Before I start, I'd like to thank FireFrostFlare for helping me overcome some writers block and helping out with the interview, thank littlemisskigirl for helping with editing, and thank both of them for listening to my rants and being supportive.

Chapter 9: Interviews

When I wake up, I am still content from my success at the private sessions last night. I lie in bed for a few minutes before I hear a knock on my door. "Audrey?" I hear Lana's voice, "You awake?"

"Yeah," I mutter tiredly, "Getting up." I drag myself out of bed and stumble into the bathroom, spinning dials and flipping switches to get the water running. I take extra long washing up, looking in the mirror, watching if I can see a victor. But when I look into my warm amber eyes, I can't see a killer. I just see a girl. A girl who has lost her only brother, and missed him so much she didn't even see what she got herself into. But now, I can see what I put myself in. I got myself into the 57th Hunger Games, where I will be expected to kill innocent children. What am I doing here?

I mentally hit myself. What am I thinking? I'm from District 2. And for me, the Hunger Games is just that. A game. I turn to leave for breakfast, but I can't forget that girl I saw in the mirror. The one who doesn't want to be a killer, who doesn't want to take another innocent life.

At breakfast, we go over the plans for the interviews tonight. Kyson is playing it like most of the boys from my district. Cocky, arrogant, and overconfidence. It always works. Lana is giving me a similar angle, but not so over the top. She says I'm going to be confident, but also charming and relatable. She thinks that it will get me more sponsors, because while people might not vote for me because I'm young, people will like me if they can relate to me more.

After we finish eating, Lana brings me into a spare room to practice. I've never seen it before, but it is still just as luxurious as everything else. I settle into a purple velvet chair that sinks at least a foot when I sit down.

"Now," Lana says, "You're going to be cocky, but you also have to be sweet. Never say a thing bad about the Capital, but you can make jokes at the other tributes expenses if you like."

I consider that, but I can't really see it. I was never one to make fun of the other districts, even at home.

"Okay," she continues, seeing my reaction, "If Caesar asks why you volunteered so young, you give him the first answer you gave me. 'Why wait?' And then smile brightly at the audience. Never let anyone think you're doubting yourself, even for a second. And always smile. Some of the boys can pull off being flat out hostile, but that's not going to work for you."

I nod. I'm too young to just be hostile. People have to actually like me, because most of them know I don't have the best chance of winning.

For a while, we just go over some scenarios, and Lana lets me go back to my room. I lie on my bed, rolling my bracelet up and down my wrist. Since my parents gave it to me on Reaping day, I haven't taken it off. Nor do I plan to, at least not until I get back to District 2. If I get back.

I mentally slap myself again. Where did this talk of if I get home come from? I would be shunned from my district if anyone knew. For most of us, there's never been another way. Like Elsie, ever since her brother Garrett won when we were seven, she's been set on becoming a victor too. I remember what she told me when Riley went off to the Capital last year. She had said, "When Riley comes home, it'll be like you don't exist. Everyone loves victors." That was back when everyone was sure Riley would win. I didn't think much of what she told me. Everyone liked Riley anyways, so I was still in the shadows. It was different for her. Before Garrett won, both of them were almost famous. Elsie was best in our year, and Garrett was the best in his. But after he became a victor, everyone forgot about Elsie. He's twenty-four now, but no one's forgotten him. And Elsie is still as invisible as ever. I think that's why she wants to win so bad. To prove that she can still fight too.

Time goes faster when I think of my home, and soon, my prep team is bursting into my room. "Time to make you look pretty for the interview!" Drevon squeals, and I resist the urge to crush my hands over my ears. I had absolutely no idea that a grown man could reach that pitch. The Capital people never cease to amaze me.

This time they don't take me to the remake center, they just drag me into my bathroom, pulling along a huge bag of things to use on me. Lovely.

After my hair is washed, conditioned and dried, Rayella starts combing through it and parting it into who knows how many sections. Kazia has removed my sparkling gold nail polish from the chariot costume and is coating my nails with a light shimmery gold polish that glints in almost no light. As I watch, she takes a darker shade of gold and makes miniature stars. All the while, Drevon is working on my makeup. I don't even try to keep track of how many layers he has put onto my face. He coats my lips with something glistening and light pink and I keep feeling the urge to lick it off. He surrounds my eyes with something or other and takes so long with my cheeks that I get bored and start looking aimlessly around the room.

When they finish, they help me into my dress, dark green with one strap and ending halfway down my thighs. My hair is half up and half down. The front parts are pulled back and braided across the back of my head and the other half cascades down my back. I raise my eyebrows. I can't say that it isn't good, but it's definitely not my style. I was never a huge fan of dresses, and the makeup just annoys me. But if the Capital people like it, then that's what matters. My life is in their hands.

Texia comes in, touches up some things, and tells me to go find my mentor.

I walk through the halls until I find Lana, who is in the sitting room with Lance and Kyson. Kyson's wearing a grey tuxedo with a royal blue tie and I scowl thinking about how it probably took the prep team only five minutes to get him ready.

Lana looks up as I walk in, "You ready?"

I nod and we all walk to the elevator. Just as I'm about to step in, Rayella seems to appear out of nowhere and steps in front of me. I jump back, shocked, and she holds out a pair of flats that match my dress. "You forgot these," she tells me in her usual dreamy voice.

I say thanks and sidestep her to get into the elevator. Kyson's smirking at me, and I don't even have anything to say because she really is just that creepy.

When we get down to the right floor, Lana tells us where to go and she and Lance go to sit with the other mentors. Kyson and I follow her directions and end up backstage with the other tributes. I take my place behind Caspian and look around.

Platinum is wearing a silver floor length dress that sparkles when the light hits it. Astrid is in a light turquoise dress that you can't help comparing to flowing water. All of the boys are in tuxedoes and the girls are in various coloured dresses. I see a small blonde girl in a baby pink frilly dress. All I can think of is a doll. She's about as small as one too.

Caesar comes out to greet the audience and we all take our places. First, he calls up Platinum, who skips over to her chair and begins talking lightly about how pretty the Capital is. When Caesar asks her if she's ready for the Games, she rolls her eyes and says, "Obviously. If I wasn't, then I wouldn't be here," then happily again, "And I am so excited." She looks to the audience. "Isn't this Hunger Games going to be amazing?"

The crowd shouts and applauds, and soon Caspian takes her place up in the interview chair. His interview is pretty much standard. He talks about how he's waited his whole life for this, and can't wait to get into the arena. All I can think about is that a few minutes, I'll be live in front of the entire country. Caspian's buzzer goes off and I dig my nails into my palms.

"From District 2," Caesar says to the viewers, "Here's Audrey Walker!"

I get up, plaster a smile on my face, and walk lightly over to the interview chair, waving to the audience as I go.

"So Audrey," Caesar says as I sit down, "How are you feeling about this year's Games?"

"I'm excited!" I say without hesitation. I'd practiced this question, "It'll be so fun. I can't wait to get in there." It's not at all what I'm thinking, but it's what the Capital wants to hear.

"You sound confident," he chuckles, "Though you're awfully young. Why'd you volunteer so early?"

Excellent. I'd prepared for this one too. I turn to the crowd and smile, half raising my eyebrows. "Why wait?"

Some of the audience laughs, and I'm relieved to see that no one here doubts me. And why would they? There's tons of kids in my district that would want to be in the arena in an hour if they could. Why couldn't I be one of them.

Caesar smiles encouragingly and nods. "Now something else," he says, "At the reaping, I believe you said that you were the sister of last year's tribute? Riley Walker?"

"Yes," I say, politely confused of the outside, but in full scale panic mode on the inside. Lana hadn't prepared me for this one. How had we forgotten about this?

I'm sure Caesar can feel the tension rolling in waves out from my body, but the Capital audience is luckily too dim to notice the immediate effect of his question. "Well it's just that your brother volunteered last year, and here you are now. I was just wondering if it was a coincidence."

The inside of my mind is scattered from a war between all out lying and sounding believable. I look up, and I think I see Lana give an almost imperceptible shake of her head. Even though I might have just imagined it, I decide to go on it.

"Not really," I admit, smirking slightly, and Caesar raises his eyebrows. "Well Riley was always so good," I gush, "I've always wanted to be just like him. So when he came last year, I decided to volunteer." I see Lana nodding, so I keep going. "Besides, my parents have always wanted a victor. Riley couldn't get it for them, so it's up to me." I try to sound nonchalant, but my insides hurt as I talk so casually of my brother's death.

"Of course," Caesar says. I'm not sure if I have him completely convinced, but I'm pretty sure the audience believed me.

The rest of the interview goes as planned. When Caesar asks me what I think of the Capital, I spin out endless compliments and even point out certain people in the audience, who turn red and blow me kisses. After, I go on saying how prepared I am and how much I'm anticipating the arena. When I sit back down, I feel confident that I've become a favourite for a few people tonight.

All the rest of the interviews go normally. The little girl, who apparently is from District 6, is so quiet that it seems like she's whispering. She seems terrified, but why shouldn't she be? She's a twelve year old from an outlying district. I'm sure she's positive that she'll be dead on the first day. She probably will be.

After all the interviews are over, Caesar calls us back us to stand in front of the audience. He reminds people to tune in tomorrow because the Games are about to start, and my stomach drops. The reality hits me hard and I have to work hard to keep the smile on my face. I look around me and see the sudden truth that it a day's time, any number of us will be dead.

I hope you liked it. Sorry for the late update, I had an annoying case of writers block. As always, review, favourite and/or follow. Tune back in soon! The Games are about to start! ~Denow