Guess who's back?

Wow, it has been such a long time since I updated this story. Or any story, for that matter. And I greatly apologize for this! Life has eaten me aliven recently, and I just couldn't find the time or the energy to write. And of course, since I'm about to thrust myself into a boatload of new activites, I might remain fairly busy.

But enough about me.

None of the winners from the Chapter 9 contest have submitted their one-shot requests, which is very sad! Everyone who reviewed Chapter 9 recieved a one-shot as a prize, so check to see who the winners were!

But first, the actual new chapter. Enjoy!

-Marcelle

"Well, Jack, those were...powerful words. I wish all of Panem could feel the sincerity that fills this room now."

Teddy Roosenwig spoke to Jack through the echoes of the microphone, his words struggling to make their way into Jack's mind as his gaze fell to the floor. He'd done it; exposed himself down to his very core for the whole nation to see. His weakness were now laid out before his fellow tributes, a free buffet to assure their victory over him. But still, he couldn't pinpoint a trace of regret.

How could he have passed up the chance to get one last, uncensored message to his boys? How could he have left Crutchie with nothing?

"I mean every word, Ted," Jack assured the eccentric announcer, feeling a wry smile pry up the corners of his mouth. The other tributes posed a threat, but they were merely a result in Jack's eyes, pawns of a Capital that could do nothing to him anymore, nothing worse than what they were about to do.

But now Jack had placed more attention on the newsies back home, and he knew that the Capital had no qualms attacking the innocent. If he made a wrong move, said the wrong words, his brothers could pay the price.

All he had to do was keep his emotions bottled until the end of the Games-the end of his life-and the boys would be safe. It was the kind of motivation that Jack knew would keep him alive as long as possible, and when the time came, would help him to face death.

"I have no doubt that you do, Jack," Teddy replied with a surprising dose of honesty, patting Jack on the shoulder once again. "But I'm afraid that's all the time we can spare for you. After all, we still have your gorgeous partner to speak with!"

The crowd roared once more at the mention of Katherine, a few dozen catcalls finding their way into the mix and making Jack cringe. Her beauty was the only feature that seemed to hold any value in the minds of the audience.

Her auburn curls outweighed the intelligent mind they concealed, her full lips outshone the words they spoke. Jack wanted to scream, even curse at the outrageously shallow members of the Capital who would never know true worth.

But soon he was seated backstage, joining Medda as they watched the screen that displayed the live action onstage. Katherine mounted the steps with grace, dressed in a long gown that radiated sophistication. Jack quickly caught himself staring, refusing to play into the Capital ideals any more than he needed to.

He knew Katherine; at least, he did from the few conversations they'd had. She was much more than a pretty face, and Jack only hoped she could prove it for Panem.

"Hello, my dear!" Teddy greeted, bowing deeply before Katherine as she gave a small smile at the gesture.

"Hello, Teddy," she replied cordially, seating herself in the plush chair Jack could barely remember rising from. The night was passing by at an alarming speed, and Jack tried his best to focus on the moment. Whatever Katherine said now could be used either against them or in their favor later, and he had to pay attention.

"Might I just say, you look lovely tonight! Simply stunning!" Teddy gushed, drawing a smile onto Katherine's face that almost fooled Jack into believing it was real.

"Thank you, my stylist really is a genius," she pawned off the compliment as the audience gave a chuckle at her modesty. Jack shook his head, wondering if the Capital had ever encountered anyone like Katherine, and whether they would ever understand her.

"No arguments here!" Teddy agreed, his laugh dying along with the crowd's as he launched into petty questions about Katherine's hair product or whether or not she had a "special fella" back home.

Jack's partner played into the banter for several minutes, much longer than Jack himself could've stomached, before Teddy finally reached his heavier topics of conversation.

"Now, Katherine, we've heard a lot of arena strategies tonight from the other tributes. Many of them seem to know exactly what they're doing when the, ah, time comes. But what about you? Do you feel prepared?"

"To be honest, I haven't given much thought to a strategy," Katherine admitted, surprisingly voicing what Jack had been thinking. He had preferred to take each day at a time, focusing on making it through each hour rather than planning his own nightmare. Jack lived in daydreams, just as he always had, keeping at the back of his mind the reminder that reality lurked just outside the door.

But he had assumed Katherine was much more rational than he was, and that she would've at least had some kind of plan in the works. It somehow seemed a part of her personality to think things through, and Jack couldn't imagine why she hadn't made surviving the Games her top priority.

He heard Medda murmur to herself beside him, seeming to be chastising Katherine for voicing such a thing out loud. Jack leaned forward, intent on catching every word that came next.

"You haven't?" Teddy repeated uncertainly, and Katherine gave him a grim smile.

"No, Teddy, because I don't plan on participating in the Games," she revealed, and Jack felt his wides grow as wide as the crowd's gasps were loud. What could she possibly mean by that?

"I'm not going to let myself become a killer. It's not who I am, and it's not who I plan to be. The other tributes are going to do whatever they can to survive, and I understand that. But this is a game that I refuse to play." Katherine elaborated, her voice unwavering in spite of the controversy she was creating. No one could just chose boycott the Hunger Games, not in the way she was suggesting. No one who wanted to continue living, anyway.

"Well that's certainly an...interesting point of view," Teddy mediated, his expression gradually becoming more nervous as he spoke. He glanced toward the camera, and Jack wondered how far Katherine could take her stance, no matter how morally upstanding he believed it to be, before the program would be cut off entirely. "What brought about such a train of thought?"

"I've grown up around the Games, Teddy. I mean, all of us do, but myself more than most." Jack's ally shrugged, her solemn tone mixed with a liberal dose of self-assurance. Katherine may not have a strategy to win, but Jack knew now that she had planned this speech down to the letter.

"I know what goes into making these Games a reality, and it's nothing I want to be a part of. But I've always suspected that I would be reaped eventually, if my father's employees had anything to say about it," Katherine paused, her gaze flickering past Teddy and into the camera, just as Jack had done. But he knew this was about more than a message to a loved one. Katherine had a bigger purpose. She had a message for the Capital.

"You see, I'm President Pulitzer's daughter."

So, who saw that coming? It might have been fairly obvious, but oh well. I thought it was a good idea. Updates to come, hopefully quicker than this one. I may update some of my other works-in-progress as well! But as always, don't forgrt to review! I adore prompts with all my heart, so please send some in, especially if you won the contest. Thanks for reading!