And let the Games begin! Now things may seem the same as the book for a while, but I promise a lot is going to change later on. Enjoy :)
Disclaimer: If I owned the Hunger Games, I wouldn't get the opportunity to write these crazy stories I come up with, now would I?
I have horrible nightmares that night when I finally get to sleep, and they all feature Katniss. Katniss, who is going into the Games in a matter of hours. Katniss, who could die today or in the very near future. Katniss, my best friend, the girl I love that I stupidly kissed last night. I really don't know what overcame me; Peeta's interview, her idiotically saying that I didn't need her, or simply the buildup of six months of desire to kiss her exploding out, knowing it could be my last chance. I'm sorry I gave her that distraction before the arena, but I can't say that I'm too sorry I did it finally.
I grudgingly get out of bed for what could possibly be the worst day of my life, and go to breakfast even though I'm not really hungry. Jullus is sitting at the table along with Haymitch, and but they stop talking until I sit down. When I do, Haymitch gets up and goes to the elevator, leaving me alone with Jullus. Jullus slides some kind of black rectangular block across the table to me, and I pick it up. I don't really know what it means or what it even is.
"What's this?" I ask, still examining it.
"That is me saving Katniss's ass." he says. Damn, I don't think I've ever heard him curse before. How is this black box saving Katniss? He's too serious right now to be joking.
"Do explain." I reply.
"That right there is the only recording of what happened on the roof last night. You know, where you and Katniss were?" he enlightens me. My face instantly drains of color. Shit, I should have known there were cameras up there. I really am an idiot sometimes. "You're lucky that I happened to be in the Security Room talking with a friend of mine last night, and I convinced her to give me that evidence. Do you understand that if that had gotten in anyone else's hands, the whole star-crossed lovers angle would be shattered to pieces? That she would probably lose a lot if not all of her sponsors?" he continues completely seriously and his tone has a hint of frustration to it, willing me to see how much I fucked up.
"I…thank you. I should have known there was a camera up there. I wasn't even thinking." I apoligize, a little embarrassed. He relaxes a little, his face becoming less tense.
"It's alright, I don't blame you for kissing her; you just needed to be more careful. There are eyes and ears everywhere in this city." Jullus states. A clear warning for the future.
"I'll remember that." I assure him.
"In the meantime, it would be a bad idea to destroy it or throw it away because someone could easily find it and we'd never know, so we will have to hide it. See here, I've labeled it for you." he tells me. I look again at the black thing in my hand, confused.
"I don't see a label." I say, wondering for the first time if he's not a little crazy.
"Here, look at this." He whips out some kind of metal stick thing about six inches in length, and he flips a switch on it. It glows a bright purple, and he puts the light over the black box. I can now see that there is hidden writing glowing in the light from his stick thing. "It's called a blacklight; that label will only be visible with this, so only people with one of these will know what's on the tape. We can hide it with the other tapes over there in the cabinet and no one should think anything of it." He explains. Damn, I really owe this guy so much. I've officially decided I like Jullus. Who knew I would ever consider a Capitolite a friend?
"Jullus, why are you so helpful to me? I mean with everything, not just this. You really didn't have to be, and I wouldn't have expected it." I ask him out of sheer curiosity after a minute.
He gives me a smile, and plays with the blacklight in his hand. I see the light go over his hand, and strangely, there's something hidden there like there is on the tape; it's a mockingjay. I stare at it while he answers. "Because you deserve help." He turns off the light and walks away, and I sit at the table dumbfounded.
Interesting, that's almost what Cinna said when I asked why he chose District 12. And the mockingjay…what it's for? What does it mean? Why is it on Jullus's hand, hidden, and Cinna obviously finds some deeper meaning about it? Why did Madge insist that Katniss wear the mockingjay pin as her District token? I shake my head, and go down to the Mentor Room. I'll get answers eventually, but for now I need to focus on Katniss.
When I get down to the Mentor Room, I can see that it's already bustling with activity. Most of the mentors are already down here, what with the preview of the Arena for mentors one hour in advance of the Games being in a few minutes. I see a big 12 on the wall between 1 and 11 with a bunch of screens opposite it at a huge circular table with two chairs, one already filled with a drinking Haymitch. Shocking, isn't it?
I go over to him and sit down in the other chair, staring at all of the screens that I have no idea what to do with. I didn't find the time to learn all the mentoring stuff between my appointments and actually mentoring, so I still have no idea what I'm doing. Luckily Haymitch seems to actually try to be helpful today though.
"Alright kid, I'll make it simple for you. These screens will focus on Katniss and Peeta at all times. That screen in the middle shows what the public sees. This here is your tablet." he states as he hands me a thin black thing with a screen, "On it will be sponsor money, list of kills, her rating, and Katniss's vital signs like her heart rate. These tablets go black once your tribute dies, but it doesn't turn on unless your tribute lives past the bloodbath. Got it?" I nod in response, knowing that I'll eventually have to learn in more detail but all we have time for right now is this crash course.
The viewing of the arena pops up on the table screen in front of me, and I tentatively touch it. It moves with my hand, going along the virtual arena. That's kinda cool, actually. As I explore the arena, I see a giant grain field, which is less than helpful, a lake with a stream and a few ponds, and I'm happy to say that over half of the arena is a forest with the same kinds of trees as our woods back home. Thank you Gamemakers; really, you have no idea how much of an advantage you gave Katniss in these Games with that forest. It's absolutely perfect.
I spend a good amount of time just exploring the virtual forest, mentally marking where the nearest sources of water will be to the Cornucopia and where the best places to hide are. The nearest water source besides the lake and the stream which she should stay far away from is at least six miles in. A long run, but as long as she goes in the right direction she should find it before nightfall.
Once I'm done exploring I look around the room. There are eleven other stations just like ours around the giant circular table and all the mentors are present now, some still exploring the arena and some chatting with each other. In the center of the room, is the big hologram screen which shows what the public sees, and below it is two clocks; one that is set at all zeros, which I'm assuming counts the time past in the arena and one that is set for twenty-four hours.
"What's that for?" I question Haymitch, pointing to the 24 hour clock.
"It's the wait time for sending sponsor gifts. They don't want mentors to interfere with the first day of the Games." He informs me, clearly bored.
"Oh." I respond. Wouldn't want to help the tributes through the bloodbath or the annual first night Career hunt, now would we?
I explore the arena for a little more, but quickly abandon it once I see that the tributes will be up in one minute. I glance nervously at the screen in front of me, which comes to life as Katniss goes up her tube. She looks around at here surroundings, seeing the forest she will undoubtedly run for. But then she looks at the Cornucopia, and gets into a running position. What the fuck is she doing? I told her to not go for the Cornucopia, to stay far away from that damn bloodbath. I can't have her do something that stupid and die the first day!I take a glance at the virtual Cornucopia surrounded by supplies on the table screen, and I see what she's going for; a silver bow, right near the heart of the Cornucopia. Which she knows is meant for her. Shit-I mean I'm glad it's in the arena, but they shouldn't tempt her like that, having it in the center of the bloodbath. She can always find a way to get it later since the Careers don't know it's her weapon.
As the clock goes down, I apprehensively watch her, willing her with all my might to not go for it. She was right; watching is so much harder than actually being there, because I feel sick to my stomach watching her and knowing I can't help her at all for at least 24 hours. But something makes her lose her focus for a split second; Peeta, who is shaking his head slightly telling her no, obviously seeing like me what she wants to do. Despite not really liking the guy, I can't help but be grateful for that.
She loses her focus long enough that when the timer is up, it's too late for her to run for the bow, so she runs about twenty yards in for a backpack. Unfortunately, another tribute grabs it as soon as she does. But he doesn't put up a fight for long, because he drops dead from a knife in his back from the District 2 girl, and Katniss runs with it. I see the District 2 girl ready her next knife, and it's aimed at Katniss. This is the girl that never misses with knives-shit.
"Block it Katniss!" I yell at her screen, as if she can actually hear me. And as soon as the knife almost hits her, she does, putting the backpack protectively over her head so the knife embeds itself in there instead of her skull. Thanks for giving her the knife. I think smugly at the District 2 girl as Katniss runs through the forest with no more pursuits from other tributes. I'm glad she has a weapon now since she left the Cornucopia without one. It's not a bow, but a knife can come in handy as well. It will do for now.
"Are you two mind readers or something kid?" Haymitch asks me, clearly amused that Katniss did exactly what I told her screen right after I said it. I'm not a mind reader, but with her I'm close enough I guess-I know her like the back of my hand. I give him a roll of my eyes, relaxing a little since I know that she's temporarily out of danger. I still keep an eye on her screen every few minutes, but I primarily watch the bloodbath in the center.
There are so many kids lying dead on the ground already, and the fighting is still going on. After about half an hour, the fighting ends, with all six Careers predictably alive and starting to gather in a group to strategize. I'm curious why the cannons haven't gone off yet to signify that the bloodbath is over, but I don't have to be for long. Because as Peeta walks out of the Cornucopia with a knife in hand, I realize that the bloodbath isn't in fact over.
What the fuck, Peeta? You're a dead man walking, staying there until the fighting is over with all of the Careers alive and gathered together; it's practically suicide. And to think that I thought he was smarter than that. What happened to his stupid star-crossed lovers thing? Did he give up on it since Katniss wouldn't cooperate? I glance over at Haymitch, who looks more than pissed, so obviously this was not the plan. Guess Peeta actually pulled one over on that crazy smart drunk-gotta give him credit for that.
When the Careers see him, they don't immediately attack, but collectively laugh at him. After all, they can take that time to be confident; Peeta's ridiculously outnumbered and everyone knows it.
"Well look who we have here-it's Lover boy. What do you want?" The boy from District 1 snickers. Lover boy huh? Why can't you just call him Peeta or District 12? Anything but fucking Lover boy.
"I stayed to join your alliance." Peeta states with sheer determination. What the fuck? Now he's not just committing suicide, but everyone in the non-Career Districts now hate him-we call Careers the Capitol's lapdogs.
"Oh really? And what makes you think we would let you?" the District 2 girl laughs at him. All the Careers are clearly amused by Peeta, enjoying themselves a little before they undoubtedly kill him.
"I got the same score as him. What makes him so much better than me?" Peeta defends, pointing to the District 4 boy.
"Alright then, Lover boy. Rudd, why don't you do the honors and show him why your better?" Cato challenges the Distict 4 boy with a cocky grin. In response, the District 4 boy smirks and gets in position to fight Peeta.
"With pleasure." the boy grins confidently, and lunges for Peeta with two knives in hand. But Peeta is ready for it, and tackles him quickly to the ground. They wrestle around in the dirt for about 30 seconds before Peeta has the boy pinned under him and quickly slits his opponent's throat. Shit, I didn't know he could do that! He's a fucking baker's son! Where the hell did he learn how to wrestle? He stands up quickly, bloody knife in hand, taking on a defensive position. The Careers are in complete shock, their mouths hanging open as they alternate glances between Peeta and their dead ally on the ground.
"Glimmer, watch him for a minute." Cato, the boy from District 2 spits out, the first one to speak. The girl from District 1 who I'm assuming is Glimmer (Such a stupid name. Seriously District 1?") gives Peeta, who is still on the defense but not moving, a death glare, and the other four Careers huddle together.
The camera watches them, seeming to be in the middle of their circle so we can easily hear their conversation. I glance quickly at Peeta's screen in front of Haymitch and see that Peeta is having a stare down with the girl, Glimmer, who has an arrow pointed at him. An arrow? She fucking has Katniss's bow! Well at least she seems to be one of the weaker Careers. It will make it slightly easier for her to get the bow that way. He can't make a last ditch effort escape now-its death or they let him join, because if he runs she can shoot him at long distance.
"We can't let him live. He just killed Rudd!" the District 4 girl orders in defense of her dead District partner.
"We could overpower him if we all take him on at once." the District 1 boy suggests.
"No, we'll let him join us." Cato orders, clearly the leader of this Career pack.
"Why?" the District 4 girl asks, clearly pissed at his verdict.
"Cato's right. Lover boy's our best chance of finding her." the District 2 girl claims viciously, clearly referring to Katniss. I shudder internally at that, but I know that Peeta would never help them. After all he does like her, as much as I hate to admit it. On that note, I glance down at her screen. She's still on the move, but is at a jogging pace now, the knife still embedded in her backpack. Good, run as far as you can before they start hunting tributes.
"Plus he probably knows how she got that 11." the boy from 1 adds, warming up to the idea.
"Right. So we will let him in until he's no longer...useful." the girl from 2 says with finality. I can tell the girl from 4 is still not on board, but she knows that she's outvoted so she says nothing more.
"But when we do find her, I kill her and no one gets in my way." Cato says menacingly. Shit, I knew he was going to be the number one competitor. And now he's hell-bent on killing her. So fucking awesome.
"But I wanted to kill her. Why do you get dibs?" the Distict 2 girl pouts. Seriously, you're whining about not murdering someone? What the fuck do they teach these Careers? Obviously they cut out their hearts and destroy their humanity.
"Because I have a better reason to kill her than you, Clove." Cato seethes back, superiority dripping from his tone.
"Oh yeah? What's that?" Clove demands back, crossing her arms across her chest with an eyebrow cocked.
"Revenge."