Written by Pineapple Girl 1997

The careers, just children playing soldiers, I want to kill her in my own way, blood on meadows, fighting spirit

5…

Clove stands on the podium ready to leap as soon as the clock stops ticking. It counts so slowly and Clove tries to imagine what it would be like to not be career, to not at least have that comfort of an alliance. Although temporary and one where everyone hates the other they still needed each other, and her skills were essential. What if Clove was from District 12 or 9 or 11 or any of the none career districts, if she wasn't anything special. She was just Clove, a confused girl with a lot of anger, but with no knifes. That clock would be ticking down to her death. But then she stops because she's a career, and she shouldn't feel empathy. Clove has been brought up like a soldier, to kill and not care. Everyone else was a blank face like hers, they had no identity, and she had to think of them just like the animals at home. They were no different just as dumb and defenceless. Nothing to feel guilty over.

4…

Cato stares at Katniss. But he isn't thinking oh she's so pretty. He's not sighing over the looks she's sending Peeta. He's not thinking of her on fire in the starry lit sky. Cato is glaring and he's planning how to kill her in his own way. How painfully she'll die and how loud her screams will be. And how when he laughs and the Capitol see how brutal he really is they will send him everything he needs. He'll bring home the pride and money he craves. A thought of clove's parents come to mind, the looks they'd given him once he'd volunteered, the fathers pleading ,the mother had tears falling from her eyes. But it wasn't like they made him promise to do anything, he'd never wrote anything down , he owed them nothing and he had no reason to keep Clove safe. Another image flashes to mind before Cato could stop it, they were stricken with grief as their daughter came home in a coffin. They weren't like his parents; they actually cared about their daughter, although Clove had told him she found this annoying. How could she throw that away? He thought, it made his almost… jealous. But he didn't think like that, he was a career. He'd give the parents part of the money once he had won he decides. Nothing to feel guilty over.

3…

He runs a hand though his curly hair and sighs, thinking of the dark skinned girl who was so very beautiful. It wasn't like he had a crush on her or anything. No careers couldn't do that. It was just she had that soft hair, and could make those whistles and the whole world would fade away and everything was fine, more than fine. It was covered in sugar and honey and silk, and then there were her eyes... No. He's been trained by the famous Finnick Odair, for this moment and one silly girl was not to him down. Finnick had warned him right off not to get emotionally attached. Treat them with courtesy but nothing more, he should know right? He'd won the games and now had more admirers than any other man in Panem. So Curly allows himself the luxury of the thought of winning, he would be like Finnick; only better. And when he got back Finnick would ruffle his hair and tell him he did a good job, and District four would all love him, and he could ask out that girl in his class and she would say yes… but she wouldn't be Rue he thought with a jolt. She wouldn't be the small bird who flew above the world and sat with him in the nets above the training centre. She'd be dead in the bloody meadows. But then again. Nothing to feel guilty over.

2…

Glimmer glared across at her competition, a hand on her hip and she made sure to place and arrogant smile on her face. For the cameras and to scare the other tributes, but most of it comes naturally. She snorts at the fear that omits from most of the tributes; you'd think that one year they might all bother to train for the games. Or be pretty to gain sponsors like her, gain some charisma she thinks with a roll of her eyes. She was a fighter even if she couldn't throw a knife like Clove or strangle a man like Cato. But she was beautiful and she was cunning. Marvel was already entrapped in her web, helpless to get out; he'd do anything she wanted. Glimmer was certain he presumed her a bit of an idiot like the rest of the careers; they only took her on because she knows how to charm and bring people under her spell and she was from District 1 after all. Only that Clove bitch didn't like her, but that didn't matter. She volunteered for this, to kill others by her own choice. Nothing to feel guilty over.

1…

He's proud and he's arrogant and he's from District 1. But he's worried and he's not exactly sure why. Maybe its Cloves fixation of knives or its Cato's strength or that curly haired boys agility or even Glimmers eyes. But it makes no sense, he's strong and he doesn't care and knows he can win or he wouldn't have volunteered. Right? So why does he feel like he's going to die, that it wasn't worth coming to the capitol to win and spend some time with the gorgeous Glimmer. Why should he even be nervous of Glimmer, she was sweet but dumb, but sometimes he was sure when he turned his back that her eyes were glaring, he could feel it. But she couldn't be two faced, she was just too stupid. She's everything the capitol wants she'd have tons of sponsors. So would he, he should have them but more are going to Cato and Clove and he may be the best in District 1 but they are the best in District 2. And somehow it's better than 1. Which was why he had to make sure to kill them when he could, when their backs were turned because he, Marvel, had to be the best, and that was it. Nothing to feel guilty over.

It's was time…

They're fighting each other but it's not a proper war because they're not soldiers. Their just little like children who went into their parents closets and tried on their fathers suit or mothers make up, it doesn't look quite right but they so want it to. Their pretending to bigger than they are so they scare each other, but really they're all frightened and they're all guilty. Their just children playing as soldiers.

Review please! And come back tomorrow for Iridescent Bookworm's fabulous story!