Thank you AcedemicGames for reviewing. I am thinking of updating every Saturday, for future reference. Anyway, enjoy the new chapter!


L. Mason

Johanna was shown to a room. It had a plush, red sofa so she sat on it. Stay strong or pretend to be weak? She wondered. Weak, because I'll be what they expect me to be, seeing as I'm from District 7.

The tribute grimaced with satisfaction. They won't be expecting me to kill when there are only a handful of tributes, stupid Capitol.

A peacekeeper led her mother and siblings through the entryway and into the room. They were all upset, but Victorianna's eyes were full of grief. I suppose they told her…

Mum rushed over to her and pressed something into her hand, a coin she thought. "Johanna, please, you have to win!"

"It's okay Mum, I will, I have a plan." Johanna reassured her.

"Good, look at the coin I gave you. It was made by your great grandfather, he was a mason. It got passed down all the way to me, and I want you to have it now." She explained.

She hugged her mother and, after thanking her, opened her palm.

It was delicately engraved with the District 7 seal, a stump a log and an axe. It was made of heavy, beautifully polished marble that gleamed slightly in the sunlight. In the corner the name Lin Mason was carved onto it. I suppose it must have been his name… "Thank you!" Johanna repeated as she placed it in her shoe.

"You're welcome, just make sure you win. Now you know where our last name comes from too." She added, trying to lighten the conversation.

She nodded and her siblings came up.

Ooris ruffled her hair. "Good luck Jonna." He murmured solemnly. 'Jonna' was his nickname for her when they had been younger.

Victorianna ran up to her, crying and sat on her lap. "Goodbye and good luck." She said between sobs.

Norihn stood with his eyes full of grief. "I'm sorry." He apologized numbly.

"Thank you." She answered and, turning to Norihn, she replied. "It's not your fault and there's nothing you could have done about it."

Before he could respond the peacekeepers pulled them out of the room. "Goodbye." She whispered to herself.

Her next visitor was a short girl with dirty blond hair and green eyes. Her name was Marcinna. Marcinna's unusual hair colour was so because she was from a wealthy merchant family.

"I really should have!" She burst out as the peacekeepers escorted her in.

"Should have what?" Johanna asked, confused.

"Volunteered for you, of course." She explained, as if it was obvious. "I mean, I was just so scared, but it's the kind of thing a friend would do for a friend, right?"

Oh, bubbly, innocent Marcinna. You wouldn't survive a day in the Hunger Games. Johanna thought, sighing mentally.

"It's fine," She told her, trying to appear confidant.

"Well, if you're sure. Good luck." She responded, still sounding slightly concerned, but let the guards take her away.

With a jolt Johanna remembered her idea of pretending to be weak. She turned away from the doorway and rubbed her eyes until they were red. As she turned back the peacekeepers advanced, one a woman, the other a man.

The two guided her to a jet black, sleek looking train. They opened the door for her and she entered reluctantly. They opened the door and she entered reluctantly. It closed behind her and she was left wondering what to do and where to go.

A tall woman with brown hair passed by, but stopped suddenly when she saw Johanna. "Oh, hello." The woman said, sounding surprised. "I'm Naiyin, your mentor." Naiyin stretched out her hand.

Johanna shook it warily, still cautious of this place and the people in it. She couldn't remember how this woman, her mentor, she supposed, had won.

"You're probably wondering how I won. You're too young to know." She replied, as though reading her thoughts.

The brown haired tribute nodded and her mentor explained. "I was good at throwing knives. I also knew which trees were strong enough to climb. I just picked people off in them. I wouldn't recommend it though. Allies are good until the last part of the games, of course. That's how Meek won."

"Did he betray them?" She asked with a slight frown.

"No." Naiyin answered. "It was an avalanche that killed his allies. A few others, too, like this crazy guy called Titus-"

"The guy who ate people." Johanna interrupted. "I remember those games because our district won and we got the food parcels."

She nodded, not seeming annoyed at the interruption. "Yeah, well Meek was guarding all their food in a cave, so he was safe when it came."

Johanna said nothing so Naiyin led her to her rooms. Rooms. Plural. "They're all for me?" She questioned incredulously.

"Yup, but you'll get used to them." She replied with a chuckle. "There is as much food as you want, just say the name into a mouthpiece. Any clothing you want, showers too. Enjoy." She left Johanna to wonder at the door to her rooms.

She peered around the door tentatively as she opened it. She entered and gasped in amazement. There were pushily cushioned couches, chairs and beds scattered everywhere, a shower too. Anything she could want.

Johanna dove for the shower, pulling of her clothes as she went, feeling dirty and out of place in her clean 'rooms' that were practically a house.

Selecting a random button, she pushed a blue one. It shot jets of cold water at her. She stifled a cry of shock and poked another, this time a green button. It shot nice, warm water at her. After experimenting with the shampoos and foam to her satisfaction she rinsed and dried herself. Well, this almost makes it worth being sent here to die. She thought grimly.

As she stepped out she went to the wardrobe, selecting a red shirt and skirt with white embroidery and pockets. She suddenly recalled the coin. Slipping it out of her shoe, Johanna turned it over in her palm, tracing the engraved axe with a finger.

A Capitol servant called her to dinner so she placed it in a pocket and hurried after him.


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-Oddity Fish