Hello again guys! I want to give a special thanks to FireyShadows for reviewing many times!The next chapter will offically start The 74th Hunger Games! This chapter is about the interviews and getting ready for the Games. I'm sorry it has taken so long to get to the Games! I just had to do all the other stuff! Anyway here is the fourth chapter! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games! All rights go to Suzanna Collins!
I woke up the next morning at around dawn. Fay better of not woke me up again! It's my day off! I thought. Then I opened my eyes.Oh right... I am a tribute for the Hunger Games. How could I forget? I thought sarcasticlly to myself as I got out of bed.
I got dressed and sat back down on my bed. I missed District 11 so much. I hate being away from my family. And Cable! I haven't even began to sort out my feelings about him. I knew I liked him alot, but love? I don't know about that. I might of said it, but I mean I'm only 12 years old. A lot of girls get married when they are only 13. said a small voice in the back of my head.
I couldn't think of a response ,because my prep team burst through my bedroom door. I jumped and let out a small scream. I saw all three of them rush over to me talking about what they were going to do to me to get me ready for my interview.
Oh right. The interviews where today... GREAT. After your score is presented, you are interview by a man named Cesear Flickerman. He was just plain creepy looking. He was nice though.
Yesterday we had a day off to perpare for the interviews. My angle was a sweet little girl that was worried about her family and friends. I practiced with Haven my manners and walking right. With Chaff I practiced answering questions. I was good at acting like a little innocent girl. On the inside though, I was as fierce as Johanna Mason. She was a girl a few years back that acted all scared and weak. When it got down to about the final ten, she turned out to be a killer. To put it nicely she killed everyone and won the Games.
I was lost in my memories while my prep team was buffing, polishing, and dehairing every part of my body. I was thinking about all the fun times I had with Cable.
I was thinking about the time me and Cable were little, about six or seven, and we climbed to the very top of the oldest oak tree in the District. We were in a compition with a bunch of other kids, seeing who was the best climber. Cable and I climbed the highest, but then we couldn't figure out how to get down. We sat there for a little while trying to find a way down. After a while I noticed a small maple tree branch not that for away. So, I stood up and ignored the shouts from below and jumped. I landed on the branch thankfully. That was how I learned how to jump from place to place. I also got the nickname 'mockingjay'. The nickname I got was because I could jump from tree to tree and that when I sung, the mockingjays stopped and listened.
"DONE!" my team said together jolting me out of my memories. "Let's go get Wester!"
Wester put me in a gossomer dress with glittering wings and put my hair in pigtails. He told me that I could go, but to not mess up my hair,dress, or make-up. With that I left him.
I went back to my room and found my star necklace on my bedside table. I had forgotten about it. I put it on. I looked beautiful. I really did look like a mockingjay.
I stood there and looked at myself in the mirror until Haven knocked on my door and told me that it was time to go. I walked to the elevator and saw Thresh, Seeder, and Chaff waiting for me and Haven.
"Well, don't you just look handsome." I told Thresh with a smile.
"I don't even begin to compare to your beauty, Miss. Stonehawk." Thresh said seriously.
We looked at each other and bursted out laughing. We laughed all the way down to the lobby. When we got there all the other tributes were there too. When all 24 tributes got into the lobbythe loaded us into limos. We rode to a big building and they made us dile onto stage by district.
Once we were all seated Ceaser Flickerman came out and made so jokes to warm up the crowd. Then he started with District one, big surprise there. He called the female first. The girl's angle was sexy. The people from two were both arrogant. The girl from five was sly, her name was Faith. The thought brough tears to my eyes. The male from ten was very quite and he was crippled.
Then it was my turn. I fluttered up to Ceaser and shook his hand. The crowd went awed over my wings.
"Well, Rue Stonehawk. How did you fell when they called out your name on Reaping Day?" Ceaser asked her.
"I was a little frightened. But I'm not anymore." I answered.
"Why aren't you frightened anymore?" Ceaser questioned.
"Well I figured out my strengths and realised a few things about myself. I'm not scared anymore."
"What will your strengths be in the arena?"
"I am very fast. If they can't catch me, they can't kill me." I said with a small smile remembering what Cable said to me.
"I see. Do you have any family back in eleven?"
"Yes, I do. I am the oldest of six children."
"Really that is a big family. Tell me about your brothers and sisters."
"Yeah, they can be a handful. Well, I have two brothers and three sisters. My brother's names are Keith and Levi, and my sister's names are Daisy, Faith, and Mary. They are all very specail to me, I love all of them more then they will ever know." This made the people clap and 'Awwwee'. I wished i could roll my eyes.
"Is there a special young man waiting for you back in eleven?"
I opened my mouth to answer, but the buzzer went off.
"That is all the time we have! Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Rue Stonehawk of District 11!" Ceaser told the crowd.
Thresh walked up to him after I was seated. Thresh looked really scary. He was dressed in all black with a blood red sat there with a scowl permently glued on his face. I knew once we got back to the hotel he would burst out laughing.
"Hello, Thresh Welsh from District 11." Cesear said without looking at his cards.
Thresh just nodded in return. He was suppose to talk as little as possible. Thresh was also suppose to try and answer with only yes and no. Ceaser asked many different questions and Thresh, his family, and the Capitol. No matter how hard Ceaser tried, he couldn't get Thresh to speak.
The buzzer went off and Thresh sat back down beside me. I watched in awe as Katniss walked toward Ceaser. Katniss shoke Ceaser's hand and they sat down. I loved her dress, she was the girl on fire.
Ceaser asked about Prim, her sister whom she volenteered for. Katniss had a sad look in her eye as she told Flickerman about Primrose Everdeen. Ceaser asked about boys, her mother, her father, the food, her clothes, and many more topics. To soon the buzzer went off.
Next Peeta was up. Ceaser and Peeta cracked a few jokes and took turns sniffing each other. Peeta's angle was clearly funny and likeable. It got very quite all of a sudden.
I couldn't catch the exact words, because the crowd was restless. It was something about Peeta being in love with Katniss.
WOW... What rotten luck. I looked over at Katniss. She was sitting there with a blank look in her eyes. This was not something she had expected evidently.
The crowd begged for a rule change. Katniss and Peeta were the new star-crossed lovers of district 12. Whatever! I could tell she didn't love him.
The buzzer went off and Peeta sat down. Ceaser stood up and said some meaningless stuff, then we were dismissed.
Me and Thresh went into the lobby of the building, and got into the first limo availible. Neither of us wanted to stick around and witness the sickening secne of the people from the Capitol looking at us. They looked at us like cows for slaughter.
If I live, I though, I will help end these games.
We went back to our hotel and ate an early dinner. The Games started tomorrow, we would need to get to bed early.
Chaff and Seeder sent us to our bedrooms around 8:30. Seeder said to try and rest, that we would need it.
I went to my bedroom and rumaged around in the desk until I found a piece of paper and a pencil. I was going to write a letter to my family, I was going to ask Seeder to give it to them.
Dear Mother and Father,
I love both of you very much. I will try and win, but now that I see what I'm up against... I'm not so sure I will make it out alive. I value every second I have left. I find myself reliving the best moments in my life, memories of laughter and fights. Remember that fight me and Cable got into last fall? It was over a stupid guy flirting with me. Mom, when he came to tell me good-bye before the Games he kissed me. Cable also told me he loved me. Mom I think I love him too. Now I will never get to have a life with him. Heck I don't even get to see him again.
I hope I die quickly in the games. Daisy would never forget it if she saw me die slowly. I'm not frightened about dieing anymore. I need to be thankful for the time I had with all of second that I am in the arena, I will be thinking about home. I will be thinking about all of you, the orchards, and even the creepy Peacekeepers.
I want you to know though, I WILL NOT die without a fight. I will fight with every once once of strenght I have to come back to you and the kids. Cable said that I have the upper hand in the arena. He said that I could climb, forge, deal with hunger, and use weapons. I just pray to god that the arena will be something I can live in.
Did you see my score on TV? Can you believe I pulled of and eight? I can't even believe I did it!
Mommy I love you and Daddy both. Oh, and I have my necklace with me. As long as I have it, good luck will find me.
I love you all so much that it aches every second I'm away. I love Levi, Fay, Daisy, Keith, and Mary all so much also. Tell Cable and Collin I love them too. Also tell Cable that I wish we could share one last kiss.
I love you.
Good-bye forever,
Rue.
I felt one tear slide down my cheeck. Now I'm crying. The night before the Games.
I found an envolpe and put my letter inside it. I sealed it tightly and left my room to find Seeder.
I heard Seeder before I found her. It sounded like Chaff and Seeder were arguing about something. I hid behind a vase and listened through the wall. They were in the dining room.
"It won't matter! She isn't going to last three days in the arena!" Chaff yelled. I let out a small gasp, he didn't think I would live. I knew I wouldn't, but still. Chaff was my mentor!
"You don't know that," Seeder meekly said. "People thought I was going to die in the bloodbath. I am standing her haven't this arguement with you, aren't I?"
"Well yes, but you were still bigger than Rue is!" Chaff yelled.
"Not by much, and I was only fourteen." Seeder replied.
"Rue still is going to die! My money is on the big bloke from one. Now he is what a victor should look like." Chaff said walking out into the hallway where I was hiding.
"My money would be on Rue! I bet you a thousand dollars she wins."Seeder stuck out her hand for Chaff to shake.
"Done. Easy money is what that is. Of course the only twelve year old is going to die first." Chaff walked past Rue and into his bedroom. It was only Seeder in the hallway now.
"Seeder?" Rue asked while coming out of hiding.
Seeder jumped. "Oh Rue! How long have you been there?" Seeder questioned with a worried look in her eyes.
I just shook my head. "Do you really think I could win?" I asked in a small voice.
"Sweetheart. I know your gonna win." Seeder said putting a hand pn my shoulder.
I smiled at her. "Will you mail this to my parents? You know, in case I don't win."
"Of course. Now, get some sleep. Ypu will need it trust me." Seeder pushed my lightly towards my bedroom door.
"Okay, night Seeder." I told her going into my room.
"Goodnight Rue." I heard Seeder say as the door shut behind me.
I woke up the next morning at around four-thirty. I had terrible nightmares about previous games and the horrid ways I could die.
I got up and pulled on fresh clothes. Soon after I was dressed I heard footsteps in the hallway. I walked to the door and opened it. I looked at Chaff and he looked back.
We stood like this for a little bit until Haven said, "Oh good your up!"
Haven grabbed my arm and pulled me to the dining room. I ate a little while she talked to me. I saw Thresh walk in. He sat beside me with a plate of food.
"Hey." I said gently elbowing him in the side.
"Hey." Thresh said back with a sad look in his eyes. Why was everyone looking at me like that? Then it hit me. They were looking at me as if it was the last time they would see me. Everyone though I was going to die quickly and easily.
"How are you doing?" I asked Thresh avoiding his eyes.
"As good as I can be." Thresh replied queitly.
They quickly finished eating. Neither of them had much of an appitie.
"Come on." Seeder said moitioning for me to follow her. I started walking with her. I we were headed to the roof for the hovercraft takeoff.
"I guess this is goodbye?" I asked her.
"No, I'm coming along to ride with you." Seeder told me while leading my onto the craft.
I smiled. I was at least going to have somebody to talk to. "Don't forget to send off my letter." I said to Seeder, I sat down beside her.
"I won't." she replied putting an arm around my shoulders.
We rode for a while in silence, then all of a sudden the windows went black.
"Seeder?" I asked with a shakey voice.
"It's okay Rue. They have to do that so you won't know what the arena looks like."
I was getting closer and closer to my death.
We stopped and was lowered down into the Launch Room. It was were my stylist and mentor got me ready for takeoff. I would never be truely ready though.
Seeder helped me dress in my uniform. The uniform had simple, tawny trousers, light green shirt, sturdy brown belt, and a thin hooded black jacket that fell down to the thighs. The outfit included boots, which were worn over skin-tight socks.
All to soon, a voice told me to stand on a medal plate that would take me up to the arena. I did as I was told. A glass tube was placed over me once I got on the plate.
I said a silent prayer in my head as I started moving slowly upwords. Oh god, PLEASE let the odds be in my favor.
I closed my eyes so they would adjust to the light quicker. Here we go... I thought as I saw sunlight coming into the top of my tube.
Oh cliffhanger! I won't be able to updat this weekend. It's my birthday sunday and tomorrow I'm having friends over!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! IT WOULD BE THE BESTEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER!
