't defy you, so why do we need to pay for something we didn't do?"

President Snow glared at us. "You two, back to your rooms. You will not be eating tonight," he said coolly. I really didn't want to follow his orders. I so just wanted to yell at him all night, demanding him why he must kill my brother.

But I didn't.

I couldn't.

If I did, I would be arrested and killed because I disobeyed the oh-so mighty President. I stared at him. I know he will have children, and they will be presidents. They will all always be President Snow, because the Snow family will live on, and the boy children will rule over the future Districts, the future President Snows. This one is just one of many.

So I just stood up like a good girl and went to my room, Iver in tow.

This was the first night I went hungry, and I was not happy with anyone.

I hate life.