Downward Spirals (Puppy)

I sigh inwardly as I walk around the candy store, searching for a gift for one of my friends. Their birthday is only two days from now, and if you can't think of something special for a friend, candy is always a great fallback. I pick my way through the store, having already bought a small stick of licorice for myself, I munch on it as I scan the aisles for anything sour, just like my friend likes.

I take a look out of the window, I can see it begin to drizzle in the dreary district four town center. Now that the hunger games are over, it's not bustling with activity as people scampered around to watch it on the huge projector the peacekeepers set up in front of the justice building every year. There are some white clad peacekeepers out there now, standing to attention outside the justice building. Maybe afterwards I would go talk to them, hearing about the capitol was always so interesting. Someday, I hope that I can become a victor and travel to the capitol and experience all of its delights. Maybe I would get a tattoo, or a crazy green hair cut just like the escort from this district.

Next year maybe it would happen. I could have my name called. I could go meet the legendary Leon Krigel with all of his dashing looks. I could kill without fear of retribution, just like in the career center, but not with plastic figurines. I can already feel the heavy golden crown being placed on my head by President Snow before I stand up to shake his hand, but that's all in the future.

I hear a little jingle to signify the door being opened, and then shut as somebody else walks into the store to accompany me within it's walls. A moment later, I hear an odd noise... like someone tripping... then the word "Whoops..." resounding through the air. I look over my shoulder in that direction, before I let out a small shriek of terror.

My body rockets to the side, my training-honed reflexes pushing me quickly out of the way of the falling shelf. I can hear another scream from the back of the store where the cashier had been sitting. I know that the store owner isn't going to be happy about this.

I tilt my body towards the oaf who almost killed me, glowering daggers at him.

"What... were you thinking?" I hiss, my voice full of suppressed rage, "You could have killed me!"