3/15/15

Hi again! I finally updated on the right day! If I can get some more chapters written, I might start updating twice a week, but I'm not writing fast enough for that to work at the moment. The reason I used to update so quickly was because I spent all my spare time writing, and I don't think it was necessarily "healthy" to be that obsessed with writing.

Anyways, thank you DomiStephens for following and favoriting

Reviews:

Stellaslomp: Don't worry, I'm back to doing review responses. The only reason I couldn't last week was because I was trying to cram an update in before taking my science test, and I didn't exactly have all the time in the world :)

Lya200: Lol, yes! Sarcastic answers to jokes are the best

Gabby Delacour: I've already written that part, and to put it lightly I think "furious" is the perfect word to describe her reaction. My favorite book in the trilogy would probably be Catching Fire because most of my favorite characters are in the Quell, and while so many of them died then it was fun reading about them while it lasted if you know what I mean.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games or anything else I may mention

(ps, the ending to this chapter is going to confuse the crap out of you. Just saying ;) )

….

Chapter Fourteen: Alive?

The wait for private sessions is as unbearable as ever. I remember my first private session as if it was yesterday, instead of nearly a decade ago. I think I fumbled around with a rope or something, to show my fake incompetence. I'm much better with a rope now. I've had to hang around Finnick so much that it's impossible for me to be skill-less.

I also remember waiting for sessions to start. I didn't have a boredom problem last time because Lumi and Bastion were fighting. As pathetic as it sounds, it was pretty entertaining. Especially when you consider that Lumi killed him in the bloodbath. I still can't help but wonder what would've happened if the mutts hadn't maimed her. Would she have killed me? Or would I still be the victor?

Maybe that's why I dislike Katniss so much. Because she's an archer, like Lumi was. Am I scared of her? No, not really, because I've seen Katniss shoot. Even though she's the same age Lumi was, she's not even half as good. Well, I guess I'm saying that because I prefer one of my enemies over the other. At least Lumi wasn't a stuck up brat.

My promise to Lumi rings in my ears. Promise me one thing, when you get home. Avenge them. Everyone we've killed, everyone that we haven't killed. Everyone that Snow's killed.

I bet she's looking down at me from heaven and thinking about what a failure I am. I haven't fulfilled that promise. All I've done is make things worse. I've only added to the number of deaths that President Snow is responsible for. I decide not to think about it. If I think about it, I'll get distracted.

Gloss exits the door just as the name Cashmere Rambin is called. He whispers something in her ear, a wish of luck, perhaps, and reclaims his spot in the dining room. I guess he wants to wait on her. Cashmere gives us all a worried look, as if she's thinking about what to do. Finnick gives her a reassuring smile, which she reluctantly returns. She takes a deep breath and enters the room we all wish we never had to see again. The room we all thought we'd never have to see again. I guess President Snow had other plans, though.

I lean back in my chair and watch Gloss exchange a few hushed words with Brutus and Enobaria. They both look skeptical, as if they think something won't work. Gloss is probably planning something, come to think of it. This is confirmed when he moves on to Wiress and Beetee.

"What is he doing?" I ask Blight in a whisper.

"Who knows? It's probably a Career thing," Blight replies.

"If it was a Career thing, why would he be talking to Nuts and Volts?" I hiss. Blight shrugs in response.

I watch as he moves to Finnick and Mags, and then the District 5 tributes, and finally the Morphlings. Cashmere exits the room just as he's about to talk to us. Great, now we get to deal with both twins shoving something down our throats. Wonderful.

Cashmere sits down next to Blight and takes a few shaky breaths. "I can't do this," she trembles. "I just can't."

"Do what?" I ask. "Be a pawn in their Games? Because you're better than that."

"No, it's just… all this talking," she says, curling up in her chair. "Talking to a group. I'll have to do it in a couple days for my interview too, and I just can't do public speaking."

Gloss sits next to her and wraps and arm around her. "Was it that bad?"

Cashmere nods her head in response. Gloss sighs and gives Enobaria a pitiful look. Without another word, Enobaria stalks over to Cecelia and Woof. So they are up to something.

"Okay, spill. What's going on?" I scoff.

Gloss drops his voice to a whisper. "We all need to do something rebellious. Well, not necessarily rebellious, just… what's the word I'm looking for? Help me out Cash."

"Shocking?" Cashmere suggests pitifully.

"Yes, shocking. Thank you Cashmere. We need to blow them out of the water. Show them that these Games will be different. Show them that we're angry," he says in such a determined tone that you'd be surprised he was the one talking. Gloss has always been the more laid back sibling. While Cashmere gets worked up over the smallest things, Gloss is a little more calculating than that. He must've had time to think this through.

I look at Blight and shrug. "What do you think?"

Blight seems to be lost in thought. "It's dangerous, but it just might work. Thanks Gloss, we'll think it over."

"You're welcome. But you may want to think quickly," Gloss says.

"Yeah, you don't have much time left," Cashmere interrupts, starting to bounce back to her normal self. "I think I just saw Beetee go in."

"Go put on your glasses. I don't think that… oh," I say, noticing the empty space next to Wiress.

"I have contacts, thank you very much," Cashmere says. "My stylist thinks my glasses look too dorky."

"Aww, they're not dorky. They're kind of cute," I say.

"Try telling him that," Cashmere groans. "Where's Lavinia when you really need her?"

"District 13," Blight interrupts.

"We'll see her there," Gloss assures his sister.

"Yeah, and then I can kiss Cyril's pathetic butt goodbye!" she says with a smirk. Gloss playfully whacks her on the head.

"Be nice," he says.

"Fine," Cashmere huffs.

Blight and I exchange an amused look. We continue talking until his name is called.

"Well, I'll see you later."

"Good luck," I say. "You might need it."

"Might?" Blight asks.

"Okay, will. You like that better pestilence?" I smirk.

"Wouldn't have it any other way," Blight jokes. With that, he leaves me alone with Gloss and Cashmere.

"Are we doing this for the interviews, too?" I ask after a few minutes.

Gloss shakes his head. "I don't want the Capitol to get too suspicious."

"Oh. Can I do this during the interviews, though?" I smirk. "I'd love to give the Capitol a piece of my mind."

"Knock yourself out," Cashmere says.

"So what are you planning if it isn't rebellion?" I ask.

"I think I'll go for likable again," Gloss says.

"Well, it was in your favor last time," Cashmere shrugs. "I think I'll just do the opposite of what Cyril tells me to. You know, have a little rebellion of my own if I'm not too stage fright."

"You'll be fine," I scoff. "You've had to do this a gazillion times. I'm sure you're used to it."

"Not really," Cashmere says. "I could've cried those last couple interviews. They're just awful."

"Johanna Mason"

"Well, that's my cue. I'll see you later guy-Gloss. You too hummingbird," I say.

"Oh, bye," Cashmere says.

"We'll see you too Johanna," Gloss nods.

I take a breath and push open the door. I think I know what to do now. It'll shock 'em, that's for sure.

"Johanna Mason, District 7," I say calmly. "But I'm sure you know that."

The gamemakers laugh as I walk over to the axe station. I throw around some axes, which impresses them slightly (as it should), before wandering over to the knot tying station. "Remember this?" I ask rhetorically.

And with that, I start to tie knots. The gamemakers seem impressed with how good I've gotten, but I ignore the look of shock on their faces.

"So, I'm sure you all know Katniss Everdeen," I begin. "District 12, obnoxiously stupid. I call her brainless, actually. Come to think of it, she's the reason I'm going back into this crap-tastic arena. Think about it," I say, locking eyes with Plutarch Heavensbee. "President Snow had to have a reason to rigthe cards."

I'm not surprised that the Gamemakers don't seem shocked. I guess it's because they've heard this from everyone they've seen today.

"So, I'm going to make a deal with you. If you give me a good score, I won't kill you when I get out of that arena. Capeesh?" I smirk.

"Miss Mason, you know that's not how this works," A familiar voice says. I look up at the balcony only to see a fairly normal looking Peacekeeper. But something seems undoubtedly familiar about him. Short auburn hair, determined amber eyes, and an almost permanent scowl on his face. I know this Peacekeeper! If only I could remember who exactly he is.

"Well, it will now," I say. "Because if you give me a good score, I also promise to kill Katniss Everdeen. AKA, the reason you all are at risk of losing your jobs."

The Gamemakers, excluding Plutarch, exchange approving glances. Plutarch however, seems to be studying me like a hawk. He seems kind of confused, since I'm part of the rebellion and all. I wink at him and finish tying my knot. I toss my newly finished noose over a dummy.

"Of course, I don't know that it'll necessarily quench my thirst for vengeance. So I guess I'll have to settle for another target outside of the arena," I say, hanging the dummy.

"Say goodbye to President Snow," I smirk.

"You are dismissed," the Peacekeeper says. His voice sounds more familiar than ever, now that it's laced with disapproval. And suddenly, I realize why I didn't recognize it immediately. Because the speaker of that voice has supposedly been dead for more than half a decade.

Oleander?

…

What did I tell you ;)

(Before you ask, I know exactly where this is headed, so don't worry about me just introducing him back in and not knowing why he's here. I see so many stories where things like this happen and the author doesn't know where he/she is going with this, and the stories never end up getting finished. Just saying, that's not gonna happen on my watch)

Quote of the day!

"Don't laugh, you have to eat the unicycle." –Teen Titans, Mammoth

May the odds be ever in your favor,

Spectrobes Princess