Interviews (Part 2)

Ciera Dawson (D7 F 17)

"Let's give a warm welcome to Miss Ciera Dawson!" I walk onstage, and give the crowd a nice smile. I take my seat near Tristan Honeybee. "Hello Ciera!"

"Hi, Tristan!"

"Now, Ciera, I have to point out something many of us have probably noticed. You're from District Seven, you're seventeen years old, and your training score was a seven. You seem to like the number seven." The crowd lets out a small laugh.

"I guess I do, Tristan."

"Well, seven is supposed to be a lucky number."

"Some luck would be nice," I say, which makes the audience laugh.

"Well, good luck to you, Ciera. Now, speaking of your seven in training, can we have any hints on what you did?"

"Sorry, Tristan. You know I can't tell."

"Well, can we play a guessing game, like we did with Gemma?"

"Sure," I say. "You won't be able to guess my weapon, though."

"A challenge? We'll see about that, Ciera! Now, how many words?"

"One."

"An axe," he says.

"Nope."

"What? That's almost always the weapon for District Seven!"

"Well not this year, Tristan," I say. "Guess again."

"Knives?"

"Nope."

"Spear."

"Nope."

"Uhh, a sword?"

"Nope."

The buzzer rings at that moment. "Well, you win, Ciera. I guess we'll find out tomorrow. Let's give her a hand!" I walk offstage as the crowd cheers. I think I did pretty well. I might have gained some sponsors.

Jorge Mosley (D7 M 15)

"And now, let's hear from Jorge Mosley!" I step onstage, and give a small wave to the audience. I sit down in my seat, and Tristan starts interrogating me. "How has your time been in the Capitol?"

"Oh it's been great. The Capitol is so high-tech. It took me five minutes to figure out how to flush the toilet."

"Yes, it is very high-tech," Tristan says with a laugh. "Now let's hear a little bit about District Seven. Do you miss it?"

"Yes, I do."

"Any special people you'd like to mention?"

"Well, I miss my mom and dad of course. There's also my little brother, and my best friend, Tyrone."

"Well, I'm sure they'll be cheering for you in the Quarter Quell."

"Yeah, I guess."

"So so you have any allies for the Quell?"

"Nope, it's just me."

"Any special strategies?"

"Well, I'm just hoping to evade all the other tributes. If I'll have a better chance if I quickly run away from the bloodbath, without killing anyone."

"Interesting. How do you think the Quarter Quell will affect the tributes this year?"

"Well, I think it will make the tributes more reluctant to kill others. However, I personally don't think the careers will care."

Before Tristan can respond, the buzzer rings. "I'm sorry, Jorge, but that's all the time we have for you today. Let's give him a round of applause!" I walk offstage as the crowd applauds. That went okay, I guess.

Lynette Shultz (D8 F 14)

"Let's bring out, the lovely, Lynette Shultz!" I walk onto the stage, hoping that I do look 'lovely'. I'm dressed in a silver, knee-length dress, with gold trim. It's the prettiest dress I've ever worn. "Welcome, Lynette! How are you, today?"

"I'm just fine! How about you, Tristan?"

"Oh I'm feeling very pleasant, today. Thanks for asking."

"No problem!"

"Your dress reminds me of the one the girl from District Five was wearing; Noel."

"Yes, they're very similar. Noel and I are allies, by the way."

"You are?"

"Yes. We've got a lot in common."

"Like what?"

"Well, we're both fourteen, and shorter than the average tribute. We're both better at survival skills than we are at weaponry, although we both enjoy climbing on the ropes course. We're also each the youngest child in our families."

"Wow, you do have a lot in common. You guys are like twins! Well, besides the fact that you don't look much alike!" That comment causes the audience to laugh. "So, back to your family; you said you have older siblings?"

"Yes. I have an older brother, he's sixteen, and an older sister who's nineteen."

"Do you believe they're watching you right now?"

"Yes, they probably are."

"Anything you'd like to say to them?"

"Just... I'll try my hardest to get back to you; even if it involves.. killing." My voice shakes on that last word. "I love both of you. Keep your fingers crossed for my safe return."

The buzzer rings, signaling the end of my interview. I'm pretty relieved it's over. "Thank you so much for speaking to us, Lynette, and good luck tomorrow. Ladies and gentlemen, Lynette Shultz!" After a wave to the audience, I step offstage, and breathe a sigh of relief. I'm so glad that's over, although it went pretty well.

Jonas Cooke (D8 M 16)

"And now, let's hear from Jonas Cooke; District Eight!" I walk onstage, trying to look confident. I don't want anyone to sort me out as a weakling. I got a six, which is an okay score, but I'll still need some sponsor support. I sit down in my seat. "Welcome, Jonas! How are you?"

"I'm fine, thanks."

"Let's get straight to the juicy stuff; do you have a strategy for the Quell?"

"Well, I'm hoping to showcase my newly discovered skill, and show those tributes who's boss."

"Well that's a pretty good strategy," Tristan says, chuckling a bit. "I'm guessing you're not going to tell us your special skill."

"Nope."

"I thought so. Now do you have any allies?"

"Nope, it's just me."

"And I'm assuming that you're not going to tell us what you did during your private training session."

"Nope."

"Okay. Well do you have any family at home?"

"Just my mom, dad, and I."

"Any friends?"

"Yeah; my friends Joey and Thorne."

"Did they visit you before you left District Eight?"

"Yeah."

"And what did they say?"

"They said that they knew I had a chance to win the Games. They told me that District Eight may finally gain another victor this year."

"Well that's nice of them." The buzzer rings. "Well we're out of time, Jonas. It was nice hearing from you. Good luck tomorrow!"

"Thanks!" I walk offstage and breathe a sigh of relief. That went alright, I guess. Hopefully I gained some sponsors.

Carmen Sylvester (D9 F 17)

"Let's give a warm welcome to Miss Carmen Sylvester!" I walk onstage, smiling at the crowd. I take my seat, knowing very well what I'm about to be asked about. "So Carmen, there's a rumor that you are the daughter of Jules Sylvester, victor of the 98th Hunger Games. Can you confirm this rumor?"

"Yes, Tristan, I can." Excited whispering breaks out throughout the citizens. I've given them something to gossip about.

"Wow," Tristan says. "Do you think being a victor's daughter will increase your chances?"

"Yeah, I think so. I'm sure I can get some sponsorship from some of my dad's old friends and sponsors. I've also done some training with him."

"Wow. You've done previous training? Is that how you got the ten."

"Yes."

"Amazing. Why aren't you allied with the careers? You're obviously just as skilled as they are."

"The careers and I don't exactly... see eye to eye. Besides, I've got an even better ally."

"Roland, my district partner."

"Interesting; a District Nine alliance! Now is Roland a good ally?"

"He's the best ally anyone could ask for. He's smart and very skilled."

"Well I'm sure District Nine will be a force to be reckoned with, this year!"

"Yes, we will be. The careers will have to watch their backs."

The buzzer rings, ending my interview. Truthfully, I'm relieved that it's finally over. "Let's give one more round of applause for Carmen Sylvester; daughter of a victor!" The audience explodes with applause. I'm getting more applause than most of the careers! I nearly skip offstage. I'm sure I've just won plenty of sponsors."

Roland Fringe (D9 M 18)

"Let's give a round of applause for Roland Fringe!" I walk onto the stage, glad that Carmen has warmed up the crowd. Speaking of Carmen, I'm pretty touched by the compliments she gave me. I didn't know she cared about me that much. I sit down in my chair, and Tristan starts with the questions. "Now Roland, you're in an alliance with Carmen."

"Yes."

"What do you think? Is she a good ally?"

"Obviously! That girl knows how to kick some serious butt. You'll be amazed by what she can do!"

"I'm sure we will be. It's not every year we get a victor's child! Can we have any insight on the talents you guys posses?"

"Sorry, Tristan. You're probably sick of hearing it, but you'll find out tomorrow."

"Yes, that has been the popular answer tonight. So Roland, do you come from any special family?"

"Not really. It's just me, my mom, my dad, and my little sister."

"You have a little sister? How old?"

"Fourteen."

"Was she sad when your name was reaped?"

"She was heartbroken."

"Well, you'll just have to win, so you can get back to her."

"I suppose."

"So what do you think of Mars, the boy from District Two, calling you a 'minor stepping stone?'"

"Oh he'll find out that he's wrong, soon enough."

The buzzer rings. That's pretty perfect timing. "Let's give a final round of applause for Mr. Roland Fringe!" I walk offstage, hoping I pleased some sponsors. I'll need all the help I can get, tomorrow.

Savannah Troy (D10 F 12)

"Let's welcome young Savannah Troy!" I walk onstage, smiling; despite the fact that I'm mad he called me ' young.' Unfortunately, my mentor has forced me to take on the angle of a sweet, innocent, little girl. I'm nothing like that, but my mentor told me I'd get the most sponsors if I took on that angle. He also told me he wouldn't collect any sponsor money if I didn't follow that angle. So, I think I'll act all sweet and innocent. "Welcome to the stage, Savannah! Now you're only twelve, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am," I say.

"And you're five feet five inches tall?"

"Yes."

"Wow! I don't think I hit five foot five until about fourteen! Do you think being twelve will hurt your chances?"

I'm about to say 'no', but I catch my mentor's eye, and he shakes his head. "I don't know," I say, hoping I sound truthful. "I obviously don't have the strength of the older tributes."

Tristan gives me a sad smile. "Well, I'm sure you'll do fine," he says. I reply by giving him what hopefully looks like a melancholy smile. "Remember, you did manage to get a six in training. Can we have a hint on what you did?" I shake my head. "Okay," Tristan says. "Can we have any insight on your strategy for the Games?"

"Well, I'm just hoping to stay out of the way of the older tributes. If I do that, maybe... maybe I'll be able to survive." I try to sound sweet, innocent, and helpless. I look at my mentor. Judging by the nod he's giving me, I think I'm doing okay.

"Well, you never know; you might turn out to be okay." Well, Tristan's gotten one thing right. "So, any particular people you miss in District Ten?"

"Well, there's my mom and dad, of course. And then I have a few friends."

"So you're an only child."

"Yes. At least, I have been for the past five years."

Now I've got the audience's attention. "Go on," Tristan says.

"Well, five years ago, my older sister, Larissa, got on the bad side of some Peacekeepers. They falsely accused her of a crime. When she continued to claim she was innocent, they shot her." I let tears leak out of my eyes. I think I could hold them back if I tried, but something tells me that crying will get the audience's attention more. Maybe it's the murderous look in my mentor's eyes.

The buzzer rings, which saves Tristan from coming up with a response."Well that's all the time we have. Ladies and gentlemen, let's hear it for Savannah Troy!" I walk offstage, smiling a watery smile. I hope I convinced some sponsors to support me. If my mentor was wrong about this angle getting me sponsors, then I'm in trouble when it comes to tomorrow.

Levi Dwight (D10 M 18)

Finally, weeping Savannah is dismissed from the stage, and my name is called. "From District Ten, Levi Dwight!" I walk onstage, trying to look confident and intimidating. That's my angle; confident and intimidating. I wanted to go with super awesome macho man whose enemies cower in fear, but my mentor refused. So for now, I'm confident and intimidating. "Welcome, Levi," Tristan says as I take my seat. "So how's it going?"

"Pretty good," I say. "After all, only one more day until the Hunger Games."

"Yes, we're almost there. I'm very excited as well." Tristan looks his watch. "We've got exactly thirteen hours, thirty-four minutes, and twenty-five seconds," he says, showing me his two-sided watch. One side tells the time, while the other one counts down to the Games."

"That's a pretty neat watch," I say.

"Indeed. I got it as a gift from a special Capitol admirer. Well, we're not here to talk about my social life, so let's talk about you! On a scale of one to ten, how prepared are you for the Games?"

"A definite ten," I say. "I'm very prepared for the Quell."

"Do you think the Quarter Quell's twist will affect your performance?"

"I doubt it," I say. "I think it will actually help me."

"How so?"

"Well, the career alliance will plan to kill as much as possible, which gives them a huge disadvantage."

"I guess so," Tristan says. "Now do you have any allies."

"Just one; Geoffrey from District Five."

"Oh yeah. If I remember right, he said that you two would try to kill each other if it came down to the final two. Do you agree with that?"

"Yeah, I do. He's right in saying that allies are supposed to be temporary. When it comes down to it, yeah, I'll fight him."

Tristan opens his mouth to ask another question, but the ring of the buzzer stops him. "Well, it was nice talking to you, Levi. Let's hear it for him!" As I walk offstage, I hope I pleased some sponsors.

Piper Hagen (D11 F 14)

"Now, let's hear it for Piper Hagen, District Eleven!" I walk onstage, waving cheerfully. That's my angle; cheerful and likable. "Welcome, Piper," Tristan says as I sit down. "Now I must ask about your name. It's very pretty, but what many Capitol citizens are wondering is where did your name come from?"

"Well, a piper used to refer to someone who plays a flute. When she was little, my mom had the job of telling the orchard workers that it was time to call it a day. She did this by playing a flute. The name 'Piper' reminded her of her childhood, so she convinced my dad to name me so."

"That's neat. Now have you taken on the job of your mother?"

"No, there's another girl that does it. But I do play the flute. In fact, I have it with me, as my district token." I pull the small, wooden flute that my mother carved for me out of my pocket.

"That's beautiful," Tristan says. "Can you play something for us?"

"Sure," I say. I play a quick little song that my mom taught me. She called it 'Sunshine'.

"That was beautiful," Tristan says when I finish. The audience claps as well. The buzzer rings. "Thanks so much, Piper, for talking and playing some beautiful music for us. Let's give her a nice round of applause!" I walk offstage, pretty confident that I just gained a few sponsors.

Thurmond Richard (D11 M 16)

"Let's welcome Mr. Thurmond Richard!" I walk onstage, the audience clapping noticeably less than what they did for Piper. "Welcome, Thurmond! Take a seat!" I sit down. "How are you?"

"Oh I'm just fine," I reply.

"That's good. Now what has impressed you most, since you arrived in the Capitol?"

"I don't know. The Capitol holds many wonders."

"It certainly does. I still discover new things every day. For example, today, Geoffrey from District Five taught me that the Capitol uses three fourths of Pamem's energy. Isn't that a lot?"

"Yes, it is."

"Now do you have any special strategies for the Games?"

"Well, I'm just hoping to outsmart the other tributes. I've been told that I'm pretty smart."

"Well brains can get you far in the Games, contrary to many beliefs."

"I couldn't agree more."

"So do you have any family members you miss, back in District Eleven?"

"Yeah. There's my mom, dad, older sister, and younger brother."

"Cool! Do any of them wear glasses, like you?"

"Yeah; my dad and sister do."

"Interesting; it runs in the family." The buzzer rings. "Well that's all the time we have for you, Thurmond. Let's give him a hand!" I walk offstage, thinking that I could have done worse.

Violet Copley (D12 F 16)

"Let's welcome Violet Copley from District Twelve!" I walk onto the stage; trying to smile a convincing smile. Tristan welcomes me as I sit down in the comfortable seat. "How do you feel about the Games being only one day away?"

"I don't really know."

"Excited, nervous, scared, prepared?"

"A little of each, I think."

"I know what you mean. Tributes often have a lot running through their minds during the days leading up to the Games. So, do you have any allies?"

"Yes, I do. I'm allied with Kat from District Six and Ciera from District Seven."

"Are they sufficient allies?"

"Yes, they are. After all, Kat got a six in training and Ciera got a seven."

"And what unique talents do you bring to the alliance."

"Well, I'm more brains than brawn. I can't tell you any more than that, Tristan."

"What about Kat's and Ciera's skills."

"All I'll say is that they're much better at weapons than I am."

"Well, you three will certainly be a force to be reckoned with." The buzzer rings. "Well, we're all out of time. Let's give Violet a round of applause!" I walk offstage, my smile more real this time. I'm so relieved that my interview's over. It didn't run as smooth as glass, but I didn't expect anything better.

Eli Phillis (D12 M 15)

Finally, my name is called. "And last but not least, Eli Phillis from District Twelve." I walk onstage, and acknowledge, but not smile at the crowd. My mentor has told me to act serious, yet likable. It's a tricky task, but my mentor said that if anyone could pull it off, it would be me. I'm actually surprised by how much faith my mentor has in me. Anyways, as I sit down, Tristan welcomes me. "Welcome, Eli," he says. "How are you doing today?"

"I'm great," I say.

"That's good. What's your strategy, for tomorrow."

"Well, I'm just going to do my best to keep staying alive, and then take it from there."

"Well, staying alive is important," Tristan says with a laugh. "So do you have any allies that you'll be 'saying alive' with?"

"Nope. It's just me."

"Just you," Tristan repeats. "Do you like that or would you rather have an ally?"

"I think it's best if I'm on my own. That will keep me from getting backstabbed by someone who I thought cared about me."

"Yes, there are both good and bad sides to having allies. Now if you were forced to have an ally, who would it be?"

"I don't really know. My district partner, Violet, is pretty cool, but she already has allies, and I wouldn't want to have a group of four." The buzzer rings at that moment; saving me from having to come up with someone else.

"Well, let's give a final round of applause for Eli Phillis!" As I walk off the stage, I hear Tristan wrapping up the show. "Thank you, citizens of Panem, for watching the interviews for the 125th Hunger Games; the 5th Quarter Quell. Tune in tomorrow at ten o'clock for the start of the Games. Good night Panem!" I walk up to my room and collapse on my bed. Hopefully, I'll get a few hours of sleep before tomorrow. After all, this very well may be the last time I can get proper sleep.

I'm so excited! The bloodbath comes next! Hurry up and cast your votes, because I've already started writing it! :-) :-) :-)