This chapter isn't as important as most of the other chapters. Just here to give you an insight at what happened after the Interviews and because I felt like it.
Eywill Dye, 18
District 8 Male Tribute
Sliver came down after Taurus left to take us back up to our room. I liked that. It was like having your own personal servant. And you know you're well high up when your servant was the Victor of the 1st annual Hunger Games.
All hail King Eywill, I thought to myself. King Eywill. Yep, I liked that title. It fit me perfectly, like a cozy blanket or just the right pair of pants.
The elevator ride was quiet. Sliver stayed in the corner the whole time, with a small scowl on his face. He was mad. But lucky for him, I knew why. He was upset that I called him out and proved that I would become a way better, braver, stronger, more popular victor than he would've ever been. And sometimes, it takes a while for news like that to sink in. He was lucky that I told him that before he got too full of himself.
The elevator finally stopped. Good. I was getting tired of waiting anyways. I barged past both Harper and Sliver into the room. Harper just glared at me, but Sliver said nothing. He was still upset and I wondered if maybe to make him feel better, I could talk to him. He would like that. Anybody likes it when the great Eywill Dye talked to them!
"So...um...I know you're upset that you couldn't keep the truth hidden any longer," I began. "But there's no need to be jealous-"
"Stop."
"Um, excuse me, you have no right to talk to me like that right!"
"Eywill..."
"Come on, stop acting like you don't know I'm the one who's gonna win these Games! And I will! I will perform so well, that it will put you and your pathetic story to shame!"
Harper gasped. Sliver finally looked me in the eye. "Oh really?"
His tone scared me a little, which was unheard of. Nobody can scare the great Eywill Dye!
"You seriously want to do this, Eywill? You want to tell me, the only living survivor out of 23 dead children that my story is pathetic? You just don't get it, do you?"
"No, you're the one who doesn't get it! You keep underestimating me! All of you! And when I become victor, you'll regret everything, whether you like it or not!"
Sliver just shook his head. "I don't care. Really, I don't. I'm tired of constantly hearing your side of the argument over and over with you trying to prove me wrong. Now...it's your turn to hear mine, whether you like it or not."
His voice attracted some Avoxes into the room, but they all kept their distance from us. Good, they would need the protect themselves from all the sick burns I would use to easily destroy Sliver in this argument. "Fine! Let's hear how wrong you are!"
Sliver's eyes narrowed. Harper smirked, but she quickly covered her mouth.
"You just don't get it, do you? You want to be a victor but you don't understand how much I've been trying to help you do that. You're taking my advice for granted, every last word coming fro my mouth and I can guarantee you're not even listening to me right now. I am the only person who knows what happens in the arena and lived to tell the tale. You're better off listening to what I have to say because when they put you in there, you won't last a day."
"No, I will last-"
"There you go, ignoring me again. I'm trying Eywill, I'm trying so hard to bring you home but I can't do it by myself! I need you to cooperate but you simply refuse to! You're arrogant and narcissistic with practically no regard for others. You are too wrapped up in constantly complimenting yourself that you forget to focus on the real world. And sometimes, you're an ass! You know what, I'm done. I can't help you any more. Go ahead and ignore me. We'll see where that gets you tomorrow."
With that, Sliver turned around and headed for the elevator. Harper and I just watched him go. The Avoxes went back to their work, giving each other shared glances. I was just left standing there with Harper.
"Geez," I groaned. "What's his problem? Crybaby."
"You," Harper simply said. "You're the problem." She headed off to her room.
Me? A problem? No, no, no, that wasn't right. I was the solution! I always had been. The one they feared but secretly admired. Nobody had ever talked to me like that before. And...I had to be honest, I didn't know what to do about it. But I would eventually. The great King Eywill always gets what he wants.
My great and important thoughts were interrupted by Christof strolling into the living room, sipping his martini. "Well, thanks for interrupting my sleep. I heard everything."
"Whatever. Who does Sliver think he is, treating me like that? Well fine, I can just ignore his mean and unimportant insults."
Christof just took another sip from his drink. "Sure, do whatever. At the end of the day, it's your funeral, kid."
Everly Asfaw-Pratt, 14
District 7 Female Tribute
I ended up squeezing myself onto an elevator with Fennel, Desmond, Zander, Urijah, and Carina. Luckily, there was still a bit of room left so we weren't also pressed against each other. The ride felt a bit slower than usual so to help us pass the time, Desmond tried making small talk with Zander, who just ignored him and gave me a strange look instead.
Eventually, the elevator stopped at out floor, so we hopped off, Fennel waving goodbye to Desmond as we did. Allegro was waiting for us on the couch, sipping some sweet-smelling drink and reading a magazine.
Fennel coughed loudly. "Hi Allegro. We're back."
"Oh, I didn't hear you two come in! I saw the Interviews from the television up here. Nice job, both of you. Oh, you've made me so proud!"
I blushed, hoping it wasn't too noticeable. Allegro put down her magazine and wrapped both of us in giant hugs. "Now, why don't you get to bed? You've got a big day ahead of you and sleep is very important."
Going to bed sounded great. But I was starting to feel a bit of cramping in my gut. It hadn't been very noticeable on the elevator, but I could really feel it now. Sleep was going to have to wait.
"Um...Allegro...do you mind if I go to the bathroom first?"
"Of course, dear! You know, you don't have-"
I didn't hear her full reply before I dashed for the bathroom and quickly closed to door. Sitting down to relieve myself, I felt a bit better until I saw the reddish stain at the back of my dress.
"What!? No! No, no, no, no..." I mummered to myself. This couldn't be happening! Not now, before I was sent into the Hunger Games. No wonder Zander had been staring at me weirdly on the elevator.
I didn't want to break down, but I did anyways. Why did my period have to come tonight out of all nights? Couldn't it just wait a little longer? There would be so much trouble it could cause, so many disadvantages in the arena. I wasn't ready for that!
As if to add to my misery, there was a knock on the door.
"Go away," I sniffed. But whoever was on the other end just ignored me and opened the door. It was Allegro.
"Everly...are you okay, sweetheart? I heard you from the living room." Allegro muttered, before glancing down at me. "...oh."
"Why did it have to come tonight!?" I sobbed. "We're going into the arena tomorrow!"
Allegro stepped outside the bathroom, but quickly returned wit ha fresh roll of toilet paper and a pad. She held the items up and I grabbed them from her. I ripped a long piece of toilet paper off the roll and started wiping at my eyes with it.
"Do you know how to put the pad on?"
"Y-yes!" I went ahead and did so. "There!"
"Alright, alright. Now, I don't know what else I can do about your time of the month right now, though I'll see if I can convince the Gamemakers to put something in the arena for you. I'm sure that you know that it won't go away in 24 hours."
"I know that. It's not my first time."
Allegro ripped off another piece of toilet paper and wiped away some tears that I had missed. "Chin up honey, it won't be so bad. Just be careful and remember that it will go away eventually. Plus, I'm sure your allies will be willing to support you if you need any help and that I will try to help as well."
I did feel a little better now. "I-i...I guess. Thanks Allegro."
"No problem, deary. Now, let's get you to bed. Maybe you'll feel better."
So, after the Interviews are over, we got to see what's up with Eywill and Everly. One's just being himself and the other is...well...being visited by her Auntie Flow.
Anyways...I have a few more notes about the Games/Bloodbath. One, there will be no sponsoring. I know, I know, you all want to send your babies quality crafted flamethrowers and are now pissed off that you can't. But I believe that sponsoring was not implemented until a later games. That's the problem with doing something like the 2nd Hunger Games. Not everything you see in a normal Games is put in.
Two, I have already chosen most of my Bloodbaths. One or two are still a little shaky, but most of them are pretty solid. I didn't get a lot of Bloodbath submission (only 2, to be exact), so I had to choose. If your tribute does become a Bloodbath, I'm saying beforehand that it was a personal decision based off of the tribute, not the submitter. So please, don't be mad.
If everything goes according to plan, we should have the Bloodbath in about three chapters. One chapter I had planned to include, one featuring the launch, and then the action begins. So stay tuned for those!
