Lana Slater

District 3

"You need to aim more to the right I think."

Thomas adjusts the bow as I tell him too, but doesn't look particularly pleased. He returns it back to its original position and instead tilts it to the left, letting the arrow fly. It sinks into the target, halfway away from the middle. I roll my eyes, but he just shrugs and nocks another arrow on his bow.

"It was a better shot than I expected," he says while shooting another arrow, this time hitting the edge of the target. While his talent for the bow is astonishing, being able to even hit a target after two hours training, it's not enough.

"You would still most likely miss the tribute if you consider the wind and that humans don't stand still. It's good, but not good enough," I say, knocking my fingers against the table in boredom. "I would say you need more force. The arrow sways in the air."

Thomas shrugs again. "Maybe your right." He pulls the bow again this time much farther back and when he releases it the arrow smashes into the target, even if only a bit closer to the middle than last time. A tribute would have been shish kebab if the arrow had hit them. Despite that, Thomas grimace when he looks down on the bow.

"That was a lucky shot. I just ain't feeling it. The increased force just makes it harder for me to aim," he says and to prove his point he fires another high-power shot, missing the target. I scoff.

"Maybe try a little less force. You're trying to make the arrow go straight, not crush someone's brain."

"Well, then won't you try it?"

His words make me recoil a little, but there's no malicious undertone in his voice and he says it with a smile. A bit stunned, I leave the table I have been observing my brother from and walk towards the archery station. Refusing his suggestion would make me a hypocrite, which would severely hurt my credibility.

I take the bow and try to draw, already feeling I'm definitely not built for this. I'm able to draw it around halfway Thomas was able too, in fear of snapping my fingers if I draw it further. To compensate for that I study the target a bit, eventually tilting it to the right to be as accurate as possible.

I fire the bow and the arrow makes it about five meters before diving down and hitting the floor. It doesn't even burrow into the ground, simply bouncing against the mattress and laying there, like it's mocking me. I give it one final glare before sighing.

"I'm definitely not made for this," I say. "Sorry. I shouldn't have been so harsh since clearly, I know nothing about this."

He simply smiles at me. "Don't worry, no offense taken. Your advice has been helpful, in a way. I'm just saying that you should probably let me take care of this."

I nod and reach out with the bow so he can take it. He immediately nocks another arrow once he gets his hands on the metal bow and shoots it, hitting the target once again. Even if I'm not built for combat, Thomas has been able to build up his strength from carrying large boxes of wire and has a natural talent for throwing or shooting things. I remember back home when he would always dominate us when we were throwing darts. Sure, neither I or our friends were particularly good a darts, but the bow was a natural choice for him.

But I doubt we will get our chance to acquire a bow during the games. There's rarely bow in the games, to begin with, but at least for this one, I'm sure there will be one. And why I'm so sure, brings us to my second point. The District 2 girl, Casey, who left the careers (An extremely stupid decision and immature, since there's absolutely no reason not to join them if you come from a career district. If you want to leave, at least do it during the games so you won't get killed during the bloodbath! I could rant all day about it because seeing such stupid decisions make me mad, but that's beside the point.) is extremely skilled with a bow.

Remus, the guy from district 1, can handle like Casey a bow well and they're both certainly going to fight for any bow in the arena. That's a good show and exactly what the capitol wants. Most likely, they will put a bow in the cornucopia and them next to each other so they can battle it out. Because of this it would stupid decision to try to get the bow since you have two careers to fight to get it.

Of course, that would only be a discussion if you actually planned to go to the cornucopia, which I assure you we will not. From my conclusion, you're most likely just going to die if you try to grab the supplies if you can't put up with a fight. The only reason I would even consider joining the bloodbath if you had a good alliance and can afford to lose a member or two.

Thomas did convince me that he will maybe try to grab a knife and some supplies, which will probably be useful for survival. Since we are from District 3, we don't have any experience with nature or the wild. If I had to go into the games myself, I would still run from the cornucopia with maybe a backpack if there's one close enough. I will simply have to trust that I learn enough survival skills that I can survive.

I walk over to the trap making station, deciding to make myself useful. I have already practiced with the plant identification and the tracking stations since I won't be any use using a weapon.

Too bad Keaton is there too. I almost turn around, but I realize I can't ignore him either. It won't help the situation and after all, it isn't the kid I dislike.

But I can sit down on the other side of the station so I will be as far away from him as possible at least. The trainer approaches me trying to give me instructions, but I wave him off telling him that I can learn it myself. He gives me a raised eyebrow before leaving me.

It's not arrogance or anything like that why I rejected his help. I simply just like the challenge. And you learn better through trial and error instead of someone telling you too. Much, much slower yes, but much more effective. And I have two more days of training to spend. I have time.

I go to pick up bait from the large casket in the middle, ignoring Keaton who is doing the same thing. He gives me a glance, but I don't meet it. I didn't approve of this alliance, to begin with.

I and Thomas don't argue a lot. Often we agree with each other whenever a problem comes up or I make up a solution since Thomas is completely okay with me doing the thinking. He is no way a mindless follower because he has shown multiple times that he can take initiative on his own. Despite his outer goofiness he continues to impress me by making smart decisions and grounded plans.

If it's something I dislike, is someone else ordering me around. First, how can they trust they will be the best leader. If I'm in charge, I know exactly what I'm capable of and what I want. It's hard to trust someone you haven't gotten to know yet, at least not so I can place my life in their hands. Not everyone has a dark side, but I'm not willing to take the risks. Not at least before I know that they won't be a threat. Call me paranoid, but so far it has gotten me far in life.

Thomas wanted to invite multiple kids to an alliance, which I, of course, protested loudly. The hunger games are not time to play hero, but eventually we got tired of arguing and made a compromise. And for some reason, Thomas chose Keaton. He could at least have chosen Roark, who doesn't seem completely useless.

I quickly snatch a bait from the casket before Keaton reaches me and I turn around. Keaton stops dead in his tracks when he notices me, and I pray he takes the hint that I don't want to talk to him.

"Do we go into the bloodbath?" he asks of course. I ignore him and continue towards my trap.

"Do we go into the bloodbath or not?" he asks again, with a lower voice. I realize he is following me, and I sigh.

"Why don't you ask Thomas instead?" I reply, waving towards the archery station where my brother should be. I can't see Keaton, but I'm imagining him raising an eyebrow at me.

"Why can't I ask you?" he asks. "We're allies right?"

"You're allied with Thomas. Not with me."

"So you're not allied with Thomas? But aren't you his sister and I could have sworn I saw you with him-"

"I'm allied with Thomas, but not with you. There's a difference." I say as I stand up to face him. Once he meets my gaze he turns his eyes away and twists himself uncomfortably. Despite that, I noticed a spark of irritation flame up in his eyes when we locked our gazes.

"I'm not sure that's how it works," he says and I roll my eyes in frustration.

"Well, that's how it works now," I say with a frustrated tone. "Can you just leave me alone?"

"Why do you dislike me so much?" he suddenly pipes up, his voice a far cry from the timid tone he had before. "What the hell have I done except, I don't know, existing!"

I recoil from his sudden outbursts, but it only makes more anger bubble up inside of me. I don't even know why. Maybe because I'm tired of this. Tired of constantly being awake all night, occupied every waking hour thinking how to not get killed. I'm angry at the capitol and the world, and I need to vent before I have a breakdown. Sadly, Keaton just happens to be the closest target.

"I don't know! Maybe because we are about to go into a battle to the death and literally everyone is an enemy? Maybe because one day I'll have to kill you? Maybe because we can't afford to pick up unnecessary cargo like a useless brat from six!"

"Why the hell do you think I'm useless? Just because I'm young doesn't mean I'm dead meat. Kids at my age have won before."

"Yes, young kids have won before. Once. And she was thousands of times more useful than you. You have yet to prove yourself useful. You're from district 6 too, so I doubt you have any naturally learned skills."

My entire body is screaming at me that I'm a fucking idiot and a giant jerk on top of that. I must admit I was a bit harsh, but what is done is done. Everything I said was true and it is the harsh reality. But something deep down says me I did something wrong.

"Fine then!" Keaton says and turns around, and I suddenly realize he probably did it to hide his tears. "Frick you too! Forget about our bloodbath plan! You would probably only suggest I'll run into the bloodbath and get myself killed. I would be better dead for you anyway."

"What do you mean?" I ask. Was I that bad?

He shrugs like it's no big deal. "You said it yourself. Only one gets out. Twenty three are going to die anyway." he replies, staring up in the ceiling. "But I guess for you it was only good that a brat like me was sent in."

"Of course not!" I burst out. "I don't want you to die! I don't want anyone here to die! I'm not a monster. There are very few reasons people deserve to die, and being useless isn't one of them."

"Wait, so you won't try to kill me? Like, in my sleep?" he asks and turns around. I notice he has red rings under his eyes, which causes a sting of guilt to pierce me, but he has at least stopped crying.

I raise an eyebrow at his question. "Of course not. If I can avoid killing I will try not to."

Keaton sighs out of relief. "Good. I thought you would try to get rid of me as soon as you had the chance."

I shake my head. "But you have to kill at least one tribute to win," Keaton says and sighs. "I'm not sure I can do it."

"I don't know either," I reply. "I don't even know if I want to win."

After that, we are silent for some time. If I had to get out, Thomas had to die. And if I had to live my entire life Thomas died so I could live, that's not really a life. I wouldn't be able to live with myself and what makes it even worse is that I know Thomas won't hesitate to sacrifice himself for me. What really scares me is that I don't know if I could do the same for him.

"You shouldn't really be the person telling someone they're useless," Keaton suddenly pipes up. "You aren't exactly the most useful ally either."

"I know."

"What?"

"I know I'm dead weight. That's just the harsh reality I have accepted. Telling myself lies won't help me at all."

Keaton tilts his head and raises an eyebrow. "I don't understand. Don't you want to win?"

"Yes, of course. Deadweight has won before," I say simply. If I was alone I would fight to my last breath to get home, but now with Thomas, I'm not so sure. Maybe it's better for him that he doesn't need the burden to protect me. He has a chance, and I know I'm only pulling him down with me. The only reason I haven't split with him yet is that I know he won't accept it.

"Guess I'll go then," Keaton says and turns around. "I still have stations to visit."

"Wait," I suddenly say as he starts to walk away and I put my hand on his shoulder. He turns around and looks confused at me. "The thing I sad that you weren't my ally… sorry about that. As long you're allied with Thomas, I'm your ally. I just want you to know I'm not a threat. Just be ready that I will most likely ditch you the moment Thomas dies."

Keaton nods slowly, not seemingly having anything more to say, before brushing off my hand from his shoulder and continuing forward.

I turn my eyes towards Thomas, who is still practicing with the bow. He lets the arrow fly and it burrows into the bullseye. He makes a small happy dance in a celebration which causes my heart to melt. Why did he have to go in? Why did he have to go in with me? Whatever happens, neither of us can leave the arena unbroken. Maybe it's true for all the tributes, but it's the worst for us. Maybe it would be better if we both just died.

This world isn't fair. That was something I accepted a long time ago. I don't like lies, and I certainly don't lie to myself.

That doesn't make the truth hurt any less.

Wilson McCoy

District 11

I take the weight and position my hands on the handle. I count to three and then attempt to heave it up to my shoulder. It was much heavier than I expected, but I bite the bullet and strain my muscles as much as possible as I lift it. After some struggling, I finally have it high up enough to lift it up to my shoulder. I count to ten and then drop it.

The weight makes a loud CLANG as it hits the floor and I sigh of relief to get the heavyweight off me.

"Well, I guess you guys owe me your desserts now," I say and smile at Willow and Winchester.

They just stare at me dumbfounded. "I didn't actually think you were able to lift that one," Willow confessed. "You were barely able to lift the lighter one before."

I smile slyly. "I was holding back, to trick you into taking the bet." A complete lie of course. I didn't even believe I was able to lift it. It is a harmless lie, meant as a joke.

Willow giggled at me and Winchester crosses her arms. "Yeah sure." Despite that, I notice her trying to hold her laughter back.

Suddenly without warning, a sharp pain shot through my body from my right arm. I groaned out of pain and collapsed on my knee, my arm starting to hurt to move. Winchester immediately threw out her arms to catch me, a worried look in her eyes.

"What happened?" she asks.

"I most likely overworked my muscles in my arms. It happens once in a while if I lift too many heavy boxes. It's nothing serious. The worst that can happen is that I become a bit sore tomorrow," I assure her, which was the truth. A common rookie mistake when working in the train stations.

Winchester doesn't look too convinced. "Does it hurt here?" she asks as she runs her fingers on my arm, squeezing it with regular intervals.

"Yes," I reply, cringing when she touches the areas that hurt.

Winchester sighs, looking even more worried than before. "You really should be more careful. If you have a muscle rupture you will have a hard time in the arena. I've seen too many times workers overwork themselves and then have their entire body hurting for weeks."

"Don't worry, I have been this way multiple times. It will pass in a few days. Usually," I say and force a smile. Winchester just shakes her head.

"It's starting to get better anyway. Just look." I stretch my arm to show her that she has nothing to worry about. While it still hurts, it isn't as bad as before.

Winchester is about to say something when the speaker announces that everyone needs to go to the canteen for lunch. We leave the weights and I decide on the way to inspect some of the other tributes.

There are a few alliances, but none particularly big except the careers. We are tied as the largest outlier alliance with the siblings from 3 and the boy from 6. When I watch them it strikes me how similar we are. If we meet in the arena and started fighting, I wonder how we would do against our counterparts. Keaton vs Willow would be an even fight and could go any way, to be honest. Winchester could probably beat Lana, and I most likely win over Thomas. He seems strong, but I'm probably stronger.

I silently curse myself and remind myself that this encounter is very much possible in the arena. Just the thought of killing makes me sick, but somewhere in me I have accepted I have to do it to survive.

I suddenly realize I have to do the same with Winchester, but I quickly bat away the thought. I'll have to handle it when it comes to it.

I take my lunch, meatballs and mashed potatoes together with jam, and sit together with my allies at our tables. The careers are of course sitting together, and despite neither of the tributes from 1 striking me as the talking type they're able to have a conversation. The girl from 7 has apparently joined them too.

Otherwise, the girls from 12 and 9 are sitting together, and so are the boys from 2 and 8. The girl from 2, the one that rejected career and has been hissing at anyone coming close to her, is sitting together with the girl from 6. They don't seem to be allies, however, since neither is talking and they're sitting on either side of the table.

"Hey," Willow suddenly says and lightly taps on my shoulder.

I get thrown out of my thoughts and I'm a bit dazed for a few seconds before I notice Willow looking up to me. "What is it?"

"You looked a bit lost," she says with eyes that make you want to melt. "Anyway, Winchester noticed something."

I nod and turn my head towards Winchester. She points across the room, towards what I think is where the gamemakers are. I squeeze my eyes in an attempt to see it better, but it seems just as blurry as before.

"That's the gamemakers, right?" I ask half-heartedly.

Winchester nods. "Yep. Can you see the blurry bit in the right corner?"

I shake my head. "Everything's blurry for me. Sorry chief, I can't see it."

She raises an eyebrow at me. "That's weird. Willow, can you see it?"

"Yep, it perfectly clear to me. A weird blurry spot in the corner and the gamemakers are eating on their luxury dinner they always have," she replies and squeezes her eyes the same way I did. However, she seems to have no problem distinguishing whatever there is there.

"What do you mean it's perfectly clear?" I say, starting to become frustrated since I don't understand what's happening.

Winchester thinks for a moment before pointing again across the room, but now a bit to the right. "Tell me, what's the station to the right of the gamemakers?"

I'm tempted to ask her what kind of question that is, but I oblige and try to focus on where she is pointing. I realize it's rather blurry there too, but I'm able to make two white and red target.

"Archery maybe?" I guess, and Willow sighs making me understand I guessed wrong.

"It's the throwing knives! Can't you see the racket?" Winchester asks, and I try to focus even more but now looking for the knives. I'm able to distinguish a racket besides the targets and what I think is the knives, but I only noticed them because I was looking for them.

"Yes, but barely," I confess, and Winchester and Willow exchange looks. Without warning, they stand up and start walking away from the table.

"Hey, where are you going?" I exclaim.

"Just wait there," Winchester says before continuing to follow Willow out.

Well then. I finish my lunch while waiting, and soon enough they came back with a capitol woman. She seems surprisingly normal, for capitol standards. The only special thing about her is her blue hair. That doesn't answer my question of why she is here.

"Hello, I'm guessing you're Wilson? Please come with me!" she says and beams a smile that is way too big to be real. It's something about her voice that makes me realize I don't have a choice in the matter, so I follow her.

I make a jokingly gesture towards my allies, throwing my hands in front of me. Willow smiles wryly at me and waves me off.

"Nearsighted?"

"Yep, I'm confident your nearsighted. You have a milder form than normal, which would explain why it hasn't bothered you too much these last years, but you still struggle with seeing things far away," she explains to me. "Please tell me you at least know about nearsighted."

"Yeah of course I know about that, I just never thought it was that big of a deal. I can see fine anyway," I say, thinking back in my life in District 11. While I do realize now that I have struggled with my poor vision for years, it never has impeded me in my work and life. Not considerably at least. I just thought it was something I had to suck up and continue with my work.

The woman nods and looks at me with such sympathy that she can't possibly be real. Credit for trying at least. "Despite how small it is, being nearsighted is still a huge disadvantage in the games. Do you have a token with you?"

I shake my head as an answer and the woman starts walking towards a large display made out of glass. Something tells me I don't need to follow her, remaining in the cushy chair I'm sitting on. As soon as I got into the capitol woman's office I could figure out she was some sort of nurse. I made a few tests for her, mainly reading letters and numbers on the wall.

The woman opens the display and waves her hands over what I think is a collection of glasses, before snatching one up that she seems satisfied with.

Eventually, she makes her way back to me and gives me the chosen glasses. I hold it in my hand for a few seconds before taking it on. It isn't an immediate effect, but I notice more and more how clearer everything is. Before, while I had been able to see the objects they had been a bit distorted, in a way that irritated the eye. Now it feels like everything is in HD, like those capitol movies I watched on the train.

"Great!" the woman says while clapping excitingly. "They look perfect on you!"

I turn towards the mirror on the side of the room, once again surprised by how clear the image is. "I look silly," I groan.

"No, no, you look super cute!" she exclaims, radiating the same fake waves as always. I answer a few other questions she gives me before dismissing me.

I enter the training area, stopping for a moment to take it all in. I always thought that my poor vision only made it hard for me to see things in the distance, but I never realized how much it actually impacted me. At first, I only thought the glasses looked silly and they would hinder me in the arena, but I'm starting to get more grateful for them for every second.

I eventually find Winchester and Willow at the edible plants chatting, not noticing me. I decided to surprise them, which might not have been the best idea now in hindsight.

"Hey!" I say with a high voice, waving towards them. Willow makes a small jump when she notices me.

"Oh my god I didn't even recognize you at first!" she exclaims, practically jumping down and up from excitement. "Those glasses just looks so... weird."

"Thanks," I say sarcastically, not really being hurt.

Winchester puts on her serious face and crosses her arms. "I knew it. It's mind-boggling that you went all those years without ever checking your vision. You should have told someone about that, and they could have helped you!"

"Well..." I begin, scratching the back of my head. "I doubt if I asked if I would ever get help anyway. Worker contracts are far from fair in Panem, sadly. And it would be a bit silly if I went to work with glasses. Only nerdy people wear those, or at least, that's what they said in the farms."

Winchester facepalms, rightfully so to be honest. The type of people who worked with the trains isn't exactly the nicest, something my bruises on my fists can show. It was a constant fight to show who was the guy you should respect and fear. Stereotypes were common there, especially the supposed "weaker" traits like glasses.

Willow, however, doesn't seem to have listened to our conversation and attempts to grab my glasses.

"Let me try those!" she exclaims, jumping up and down while I'm holding her back with my right hand.

"Hey hey, let's calm ourselves here. I just got these," I say and laugh.

Eventually, she nags me enough that I give up and let her try them.

"Be careful. Don't try to break them," I say, already starting to feel attached to them. It hasn't even been half an hour, and I'm already starting to feel weird when I took them off. While I'm extremely thankful for the glasses even if I won't say it, I can't help but feel like a giant weakness just got exposed.

While my vision isn't exactly the best without them, my glasses are something else I need to worry about in a fight. I need to be careful not to drop them and accidentally breaking them, which is limiting my abilities in the arena.

As much as I hate to say it neither Winchester or Willow are much of a fighter, so it's up to me to protect both during the bloodbath and during the games. Or that's how at least how it looks. It's preferable if we could avoid tributes as much as possible, but we have to fight eventually.

Damn, that's a lot of pressure.

Casey Main

District 2

It would be ironic if I could kill Remus with his own weapon.

I have yet to decide if Remus using the same weapon as I am is a disadvantage or an advantage I can use. Yes, he will go for the bow during the bloodbath just like I, and I would have to fight for it wasting valuable time. The careers would have the time to organize and take me on together, instantly spelling my doom.

I do want a kill in the bloodbath. It doesn't matter who, I just need at least one. While the capitol could be nuked and I wouldn't give a fuck, sponsors can be lifesaving. That's what the capitolites are, just another tool to win me the games. While the kill I want can be absolutely anyone, I have preferences on who I would like to kill.

Any of the careers would be great. They're just as bad as those back in District 2, even the reaped ones. If you join the career pack you're interchangeable in my opinion, so the District 7 girl is out too. I wouldn't complain if I could kill the boy from 7 too. I would make the world a favor- a favor -by separating him from his life. Nothing of value would have been lost.

If one of the twelve-year-olds happened to get in the way, sucks to be them. It would be a pity, since most of them don't deserve this, but I can't afford to feel sympathetic. That was the first lesson they teach you at Heaven Academy. They told us that it will come a time where we will hesitate and starting to see the tributes as more than that, as people. But when that time came, we needed to remember that it was them or us, and in this world, you can't afford to be sympathetic.

That was something that was drilled into everyone in District 2. You couldn't afford to be sympathetic if you were a career, and certainly not if you were to become a peacekeeper. Academy training had eventually been required to be able to enter the peacekeeper academy, where only the upper half of the trainees had access too. There's only two volunteers spot, which means more than 99% of the thousands of kids enrolling every year would never achieve their dream. Those years training would go to waste, so it was obvious District 2 had found another use of it. To train future peacekeepers.

I and District 2 shares some similar views, but they're not the same. I have my own ideals, ideals I will hold until I die. One of those is that I won't associate myself with the careers or even District 2.

I do like Jax and Dark though. They are one of the careers I can tolerate because they're nothing like the others. Most of the times people's friendliness was hilariously fake, and it's hard to trust anyone. My mentors, however, never tried to hard to become my friend. They were professional and effective, both traits I respect. I didn't trust them of course, but I could cooperate with them. At least until the end of the game.

Roark… he's a kind boy, but useless. I have already tagged him as a bloodbath, which is even more reason to avoid him in case I need to kill him. If he surprises me, good for him, I don't really care. The only thing I could care about the other tributes is if they're a threat or not.

Speaking of threats, I notice the girl from 6 grabbing a bow beside me. She isn't very good at it, even beginner-level skills, which makes me wonder why she came here. She did volunteer, so she already placed high on my threat list, but she has yet to show any weapon skills.

Eventually, she becomes tired of her failed attempts with the bow and unexpectedly instead turns towards me.

"Hello. I'm Suri," she says with a small smile.

I'm too shocked by her audacity to answer, before quickly tapping something on my arm pad. I was equipped with it right before training by some capitolites so I could communicate with others. The pad is simply a screen with a keyboard, and it didn't take long before I mastered it.

Hello. I'm Casey. Now fuck off. Suri's face darkens a bit, but she doesn't leave as I want her too.

Instead, she sighs and shakes her head at me. "About the reaction I expected. Anyway, no need for the formalities, I want to be your ally."

I visibly cringe when she asks me. I expected her to be annoying of course, but I didn't expect her to be this clueless. I have no idea why she thought this was a good idea, to begin with, because I already know the answer.

No. I write on my pad, but she just smiles even more when she sees it. I decide to change strategy and ignore her until she gives up, as it seems she gets more motivated every time I reject her.

Suri starts talking about something else, but I have stopped listening, knocking another arrow into my bow. It takes some time before she notices I'm not listening, but of course, she tries to get my attention again.

"Hello! Hello! I know you can hear me!" she says while waving her hand in front of my face. I slap it away in frustration.

"Ouch," she says, but seems satisfied with getting my attention. I quickly tap something on my pad.

Just go away. I don't want allies, especially not you. The boy from 9 wants allies, go and pester him instead.

Suri sadly smirks at my answer. "I'm ambitious. Tell me, let's say if you actually wanted allies, why wouldn't you want me."

I scoff. Well, first off I doubt you could be any use to me. If you haven't noticed, I have the entire career pack after me and I can afford to have anyone slow me down-

Suri doesn't even read the entire message and instead picks up a nearby throwing knife. Without giving a warning she throws it across the room, hitting the outer edge of one of the targets in the throwing knife station. While it isn't a bullseye, I doubt myself I would even hit the target. Not going to lie, I'm impressed. But I can't say that of course. But it leaves me with one less argument for her to leave me alone.

Apperently my face gave it away because Suri starts smirking. "Well, I know that won't convince you to ally with me, but showing off my weapon skills was never my plan. So let's get straight to the point. I know you're an avox."

Wait, excuse me, but What - I have been particularly careful to not open my mouth and reveal my secret. I'll be a target for everyone wanting the capitols favor and while I know the higher-ups already know I'm an avox, I can't imagine the scandal if the rest of the capitol knew. The game makers most likely want to keep it a secret, and I'm ready to take advantage of it.

I write a question about how the hell does she know that, and her smile remains. "You make that thing with your throat when you swallow. Only avoxes do that."

And how the hell do you know that?

"You're not the first run-away avox I have met," she replies, giving me even more creeps. "So, do you believe you can win?"

I scoff at the question. Of course, I can. If you haven't noticed I'm just as skilled as any other career, probably even more. I-

"No, I don't mean if you had the skills to win. I asked if you think the capitol will allow you to win?"

That's it. That's the thing that has worried me the most. I just haven't truly accepted it until now. The scandal in District 2 if I won would be horrendous, and I don't doubt people are already theorizing that the rebel attack was orchestrated so I would go in the games. But I can't give up. Not yet.

Well, if I play my cards right I'm sure the capitol would-

"Do you really believe that?" she asks. The question caught me off guard, and I think about it for a few minutes before sighing.

No. Not really.

"That's what I thought," she scoffs. "So why are you an avox? What kind of treason did you do?"

None of your business.

"I'm guessing you don't remember at all?" she replies and once again takes me by surprise.

How did you know that?

"I didn't. It was a complete guess, but you confirmed it. So, thanks," she says with a smile. I glare at her, but I know she has some sort of hidden agenda. Something just feels off, and that I can't pinpoint it is what makes me angry. I don't understand all these mind games and why she chose just me to annoy.

"I remember meeting a small child in District 6." Suri begins. "She couldn't be more than six, but despite that, she didn't have a tongue. Of course, I wondered what she did to deserve such a cruel punishment. She could neither write or sign, so it took a few weeks to get any information from her. Turns out she was the child of a pair of rebels, and before she was dropped in District 6 without any explanation her tongue was cut out. I felt sorry for her and many others did too, and a local rebel family took her in secretly."

"Two weeks later, both of the rebels were found dead in a dumpster. Their nails were gone and they had cuts all over their body, it was clear that they had been tortured. The husband had more wounds than the wife and it's easy to come to the conclusion that the wife must have broken during the torture. The capitol must have thought the rebels were dumber than they were because they immediately knew something was fishy when the girl was still alive. And to no one's surprise, they found a tracker on her. A trap, to lead the capitol to the rebels. Instead of taking it out like any sensible person, the rebels made a trap of their own. They set up an ambush and the peacekeepers walked right into it."

"But the rebels had underestimated their forces. What was supposed to be a walk-over hit and run turned into a brutal battle. Both sides led heavy casualties and the rebels were able to earn a hard-fought victory. The plan was to take hostages, but since they knew reinforcements were coming they quickly massacred the rest of the captured peacekeepers. The reinforcements of course came and firebombed the entire battlefield, leading to lots of civilian casualties."

"The capitol tightened their grip on District 6 from that day forward. I was twelve when that happened. It wasn't until last year that the capitol loosened up, believing the rebels were wiped out. The rebels, of course, weren't, and even if they were a shadow of their former self they had learned their lesson."

The point? I write down on my pad, already had to stop myself from zoning out multiple times during Suri's story.

"Do you know who suffered the most in this story?" she asks. I shake my head. "It wasn't the rebel pair who was tortured for information. It wasn't either all the rebels who were killed in the battle or the peacekeepers who were brutally executed. It wasn't the civilians who died during the bombings. It was the little girl with the tracker. She had absolutely nothing to do with the fight, but was used as a tool on both sides and had to watch everyone die in front of her, knowing it was all her fault. What makes it even worse is that she was executed like any other of the rebel leaders. They streamed it Live, and I watched it. In the end, she just looked numb, like she has already given up on life."

"This world isn't fair Casey. It has never been, and you of all people should know that. I want to make it fair," she finishes.

I take a few minutes to process it all before the pieces start to fall in place. Why she has been so weird and all that. Of course she is a rebel.

Oh, you're one of those people.

Suri scoffs. "Took you long enough to figure it out."

Do you know where you are talking? They will blow up your mines 30 seconds into the game.

"They don't monitor training if my information is correct. If they don't suspect anything by now anyway I have seriously overestimated them."

I can report this to the gamemakers. Then they know which side I'm on.

"If you would do that you wouldn't tell me it first. And I know you won't do that," she says.

No, I won't. Which pisses me off. I hate losing, and the worst thing is that I'm actually starting to consider her as an ally. Not that I want her, just that she wouldn't probably be the worst ally of everyone here.

"Tell me tonight at the roof if you're in. I'll leave you the rest of the day to think about it," she says and waves me off as she goes back to the survival station.

I do think about it. The entire day. And I decide I will do it. I'll ally with Suri, despite vowing to go into the arena alone.

Maybe because I saw myself in that story. This world isn't fair. As she said, I should be the first one to understand it. Maybe I just want someone, someone, out there to accept me and not treat me like filth. But I have already accepted that the world isn't fair and it will never be. She might believe that she can change it, but it will always be so.

I'm not joining her little crusade because I believe that it's just or fair. I'm joining it because I want revenge. Revenge on District 2 and the capitol. I won't get out of the arena, but if there's anything I can do to make my oppressors die as painfully as possible, I'll take it. To make sure no one goes through the same thing as me. Maybe the world isn't fair and maybe it will never be, but I can make it a bit fairer.

Rebellion. The word tastes sweet in my mouth.

Alliances:

Somewhat functional careers: Blush(D1F), Remus(D1M), Emerald(D4F), Alexi(D4M), Olivia(D7F)

WWW: Winchester(D5F), Willow(D11F), Wilson(D11M)

Deadweight and Thomas: Lana(D3F), Thomas(D3M), Keaton(D6M)

Everything is fine, nothing is wrong here: Dania(D9F), Kris(D12F)

Someone I can trust: Roark(D2M), Ever(D8M)

Viva la Revolution: Casey(D2F), Suri(D6F)

No particular excuse for not updating for 2 months other than lack of inspiration and a sudden interest in anime which has taken up a lot of my time. But I'm back and more motivated than ever to continue this story! I do hope this chapter makes up for the wait, since it's spicier than usual. So, what do you think of the plot advancements in this chapter? I hoped I was able to flesh out Lana a bit more to fit my vision for her, something I failed in her reaping chapter, and Casey and Suri's alliance was something I had planned for a long time. Still a bit too long chapter tough, I need to get better on that :/.

Also, I now have a blog! It will be updated with arena maps and eventually the capitol cast, but so far it's only the tributes. I have chosen the aesthetic pictures myself, so if you want your tributes aesthetic picture changed please don't hesitate to PM me! Remember to remove the spaces when you copy paste the link!

beginnings96thhg. weebly. com

Next up is The Second Night with Thomas and Forren!