[ WP ] Once a year an event occurs , Hangman . A random human gets chosen to be hanged , survival is only possible if the word is guessed right by someone ..

`` You know what this is'', the Hangman whispered, through a grin of rotten teeth. 
 
 I took the last few steps up the gallows and stuck my head inside the opening on the rope. It rested around my 
 neck like a collar. 
 
 `` What?'' 
 
 `` This... All this'', he repeated, as all the people around me cheered. 
 
 `` What are you talking about?'' 
 
 `` THE GAME IS ABOUT TO BEGIN'', cried the Director, from his golden chair on the top of the hill, and the 
 crowd erupted. 
 
 I had to guess the words, or I'd die. 
 
 It had always been like this. Once a year, every year. 
 
 `` Grown ups gathering around to watch children die?'' The hangman whispered, straightening my clothes and 
 tightening the rope for me. 
 
 `` I'm not a child'', I said. 
 
 `` Kid, that's not the point. Either you guess this right, or you die. I'm trying to help you.'' 
 
 `` LET THE HANGMAN GAME BEGIN!'' The director cried, and, once again, the crowd erupted. 
 
 In front of me, by the side of the hill, a giant screen flashed alive. 
 
 
 
 _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ 
 
 
 
 `` GUESS THE FIRST LETTER, SOLDIER'' The Director demanded, and all the eyes turned to me. 
 
 `` Come on kid... An authoritarian society?'' The Hangman whispered, in an urge. He seemed to genuinely want to help, for some reason. 
 
 `` I do n't know.... A?'' I tried. 
 
 There was a moment of silence, then, a single letter flashed onscreen. 
 
 
 
 _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ A _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ 
 
 
 
 The crowd cheered. 
 
 `` Kid, think. A bunch of grown ups being OK with the thought of murdering kids? A dystopian government? Does that sound familiar?'' 
 
 `` I do n't know what you are talking about'', I said, feeling the tightness of the rope around my neck. 
 
 `` GUESS AGAIN!'' 
 
 `` B!'' 
 
 A moment of silence. Then a siren sounded, announcing I got the letter wrong, and the rope rose half a feet, 
 tightening around my neck and making me tiptoe in order to keep my breath. 
 
 `` Kid, do n't be stupid! What is this? What is this around us? That's the answer.'' 
 
 `` What? What answer?'' 
 
 `` GUESS AGAIN!'' 
 
 `` The answer is what this is! Come on, kid. You know this. You got it!'' 
 
 `` I do n't! I do n't know!'' 
 
 `` A special kid, being taken to fight in a ridiculously unreal event that no civilized society would ever allow the 
 existence of, then becoming the leader of a revolution against a dystopian government... Come on, man, you are one Jennifer Lawrence away from going full... Shit, I've said too much, already.'' 
 
 `` Oh crap!'' I screamed, in a burst of clarity. `` I got it! I got it! E!'' 
 
 The screen flashed again. 
 
 
 
 _ _ _ _ E _ - _ A _ E _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ 
 
 
 
 `` H!'' 
 
 H _ _ _ E _ - _ A _ E _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ 
 
 
 
 `` U!'' 
 
 
 
 H U _ _ E _ - _ A _ E _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ 
 
 
 
 `` MAKE A GUESS, SOLDIER!'' 
 
 I looked around, proud of myself. The crowd waited in silent expectation. 
 
 I whispered my guess, and heard my voice amplified by the sound system, echoing all around. 
 
 A moment of silence. Then, in a sudden movement, the whole crowd erupted at once. 
 
 Music and little pieces of cellophane paper raining all around. 
 
 I won. 
 
 `` GET HIM OFF THE GALLOWS!'' 
 
 They took me down and guided me through the cheering crowd. There was going to be a banquet now, if I was not mistaken. 
 
 Later, I'd probably have to bring down the government, or whatever. It does n't matter. The important think, I 
 thought, as I turned back to look at the crowd, is that I figured out what this was. 
 
 My eyes climbed to the screen on the hill, where my answer still shined high. 
 
 I got this right. 
 
 I knew where I was, now. 
 
 
 
 HUNGER - GAMES - RIPOFF 
 
 ___________________________ 
 
 *Hey, people have asked me for a subreddit for a while now, so I made one. Check out my stories at /r/psycho_alpaca. Thanks for reading = ) * 
 

