(A/N) Hey guys, we're back now, and I'm really sorry that we missed our Sunday update. I had every intention of uploading this chapter that day, but unfortunately events led to me not being able to do so. Was not the best day I've ever had, to say the least. However, we're here now, with the launch of the Twenty-Fourth Annual Avenger Games! We may have a slight delay before the next update, but it'll be worth it, I promise!

Thanks to Elwaith for their review, and hope you guys are all pumped for the beginning of the Games, because I sure am! Last chance to pick your favourites, because after this, it'll be survival of the fittest. May the odds be ever in their favour.

Enjoy!

Chapter Thirty-Six – Countdown

Launch

Wanda Maximoff of District Nine

Written by Tando

"May the odds be ever in your favour." – Suzanne Collins, Hunger Games

Wanda watched from her window seat as the aircraft took off. She was able to tell the exact moment it lifted off the ground, for at that precise moment her stomach lifted as well. She'd never ridden in a aircraft before; she looked over at Kurt, wondering if he'd ever gotten the chance. But, seeing as they're both from District Nine...probably not.

"Do we have to stay strapped in the whole time?" Kurt asked, trying to make conversation. "I'm feeling fidgety already."

No one responded.

They were three S.W.O.R.D. aircrafts, each with eight tributes each. The 'craft was small, with a stainless steel interior and bolted windows. It looked like it was more suited to carry cargo than people.

Wanda shrugged – she had nothing against Kurt, it's just that they were so different, and it's not like she was a conversationalist to begin with. And why would Kurt want to be friends with her, anyway? He must have made some allies during meals and training, unlike her. He was friendly, out-going, likable, but then again...the other tributes weren't looking for likable, they were looking for someone who could survive.

The first half-hour of the 'craft ride was silent, mostly due to the noise of the take-off, but after they had made it up into the air, the jets quieted, and the eight tributes were left in the silence of the ride.

"Well, who's ready to kick some butt?!" Wade asked, his seat belt stretched out as he puffed out his chest.

The other two Careers on the plane, Clint and Thor, gave a nervous laugh. During training, Wanda had spent time observing the other tributes, so much so that she had memorized all of their names. For example, she could name everyone on this plane.

Wade, the cockiest of the Careers. He maintained a high-energy, uncontrolled persona, but he was actually highly intelligent. Combined with a heightened skill in wielding swords, he was the one to watch out for.

Clint, another Career. Sarcastic, but more withdrawn than the bombastic Wade. Good with a bow and arrow, and ranged weapons were far more dangerous than melee because they don't require an up-front confrontation.

Thor, brutish, and as hard and forceful as the hammer he wields. The tank of the Careers, but also strangely eloquent. Unusual eloquence, it must be a District Four thing.

"You're actually excited?" Steve asked, almost in frustration.

"Of course, give the people a show. That's what we're here for, right?" Wade folded one leg over the other, "Entertain the masses and all that jazz-"

"Would you shut your mouth?!" Anna barked from her seat.

The plane fell silent once again. Wanda leaned over to look out the window. She couldn't see anything but clouds and clear blue sky, in stark contrast to the cold industrial inside of the plane. A thick layer of clouds covered the area below – was this a method used to conceal the arena? Or was it simply a miracle of nature? It was completely clear when they had taken off, but as soon as they were high enough the world became concealed in clouds.

"Erik Lensherr, pleasure."

Wanda shook hands with the past victor, still slightly in awe that he had been the one chosen to be her mentor, rather than Drax, the heavy brute who was currently making Kurt do a seemingly endless round of push-ups in the other room.

"So, I hear that Drax thinks you unsuitable for combat, is that right?" he asked, as he sat back in his chair and folded his hands.

She nodded, "Mhm. Apparently hurling whatever you can find at your enemy does not make for good combat strategy."

"But were you successful?"

"Eventually," she shrugged, "I got Kurt to get behind Drax and surprise him. It took a few tries, but he's very light on his feet."

He sat up, "And how long have you known Kurt?"

"Not...very long. I think I've seen him in the fields a couple of times, but we've never talked until now."

"And why do you think that is?"

Wanda swallowed, worried as to where he was going with this, "Well...judging by the clothes he arrived in, he must be from the wealthier side of the district. Maybe his parents are managers or overseers."

"For your examination for the ratings board, what are you going to do?" his voice was cold, and calculating, as if he was giving her a test, "You obviously couldn't perform any physical tasks, not that you'd want to, I'm sure."

Her examination? She hadn't even thought of that. What should she do...what was there to do?

"I...I honestly don't know. Maybe I'll just talk at them the whole time," she confessed.

He sighed, "That's something we will have to work on."

"What makes you think I need your help?" she snapped back, glaring at her mentor.

Not bothering to respond her question, Erik Lensherr leaned forward in his chair, "Do you know why they call me Magneto?"

"Because you used some sort of... some sort of magnetic device to disarm an entire Career Pack, and then proceeded to crush them with that very same device," Wanda recited, having remembered watching that old Game recording, "but I don't see how that's relevan-"

"What I'm saying young lady, is that you don't need brute force, or physical strength to overpower your opponents. When your body proves useless, your mind is your most powerful weapon. The Avenger Games is rather like a game of chess, you have your pawns, as indistinct and forgettable as all the rest, easily disposed of in the early game...and then you have your major players, your knights, bishops, rooks...and of course, a king and queen."

What was this old man going on about?

"I'm sorry but...what's chess?" a confused Wanda inquired.

He stared at her, slightly dumbfounded, until his eyes opened in revelation, and he started to laugh, "Oh, my apologies, I'd forgotten these sort of things are generally unavailable to average residents. Just think of the Avenger Games as an actual game, with weak players and strong players. You can imagine that, right?"

She nodded her head, as he continued, "Well, I currently see you as maybe a middling piece at best. You have no physical advantages to speak of, and that will be a heavy on anyone who would form an alliance with you...if anyone ever does."

"What makes you think I need an alliance?!" Wanda snapped, "If they're better off without me, than that's totally fine! I don't need them!"

"You'll regret those words, child! If you lack physical prowess, you're going to need all the help you can get. What skills could you offer them? Anything?"

She stood up from her chair, her head bowed low, her expression hidden by an overcast shadow. She tilted her head up, just a little, to reveal a crooked smile. "Old man...I'm just here to die. I see no point in hiding that. I don't know what kind of stake you have in this, but keep your advice to yourself, and don't place any bets on me."

From out behind Wanda's shirt, her necklace containing her mother's ring slipped out to the forefront of her chest. The chain swung back and forth, the dull glint of the ring catching Erik Lensherr's attention.

"The train has arrived," Drax announced in his disgruntled tone.

Wanda turned around. "Thank goodness, I can't wait to get out of this dump."

Drax raised an eyebrow, confused. "What goodness are you thanking?"

"Wait, that ring!" Erik Lensherr held out his hand to stop her. "Where did you find it?"

She stopped in place, but without turning around, she mumbled, "It's my mother's, my district token. It was her wedding ring, I don't know much more about it."

She walked into the other room, where Kurt opened the door for her, and the two of them filed out, leaving Drax and Erik in the Justice Building, the latter of whom followed her every step, his face conflicted and his thoughts unfathomable.

"Hey!" a voice called out.

Wanda looked up to find Steve sitting across from her. He was one of the hardest of the tributes to pin-point – sure, he had a gentle, wholesome exterior, but could a person about to participate in the Avenger Games really be that down-to-earth? Whatever his true personality may be, his physique and strong facial build reminded her of the ideal young farmhand. As she glanced over him she realized that he was quite...attractive.

"Uhm...miss?" he repeated.

She snapped out of her daydream. "Huh?"

"I asked if you're ready."

She tried to conjure a response, shrugging her arms, "I don't know...how do you prepare for something like this?"

"Good point. I guess I figure that you make of it what you can."

"Hey Stars-and-Stripes, it's a little late to be forming an alliance, don't you think?" Clint questioned.

"I'm just being friendly. It's much easier to create camaraderie when you can't rip each other's throats out," Steve pointed out.

Wade started cracking up, his cackle echoed through the hollow metal interior. "Seriously?! Awe...man...you're hilarious, you know that?"

Steve raised an eyebrow. "I don't see what's funny."

The aircraft touched down, and the hatch opened, revealing a covered ramp. The tributes unbuckled their seat belts, and made their way down the ramp, which lead into an underground facility just as cold and metallic as the airplane.

Kurt ran up to meet Wanda, as the slight patter of his feet made a soft pitter-patter on the ground, splitting off from the rest of the group from his aircraft.

"Well, I guess I'll...see you out there," Kurt interjected.

She looked down, she felt bad. Guys like Kurt and Steve were always trying to be nice to everyone, even to her. She just, didn't know how to respond.

"Yeah...thanks."

He chuckled. "Wow, you actually said something nice. I'm impressed, you've come a long way."

Wanda and Kurt sat on opposite sides of the dining table, the both of them silent. Kurt was busy helping himself to thirds of a thick, whitish-yellow substance which he topped with an almost equally thick brown liquid. Instead of seeping through the mush like water, the brown liquid slid off the sides, and pooled at the surface of his plate. She tried to recall what Robert Kelly, their district escort, called that particular dish...mashed potatoes and gravy?

Whatever it was, Kurt was devouring it. They'd just gotten on the train to the Capital, and the first thing they'd seen was a long table filled to the brim with food of all different shapes, sizes, and colours. While Kurt went to work right away trying everything, Wanda took her time with her food, stopping periodically to stare out the window.

Now that was something to marvel at. She'd missed Districts Ten through Twelve, since they were the districts they passed through first, but from what she'd heard about them, they weren't exactly worth seeing. As the train passed the boundaries of District Nine, Wanda was welcomed with wide open plains. Not the kind of plains filled with wheat to harvest, just vast, free plains. The train itself rode along on a elevated railway, which gave her a bird's eye view of the vast expanse below. Not a person in sight, nothing but patches of low grass, a few trees spotting the landscape, and small flocks of birds that spun through the air alongside the train.

But, as the train continued on its route, the grass turned from shades of green, yellow, and amber, into a stark, muddy brown. What were they riding toward?

The train began to slow, and Wanda stepped back to the furthest window to reveal a massive enclave of concrete walls surrounding tall, foreboding warehouses with chimneys that towered toward the sky. Pressed into the fortress-like wall in only a slightly darker shade of grey are the words "District Eight".

District Eight? She remembered the name, she pulled her arms out of her sleeves and turned the shirt around to expose the label: "Made in District Eight". This was where clothes are made? But weren't clothes made by hand?

"Hey, try some of this cold sweet stuff! Look it's melting right on my-" Kurt stopped when he realized the position Wanda was in, "...uhm...why is your shirt backwards?"

She shifted her eyes in embarrassment. "...no reason."

She turned the shirt back around and fitted her arms back through the sleeves. Not looking Kurt in the eye, she continued eating.

"Drax said that...that we have to work together, our district isn't exactly known for making alliances," Kurt informed, trying to make conversation.

Wanda shrugged. "You'll do fine on your own."

"Th-that isn't the point. The both of us would only benefit if we stuck together-"

"Actually, I beg to differ," she interrupted. "I'll only slow you down, trust me. I don't get along with people."

She slumped down in one of the many cushioned seats along the train, and the ever-persistent Kurt sat down beside her, "Well...how do you know that, if we haven't even had a chance to talk?"

Wanda sighed, before she crossed her legs and folded her arms, an impatient pout on her lips. She'd come to see the wonders of the world, of the other districts. But from the bleak look of District Eight, it didn't seem like her pretty scenery was going to be coming anytime soon.

"Fine, let's talk."

After having said goodbye to Kurt, Wanda entered her Launch chamber to prepare. Her stylist, a woman with orange-yellowish hair by the name of Crystalalia Amaquelin, or 'Crystal' for short, was supposed to be on her way, although the room was currently empty besides herself. It was fine by Wanda, and it meant that she had a few moments to herself.

She sat down on top of a large table in the centre of the room. The fluorescent lights that hung above her gave the steel-plated room a sterile, emotionless feel. Kurt had said that she'd come a long way, and she realized he was right. She'd always been able to read people – it was part of the reason why she didn't engage with them. Whenever someone had an ulterior motive or made a white lie to avoid upsetting someone else, she knew right away. But now, around all of these different personalities from different cultures, different districts, she found them easier to comprehend, especially since they were so distinct from one another. It also helped that she was able to see most of the districts up close, and had at least basic knowledge of the rest, it explained their backgrounds, the worlds which they were coming from. And even though she had no advantage in the realm of physical prowess, the old man was right; her mind was her most powerful weapon.

Wanda struck the dummy with her sword. No, no, this wasn't working either. She'd already tried the bow and arrow, and the larger sword, but even the smaller sword wasn't working for her either. She needed something small, something she could handle.

She stopped to lean against the nearby wall, giving herself a full view of the training room. Kurt was browsing the numerous racks of weapons. While Wanda had gone in trying whatever she could find, he was looking for something specific, from the way he took out one weapon, examined it, and then put it back, like it wasn't the one he was looking for.

By the sparring mats, the Careers were training with one another, showing off their physique, and generally trying to outdo the other. In addition, there was a dark haired tribute from District Twelve who was trying to nudge his way into the Career pack. Wanda frowned; he seemed to actually be doing a good job, and the Careers would be a valuable ally for anyone. But, just when all seemed to be going well, one of the Careers fired an arrow at the tribute, which just barely missed, striking him in the foot. The Careers laughed, before leaving the tribute, who was fuming in both pain and embarrassment.

"Hey, check it out! It's just like the scythes we used at home just...you know...sharper," Kurt held up a large weaponized scythe from a nearby rack.

She shook her head, District Nine tributes have always used scythes as their weapon-of-choice – it was what they were familiar with. But she'd never been good with a scythe, even at home, but maybe Kurt…

"Maybe you could try that on one of the dummies," Wanda suggested. She knew the idea was already in his head, all she had to do was encourage him.

Hesitant, Kurt looked down at the scythe. "Well, it's a bit heavier than what I'm used to but...okay."

He approached the dummy, the blade of his scythe aimed at the plastic dummy. "Should I try a roundabout slash or a direct chop?"

"Depends on your situation. If there's a lot of enemies around you'd want to deflect them with a roundabout, but here, you're only dealing with one opponent, try something more direct."

"Gosh, how do you know all this stuff Wanda?" he asked.

Kurt raised his scythe at the dummy, the blade pointed directly at its head. He hurled the weapon down, and the scythe sliced the dummy in two, right down the middle.

"You know the old moonshine cellar out by the south fields?" She crossed her arms and walked over to the dummy to examine his work. "Behind one of the shelves is a collection of old books. I've read them all, multiple times. One of them is a book on military strategy."

"Illegal books? Cool…" Kurt mused. "Hey, want to give her a try?"

He handed over the scythe to Wanda, who dropped it right as Kurt let go. She tried picking it up again, but instead only managed to drag it on the floor a few feet. Kurt bit his lip, as he tried to hold in his laughter.

"This...is why...I never...use a scythe!" she groaned.

She eventually gave up, slamming the scythe onto the ground. She fell to the floor. "I give up, I'm not strong enough to hold this thing."

Kurt chuckled. "Hey, don't be discouraged, try again."

She tried again, but as her arms attempted to hoist the thick metal, she glanced around and noticed that same dark-haired District Twelve tribute was now on his own. He seemed to be aimlessly wandering the Training Room. Wanda's eyes widened, as she realized that he had no interest in the wide array of weaponry, but rather, the people who were using them. As if he noticed her gaze, he turned her way, and she instantly shot her head down.

"Well, I'm sure we could find you something else to work with," he assured her, while he failed to notice that Wanda's attention had turned elsewhere.

He took the scythe from her, but she made no reaction, "Wanda...something wro-"

She shushed him, and grabbed him by the back to turn him away from the District Twelve tribute. "He's surveying all the Tributes. I've seen him talking with the Careers, he must report to them."

"A tribute from District Twelve?! No way, they're ranked even lower than us!" Kurt reacted in a shouted whisper.

Wanda's eyes darted around as she evaluated his statement. "...debatable. But nevertheless, we can't display our full abilities while he's around. So put down the weed-wacker and pick up something else, something you're not that good with."

Kurt gave a subtle nod, before he walked over to the weapon's rack and chose two sets of bows and arrows. He handed her one set. "I have no idea how these things work...let's give them a try!"

Wanda examined the bow and bag of arrows in her hand. She'd seen these weapons used before in Games footage, but never in her own district. She glanced over at the male Career with the bow and arrows. She watched how he held the bow in his hand, how he drew an arrow out of his bag which he kept strapped to his bag. It was hard to see any details from so far away, but Wanda hoped that she could use his example to seem incompetent, but not so much that the District Twelve tribute would catch onto their act.

She drew an arrow, which connected to the string on the bow. With her hand, she pulled the arrow back, her aim set on the training dummy in front of her, and let it fly. The arrow flung off to the side, dodging the dummy completely. Its quiver and arrowhead clattered on the metal floor several times, which created a loud clanking noise. Two of the Careers turned around, the one with the bow and arrow, and the other with two katanas.

"Ha, good going, Ms Everdeen!" the one with the katanas mocked, before the two Careers turned back to their training.

Wanda's cheek flushed red, and she lowered her head. As much as the Career's insult didn't make sense, that didn't mean she wasn't embarrassed. She only looked up again to see Kurt, who wielded his bow in a similar fashion. He pulled back his arrow and released it. It failed to fly, and tumbled to the side aimlessly. He turned to her, and gave a goofy smile. Did he mess up on purpose, or was he following her lead? Either way, it worked, because from out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the male District Twelve tribute, who rolled his eyes before he turned around and walked off elsewhere.

Wanda nodded to Kurt, and they immediately put their weapons away, in exchange for Kurt's scythe.

"You sure you don't want to try anything?" he asked as he gave his signature weapons a few swings.

She glanced around at the other stations in the training area, and spotted one titled: "Wilderness Survival" with an image of a dense forest superimposed on the wall behind it.

"Actually...there might be something I want to try…" she mumbled, before she began walking toward the station.

After a couple more minutes of waiting, the automatic door to Wanda's Launch chamber zipped open. Crystal stepped in, and Wanda jumped off of the table.

"So...can I order my casket now, or do I have to leave that decision to friends and family?"

She shook his head. "Wanda, you're about to participate in a momentous tradition. You should feel honoured, or at least...optimistic."

Wanda scrunched her eyebrows. "Honoured? I'm going to get my throat slit by someone who grew up miles away from me. Someone who I hardly know, or don't know at all. It doesn't seem like much of an honour."

Crystal nodded slowly and the strange yellow full-body suit that adorned her shifted with her movements. Well...at least she doesn't have wings.

"So, for the Games, I have to follow official wardrobe protocol. But that doesn't mean you can't be fashionable," Crystal pressed a button on the table Wanda had been sitting on, which opened up to reveal a laid-out outfit on a brightly lit fluorescent surface. An autumn red cotton hoodie, grey tank top and jeans, a leather belt that matched the hoodie, and dark grey boots.

Crystal chuckled as Wanda stared down at her outfit in amazement. "Heh heh, pretty sleek, right? A much better outfit then the ones the tributes for the last couple of years ever got."

Wanda ran her hand over the fabric of the sweatshirt. "The outfits are picked for the tributes to accommodate the landscape we'll be facing, correct?"

"Yep. Last year it was all black raincoats because the terrain was a wet forest environment. Didn't you see the broadcast?"

She scoffed. "Who didn't? Everyone watches the Games, especially in District Nine. It's our only form of entertainment...our only window to the outside world."

Wanda tilted her head down, as her hand pressed up against the stainless steel wall. Crystal looked on wearily, before she walked up to her, and put her hand on her shoulder.

"The Games was a way for me to escape District Nine, to see the world and...and now all I want to do is go home."

Crystal scrunched her lips. "But hey...it was worth it, don't you think? Think of one moment, something during your experience, or maybe just a sequence of events. C'mon, there's gotta be something."

Wanda closed her eyes, smiled, and chuckled to herself. "Well...I guess I finally learned how to talk to people. Sort of."

"No kidding," Crystal commented.

She whipped around with a raised eyebrow. Crystal stepped back a bit. "I mean...no offense."

Wanda kept her annoyed expression for one second, before she let it fade, replaced with a smile. "Ha! You see? A week ago I would've been completely offended but now...now I'm just, more aware of people. More attentive. It's...hard to explain."

"So, you're saying that the Games has taught you how to take a joke? You are one weird kid, Wanda Maximoff," she grinned, and Wanda grinned back.

"Yes...I am weird. And I'm completely okay with that."

"Ten minute warning. Please enter your designated circle," an automated voice called out.

Crystal started to throw the clothes at Wanda. "Okay, to business. Your hoodie isn't at all waterproof, so you're going to have shelter for the rain. The boots suggest rough terrain...God, I hope it's not another mountain.

Crystal pressed another button on the table and a side panel opened out of the wall which revealed a small changing room. Wanda hurried inside and closed the door.

"Well, the gear isn't heavy in terms of weather protection, so no snow, although it's enough to suggest that you'll be facing some cold nights. Examining the soles on the boots, it looks like you'll be doing more hiking than climbing. There's lots of support, but not much grip, so if you do try to climb anything, I suggest you be careful not to trip."

Wanda exited the room, now dressed in her Game attire. She handed her other clothes to Crystal, and took off the necklace that secured her mother's wedding ring.

"No...you keep that with you into the Games," she stopped her.

Wanda looked up, before she deposited the token back around her neck, and concealed it under her hoodie, "But...how will I know it'll go back to my family?"

Crystal's shoulders sunk, "Uhm...well...you don't. The Capitol has never been consistent about that...uhm...you know what? I'll give it to your mentor when you...come back, okay?"

Erik? She wouldn't trust that man with a silver fork, let alone her mother's wedding ring. But...it was the best bet she had, wasn't it?

"Alright."

She turned away from her to enter her designated circle, a long tube with a platform at the bottom that she assumed would take her up to the top, when Crystal interrupted her.

"Wait! I have a surprise."

Wanda turned around to find Crystal, who was holding up the scarlet red cape she wore during the Chariot Rides. She gasped. "You kept the cape?!"

"I remember you said it was the only part of the costume you liked. And from the way you kept staring in the mirror while twirling it around...it tipped me off that you liked it more than you were willing to admit."

Wanda giggled. "Yeah...I mean, the leotard was one thing, but that M-shaped helmet? What was that supposed to be?"

"Trust me, it was Angel's idea. If I had been in charge, I would've gone with a cropped red jacket, black dress, knee-high stockings, and ankle boots. Looks more like someone from District Nine would wear and less like something clearly designed by someone from the Capitol. For Kurt...maybe a trenchcoat. Dark blue...or grey. Also, I would've kept his hair long. But you've seen how Angel can be...more flash will get more sponsors, he says," Crystal visualized.

"I don't know where you got the idea that people from District Nine wear trenchcoats or 'knee-high' stockings but...no. It's all thin cloth shirts and work pants, especially for the workers. What clothes we don't get from District Eight we make ourselves," Wanda informed.

She handed her the cape, and Wanda clipped it to her neck. "Well, while you have it. Why not give it one last twirl around? Just for the heck of it."

Wanda looked up at her with a knowing smirk, and Crystal sighed. "Fine, I'll turn away."

She turned her back to Wanda, which gave her just a little privacy. She had no mirror to see herself in, but she figured she'd take this opportunity while she could. On the balls of her feet, she held onto the cape with both hands and began to twirl around. The thin fabric of the cape followed her arms along with her as she spun in a circle aimlessly. She flitted her arms in different directions, which directed her cape in those same directions. She thrust her hands forward, which sent the cape flying in front of her and against her back.

"Five minute warning. Please enter your designated circle," the automated voice repeated, and despite having the same tone, sounded more impatient than the last.

Wanda removed the cape, and handed it back to Crystal. "...thanks for that. I know it...it was silly but-"

She was interrupted by Crystal who pulled her into a tight hug. Smothered in her arms, Wanda was unable to respond.

"No matter what you do out there Wanda...you're a good kid. Remember that."

They pulled away with the both of them smiling at each other. Wanda finally stepped into her designated circle, and the tube slid shut just as she entered. Crystal waved goodbye from outside as she clutched Wanda's cape. As the circle began to rise, Wanda slowly waved back, and a single tear fell from her cheek.

From above, the tube's top opened up, which let in a blast of sunlight. Wanda's breathing accelerated; this was it.

Her head peeked over the edge of the tube, and the first thing she saw, was a sky. Smoke was rising up into the air, partially blocking out the sun. Her next sight was of tall buildings, similar to the ones in the Capitol. But these were different. Older, made of concrete. Some were slanted to the side, others had large chunks missing, with holes that left their interior exposed. The concrete roads were just as torn up and ravaged as the buildings that stood above them. The buildings seemed to stretch on forever, tall skyscrapers divided by roads that led to infinity. Where was she?

The Tesseract, the large blue cube which held the majority of the supplies in the arena, appeared before her. Around it, all of the other tributes in similar circles – she must have been the last one to rise up. The Tesseract was surrounded by bags, some of them farther from it, others closer up. Within the Tesseract lay weapons, swords, bows and arrows, knives, and types of weapons that she didn't even know the names of. At the edge of her view, Wanda could make out the outlines of a scythe, perfect for Kurt.

Kurt... She turned to him. What would he do? Would he go for the scythe, or run in the other direction? It seemed the most likely that he would run in the other direction, and get a head start on making distance between them. But then again, those bags looked tempting, even to her. What if they held valuable supplies? There had been dud bags before in previous Games, so was it worth the risk?

Over the haze of smoke in the sky, a holographic countdown began. If anyone tried to step out of their circle before the countdown ended, they would be obliterated immediately. Wanda had seen that someone in one of the Games used it as a suicide method, a good few years back. Otherwise, no one dared to move as the countdown ticked down.

"Ten...Nine…"

Wanda bit her lip as she mentally made her decision. She glanced around at her fellow tributes. Kurt looked just as nervous as she did. The District Eight boy to her left, Peter, looked scared as well. They were all part of the latter districts, expected to be slaughtered in the opening Bloodbath as tributes rushed to the Tesseract. Would Wanda be one of those tributes?

"Eight...Seven…"

On the other side of the Tesseract, the District One tribute, Wade was singing something...strange...

"NYC, the shadows at sundown! The roofs, that streak, the sky!"

Well, at least someone was happy about the situation, but what was he talking about. NYC?

"Six...Five…"

More tears began to brim on Wanda's eyelids – Mom and Pietro were probably watching her right now. Watching her as she tried to hold in her tears. If only there was a way, someway she could send them a message.

"Four...Three…"

Wait...if they were watching her, they'd have to be watching her through cameras, right? She remembered the past Games – they always had multiple shots everywhere, and that must mean there were cameras…well, everywhere. So no matter where she was, a camera could spot her. She reached into the neck of her hoodie, and pulled out her mother's wedding ring. She raised it to the sky, as far as it would reach while on her necklace.

"Two...One…"

The first cannon rang, the shields around the tributes' circles disappeared. The Games had begun.