SETTING: Begining of History

[Mayor Cox]

One Month before Current Time.

It had been a bright day that afternoon when the entire population that was not cooped up in the deep graphite mines was forced into the rather small Town Square. Mayor Cox had never noticed how small the square had been until everyone had been forced into it. She had never called a mandatory meeting before; she was fine with sending out letters or broadcasting messages over the televisions. However, a mandatory district meeting was to be help by order of The Capitol.

Mayor Cox stood at the steps of The Justice Building, facing out towards the crowd. Her light grey hair had been brushed to neatly fall around her face and she had pulled out her expensive jewelry just for the occasion. She stood, hands laced in front of her chest as she peered out into the crowd of her citizens. She had always loved her district and her country with everything she had. She had never been nervous about speaking out in front of her people before.

But she was nervous now.

She was nervous for her district. The many changes of her country did not go unnoticed from the kind green eyes of the old woman. She had noticed the food shortages and the rise in cost of medication and now with this message from The Capitol she was not sure how to fell.

However, she stood strong for her people.

As she heard the sound of the door of the Justice Building creek open she turned and watched the worst thing that ever happened to her district step out onto the stage.

[Officer Regulus Avenbrook]

Officer Regulus Avenbrook stepped out from the cool compartment that he had been placed in inside the walls of the Justice Building out into the hot summer sun that radiated down on District 13. He took his first few steps away from the doors as he scanned the crowd. His hands were tightly folded behind his back as he stood to his full height. You did not have to be standing next to the man to know that he easily towered over anyone in his vicinity. Over his eyes was a pair of dark tinted glasses, hiding half his face from view. His hair was ink black and slicked down onto his head. His mustache was neatly shaven, and the same strange black as his hair.

The middle aged man did not smile at the warm welcome that Mayor Cox greeted him with, nor did he accept her handshake. He merely stood upright, making his way slowly towards the crowd. His face scowled as he watched the citizens slightly back away as he moved forward.

Disgusting, he thought.

Taking a deep breath before opening his mouth to speak, Officer Avenbrook straightened himself even more upright. “My name is Officer Avenbrook.” His voice boomed across the square and throughout the streets of the rest of the district. “And I shall be addressed as such.” He took a few more steps forward before continuing. “I have been sent from The Capitol to keep you safe.”

[Mayor Cox]

A sweet smile stretched across Mayor Cox’s face as the man came into view. She was slightly taken aback by his extremely large frame and obviously dyed hair. The old woman would never understand the fascination the citizens of The Capitol had with odd hair colors and tattoos. If they kept up at the rate they were going, they would not even look human in a couple of years!

However, Mayor Cox was not one to judge.

Holding out her hand in the direction of the officer she started to speak in her rather tiny voice, her mike had also been hooked up to the loudspeaker system. “Welcome to District 13! My name…” She was stopped short as the tall stranger completely ignored her presence.

The old woman’s mouth fell open as she watched the Officer pass her and move towards the crowd. For some reason, the feeling that she wanted to toss herself in front of them in protection took over her mind. However, her feet would not move from their current placement. She knew that this man was sent from The Capitol for a reason, and she did not want to stop him.

She watched him speak, and listened very closely to his words. Herself, as the mayor was not even informed of the meaning of his visit. “Ohh.” Her voice sounded once again through the speaker systems. It had a nice pleasant ring to it to counter the harshness of the male that she shared the stage with.

“Well, we thank you very…” Mayor Cox stopped speaking. Looking down at her shirt, she tapped slightly on her microphone. Someone had turned her off. Her eyes slightly drifted upwards, watching the back of the man as he focused on her citizens. She was not sure what to think, but the only thing that she could do at this point was keep quiet.

[Officer Regulus Avenbrook]

Officer Avenbrook was not phased when he heard the sound of the Mayor speak. He did not even faultier to allow her the time and knew that the noise would be taken care of. With his arms still resting behind his back, he continued on. “The Capitol would like to inform you that new rules have been put in place throughout the country, effective immediately.” He paused for a moment, to let the news sink into the crowd and the hushed whispers being passed between them fall silence as he cleared his throat and continued.

“First. Any movement between districts will be strictly moderated. If you wish to leave the boundaries of District 13, you must buy a passport from the Justice Building at the price of one days wages.”

He did not pay much mind to the confusion and sound of whispers moving through the crowd at this point. He did not pause to let them finish, he only continued on speaking.

“Second. For your own protection, there will be a curfew put in place on all the districts. One hour after sundown every citizen is required to be in their homes and remain there until sunrise.”

As the whispers started to raise in volume, Officer Avenbrooks eyes slightly narrowed. On either side of his person two soldiers appeared, clad in thick white uniforms equipped with long, black rifles that they held against their bodies. The crowd instantly silenced.

“Third. The Capitol, thinking only of the safety of the districts of Panem building a police force so that you too could serve your country. The Peacekeepers are an elite group of soldiers that’s only job is to make your lives safer. Any able bodied person may sign up on the steps of the Justice Building starting at sunrise tomorrow. You shall be compensated greatly for your service.”

“And now.” He paused, staring down into mass of citizens of District 13 to watch their emotions flash easily over their faces. “You are being warned. There will be no tolerance for any violation of the rules. They have been put in place by The Capitol for your own safety. Violators shall be made public examples and punished in the manor that I see fit. The Capitol is here to help you. All hail Panem!”

Officer Cox’s voice boomed over the speakers as the citizens answered to his cry with a matching statement. He did not stay positioned for a moment longer. Turning briskly on his heels the frightful man disappeared into the bowls of the Justice Building, leaving the Citizens of District 13 to gawk at his disappearing form.