Chapter 10 – New Plots at Hand

The training they had done seemed not to matter to Echo when he sat impatiently, waiting to go in for his private session time with the Gamemakers. His conscious started to get the best of him during his short time, locked up in the room with Beata and Jay. He'd done his best to avoid eye contact with her and didn't speak with her to even thank her when she wished him luck, but it was beginning to eat at him because he was like his father and cared about people in genuine. He was sure that Jay would feel the same if he were able to truly attach himself to human beings or the emotional connection that came with it, but after his first time in the games he had changed a lot. Echo really worried about Jay in the games, but he kept it to himself and just worked his best to perfect as many skills as he possibly could in their limited time.

He was anxious as he went into his one on one time with the Gamemakers, guessing he didn't have much to show them that would excel, but he didn't care what score he got personally, no matter what he was going to be a target. His dad was still a legend in the games and his mom was pitied so he was either going to be seen as super strong like his dad or incredibly weak like his mom. He just needed to show the Gamemakers that he was his own person at least and hope the other tributes would either underestimate or way over estimate him.

He had done a combination of things, tied knots, shot arrows, camouflaged himself, threw knives and identified plants, nothing too bit, or so he thought. The Gamemaker's had watched him curiously, only a few hadn't been watching him closely. He was from a career tribute district so they were expecting good things from him and they also recognized him, whispering his name and talking about his parents. He had gotten bored since the Gamemaker's had kept him for what had seemed like an hour before finally letting him return to his district quarters.

He'd sat down with everyone from district four, their stylists and their escort. His female counterpart got a solid eight, round of applause went up for her in the room, but everyone froze as they showed his score. His jaw dropped and his father's grip tightened on his shoulder a little bit, confirming his fear that the number flashing by his picture was in fact the real deal. His mom had to leave the room, it looked like she was fighting back tears and it was just making it harder on Echo to swallow the truth.

Twelve. Echo had received a twelve. Eco Odair had scored a twelve during his private session with the Gamemakers. Echo Odair, son of the heartbreaker Finnick Odair and scatterbrained and insane Annie Cresta, two previous champions, already had made him look liked a he had a target on his back, no they went and painted it in large, fluorescent, glow in the dark lettering. Everyone was silent and said nothing, didn't dare move an inch either as the capitol continued showing the scores, the useless commentators commenting here and there about surprising and not surprising facts, but another shock came when they got to district twelve and T.A.R.D.I.S Beata and Jay also received twelve's. The commentators had a field day with the only three twelve's going to the wildcard and legends of the games and it had haunted Echo as he forced himself from the room and to his bed.

The three of them now had giant targets on their backs, just what Snow would want if Jay and Echo turned down his offers. Snow had already gotten Echo and Jay exactly where he wanted them, but this seemed to be a bit of insurance. He must have known the boys were hesitant when they left and they hadn't been able to get word to him yet about their agreement and time was running out. Echo knew that Jay had to be thinking the same thing despite all the congratulations they were receiving from their teams. The only ones who might have known something was up would be Katniss, Peeta, Finnick and Annie, but they were all oblivious to the fights of their sons. If they had known it would have only ended badly, that much the two boys knew and were thankful for.

Echo had nightmares about Snow and they terrified him. He had spent half the night awake, just staring at his wall. He could hear his parents in the room beside his, arguing about the games and Echo. His mother was hysterical, his father positive, but his mother had already figured out that something was terribly wrong. He buried his face in his pillow, screaming into to try and let out some of his frustration. Snow had already started to throw him into a personal hell and he just wanted to let Snow know that he had won, he didn't need to keep rubbing his face in whatever it was that he was plotting…

Echo managed to keep his mind off of Snow's possible plot for the training he had to endure for his interview when he'd been dragged out of his bed by his escort Azabeth. His stylists were helping his mentors with getting an angle for him, talking about all the gossip that circulated about him and what had been done in the past, just praying that something stuck to him. Echo felt sorry for them as even his patient father was growing tenser and more agitated with every new angle.

There were seven mentors from four, so he had four helping him with his interview while the others helped out ' the idiot' with her outfit and how to act when on and off stage. He had yet to refer to his female counterpart by anything other than ' idiot' because that was exactly as he saw her. His parents were the oldest mentors and therefor their words carried more weight than anything else, so they had been split up as well. His mom worked with how to act on and off stage while his dad went over key things for the actual interview with Caesar Flickerman. Azabeth kept bouncing back and forth between the two groups, not really sure what to do since things were pretty well all taken care of for the two tributes.

" Did you hear me?" Finnick asked in a slightly annoyed voice, snapping his fingers just inches from Echo's face. Finnick had be trying to talk to him, but Echo seemed to be dazed and off in his own little world. Normally it was no big deal except for the fact that it was literally a life or death situation on their hands.

Echo jumped a bit with his father's snap and tried to shake his head clear. " No, sorry my mind was elsewhere." He admitted as he ran his fingers nervously through his hair. He was lounging on the couch in the sitting room with the TV. The sound had been turned off and they were just showing recaps of the tributes grand entrance, the training scores and were talking of rumors and betting. They were predicting it to be games no one could forget and they hadn't even gotten to the interviews yet.

Finnick let out a small sigh and shook her head. " Echo what are we going to do with you?" He asked, sounding frustrated and he closed his eyes.

" Just let me be me?" Echo suggested sarcastically. It wasn't such a smart idea to let Echo just be himself in front of a camera, he'd already proven that time and time again during his times in the capitol.

" Everyone out, he can't concentrate with us all barking at him at one time. I'm going to work with him myself, Cotia you might be able to help too so please don't go yet." Finnick groaned and the others left the room except for his top stylist, Cotia. No one but Cotia and Echo seemed happy with the decision, but it didn't particularly matter. " Echo this is vital. We can only help you to a limit and that limit is going to be very small if you can't win over more sponsors. You need people to bet on you and at this point the only things you have going for you is your fame and your training score. If they're willing to bet on you, they're willing to hand over the money to get you whatever you may need in case of an emergency and trust me, you don't want to be caught without their help."

Echo didn't like to admit it, but his father was right. He really had nothing going for him in all actuality and it was just going to be the death of him in the end. He knew Snow had promised to do whatever necessary to keep them alive, but he couldn't just rely on Snow or else it would be too suspicious. He wasn't strong, bold, charming and mysterious, there was just nothing to him other than what met the eye and even that wasn't enough to do him any good. " I've got nothing here dad. Honestly the only thing I think of is to follow your example. Flatter the woman and make them think I'm all theirs, that kind of thing." He admitted as he shook his head, a little ashamed on his inability to be creative.

Finnick was silent for a moment, seeming to be deep in thought. It was Cotia who spoke up in her soft, sing-song voice that was thick with the capitol accent, suddenly looking really excited, literally bouncing up and down in her seat. " That could work. Dress you up in a simple black shirt that buttons up, a crown of shells and simple black slacks. We'll make you look simple, yet sinfully delicious to the woman. It might not even hurt for you to have a female tribute to flirt with on the side of the stage. I mean once you feel comfortable in your clothes and standing in front of the crowd, it'll just come naturally. I wouldn't suggest flirting with anyone from districts above your own though, that's too obvious and will ruin your simple, sexy look." She said, snatching up her sketch pad and starting to doodle a design.

" That would work actually. Katniss and Peeta were going to try and convince Jay to flirt a bit with Beata, but he had a break down over Abigail." Finnick said thoughtfully, tapping his fingers against his chin thoughtfully. " We already knew you and Jay were going to be presented as a united front, a force to reckon with, but if we toss Beata into the mix with you Echo, it could help us even more. Her being from a previously unknown district, it will make it so much better for the people to buy it and make it more tragic."

" Exactly! Oh how lovely it would be! Jay trying to get over the deaths of his best friend and the girl he loved, but what's this? His accomplish in the games, a boy he has referred to as his brother on many occasions or at the least a cousin, is willing to risk the games to pair up with a girl he knows he can't ever have. Even if the Gamemakers throw in a twist like with Katniss and Peeta, you two could never be together because you're from different districts. Oh it would be so much sweeter then Katniss and Peeta's years! Hardly anything beats star-crossed lovers, secret marriages and an unexpected pregnancy, but this will be unforgettable!" She gushed.

" I completely agree, it's time we shook things up around here again but only in a good way. There hasn't been much to surprise the audience since Katniss and Peeta, well aside from Jay's little Abigail incident. You'll have to do your best to keep Jay close to you and not let it come between the bond you two automatically seem to have. Beata will be a priority of yours for a couple of days if you go through with this, do you think you can work with this angle? Wait until at least the final three or four before doing anything drastic. By then your mom and I can make sure you're stocked up enough to survive if you lose a couple of sponsors." Finnick instructed, giving Echo a look that he could have sworn went all the way down to his soul.

Echo was silent as he just sat there, weighing the pros and cons of going along with his dad's idea. He knew it might tick off Snow, but if he could get Beata at least to the final three it would make her death that much sweeter in Snow's mind and wouldn't cause any retaliation for the death of Beata. " Yes, I think I can do that." He agreed without a second thought. Snow would still get his way, but this way Echo and Jay could at least be set just in case since they couldn't completely trust Snow.

" Good, then let's get started here." He told Echo with a big grin. He jumped right in on how to flirt with his eyes and how to lead the conversation back to Beata or himself. It turned out that once they had an angle, Echo was a natural and a smooth talker, just like his dad.

Echo felt like his very soul was starting to darken as he ate it all up and practiced on Cotia. He tried so hard not to let it show that he was uncomfortable, if he was going to kill Beata, he needed to be sure of himself with no thoughts of fear or hesitation. He needed to make Beata believe she was safe with him and that he liked her, that way she would trust him and her death wouldn't be anticipated. The only thing he could see going wrong was if Jay didn't catch on and royally screwed them over by letting it slip that Echo didn't really have feelings for her…