HEY HEY HEY! This is the penultimate chapter before the Games start! The next one sees the last 24 hours and the reveal of the arena! How exciting! I hope that there are people out there who are still reading and reviewing this story. I am sorry that it has taken me so long to update and I really appreciate those of you who stick by it.
Enjoy the chapter and the full list of training scores will be at the bottom!
Embree 'Bree' Chimer (15) – District 7
They've what? I was prepared to go on, ready to show Ban exactly how he should do it and give him the confidence to go up there and storm the place, as much as he could with his quiet confidence. But they've changed it all up now and I'm supposed to go after him. I can see him shaking onstage, he got a good score with his 6 and the small smile on his face means he is pleased.
When he does leave the stage, his hands shaking slightly still from the fact that he has just gone through it, he leaves to moderate applause from the audience and Caesar moves on. "Our next guest is a charming young tribute, its Embree Chimer!"
Really? Go for the charmer joke? That's my line! I smile widely as I skip up the steps and onto the stage to a fair applause. I wave to them quickly and move over to Caesar who shakes my hand firmly. "Hi Caesar."
Taking the seat, Caesar smiles widely. "Embree, am I correct in thinking that you prefer another name? A nickname?"
I nod; I'm glad that he brought it up. "Yes Caesar, please call me Bree. It sounds that little more cheery."
Caesar nods slightly. "Of course, Bree it is. Now Bree, I hear that you and Banian are teaming up together for an alliance."
I nod. "Yes, Ban is the brains of the alliance, I guess we both have a skill at some kind of weapons. I know that we can survive a while at least. How long it is, I don't quite know, no one can, but I hope it's at least a while."
"Of course we all hope that you and Banian will get far." Caesar smiles gently. "Are you going to spoil for us what things you'll be looking for in the Cornucopia? Or is that a closely guarded secret?"
I roll my eyes and cross my ankles as my escort taught me to do. "Oh Caesar, if we all spilled the secrets of what we were planning on doing in the Games, then the actual spectacle wouldn't be any fun would it?"
I wink at Caesar and he smiles widely. "Ah, you've got me Miss Chimer. How about home? What do you can you tell us about your home life?"
I smile widely, my family. "I was lucky to grow up in a better home than some of the people in the district. My parents work in the logging business and I have a little brother called Skimm whose 11."
Caesar smiles. "Skimm, what a lovely name. Is he much like you?"
I shrug. "A little I guess, he's mischievous and always loves getting himself into trouble. But then boys of that age always do."
Caesar laughs widely. "I hear they are Bree. Do you miss them much?"
What a silly question. "Of course I do Caesar! My family, my friends, I miss my cat an awful lot." I bite my lip, dear Honeycomb and the audience coo in adoration. "I have a cat back at home, she's barely more than a kitten at the moment." I sigh slightly. "But I guess that these kind of things happen." I bite my lip slightly, taking a deep breath. "You have to miss your family, the ones that you've known for so long. Or what kind of human are you?"
Caesar nods slightly, I don't think he knows what to do. "Now Bree, you scored an excellent 5 in your training. You and Banian have done well in your training, does that make you a threat?"
A five? Really? That's cool, that's really good, it's respectable at the very least. I shake my head quickly. "I wouldn't say that Ban and I are a huge threat but we aren't to be ruled out. Sometimes there are surprises in the Games, tributes that you don't expect to shine. And yet they come and throw the whole thing a curveball. I'd say that Ban and I could be that kind of alliance. You should never rule out a tribute just because of where they come from."
Caesar nods his agreement. "Well said Bree, very well said." The buzzer goes and I breathe a sigh of relief, I really hope that went vaguely well. "Ladies and gentlemen, the charming Bree Chimer!"
I wave to the audience who give me warm applause and I smile slightly as I leave the stage. Right, onto the next thing.
Smithe Cooper (16) – District 8
This is my time. I am here to represent my district, loud and proud, and I promise that I will represent them the best that I can. I have to go before Naedle, set a good example and show her how we should be represented as a district. If I am to die in the next few days, at least I will have left a lasting impression on those who have seen me. And I will leave an impression.
The girl from Seven finishes with a fair amount of applause and I put a smile on my face. I have to appear charming, well it's who I am anyway, and suave, the Capitol has to fall in love with me. And I know that they will. Caesar's voice calls over them. "Now we are moving on to District 8, please welcome the always charismatic Smithe Cooper!"
Charismatic, I like the sound of that. I stroll up onto the stage and wave to the crowd, they cheer and I grin widely. "Hi Caesar, it's so good to be here."
We both sit down and Caesar leans back in his chair. "So Smithe, tell us about yourself."
Oh I can do that, easily. "I am a natural leader Caesar, I hope that we will be able to see it if I can join an alliance during the Games. I am ready to go into the Games, I am ready to go into the Games head on and give everyone a run for their money. I am ready and raring to go, I might be afraid of death but I have the guts and the willpower to make sure that I get as far as I can."
Caesar smiles. "Well we like a tribute who isn't afraid to have a go at the Games. Now Smithe, do you want to venture a guess at what training score you got?"
I shrug slightly. "I gave it my best shot Caesar, whether that is enough is of course another question altogether."
Caesar smirks. "Well Smithe, you got a very respectable score of five. How do you feel?"
Five? There are several other tributes that have got that! And I respect them as tributes, I think I did well. That was the score that the girl from 2 got! Well perhaps I do have a chance after all. I breathe heavily. "Wow. I wasn't expecting that Caesar! That's rather good isn't it?"
Caesar nods. "It's very respectable for someone from your district Smithe. Can you divulge a few of your secrets?"
I guess it can't hurt. "I guess that working on my own must have helped to some degree. I did a whole lot of stations in the training centre; I think I just about managed to cover all of them. But then, I wasn't very good at many of them and I was okay at a few. I think that was the point, to work out what I was good and what I could improve on. Which weapons I should try and pick up in a fight and which ones I should leave for someone else to wield."
Caesar raises an eyebrow. "And did you find your ideal weapon?"
I nod again. "A hand axe. It's small but powerful. Plus I can wield it and throw it as well so I can use it for close or far away combat."
Caesar nods, impressed. "You've clearly learned a lot in a short space of time. I think we should keep a small eye on you Mr Cooper."
I raise an eyebrow. "I hope that you'll be keeping more than that on me Caesar, I intend on putting a spectacle for the Capitol. You ask for blood and gore for your sick entertainment and so that is what you shall get."
Caesar grins widely and gesticulates to the audience. "Well look at that folks, we might get the show after all!" The audience cheer loudly and I wave to them cheerfully. They make me sick; they make me want to vomit the fact that they think that children dying is a sport that should be enjoyed. They should be thrown into an arena and see how they like it. But a crowd pleaser is one who is sure to get sponsorship in the Games. So I will to continue to play them at their dirty games. And then I can play my own. Then the Capitol will really understand what kind of game I play.
Negan Candoth (18) – District 9
Four. Thank goodness the two of us never even considered allying. I know it's supposed to be a good score for someone of these districts, but I can't have kind of score. I need to show everyone I mean business, I'm a threat and when it comes to the Games tomorrow, they need to be afraid. They need to be very afraid. I will be coming home, the blood of as many of those small cretins on my hands as I can and a smile on my face.
Naedle seems almost happy up there, I wouldn't have expected it, and I guess Caesar is doing his best to help her out there. She's going to need all the help that she can get. When they see me, they won't want anything to do with her. Them in the Capitol, they have no idea what I am like, what I can do. Oh boy are they in for a surprise.
The applause she gets is fair; I need to get a bigger round of applause. I will get a larger round of applause, the Capitol will realise they love me. Caesar quietens the crowd and I straighten my blazer, ready to present. "Ladies and gentlemen, our next guest is a quiet man with something to hide, its Negan Candoth!"
Not even letting a smile slip onto my face, I climb up the steps and onto the stage. I can barely see the audience and I guess that's good because I don't want to be put off by them. Having to listen to them cheer my name is bad enough. Caesar has a strange smile on his face but I can match it easily. He puts out his hand I take it quickly. "Hi Caesar." I mutter and he smiles broadly.
We both take our seats and finally those stupid people quieten down. "Now Negan, I have to say we have to start with your score because it is quite remarkable for someone from your district. I get the feeling you are going to be to look out for, you got a score of 10!"
The audience break out into huge cheers and I sit back with a smirk on my face. There it was, that was what I wanted. I bet I have wiped the smirks off the Careers faces, they have ignored me and they have no idea what they are going to get tomorrow. I cannot hide the smile on my face. "I was expecting it, I've been preparing for this for a long time." I draw out my words for as long as I can, the audience I know are hanging onto my every word. "It is an honour to represent my district and to show Panem just how good I am at what I do."
Caesar leans forward; his posture suggests he is a little nervous of me. But that is how I like those people who are around me, especially those who don't know me properly. "Now Negan, there has been a lot of talk about your reputation in District 9. It is known that you were wearing what is known as prison uniform, when you volunteered for the Games. What were you arrested for?"
Oh I'm glad I haven't been asked the normal boring questions. These are exciting and I let a glint come into my eyes as I answer. "Murder Caesar. And I don't care what they say in my district, what they say in the Capitol, I killed those who did not belong in the district, those who committed crimes unspeakable. I disposed of them, doing the district a great service." I get the feeling that I will be the talk of the Capitol. I am not your usual tribute and I will not be your usual Victor. Caesar sits back and I can see a flicker of fear in his eyes. Of course I'm not going to hurt him, he's the one who's helping my Games here! "Don't worry Caesar, I like you and you haven't done anything wrong. I won't try to kill you."
I start to laugh and Caesar seems to relax a little but he is still very wary. "Good, I'm glad to hear that. I don't think the Gamemakers would be happy with you if you tried to kill me."
I shake my head. "Oh just watch me tomorrow Caesar, you will see why they tried to catch me in District 9. I've got several tricks up my sleeve."
Oakley Shelton (13) – District 10
The girl from 9 did well after the storming performance from Negan, a five is respectable. I can't believe he got a 10. I don't know much about what my future is going to hold, but I know that I don't want to end up anywhere near him. That might give me the slightest hope of making it at least past the bloodbath.
Stag got a seven; he's really pleased about it. He's charming as he normally is, he's really nice and I hope that it won't come down to the two of us. The audience seem to really like him; I hope that they like me as well. What if they don't? What if they hate me? No, I can't afford to think like that. They loved Brill; they are going to love me. I'm young, I'm cute and I have got this.
Stage leaves to a good amount of applause and Caesar calms the audience. "Now our next guest is the other redhead in this competition, can she bring fire to the Games, its Oakley Shelton!"
Fire? Me? He has got to be kidding me. I skip up onto the stage, feeling my dress floating around me. I feel like a princess in this dress. I go over to Caesar and shake his hand, polite just as my parents brought me up to be. "Hi Caesar." I smile. I hate everything this man stands for, but I have to be nice.
We sit down in the big chairs and I feel like I'm sinking into it slightly. "The chair is rather big isn't it?" Caesar also seems to notice.
I wriggle to sit up a bit more, sitting on the edge of my seat to not seem engulfed. "Oh well Caesar, I guess we all can't be as big and strong as Stag or some of the other tributes."
Caesar smiles. "We must never underestimate the younger tributes, it is something we have learned very quickly in the Games. Now Oakley, you have a great alliance, don't you?"
I grin. "Caesar, I adore my alliance and I'm really lucky. You've met Brill and I guess you'll meet Breeze soon enough. We might be the youngest alliance in the Games but I guess that you will have to wait until the Games to see what we can do."
"We will all keep an eye out for you Oakley. Especially since you got a very respectable score of five in your training. Are you happy with that?"
Am I? That's really good! It's nearly as good as Brill! I'm very happy with it. "Yeah, it wasn't what I was expecting."
I grin and Caesar smiles too. "What is your life back in District 10 like?"
I can talk about it, easily. "District 10 is fairly nice, I live with my parents and my little brother Dominic. I miss him the most, he's only four." There is a coo from the audience and I take a deep breath. "I don't want to just be a memory for him, you know Caesar? I want to see him grow up and have all the experiences that I had. Or at least I hope I will have. The only thing I hope he doesn't have to go through is this." Caesar blinks, I'm not planning on going against the Capitol. I don't have the guts to and it would place a target on my head for the Gamemakers. "I don't want to cut his life short, I want him to have all the opportunities that I probably won't have."
Caesar nods slightly. "We always want the best for the people that we love. We are all touched by your family story. Do you have a token that you can be reminded of?"
I turn around to show the blue ribbon that is tied in my hair. "Can you see the ribbon?" Caesar nods. "My best friend gave it to me, Avalon. She and I are like sisters, that's what I have to remind me of them, of everyone that I have left behind. We can't promise that we will get home but, as Stag said, we are going to fight with all that we have to get ourselves home."
Caesar smiles widely. "We have no doubt you will, do we folks?" There is a cheer from the audience, thank goodness they like me. I just have to be myself, that is what I have to be. I don't want to be anyone else.
Husk Whetstone (18) – District 11
This is my time to shine; I know that I have done well in the private sessions. Whether the Gamemakers will reward or destroy me for getting so close is another thing altogether but have curse I know they will reward me. They want me to die but they want to earn money from it. Aside from the origin of the Games, money and retaining wealth and power is all that they care about.
But now, once that little ilk who I have to call a district partner, has finished his interview with his fair score of four, I know that I have got at least double that score, it is my time to shine. I just have this impatient wait, which I have been crazily sitting through for the last hour or so. Why must they make us wait so long? I just want to get up there and prove to the Capitol that you shouldn't underestimate me. You should never underestimate the ones who seem to slip into the background.
He gets a small round of applause but I know that I will get a much larger applause. After all I live for the applause. He offers me a small smile as he leaves; he is far too below me to even get a smile. Ugh, the sooner that smirk is wiped right off his face, the better.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are nearing the end of our evening but our next guest is the Lenny to Breeze's George, its Husk Whetstone!" I don't know who on earth Lenny and George are but I guess it isn't too bad given that the audience are cheering and so I skip up onto the stage with a wide smile on my face. They are going to love me, I just know it. Caesar has this strange smile on his face that I can tell is very fake but I think he's trying to make me feel good. "Welcome Husk, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"I know." I smile brightly and we sit down, Caesar blanching slightly at my confidence in who I am. Deal with it. "Thanks for having me."
The audience's cheers die down and Caesar smiles politely. "Now Husk, your district partner is quite the laugh. Do you feel any sense of responsibility for him, being the older of the two of you?"
Responsible? Is he kidding me? What kind of question. "Caesar, Breeze and I decided pretty quickly that we didn't want to be allies, we weren't right for each other so we split up. Electra is a great ally and we match each other fairly well. I think we'd ideally like another ally but in the Games, anything can happen and I'm sure we'll be experiencing a few surprises."
Caesar beams. "Well we love surprises, don't we folks?" There are several cheers from the audience at this and I wave to them, get them liking me, keep them under my thumb. "Now Husk, you scored an impressive six in your training. Are you going to spill any secrets of what you did for the Gamemakers?"
A six? That's it? I only got two more points than Breeze? I should have got so much more than that! I guess it's better than some of the other people who have already gone before me, but I really thought I would get more. Ugh, well I will just have to prove to the Gamemakers that I deserve more than that. Okay, pretend that I'm happy with it.
"There aren't many people from my district who tend to get as high a score as that Caesar. I can't spoil anything." I wink and smile coyly. "But I think you'll get a good time when I am in the Games."
Caesar laughs heartily. "Well Husk, you're certainly a woman of secrets. Now I hear you are a bit of an actress, is that true?"
Oh now this I can talk about! "Caesar, getting to be in someone else's shoes is great fun. It gives you access to whole new worlds beyond Panem because they come from your imagination." I smile slightly, that stage is so close and so dear to me. "It is a world I love Caesar and I will act all the way through the Games, playing the game that is set out before me." And I will play my part to the tea. I always do.
Danielle 'Danni' Attkins (14) – District 12
Danny is really happy with his six, I mean he should be. That's such a good score, especially since District 12 are notorious for getting terrible scores in training and then doing just has bad in the Games themselves. Not this year, this year District 12 is not going without a fight. You have not seen the last of the Attkins twins Capitol; one of us will be coming home victorious.
I wonder what I will get. The audience seem to like Danny, they like his sprit and gentle angle he seems to be playing. I know him better; I always have and always will know him better than anyone else. Nothing but death will be able to separate us and so help me if we can't get the both of us back from the Games. There has to be a way, somewhere there has to be a loophole in the rules that let's two of us go home. I will find it, there has to be a way.
Danny leaves the stage with a huge grin on his face and gives me a big hug. "Good luck sister, you can do it. They aren't too scary up there."
Always looking out for me, that's the Danny I know. "Our final tribute this evening looks just like her tribute partner, perhaps its because they're twins, its Danielle Attkins!"
I jump up the steps and run over to Caesar, the cheer of the crowd blasting my ears. They are so many of them! I wave to them shyly; I don't really know them so it's exciting but really unnerving too. "Hi Caesar." I grin as the applause dies down and he indicates my seat. "How are you?"
Caesar smiles widely. "I am very well, all the better for meeting you. How are you Danielle?"
I grin. "Oh Caesar, please call me Danni, everyone does."
Caesar nods but raises an eyebrow. "Does that cause any confusion between you and your brother, given you both prefer Danni?"
I shrug. "It's sometimes really fun that way. Our parents know which one they need and you can tell by the tone of their voice which one of us is being called. If it's a 'you're in deep trouble because you've gone and gotten into another fight', they're calling for me. If it's a 'you're in deep trouble for pulling another prank' its probably Danny."
Caesar's eyes widen. "Fight? So you have had experience with fighting other people before now?"
I shake my head. "Not like the Hunger Games level, but I defend my family and my honour Caesar. No one is allowed to disrespect my family; no one is going to let them get hurt. Or I will hurt them first."
I know I sound dangerous but I am not going to play the cute young one, I am a threat and everyone should know it. "Well Danni, I hope that it will come in hand for the Games. You got a four for your training, do you care to comment?"
Four? Oh. Well I guess it's better than getting nothing. And it's average for a person from 12. "I'm more than just a number Caesar, I am a person and I will prove to all of you that I can be more than that. I won't be going from these Games without a fight. I have a family to get home to."
Caesar leans forward. "How does having your brother in the Games change things? Does it make it easier or difficult?"
He's got a point. A very good point. "I think it's both Caesar." I know my tone has become gentle but I have to show I'm not a monster. "I never want to leave my brother's side and having him in the Games means that I know I will have someone by my side at all times, someone to protect me. But in the event that…" I can't even say it, I have to swallow and take a deep breath, it will not happen! It will not happen! "In the event that we are separated for good, I will just have to hold my own. I will have to prove that I can stand on my own two feet for the both of us. I will have to make it home for both of us."
There is a large applause from the audience and I swallow again, why do I have this stupid lump in my throat? I talk about Danny all the time; we've discussed this problem before. This time it's just a bit too real.
Training Scores:
Carina Lavell - 9
Bastian Pier - 10
Brill Austin - 6
Ephraim Alister - 8
Kite Boggess - 5
Ramin Navarro - 8
Twilight Magnificence Fayning - 3
Rini Emerson - 8
Electra Watt - 5
Sekhmet Trannen - 6
Jasmyne Taylor - 4
Dorian Dumont - 7
Bree Chimer - 5
Ban Platanus - 6
Naedle Olliston - 4
Smithe Cooper - 5
Metis Larkin - 5
Negan Candoth - 10
Oakley Shelton - 5
Stag Browning - 7
Husk Whetstone - 6
Breeze Thickett - 4
Danni Attkins - 4
Danny Attkins - 6
What do you think? Were you surprised (good or badly) by any of the scores? Are there any tributes that you are starting to take notice of? Please don't forget to review and the usual questions to help you are below:
What did you think of the chapter overall?
Did any of the scores or interviews surprise you?
Any other thoughts on the arena?
Who do you think will die in the bloodbath?
Who do you want to die in the bloodbath?
Happy writing!
PenMagic x