"A forest in the fall," Wiress commented, "this could be to the boy's advantage."
"60, 59, 58…." The crowd counted down.
"Do you really think he is ready for this," Beetee asked.
"We'll know in three minutes. That's all I it will take for at least me to know," Wiress replied as she stared into the screens that displayed all the tributes perched on their platforms. The room was filled with the tributes' mentors, past victors and sponsors. They all watched intently as the final seconds counted down to the start of the games.
"50, 49, 48…"
"I'm more worried about the girl. She could be a liability if she meets up with him." Beetee injected.
"Hell with her," Joe answered with a slight slur in his voice. He had started to drink the minute the tributes left district three's floor in the training center for the hovercraft. "She's a goner."
"I already took care of it," Wiress snapped back in reply.
"Always thinking ahead. That's what we do in district three, think way too much. Can't seem to think up a victor though, can we?" Joe's temper was already showing and the drink was making in worse.
"30, 29, 28, 27…"
"He's ready strategy wise. No doubt, "Wiress answered.
"he knows what we taught him," Beetee finish her sentence. "Yes, he knows all the scenarios, but can he fight? Can he really kill? Can he do what is truly necessary?"
"15, 14, 13, 12…"
"Oh, he'll kill. After how you motivated him, he's ready for that. I should know. You two poured a lot of gas on that fire," Joe remarked as he pointed at both Wiress and Beetee then finish his drink.
"9, 8, 7…"
"Let's just hope that fire burns them all," Wiress smiled as she looked back to the screen. "Three minutes, that's all I need."
"5, 4, 3…"
"He's to hoping," Joe raised a new full glass in a toast as the other two looked into the screens at their best hope in years for a victor.
"2, 1…" and the tributes of the 54th Hunger Games raced off their platforms.