In a distant future, long after the wars and devastation, a nation known as Panem emerged. This divided land stood as a relentless reminder of the corrupt power and cruelty that once dominated the world. Panem consisted of a lavish Capitol surrounded by the torn districts that suffered under its rule.
In the dark days of Panem, the Capitol imposed a sadistic and twisted form of entertainment known as the Hunger Games. Every year, the remaining twelve districts were forced to send two young people, a boy and a girl, known as tributes, to compete in a battle to the death in an elaborate arena. The objective was to remind the districts of their subjugation and punish any attempts at rebellion.
Jacob was transported to one of the poorest and most desperate districts, District 12, located in the region once known as Appalachia. Here is where we meet Jacob, a seventeen-year-old boy trapped in this bleak and ruthless world.
The sun rises, casting a dim light on the dilapidated streets of District 12. Jacob wakes up from a nightmare, his body covered in sweat and his heart pounding. The image of the Hunger Games still fresh in his mind, reminding him of the fate that awaits him if he is chosen as a tribute in this year's reaping. Since he woke up in this world, there was no possibility other than to work and, if he had any strength left, train with daggers or wooden sticks, trying to somehow become better than the day before.
...
The smell of dampness and despair seeps through the cracks of the ruined homes. Jacob rises from his narrow mattress and looks out the window in the same way every day. His eyes meet a very familiar but gloomy landscape, with empty streets and whispers of fear and resignation among the district's inhabitants. The cruelty of the Capitol is reflected in every weary face and every whisper of hopelessness. Jacob, more than anyone else, has been experiencing this world for almost a year, right after last year's reaping.
Poverty is suffocating, and all the concerns of his life in the world he came from have faded away as the days passed. Hunger is a constant companion for many in District 12. The Capitol meticulously controls the resources, ensuring that the districts are always at a disadvantage and depend on their generosity to survive. The daily hardships are overwhelming, and the fear of being chosen as a tribute in the Hunger Games hangs like a sword over their heads.
After getting dressed, Jacob steps out of his dilapidated house, blending in with the crowd as if he were just another boy heading to the coal mines. The tired and anguished faces of his fellow district members constantly remind him of the tragedy and brutality they face every day at work. But Jacob's eyes reflect tenacity and an unwavering will. This world is one of the lowest he could travel to as the new owner of the orb, so without having the chance to choose, he began to adapt to this world and evidently prepared to leave it and return to his own world.
During this time, he had discovered firsthand the cruelty in which people live in this world. Jacob had been so busy that he hadn't even had the chance to explore the district, which consequently made it impossible for him to establish a friendly connection with Katniss, the heroine of this world and the one who would be the guiding light for the oppressed districts towards liberation. But all of the above didn't matter to Jacob, as he was about to participate in the Hunger Games in an irreversible way, which most likely meant he would have to kill all the other participants.
At the same time, Jacob became increasingly enraged by how the Capitol treats them as pawns in their macabre game, reminding them that their lives have no value, that they are only numbers in an oppressive system.
"I'm going to win those damn games no matter what..." Jacob's determination was irreversible since one of the primary requirements to return to his world and not die here was to participate in the Hunger Games. But the process was the bad part, as he needed food, and the only way to obtain it was by working.
As the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, Jacob arrives at the coal mine. Black dust covers his clothes, and his lungs struggle to breathe in that hostile environment. The lashes of the overseers and the growls of the machinery create a discordant symphony of suffering and oppression. But Jacob, who had his goals fixed, also used this kind of environment to train, which benefited him greatly.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Jacob joins the other workers, the sweat of everyone dripping from their foreheads, their bodies tired but with no choice but to keep moving forward.
The air becomes thicker as they descend deeper into the bowels of the earth. The narrow and dark corridors are dimly lit by the lamps hanging from the ceiling, casting dancing shadows on the walls. The echo of footsteps resonating in the distance seems like a constant warning of the dangers that lurk in this underground world.
The faces of the miners are marked by hardness and resignation. The empty and hopeless gazes reveal lives snatched away by the Capitol and the deadly games it organizes. Every day in the mine is a constant reminder of the cruelty and injustice that rule their lives.
Jacob moves forward alongside his co-worker, Tomás, an older man with scars on his hands and soul. They exchange a few words, but their silent complicity is understood. Both have lost loved ones in the games, and they know they could be the next ones dragged into the arena to fight for their lives.
In the dark corners of the mine, whispers of resistance can be heard. Muffled voices speaking of hope and a better future. Despite the fear and oppression, some dare to dream of the possibility of an uprising against the Capitol. But those hopes are fragile and dangerous, like a flame that could be extinguished at any moment.
The sun begins to fade on the horizon as Jacob finally emerges from the mine, his body exhausted but his determination intact. He returns home in silence, but his mind is filled with thoughts of rebellion and resistance. He knows that something must change, even if he can't complete the rest of the missions, at least he wouldn't live in this kind of hell no matter what happens later.
In his room, Jacob lies down on his worn-out bed, but sleep doesn't come easily. Images of the Hunger Games, of tributes fighting desperately to survive, invade his mind. He dreams of a liberated Panem, where the districts unite in a powerful revolt, where the Capitol is overthrown, and the Hunger Games are just a dark memory.
Sweat soaks his forehead as he tosses and turns in bed, battling his nightmares. Finally, his eyes snap open, his breathing ragged. Jacob sits up immediately, his heart pounding in his chest. He knows that his dreams of change are dangerous; he would have to kill again, and that wouldn't exclude just one person.
Dawn brings a new day in Panem, a day filled with challenges and dangers. But Jacob is determined not to surrender to the oppression of the Capitol. He gets up from his bed with determination, his gaze fixed on a future where he can at least return home by completing the orb's objectives and hopefully reclaim his life, which wasn't so perfect when he remembers the state in which he traveled to this world.
Like a repetitive new day, Jacob dresses again in his worn-out yet dignified clothes, ready to face whatever this day has in store for him. As he walks through the streets of District 12, he crosses familiar faces and looks laden with despair. But he also sees sparks of resistance in some eyes, a spark that he is determined to fuel.
But if he was doing something else besides training, working, and devising how he would win the Hunger Games in the future, it would be his secret meetings with other people.
For months, Jacob has joined a small clandestine group of rebels who gather in secrecy, sharing ideas, information, and plans to undermine the power of the Capitol. He knows that every whispered word, every action taken in the shadows, is a small step towards the liberation of his life, but also a dagger that becomes sharper around his neck.
Life in District 12 is a constant struggle for survival. Hunger lurks around every corner, and inequality is palpable. But Jacob will not settle for mere existence. He dreams of a Panem where all districts are treated with justice and equity, where no one has to offer their children as tributes in the Hunger Games—it was the dream of every man and woman.
As the sun rises in the sky, Jacob and his fellow resistance members immerse themselves in their clandestine activities. They plan acts of sabotage, spread information among the districts, and encourage others to join the cause. They know that the path to freedom is arduous and dangerous, but they are willing to risk everything for a better future, and they only have to wait for the right moment to act.
Every night, Jacob returns home exhausted but filled with determination. His progress in this world has not been few, as one of the missions mentioned that he had to lead the resistance and overthrow the oppressive power of Panem. However, Jacob is not very optimistic about it, as he knows that anything can happen in this long time that still awaits him.
The cruelty of the Capitol has spread like a plague throughout Panem, but Jacob has become even more familiar with the resistance and how they have been preparing for years to deliver a hard blow to Panem.
In the darkness of the night, Jacob closes his eyes and promises himself that he will not rest until his life in this place improves or at least starts on a good path according to his meticulously detailed plans. Jacob has developed two plans during this time, and it only depends on the future to decide which one to take.