Caleb's POV, Old
The writer who is giving you a piece of information before we get to the good stuff
For the tributes, last night was a lot to process. House McKenna was sitting around watching their favorite childhood movie one last time before their whole world exploded. McKenna watched with sadness as her kids remembered their lives before her. The emotions and betrayal they expressed to her broke her, and once again, she felt alone in the world.
In House Shelby, things went a little differently. Instead of being upset and screaming, the family had a circle of conversation. They talked about their differences. They hugged, and they cried, and they told each other that no matter what happened, at the end of the day, they were together and family.
House Hazel was not the type of tributes to yell or huddle. Except for Rudi, who had a total meltdown and trashed their house. The rest of the tributes walked to their rooms and secluded themselves, knowing that in the morning, everything would be different. As they watched two lifetime worth of memories play ping pong in their head, most of them were eventually able to fall asleep.
Lastly, House Princeton, well, let's just say there were finer hours. Between the yelling and the fear that erupted between the tributes, and the realizations of their past and people knowing others from past lives, no one got much sleep that night.
But at the start of the morning, the sun rose, and the tributes were once again were faced with the harsh reality of their situations. They were presented with their arena uniforms and forced to get ready for the vicious cycle of violence and betrayal that is about to fall onto them.
All while dealing with their memories from the past.
For Darcy, she remembered her life back in District 10 how she would help people not because she wanted to do good, but because she wanted to come across as a good person. She remembered killing Lirrius, she remembered killing Zuri, and she remembered James Brayley stabbing her right as she thought she had won the third Hunger Games. This time there would be no pre-celebration. This time she'd be out for blood.
Ajax remembered living in the orphanage. He remembered the dorm lifestyle of his past life almost as vividly as he remembered the one he currently just grew up in. He remembered becoming sick and Welton helping to nurse him back to health, and he also remembered taking them him out when the opportunity presented itself. This time, Ajax decided that he would pay more attention to his surroundings and not mess around when it came to him taking out the harsh competition.
Kitana remembered the 25th Hunger Games with disdain. She remembered the drama with her twin sister, who she hated, she remembered taking out five people in the peak of the iconic voting games. She also remembered that rapist from District 5 beheading her in the last moment. Kitana had a fire start inside of her that night that couldn't be quenched as she tossed and turned until the morning of the tube launch. Kitana believed she would overcome anyone who gets in her way. Kitana will win this time.
Napoleon remembered the life he had in District 2 with his therapist of a father. He remembered learning everything he could about the human psyche and realized just how much his mind subconsciously remembered over his time in Project Rebirth. He remembered his time in the games, and how he was burned to death by the pair from District 12. Napoleon, this time decided that his ending would come from old age after he won the games. He isn't leaving anything to chance.
Rana remembered her brother Andrew who volunteered for her upon her reaping back in District 7. She shuddered as she thought about the times that she was tortured by Rachel Callowgwey and mourned the loss of her brother, who died only trying to protect her. Rana also remembered the chase that led her to the top of the mountain, and how Rachel laughed as she kicked her stomach and sent her over the edge. Rana decided she would make a different impact this time.
For Caio, he remembered his dad's crazy desire to leave a strong legacy. He remembered his time in the games as stressful, continually having to prove himself to his father and his people back home. He remembered leaping over to the other platform and killing a tribute before the gong sounded in his original game, he remembered the giant centipede that almost killed him. Still, mostly he remembered how he died out of a silly mistake. This time, Caio planned to overcome his impatience. No amount of impatience would keep him from winning this game.
Janet was fuming when she remembered her past. She was mad at the world, but there was one person she was mad at more so. Kitana. Striker. She remembered making it to the final three in the 25th games, but more importantly, she remembered the exploding knife that she placed into her head. Janet was out for blood. Janet was going to kill a bitch. And no one was going to stop her from doing so.
Synthize remembered his brother. And how it was his fault that he was paralyzed. He remembered how his brother and family had to live through life without him after he had died in the games, and times were already rough in District 11. Guilt washed over him as he realized he didn't even pay attention to what happened in the Districts during his time in the Capitol. He remembered the male from 1 who took him out. This time, there was no career. They were all careers, and not only did Synthize plan to win, but he planned to help his family in whatever way he could. It's been 19-years since Synth stepped foot into the 99th games. He would be the one stepping out of the 118th.
Vritra fumed when she remembered everything about her old life. From the time that she was abandoned by the career pack, to the times that she killed every tribute in her way when she hunted them down, she was angry. Angry at the boy from 1 who took her out. Angry at the world for underestimating her, but the one she was most upset at was herself. Vritra had a lot to prove going into those games, but even more now that she's getting a second chance. She wouldn't waste it.
Carter remembered his life back at home in District 10. He remembered how his family struggled. He remembered that his life was lonely and quiet, but most of all, he remembered the horrors of his first games. He remembered tricking everyone into thinking he was big and strong. He remembered Aspen and how she cared so deeply for others. Carter also recalled sacrificing himself for her. This time around, Carter wasn't playing for Aspen. He wasn't going to play for Arturo. Carter was going to play for Carter.
Cupid was furious. She remembered Kai and how he told her that she was 'a gem in a field of garbage.' She remembered how she confided in him as to why she doesn't date but likes the idea of love and how Jupiter killed her in the bloodbath. Jupiter from House Princeton was going to be the first casualty Cupid makes, and this time, she'll be a threat. She had training now, a good head on her shoulders, and a kick-ass alliance that she knew would take her far. This time, she's not naive to what she's getting into. Cupid would not die again.
Hadrian remembered his less than a climatic end in the games that he was in. He was embarrassed that that was the legacy that he left behind during his time in the games. He was angry that he was abandoned by his alliance and left for dead at the cornucopia. This time Hadrian could only depend on himself.
Delaine remembered how she died and instantly gasped for air. She might have been stabbed in the chest, but her real cause of death was the water as she inhaled it when she fell in. Delaine remembered being betrayed by her alliance member, and her life back home where all she wanted to do was dance. Delaine would not let her naive and trusting personality be her downfall this time.
Cattle herding and life back in District 10 was all that flashed in Ruben's head. He remembered running in the arena until he couldn't feel his legs anymore. He remembered the secret pathway and the way he attacked the girl from 11 without knowing it was her. Ruben would not be impulsive this time. Ruben would learn from the past.
Biting. That's what Elizabeth Adew remembered when she got her memories back. They had tried to stop the games. The final eight had banded together to overcome and end this peacefully, but the Gamemakers didn't accept that. They released mutts, and soon the final eight were the final 4, and Elizabeth got caught by a wolf mutt and torn to shreds. No peace this time. Elizabeth thought as she stepped into the launch room. This time I look out for myself.
Anxiety overran Arturo as he stood in the launch room. He remembered the panic attack that sent him to his death his last go around, but this time he had coping mechanisms. He knew how to calm himself down, and he had a friend that knew what it was like to go through anxiety. Arturo would not panic himself into a heart attack this time. This time, Arturo would be a fighter.
Cortana was haunted by the number three. She was third place in the rankings. She was originally from District 3, and she finished in third place during her stint in the Hunger Games. Cortana was determined not to make it in third place this time. No, this time, Cortana would take it all. And she would take no prisoners doing so. She chuckled as she stepped into the tube. Maybe this time, Cortana could get three kills.
Rudi remembered his piece of shit, dad, and with those memories, realized that he was also a piece of shit. Fear struck into his body, and he wondered if this was a genetic disposition that caused him to not care about things he should. Is scumbaggery a gene that could be passed down? Rudi had a lot of work to do if he was going to make it out of the bloodbath alive, and this time, he wouldn't let his anger get the best of him. He would use it to his advantage.
Valerian has always seemed to have bad luck. On her first go-around, she got injured during the bloodbath, and from there, she just couldn't gain enough traction to keep overcome at the very end. She remembered making it to the final four and believing that this was what she was going to be able to get out of the games, only to be killed unexpectedly. Valerian was done with her poor luck and judgment. From now on, Valerian would beat anyone that got in her way; anyone that got in her way.
Parvati entered Sagar's thoughts, and then immediately left them. He could not focus on the District 6 beauty at this time. Right now, it was his time to shine. He lost track of his focus in his last games, and when he got burned by the acid rain while protecting Parvati from the acidic drops, he knew that's what he had to do at the moment. Now, Sagar was one hundred percent sure this was his time to win. And no one would take that away from him.
For the first time in eighteen years, Lily Simmons realized what it was about Axton that sent her into panic attacks. Axton and Lily had entered the games together on their first go around, but they weren't district rivals. Axton and Lily were twins, and not only did they fight together their whole first game, but when they separated, it broke Lily. She loved her brother, but this time it was about her. She wouldn't let him get in the way. Lily was reborn when her memories were given back to her, and not even Axton was going to shove her down this time.
Axton Simmons was ecstatic when he remembered he had a twin. He had always found it fascinating that he and Lily looked alike, and now that he remembered why, he couldn't wait to get to work with her in the arena. Upon realizing that his final thoughts before his first death was hoping that Lily won their games, he became sad knowing she didn't. This time, they would be working with a whole new group of siblings, and Axton had a new goal to overcome this time. This time, Lily would leave the arena in one piece. Even if it was the last thing that he helped her do.
For Cerise, being rebirthed was the best thing that could have happened to her. Living in captivity with overprotective parents left her feeling unfulfilled her first go-around in life. Now that she's had the Capitol, and all the experiences that being here gave her, she thought she had enough life experience not to let her daydreams of the world distract her. She would overcome because she was going to see what Panem had to offer, and hopefully, she wouldn't stop there. Hopefully, she would get to see the world.
Jupiter laughed to himself as he remembered everything he went through his first games. He remembered killing Cupid, and while now that he knew her, he was a bit sorry; he would do it again. Because at the end of the night, the games were a business transaction. The fourteenth place was a joke, and Jupiter would not allow himself to score that low again. This time, Jupiter would win. He didn't care who got in his way.
As the tributes reflected on their old lives, it was then time to go into the tubes. Eighteen years had finally come to pass, and this moment was one of the most awaited moments that any Capitolite or District citizen had ever had. Today, the ultimate games were about to take place.
Today was the start of brother killing brother, friend killing friend, and water running thicker than blood. As the glass tubes closed around the tributes, for most of them, it would be the last peaceful moment they would know.
The games were a reminder that even though they were presented with freedom, they were ultimately still prisoners to the game. And as the pods started to lift, they realized that nobody was safe at this moment. There was no respawn. When you take someone out in this arena, they're gone forever.
And as the tributes first saw the arena, their eyes bulged out of their head from amazement. It was like nothing they had ever seen before.
"Tributes," the voice of Moriah Jackson said into the microphone. "In a few moments, the clock will start the countdown, and the 118th Hunger Games will commence. However, I have one announcement before you get started…"
THIS CHAPTER TOOK ME ALL DAY. I love you guys, and I love your characters, BUT DAMN DANIEL, this was a lot of flipping back and forth. I'm so excited about the bloodbath that will be posted tomorrow..if I don't post it tonight out of boredom!
Let me know what you think of this chapter. I'm sorry if it was repetitive, but I wanted to give you guys each a backstory before the bloodbath.
Good luck, guys! And thanks for being so supportive throughout this process.
Keep it classy,
Caleb