-One Day Before Freedom Week-
Kitana Striker, 18
McKenna's #2 Female Pick
"Welcome to the first and only meeting of 'we aren't cocky, we are just better than you' alliance," Kitana said as she strutted along the paved concrete the garden patio furniture at Cafe Imporium, the best coffee shop in the Capitol.
"Each of you was selected to join us here in the meeting today for obvious reasons: we're the best. Rana, the list," said Kitana as she snapped her fingers. Rana looked at Kitana with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm sorry, are you talking to me?"
"THE LIST!"
Rana sighed as she handed Kitana the list. "It's time to take attendance," said Kitana as she cleared her throat and straightened out the piece of paper that Rana had crumpled. "Caio, Synth, and Napoleon are all here. Duh," said Kitana as she looked at the list. "Kitana, Rana, and Vritra!" said Kitana as she slammed the list down.
"I didn't know that I was coming here for an alliance," said Vritra as she stood up from her seat. Kitana walked behind her and pushed her back down into the seat.
"You need the alliance to overcome the arena. Don't think for a second you can just walk right in and go in alone. You'll be dead before even getting a chance to get through the bloodbath!" Vritra sat down and rolled her eyes. She crossed her arms across her chest and shrugged Kitana's hands off of her shoulders. "Now," said Kitana laughing. "I thought it was important to have the traditional three boys and three girls. Homage to the career packs that came before us!"
Kitana sat down at the table as the waiter came to the table. Kitana felt superiority to the group as they ordered their sugary drinks, and she ordered a plain black coffee. She pursed her lips as the group made small talk while the waiter brought their drinks back.
"Thanks," said Kitana as she grabbed her coffee and immediately let the hot black liquid slide down her throat. As much she knew she needed allies, Kitana couldn't help but let the realization that she didn't honestly like any of these people sink in.
And the more they talked about their mundane and annoying lives, the more she wanted to kill someone.
And not in the metaphorical sense.
"We need to come up with a plan for the bloodbath," Kitana interrupted their stupid conversation. She didn't have to sit there and trust that they knew what they were doing. She had a plan, and they were going to follow it. "And by coming up with a plan, I mean listen to the plan I come up with."
"This sounds more of a dictatorship than an alliance, Kitana," Napoleon interjected. "I'm all for working with this group. I think it fits well, and our skills blend in together, but I'm not going to be dictated when it's just as much my life on the line."
Kitana raised an eye at her brother. She preferred him more when he was quiet and didn't talk much. She was offering them a chance to make it to the top six. Of course, once they do, she'd kill all of them and walk back home in victory.
Kitana always believed she was worthy of the victory.
"Yeah, I agree with Napoleon," Caio said, clearing his throat. "I'm also not to keen on the idea that some of our siblings are here and not others. What about Darcy and Ajax-"
"Darcy and Ajax are two of our first targets," said Kitana slamming her fist down on the table. "Darcy, because after eighteen long years and countless amounts of verbal and physical confrontation, it is all coming down to the bloodbath. Me or Darcy will be the ones to walk out of that cornucopia. Mind you that. Also, Ajax is just annoying." said Kitana. She put her finger to her chin in a dramatic fashion. "Also, let's get Cortana too. Fuck her."
"How about this," said Rana quipping up. "Vritra, Napoleon, and I can gather supplies. Kitana, Caio, and Hadrian can guard and take out those that are trying to come at the gatherers. If we can split the labor that way, we are less likely to not get into any accidents."
Kitana flared her nostrils as one by one; the alliance members started to give their two cents as to what they should do. Kitana put an immense amount of thought into who she would invite into this alliance. She wanted people she could easily control and were desperate enough to be liked that they would do her bidding.
Right now, they are not doing her bidding.
"No!" said Kitana as she slammed a hand down on the table. "We will be doing things my way."
"Actually," said Synth with a laugh. "It looks like we have decided what we are doing right now. It's either you get on board with it, or you can go."
Kitana felt her blood boil as she leaned back into her chair and crossed her arms. She couldn't believe the amount of disrespect that she had just received from her alliance members. Kitana decided right then and there that they could do whatever they wanted. As far as she was concerned, once the bloodbath started, she was going rogue.
Cortana Ramslee, 18
Hazel's #3 Female Pick
Cortana would be lying if she said Kitana's outburst didn't shake her in the street. If she was sincere, she hadn't given much thought to the idea of an alliance. She assumed she and Delaine would work together naturally, but not that they needed a group.
She was stupid. Of course, people were going to have a group.
The truth about the group she decided on was they were all strong women. It was just icing on the cake that they do happen to hate Kitana as well. With the five of them dominating the games, there won't be an issue overcoming in the arena.
"So what's the reason we are all here today, Cortana?" asked Janet as she and Cupid sat down, joining Darcy, Delaine, and Cortana. "I am going to a killer rave tonight, and I'd like not to have to miss any of that," said Janet with a sarcastic smirk.
"You promised to play nice," said Cupid through gritted teeth. She turned to the rest of the group and smiled. "Sorry about that, what she means to say is how is everyone doing?"
Cortana always admired the way Cupid was able to play to the niceties. Cortana wasn't the best at small talk. Janet walking up and wanting to get straight to the point was more Cortana's speed. "No, it's okay," said Cortana. "I called you all here today because we all have something in common."
"Hmm?" asks Darcy, confused. "What is that?"
"We are five of the baddest bitches in the games," said Cortana. "I have watched you all for years overcome the odds and consistently come out on top to become the best."
"I'm not even in the top seven like all of you," Delaine whispered from her seat. Cupid reached across the table and smiled.
"Delaine, you're just as skilled as the rest of us. Do you know what I would do to be as graceful as you?" Delaine smiled at Cupid's sentiments, and Cortana once again was happy with her choice to choose her to be apart of the alliance.
Something dawned on Cortana, or she watched Cupid excellently charm Delaine and even herself for a minute. In this alliance, Cupid would be her biggest competition. Not because of the skill level, Cortana had a lot more to offer in that respect, but Cupid was the epitome of everything Cortana wasn't: charming, likable, and socially aware.
If Cortana had to list who she saw as a second threat, it would be Darcy. She was calculating, and rather than talking, she listened. A lot like Cortana, except once again, she was more socially intact than her.
Third would be Janet. She's more on par with Cortana in terms of social things, but skill level once again, Cortana beats her out. It's not that Janet couldn't be as good as Cortana, but Janet lacks the drive-in training that you needed to be on top. She always goofed off or started drama with other people, but out of everyone they grew up with, Janet never picked a fight with Cortana. It was making her the perfect person to add.
Lastly, there's Delaine, Cortana's best friend, and only confidant. She's the only person that Cortana speaks to and tells everything to wholeheartedly. She knows that she has no choice but to include her in the alliance if nothing more than to have someone she knows one hundred percent has her back.
Damn, I'm a bitch. Cortana thought as Cupid and Delaine still discussed her standings. She cleared her throat and regained control of the conversation again. "I want to be able to say this is an alliance officially."
"Yeah, okay," shrugged Cupid. "I'll join. It's not like I had a lot of people beating down my door to join theirs. Not to mention I'm totally down with this whole women empowerment thing we got going on here!"
"You know I'm down," said Delaine with a bit of a smile in Cortana's direction.
"I go where Cupid goes," said Janet.
Cortana looked at Darcy, who seemed to be contemplating her options at the table. Cortana knows that's what she's doing because it's precisely what she would do. Cortana knew that if not everyone here said yes, this alliance would be toast. All that was left to do was hope and pray that Darcy didn't have any other options.
"You know Kitana is going to be gunning for us in particular, right?" asked Darcy as she looked around at the group. "Napoleon told me this afternoon about the alliance and gave me a warning to lookout. If she's gunning for me, then I know she's gunning for you too," she said, looking at Cortana. "Are we prepared to take her on like this?"
"She doesn't scare me," said Janet rolling her eyes. "She gets easily distracted when she gets excited. All it will take is some taunting, and she'll get cocky."
"I think we can handle her," said Cortana. "We just need you to do it."
Darcy stood up from the table and stuck her hand in the middle of it. "Then, I'm in."
The girls each put a hand in and looked around at each other, smiling. "We are going to take everyone out," said Cortana with a smile.
And she truly believed it.
Alliance Update:
"We aren't cocky; we are just better than you": Kitana/Rana/Vritra/Caio/Napoleon/Synth.
Bad Bitches Alliance: Cortana/Delaine/Darcy/Cupid/Janet
Unplaced/Potential Loners: Ajax/Carter/Hadrian/Ruben/Elizabeth/Arturo/Rudi/Valerian/Axton/Lily/Sagar/Jupiter/Cerise
Wow! Here's the first of two alliance chapters! I split them up because it'll be easy to group these kids as they have grown up together. Just from these POVs, I have eleven placed where I need them. It'll be easy to have the rest fall in line next chapter.
What did you think of these two? Think they'll survive? Any surprises that I posted? Also, this should kind of go without saying, but not everyone is going to get a POV before the bloodbath. I'll do my best to establish some loose ends and make it the best for the arcs of the tributes, but with how this was structured, I don't have enough room in the chapters that are left to post things like that while not making it repetitive. I hope that you guys aren't too disappointed with me.
ALSO, 260 REVIEWS AND I HAVEN'T EVEN HIT THE GAMES! Thank you so much for supporting this story. It truly is one that I've loved writing, and I'm glad people are enjoying it.
As always, a new chapter is coming soon!
Keep it classy (yes, I'm bringing this back.),
Caleb