Paradise: The 72nd Hunger Games (SYOT!)

by JStar14H

Every year, the Arena and the challenges within it change. This year, the Tributes will fight in an Arena that looks like a Paradise, but with challenges that will take away what they hold dear. And maybe sharks. Or maybe not sharks. Probably sharks. Will there be sharks? Read and find out! Closed SYOT, but, please, still read! This year promises to be as exciting as the past two!

26. Interviews and odds!

Paradise: The 72nd Hunger Games

Chapter Twenty-Six

Interviews and Odds

A/N: This is the second-to-last chapter before the Games! Place your bets and get ready to rumble, because the Games are just around the corner! Also, thank you to everyone who submitted special ideas for their interviews, I've done my best to incorporate those. Also, I just got some work done on a long-term thing which I wish I could show you guys because of how cool it is, but sadly, it'll have to wait. Oh well. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own the idea of murdering 23 children every year for the crimes of their parents. That's all Suzanne Collins.

Aislie Dellarouse –18- -D1- POV

I walk onto stage in a long, blue, cocktail dress that highlights my long legs. My hair is done up in a natural look, falling to my mid-back, and given the slightest of artificial curls. My stylist also told me that they did up the lighting to show off my green eyes. Wonderful. I put on a smile as I walk onto the stage.

"Hello, Aislie," Caesar Flickerman says.

"Hello, Caesar," I say. We shake hands and sit down. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Aislie," Caesar says. "So, how are you liking the Capitol?"

I force myself to smile. "It's been nice so far, Caesar. Great food, and I must compliment your stylists on all of their effort. I don't think I've ever looked this good." Oh. My. Goodness. So painful.

"Well, I can't dispute you there, Aislie. You do look beautiful," Caesar says. "Despite the best efforts, my people can't get rid of this," he pats his stomach, where no extra weight sits. "They say the camera adds twenty pounds, but I just made that up so people wouldn't think I was so fat!" The audience laughs at his joke. "So, Aislie," he turns back to me, having turned to face the audience a bit, "you are a Dellarouse. Is there any relation to Enzo and Kylo Dellarouse, two of our competitors in the 68th and 69th Games?"

"Yes, actually, there is," I say. "They were my older brothers."

"Really?" Caesar asks like he doesn't already know. "Well, I'm sorry for your loss. Are they part of why you volunteered?"

"Yes, actually," I say. "They're a big part of my motivation. Let's just say that I feel like they should have done a bit better, I would have liked to have some older brothers, you know," Caesar nods, "and so I want to do what they failed to do."

"I see," Caesar says. "So you're doing this to avenge your family name, so to speak?"

"Yes, exactly," I say. "Also to bring the glory back to District One that we need. After all, we haven't had a winner in a few years, and that's just shameful."

"Of course," Caesar says. "So, do you think that you would have volunteered had your brothers made it back?"

"Yes, I would," I say. "I've always loved the Games and wanted to be a Victor."

"Of course," Caesar says. "So, is there anyone special back in District One?"

I give a fake laugh. "He certainly thinks he's special, but… he's just sort of eh, honestly."

"Really?" Caesar asks, clearly happy for juicy gossip. It is his job, I guess. "And what is this boy's name?"

"Uh… I think it was… Aziel," I say, making a snap decision. I look directly at the camera. "Yes, that's it. And, Aziel, sorry to have to tell you this, but we're not together. We're done. Sorry, honey. It was never gonna work out anyway." I look back at Caesar, who has a shocked expression for a second before he starts laughing. "Sorry," I say, "just had to get that out there."

"I think," Caesar says, still laughing, "that one of our viewers is very disappointed right about now. That was, as you kids say, brutal, Aislie. Not special indeed. So, tell me, Aislie, is that what you're always like?"

"Well," I say, feeling a bit cornered, "I don't always get the opportunity to dump people on National TV, no. But I am a bit direct with people, I suppose."

"I can tell that, Aislie," Caesar says. "Well, I hope that you get home and find someone who can match your directness to settle down with."

"Thank you, Caesar."

"It has been a pleasure, Aislie, but I'm afraid that this is all the time we have. I will see you in the Games," Caesar says. He rises and I follow his lead.

We shake hands. "Thank you, Caesar. The pleasure is all mine," I lie before walking offstage.

Blaze Herrscher –18- -D1- POV

I walk onto stage in a nice black suit complete with black dress shoes.

"Hello, Blaze," Caesar says. "How are you today?"

I shake his hand. "Hello, Caesar." We sit. "I'm doing just fine. Excited to be here in the Capitol," I lie through my teeth. I wish I could just be back home, but then I couldn't guarantee that Wonder would be safe.

"I imagine. It is a beautiful city, isn't it?" Caesar asks.

"Yes, it is," I say.

"So, Blaze, tell me, why did you volunteer?" Caesar asks.

I start with the truth. "Both of my parents really wanted me to win the Hunger Games," and move into the lie, for I hate the Games. The only reason I'm here is to get Wonder out. "And so I got involved too. It's an exciting opportunity, and, as Aislie said, when I win, I can bring the honor back to our District."

"Of course," Caesar says. "So, back in District One, is there anyone special?"

"Well," I say, "I'm going to tell you the truth Caesar, I'm not quite sure. There was this one girl – she left me a note before I left telling me she liked me. But, honestly, I'm not quite sure how I feel about her. I've tried not to really think about it during training, not to let it distract me."

Caesar nods. "I understand those woes myself. What's this girl's name, if I may ask?"

"Glory," I say.

"Ah," Caesar says. "Well, I won't pressure you more, but I do encourage you to think about it. But it sounds like Glory is very lucky to have you. So, what about your family, friends? Anyone important there?"

"Well, of course, I love my parents," lie, "but I love my little sister, Wonder, the most," truth. I turn to the camera. "Hey, baby sis. I love you!" Turning back to Caesar, I say, "and I don't have many friends, but besides Glory, there's also Pride."

"I see," Caesar says. "Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?"

"Not that I can think of," I say.

"Well, that's okay, because our time is up. It was nice to meet you, Blaze." Caesar rises and we shake hands.

"It was nice to meet you as well, Caesar," I say before I walk offstage.

Sabine Allaire –18- -D2- POV

I walk onto stage in a low-cut, floor-length, green dress that trails behind me. My hair has been left almost alone, the ends only curled slightly more, and I've been given a pair of green heels.

"Hello, Sabine," Caesar says. "Pleasure to meet you, and if I may say so, you look beautiful."

"Thank you, Caesar," I say. We shake hands. "It's nice to meet you too." We sit down.

"So, tell me, Sabine, why did you volunteer?" Caesar asks.

"Well, Caesar, it's simple. I wanted to provide for me and my brother, give us the life we deserve. Besides, I'll also win personal glory and honor for District Two, I mean, we're even doing worse than One recently. What's not to like?"

"Fair point," Caesar says. "So, Sabine, what have you enjoyed most about the Capitol during your time here?"

"Probably all the training equipment," I say. "I wasn't the richest back in Two, so I didn't exactly have the best equipment, so getting to work with your state-of-the-art equipment has been a dream come true for me."

"Of course," Caesar says. "I can imagine that it would be nice. I once get a tour of the training facility, it looks beautiful and very high-tech. You are lucky to be able to train there."

"I agree," I say.

"So, is there anyone special back in District Two?" Caesar asks.

"My boyfriend, Cannon," I say. "I really care about him. And of course my brother."

"Of course," Caesar says. "Anything else you'd like to share with us?"

"Not really," I say.

"Okay then," he says. "Well, our time is up anyway. Nice to meet you, Sabine, best of luck."

We stand and shake hands.

Eric Torres –17- -D2- POV

I walk onto stage in a nice black suit and dress shoes.

"Hello, Eric," Caesar says.

"Hello, Caesar," I say. We shake hands. "It's nice to meet you."

"You as well, Eric," Caesar says. We sit down. "So, Eric, what's been your favorite thing about the Capitol so far?"

"I don't know," I say honestly. "Everything is so different from back in District Two."

Caesar nods. "Speaking of District Two, is there anyone special for you back there?"

"Well," I start, "there are my trainer and friend Kingston, and my best friend Katy. There's also my father, who's recently pledged to be a better father than he had been before. And finally, there's…" I pause, trying to figure out how to put it. "There's my… my Faith. Faith Barrett. I had a crush on her for the longest time, and in the Justice Building, she said she felt the same way, so… I have all of them waiting for me when I get back."
"That's quite the amount of people, Eric," Caesar says. "If you don't mind me asking, why did you volunteer for the Games?"

"Kingston told me I should, and… I felt that I would be able to get what I want from winning the Games," I say.

"And what is it that you want, Eric?" Caesar asks, probing.

"I'm afraid that's classified," I joke. Caesar laughs.

"Ah, of course. So, you're mysterious then, Eric?" Caesar asks.

"I guess you could say that," I reply.

"Not letting us through, huh Eric?" Caesar teases.

"I guess not," I say. I take a glance at the clock. "I'll just say that I want to get home to my family and my… Faith."

"A very nice closing statement, Eric," Caesar says. "Well, that's all the time we have. Thank you, Eric, and May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor."

We stand up and shake hands. "Thank you, Caesar. A pleasure, Caesar."

I walk offstage.

Valencia Bisset –16- -D3- POV

I walk onto stage in a beautiful maroon dress, my hair already wavy hair curled even more. The dress brings out my blue eyes. I feel bad for the boys, considering how simpler all of their outfits are. Not many variations of outfits for men, I guess.

"Hello, Valencia," Caesar says.

"Hello, Caesar," I say. We shake hands and sit down.

"So, Valencia, what have you enjoyed most about the Capitol?" Caesar asks.

"Well, this is going to sound like a bit of a weird one, Caesar, but honestly, it's the clothing. You have clothing here that fits my body type," I run my hand over my body, indicating my broad shoulders and toned body, "unlike back home."

"That is unique," Caesar says. "But understandable. Yes, here in the Capitol we try to make sure that we're accepting of all types of people, physically and mentally. So, you know what's coming next. What's life like back in District Three? Any special boys?" He gives me a small wink. Clearly, Caesar knows what's up, although I'm sure he does since I imagine everything in the Justice Building is videotaped.

"Actually," I pretend to hesitate, "there is a special someone. Her name is Eris." I pause, waiting for Caesar to ask me more.

He obliges. "Please, tell us more, Valencia! I'm dying to know more!"

"Of course," I say. "I've had a crush on her for the longest time. And in the Justice Building… she told me she felt the same way."

"So, is she your girlfriend now?" Caesar asks.

"I don't know," I say. "I mean, I guess not really. I mean, like yes, but also no, you know? We haven't really had enough time together to be official, so if I get back, that's the first thing I want to do; I want to ask her officially to be my girlfriend."

"Of course," Caesar says. "So… Eris. Is this the same Eris who you volunteered for?"

"The one and only," I say.

"Well isn't she lucky," Caesar says. "She has someone who cares about her so much that they would risk their own life."

"She is lucky," I joke. "I do love her. But I imagine that I'll do okay. After all, I'm stronger than the average girl and I have the best motivation ever."

Caesar nods. "I think you'll do just fine, Valencia. I'm afraid that's all the time we have together, but I wish you the best of luck. Goodnight, Valencia."

We stand and shake hands. "Goodnight, Caesar," I say. "It's been a pleasure." I walk offstage.

A discussion about whether or not to allow Mouse on stage had been had by the Gamemakers the day before.

"The next matter of business is Mr. Conen," Peter Mallard said. "After the incident in District Three, there's been some concern about allowing him to have an interview. Although we do not think there would be a threat, you all know that our official policy is to discourage people from Sponsoring the mentally unstable Tributes so as to lower their odds. Also, we would have to portray him in a positive light, and the President has concerns about how that would affect our PR."

Heads nodded around the room, although some shook their heads in dissent. Gamemakers argued for hours until a bright young Junior Gamemaker by the name of Luis Cardozo raised his hand and waited patiently for silence. When he was finally recognized by a tired and worn-out Peter Mallard, who honestly just wanted to be done with the meeting that was supposed to have ended hours ago one way or another, he smiled and said simply, "Caesar will be the one doing the interview, right? How about we just call him and ask?"

Foreheads were smacked on hands and the large meeting table, and somebody got the conference room phone dialed to Caesar's house number. After a few seconds, the sleepy voice of one Mr. Flickerman picked up.

"What?" He asked. "And why are you calling at midnight?" A few people shot surprised glances at the clocks around the room and groaned when they saw how long the argument had taken.

"Mr. Flickerman," Mallard said. "Peter Mallard here, with my team. I'm sorry to wake you, we didn't realize how late it was. Anyway, we were just calling to ask if you felt comfortable interviewing Mouse Conen."

"What?" Caesar asked. "That kid who stabbed his sister? No, of course not! I thought that was obvious! I'm not letting that kid within knifing range of me! Is that all?"

Mallard shared a look with his fellow Gamemakers that said, "Is this dude serious? He really thinks we'll let him get knifed?" But that also said, "In fairness, it's his decision and I just want to go home."

"Yes, that will be all. Thank you," Mallard said. Mallard hung up the phone. "Well, I guess it's decided. Good work everyone. Now get some rest. By what is technically tomorrow, we will be working our butts off, so get some sleep in. Dismissed." The flock of Gamemakers filed out of the room and flew back to their nests through the silent streets of the Capitol.

So, when the time for Mouse's interview came up, he was back in his room, watching the interviews on TV, with a guard outside his room just in case.

"And now, we would normally bring forth our Male Tribute from District Three," Caesar said. "However, due to certain circumstances, we have decided not to conduct his interview. I am about to show you some footage to explain why, but please do be warned that this footage is graphic." The reel of Mouse stabbing his sister then played for all of Panem, including Dayta Conen, lying in her hospital bed, to see. After the footage was finished, Caesar's face, now grim, came back onscreen. "As you know, attempted murder is a capital crime. And while I am happy to report that Miss Conen is recovering well, and the rules of the Games do prevent us from giving a Tribute an advantage or disadvantage in the Arena because of past crimes, we did not think it would be in good taste to conduct an interview. I assure all of you that this issue was discussed at length," he emphasized those last two words and the next several, "through all hours of the night, by our Gamemakers and that they have come to this conclusion justly and fairly. With that said, we will now proceed to the next interview. Miss Ariadna Starsgaard, please come forward."

Ariadna Starsgaard –16- -D4- POV

I walk out onto stage in a cream dress and matching heels (they make cream heels in the Capitol, who would've guessed).

"Hello, Ariadna," Caesar greets me.

"Hi, Caesar," I say. I reach him and we shake hands and sit down.

"So, Ariadna, what do you find most interesting about the Capitol so far?" Caesar asks.

"Well, Caesar, for the most interesting thing, I'd certainly have to say the fact that you have cream-colored heels," I say.

Caesar laughs. "Yes, Ariadna. We have clothes and shoes in almost every color, for any fashion sense, even my own debatable one." He gives me a wink and the crowd chuckles. "So, Ariadna, you volunteered. Care to tell us any more about why?"

"Oh, of course," I say. "I volunteered because my family is low on money, unfortunately. Like, really low. You see, my grandfather got himself into a bad spot with some gambling before he passed and now we're coming up on needing to sell our boat and give up our livelihood just to pay the debts, which is obviously a non-ideal solution. So I volunteered because I think I can win and because we really need the money," I summarize.

"I see," Caesar says. "So, Ariadna, who in your family is special to you? Is there anyone else in your life we should know about?"

"Well, obviously, my entire family is important to me, Caesar. But my cousin Espen will always have a special place in my heart. For example, this one time, we were young, I don't know how old, maybe six or so, and Espen was going out on our boat for the first time. Now, I've been able to swim probably since before I could walk, at least if you believe my parents. Espen, on the other hand, is a bit of a landlubber," chuckles from the audience and Caesar. "So, we were on our first trip out together and it was all going well until suddenly Espen decides that he just has to help my parents catch a fish. Well, I don't know if you've ever been to District Four, but the two main ways we catch fish are with tridents or nets. Well, I and my parents use tridents. Espen here, ever the hero, decided that since we were having trouble spearing the fish, he should dive in the water and I guess wrestle it out or something." The crowd laughs.

"Go on," Caesar says, leaning forward.

"Right, of course. So, anyway, he jumps over the side of the boat and into the water. Well, he obviously can't swim so that was a bit of a problem. He just starts to drop like a stone down to the bottom. Well, I was also six, so I decided in my infinite wisdom, that I should go rescue him. So I also dove off the boat and into the water. I managed to catch up to him and pull him to the surface, but I obviously didn't have the strength to get him back in the boat, so my dad had to jump in and hand us to my mom. The day after that, his parents started giving him swimming lessons." I conclude my tale.

"Well," Caesar says. "That was quite a humorous tale. I'm glad it all worked out in the end."

"Thank you," I say. "Me too. I think you're generally supposed to ask me if I made it out alright."

Caesar laughs. "I think the answer to that question is quite readily apparent. So, Ariadna, is there anyone else we should know about?"

"Well, there is one person I guess I should mention before my time is up. Dirk is his name. I've had a crush on him for a bit and after I volunteered, I told him I liked him and sort of kissed him," I force a blush by thinking of a real embarrassing memory. No, I'm not telling what it is. "So I really sort of want to get back home so I can kiss him again."

Caesar nods. "Of course. Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?"

A quick glance at the clock shows that I have only thirty seconds left. "Not really, Caesar. Just that if you, any of you, get the chance to visit District Four, I would do it. The ocean there is so beautiful, and I'll buy you a drink at one of the places I know right by the beach."

Caesar smiles. "I see. I'll make sure of that. You seem awfully confident, Ariadna. Are you?"

"I guess so," I say. "I mean, sure, there's risk, but there's risk to everything. I'm confident that I can pull this off and return home."

"I see," Caesar says. "And one last thing: I heard a rumor that your birthday is the day after tomorrow. Is that true?"

"Yes, it is," I say. The timer buzzes.

"Well, Ariadna, it's been a pleasure," Caesar says. "Best of luck." He stands up and we shake hands.

"You as well, Caesar. Thank you," I say before I walk offstage.

Aphelios Asturias –18- -D4- POV

I walk onto stage in a nice black suit.

"Hello, Aphelios," Caesar says.

"Hello, Caesar," I reply. "How are you?" We shake hands.

"I'm just fine," he says. We sit down. "How about you?"

"I'm doing fine," I say, "thank you."

"So, what have you enjoyed most about the Capitol?" Caesar asks.

"Definitely the food," I respond. "It's delicious."

"That is is," Caesar says. "So, Aphelios, why did you volunteer?" Caesar asks.

"I… well, you know that every Tribute is given a special request, right?" I ask. Caesar nods. "Well, I want… you see, my mother isn't my real mother. She – my real mother, that is – left when I was little and I never knew who she was. So I want to find that out. And of course, I want to make my father proud." Father never knew what I wanted to know about Mom, but it's all true.

"I see," Caesar says. "So, do you believe that you can win?"

"Yes, of course," I say. "I've had enough training, I easily beat them."

"I see," Caesar says. "Very confident. So, Aphelios, is there anyone waiting for you back in District Four besides your father?"

"Just my brother," I say. "That's really it."

"I see," Caesar says. "Well, is there anything else you'd like to share with us?"

"No," I say.

"Okay then. Well, our time is up anyway," Caesar says. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Aphelios. Good luck." We stand.
"You as well, Caesar, and thank you," I say. We shake hands and I walk off stage.

Casca Ishtar –15- -D5- POV

I walk out onto stage in a white/cream colored dress and heels.

"Good evening, Casca," Caesar says. "How are you?"

"As good as I can be, considering the circumstances," I say. We shake hands and sit down.

"Of course," Caesar says. "So, Casca, what have you enjoyed most about the Capitol?"

"I'd have to say the showers," I say. "Although they're a bit complicated at first, they're really quite nice once you get the hang of them."

"They are very nice," Caesar says. "Just make sure, whatever you do, don't hit the orange button. I still have a scar from that," he touches the base of his neck just below the shirt, "from when I was a boy. Luckily, no one can see it, or my career would be ruined!" The audience chuckles at his joke. Self-deprecating is apparently his thing. "So, Casca, what's your life like back in District Five? Do you have any friends, family? Anyone special?"

"I don't have a boyfriend, no," I say truthfully. "Unfortunately," I lie. I have no interest in having a boyfriend. "But I do have a wonderful family. The most important person in my family is probably my only brother, Rollo. He's blind, actually. We're poor, so I had to work to provide for him and help out my parents. But, even though I didn't ask for this, I'm hoping that I can use the prize money to give him and my parents a good life, even though he'll never be able to see."

"I understand," Caesar says. "That's quite noble, Casca. What about your friends?"

"Ah, yes," I say. I turn to the camera. "Chandler, Asta, I know you two are getting together, and if you haven't, you should already." The audience laughs and I turn back to Caesar. "They're my two best friends," I say. "At the Justice Building, I got the sense that there was something between them. Maybe me leaving was the spark they needed."

"Of course," Caesar says. "Is there anything else you'd like to share?"

"Uh, no, I think that's it," I say.

"Of course," Caesar says. "Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, Casca."

"A pleasure to meet you too, Caesar," I say. We stand and shake hands, then I walk offstage.

Levi Nasue-Keenly –15- -D5- POV

I walk out onto the stage in a gray suit.

"Hello, Levi," Caesar says.

"Hello, Caesar," I say. We shake hands and sit down.

"So, Levi, how are you today?" Caesar asks.

"Good, considering the circumstances," I say.

"What have you enjoyed most about the Capitol?" Caesar asks.

"It's hard to say. There are so many great things," I say.

"Of course," Caesar says. "So, Levi, what's your life like at home?"

"I have a big family, no friends besides them," I say.

"I see," Caesar says. "Do you want to tell us a bit more about your family?"

"No, I'm fine," I say.

"Well, I'm afraid you'll have to do some talking. We need to know a bit about you," Caesar says.

"Well, I have two parents and three siblings. My youngest sibling is Jesse, she's only two," I say.

"I see," Caesar says. "Do you plan to help your family with the money if you win?"

"Yes, of course," I say. There's an awkward pause for a few seconds.

"Well, thank you, Levi. I'm afraid that's all the time we have. It was a pleasure to meet you," Caesar says. We stand.
"You too, Caesar," I say. We shake hands and I walk offstage.

Miria "Ria" Wallace –16- -D6- POV

I walk onto stage in a short, off-the-shoulder, red dress with some gold earrings and matching red heels. The dress only goes down to right above my knees and has no sleeves, leaving my legs and arms exposed for the (hopeful) Sponsors to see. My hair is in a messy bun, with purposeful flyaways of my dark brown, curly hair framing my face.

"Hello, Miria," Caesar says. "May I say that you look beautiful tonight."

"Hello, Caesar," I say. We shake hands. "Thank you. And please, call me Ria."

"Of course, Ria," Caesar says. We sit down. "So, Ria, what have you enjoyed about the Capitol so far?"

"Definitely your trainers," I say. "I worked with my dad on some techniques for wrestling and such back home, but I never had the level of training that your people provide."

"I see," Caesar says. "Yes, we do try to get the best people from around Panem. So, you said you worked with your father on wrestling. Are you any good?"

I raise one of my arms and flex it so that he and the audience can see the muscles underneath. "What do you think?" I joke with him.

He laughs. "I think that's a yes. You're not someone I'd like to run into in a dark ally, are you, Ria?"

"No, probably not," I say. "Although I'm sure you'd do just fine, Caesar, a strong man like yourself."

He laughs. "You flatter me, but I doubt that. I haven't fought anyone since I was very little. And I don't know if that even counted as a fight. Now, Ria, you volunteered. Care to tell us why?"

"Well, Caesar, the girl who was Reaped was my friend, Rose, and while I love her, just like, as a friend, while she's very sweet, she wouldn't last five seconds in the Hunger Games and I feel like I have a much better chance of that," I say.

Caesar nods. "That's very noble of you, Ria. So, what is life like for you back home? Do you have any friends besides Rose? Anyone who's more than just a friend?"
"Well, I do have one friend beside Rose, his name is Sparky, he's her older brother. Apart from that, my friends are my family, my mom, and dad. No, I don't have a boyfriend," I say.

"I see," Caesar says. "Well, when you finally get a boyfriend, he will be a very lucky man. So, you mentioned before that your father trained you to wrestle. Why is that?"

"Oh, I don't really know," I say. "I guess he just wanted to make sure I could defend myself."

"He's a good man, then," Caesar says. "So, Ria, I'm sure that you can't share too much, but can you give us a hint of what your strategy will be?"

"Well, I'm planning to go at it alone, and apart from that, I don't want to say too much," I say.

Caesar nods. "Of course. Well, you got a fairly decent score, a six, so I'll be sure to watch out for you. It's been a pleasure to meet you, Ria. Best of luck." We stand.

"Thank you, Caesar," I say. We shake hands and I walk offstage.

Dante Myers –13- -D6- POV

I walk onto stage in a nice gray suit.

"Hello, Dante," Caesar says.

We shake hands. "Hello, Caesar," I say. We sit.

"So, Dante, how have you been adjusting to the Capitol?" Caesar asks.

"It's been more enjoyable than I would have thought," I admit. "The clothes are comfy, the food is delicious, and the people are nice."

"Well, I'm glad we've made such a good impression on you, Dante. After all, we hope to have you back someday," Caesar says. I and the audience chuckle at his joke. "So, Dante, can you tell me a bit more about your life at home? Family, friends, girlfriend?"

I smile halfheartedly. "Well, I have a big family, we'd be here all day if I tried to talk about all of them. But I love them all and they're nice to me. I have a couple of close friends," I turn to the camera, "hi, Chester, Nathan." I turn back to Caesar. "They're very nice, fun people. But…" I sigh, remembering the Justice Building. "One friend is by far my best friend. Layna Paris is her name. And… well, I… I liked her, still like her, probably will always like her, as more than a friend. And she told me she doesn't feel the same way, never will. And there's nothing personal about it and nothing wrong with that, but… well, now you know. I still really like her though, because she's a great person and my best friend. Layna, wherever you are, I hope you're doing well," I say. I had turned to face the camera and now turn back to Caesar.

"Well, Dante, I'm sorry about that," Caesar says. "But I'm sure you'll find someone else who you like just as much."

Yeah, right, I think, but don't say. "Thank you, Caesar," I say. "I hope I have the opportunity to."

"I do as well," Caesar says. "So, Dante, have you made any friends, any allies since you've been here?"

"Actually quite a few," I say. "I probably shouldn't say more than that, but I can say that everyone else has been nice to me, even Ria. She helped me see a few things clearer on the train ride."

"That's excellent," Caesar says. "And do you think that with the help of these allies, you'll be able to win?"

"I hope so," I say, "but I don't know. As always, we'll just have to see how it develops. But we do have a plan that I think gives us pretty good odds and we all seem to get along."

"Well, that's good to hear," Caesar says. "As much as I would love to hear more about this mysterious plan, I'm sure you can't tell us more and we don't have any more time anyway. Thank you, Dante. It's been a pleasure, and May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor." We stand.

"Thank you, Caesar. It has been a pleasure," I say. We shake hands and I walk offstage.

Luzson "Luz" Byrne –12- -D7- POV

I walk onto stage in a puffy pink dress that my stylists say will make me look "cute" and little pink shoes – ballet shoes, they call these things. They feel more like socks than shoes, but they weren't going to put me in heels and apparently real shoes are too "manly" for a little girl. Whatever.

"Hello, Luzson," Caesar says.

Hello, Caesar, I sign. An interpreter on stage speaks my words for me. Caesar had mentioned something about this to the audience before I walked onstage. We shake hands and I sit down. Please, call me Luz.

"Of course, Luz," Caesar says. "So, can you tell me a bit about your life at home?"

I have a small family. It's just me and my parents. I have a couple of friends. We like to build things. Small structures in the forest and stuff, I sign.

"That sounds interesting, Luz," Caesar says. "Do you like your parents?"

Yes, I do. We get along very well, I say.

"So, what's most different about life here in the Capitol?" Caesar asks.

For starters, these interpreters. I can't communicate with most people back home if my friends or family aren't around. Having these people around has been really nice because I can talk to anyone I want to. On the other hand, some of those careers are scary! I saw one girl throw a knife right through the neck of a dummy!

"I see," Caesar says. "Yes, we do try to be more inclusive here and make sure that everyone is able to communicate. I'm sorry some of the other Tributes scared you. Have you made any friends?"

Quite a few, actually. Including Dante and my District partner, Griffin, I sign.

"I see," Caesar says. "Are you a part of Dante's large alliance?"
Yes, I am, I say.

"Ah," Caesar turns to the audience. "The mystery deepens." He turns back to me. "Well, Luz, thank you. I'm afraid that's all the time we have. Best of luck in the Arena tomorrow."

Thank you, Caesar. It's been a pleasure, I sign. Then we shake hands and I walk offstage.

Griffin Jefferson –14- -D7- POV

I walk onstage in a nice blue suit with black dress shoes, my curly hair slightly artificially curled.

"Hello, Griffin," Caesar says.

"Hello, Caesar," I say. We shake hands and sit down.

"So, Griffin, what have you enjoyed most about the Capitol?" Caesar asks.

"I've quite enjoyed the food," I say.

"Of course," Caesar says. "That seems quite popular this year."

I laugh. "I guess so."

"So, what is your life like at home, Griffin?" Caesar asks.

"Well, I have a couple of friends, no girlfriend, and I just have my parents. I used to have a sister, but… well, she's not with us anymore," I say.

"I see," Caesar says. "Well, I'm sorry about that. So, have you made any friends in your time here?"

"Yes," I say. "Luz and Dante among them."

"This is growing more interesting by the Tribute," Caesar says. "Well, Griffin, is there anything else you'd like to share?"

"Not really," I say.

"Okay then. Well, we're out of time. It has been a pleasure to meet you, Griffin," Caesar says. We stand.

"You as well, Caesar, thank you," I say. We shake hands and I walk offstage.

Vanessa "Nessa" Vandermeer –15- -D8- POV

I walk onto stage in a long, dark blue, and poofy dress.

"Good evening, Vanessa," Caesar says. "You look very pretty tonight."

"Thank you, Caesar," I say. We shake hands and sit down. "And, Nessa, please. May I say that that suit looks very nice on you?"

"Why, thank you, Nessa," Caesar says. "But I'm supposed to be the one giving the compliments!" I laugh good-naturedly with the audience. "So, Nessa, what have you enjoyed about your time in the Capitol?"

"This is a bit weird," I say, "but all the clothing material I get to play with. You see, I can sew and weave, but I'm used to the fabric back in Eight. Your clothing materials are so different and interesting, it's like a seamstresses' dream come true."

"I see," Caesar says. "I'm glad we can impress you! So, Nessa, what's your life like at home?"

"Well, I have a few friends, hi, Juliana, Noelle, Jackie," I say, "and I have my father and my two sisters, who I love very much, Tildy and Tasha, and of course Tildy's fiance. My mom used to be around, but she died tragically when I was young."
"Oh, I'm sorry for your loss, Nessa," Caesar says.

"Oh, it's okay. Thank you though. I'm just hoping that I can weave myself a solution out of this Arena so that my sisters don't have to deal with the loss of both a mother and a sister," I say.

"Did you just weave a hint about your strategy into that sentence?" Caesar asks, a smile playing at the edges of his lips.

"I might have stitched one in there, yes," I say. "I hope it was a little more obvious than a needle in a haystack."

"I sew-spect it was," Caesar says.

"These are getting sew bad now," I say. I look Caesar directly in the eye and we both burst out laughing, taking the audience with us.

After a few seconds, Caesar says, "I see sewing is not your only skill, Vanessa."

"You could say that," I say. "Some people like my humor. Most people like it as much as getting pricked by a needle."

"I see," Caesar says. "Well, as much as I'd love to continue our chat, our time is up. It's been a pleasure to meet you, Nessa, and good luck." We stand.

"Thank you, Caesar. It's been a pleasure to meet you as well," I say. We shake hands and I walk offstage.

Ollie Rousseau –18- -D8- POV

I walk out onto stage in a nice gray suit.

"Hello, Ollie," Caesar says.

"Hello, Caesar," I say. We shake hands and sit down.

"So, Ollie, how has the Capitol treated you so far?" Caesar asks.

"Oh, very nice," I say. "Everything about my stay has been wonderful, from the soft clothes and nice shoes to the wonderful showers and delicious food." Ugh. It hurts to be this nice to these people.

"I see," Caesar says. "I'm glad you've enjoyed your stay. So, tell me about life at home. Family? Girlfriend? Boyfriend? Friends?"

I smile. "Well, I just have my parents as far as family goes. They're both wonderful people, they're actually flag makers. I also have two friends, Ben and Andrea, hi guys, and they're really nice. But for certain the most important person to me is my girlfriend, Celina. She is, no doubt, the light of my life. And… uh… I'm not sure if it's official yet or anything, but, uh, I sort of, uh," I flush red against my will for a second, "I may have asked her to get married before I left. I mean, we're both eighteen and it just seemed right, you know? But anyway, she said yes. That's actually why… I mean, she gave me this," I point to the thimble on my lapel, "as sort of an engagement ring, that I'll have to give her when I get back and can buy her a real one, I guess."
"That's wonderful, Ollie," Caesar says. "Congratulations."

"Thank you, Caesar," I say. "Because of that, I'm definitely keen on getting home to the girl I love, so that alliance you've been hearing about from the younger Tributes?" Caesar nods for me to continue. "Yeah, I sort of started that with Nessa. We have ten people now, we're hoping that with our plan, we'll be able to take on the careers," I say.

"Of course," Caesar says. "With ten people I would imagine you would have good odds. I know that you can't tell us too much about your plan, but what happens if you do win? How will you decide which member of your alliance can win the Games?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," I say. "We do have a strict no killing until the end rule though."

"I see," Caesar says. "Well, that's all the time we have. It's been a pleasure, Ollie, and I wish you the best of luck." We stand.

"Thank you, Caesar," I say. "It's been a pleasure." We shake hands and I walk offstage.

Alita Whicker –17- -D9- POV

I walk out onto stage in a golden dress. I get it already, District Nine makes wheat.

"Hello, Alita," Caesar says.

"Hello, Caesar," I say. We shake hands and sit down.

"How has the Capitol been so far, Alita?" Caesar asks.

"Surprisingly nice for a place that kidnaps children to be executed," I say.

"Alita," Caesar says with a warning note in his voice. "You understand the justified purpose of the Hunger Games. Now, can you tell me a bit about your life at home?"

"I understand nothing of the sort. And of course, I can. I work, like so many people in District Nine, long hours slaving away in the fields for barely any sort of pay and –," Caesar makes a small cutting motion across his throat and the lights on all of the cameras go out. He sighs.

When he speaks again, his voice is different and much harsher. "Alita. I'm going to need you to control your anti-Capitol statements, or I'm afraid we'll have to end this interview here," he says. "And without an interview, your chances of getting Sponsors drastically decrease. Also, if you say you'll act better and then don't, I'll be forced to remove you with Peacekeepers. Are you going to act like a good girl?"

"See what you think," I say, standing up from my chair and walking towards the far side of the stage. "I guess we'll end it here." I give him a rude gesture as I walk offstage. The other Tributes, waiting in the wings of the stage, give me shocked looks.

"What?" I ask.
"Just… wow," Valencia says. "Girl, that was brave. Suicidal, but brave." She looks around and leans closer to me, offering me a fist bump underneath our bodies where no one can see. I return the gesture as the lights come back on and Toby's interview starts.

Toby Green –17- -D9- POV

After Alita's suicidal interview, I walk onto stage in a nice black suit.

"Hello, Toby," Caesar says.

"Hello, Caesar," I say. We shake hands and sit down.

"So, Toby, have you been enjoying the Capitol?" Caesar asks.

"Oh, most definitely," I say. "It's very nice here."

"Glad to hear that," Caesar says. "So, what's life like back in District Nine? What's your family like? Do you have friends? A girlfriend?"

"My family is a very large one, I have seven siblings, two nieces, and one soon-to-be niece, as well as a brother and sister-in-law," I say. "It gets a bit crazy sometimes. In addition, I'm planning to get married to my girlfriend when I turn eighteen. Her name is Lola and I love her more than anything. I just want to get back to her and have a life with her. Start a family with her, and…" My voice cracks a bit. "Just be with her. I love her, you know? I couldn't bear to lose her. She actually gave me this," I pull the locket out from under my shirt, showing it to Caesar and the cameras. Caesar leans in. "It was her grandmother's. I… I'm hoping to keep it safe and bring it back to her."

Caesar nods and puts a reassuring hand on my back, to bring me back from the verge of tears. I nod and tuck the locket back inside my shirt, leaning back in my seat again. "That's beautiful, Toby. I hope that you can get it back to her."

"Thanks, Caesar," I say. "Me too."

"Do you need a minute?" He asks. I'm having a hard time seeing, but I shake my head

"No, no, I'm fine. Just worried about her and my family is all. I want to get back to all of them, but especially her," I say.

Caesar nods. "I understand. Do you think that you have a good shot at that?"

My eyes harden. "Oh, I think so. I have a few tricks up my sleeve, I have some good skills. And I have the best motivation in the world."

Caesar nods. "I imagine you do. Unfortunately, Toby, our time is up. Thank you though. It's been a pleasure. May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor."

"Thank you, Caesar," I say as we stand and shake hands. "It's been a pleasure too. I hope to see you again on TV someday." Caesar smiles as I walk offstage.

Freya Huede Swindlehurst –15- -D10- POV

I walk onto stage in a royal blue ballgown and blue heels.

"Good evening, Freya," Caesar says. "You look stunning tonight."

"Oh," I say. "Uh, thank you. And hello to you too." Great. Pull it together, Freya. Do better. We shake hands, something I don't very much like, and sit down.

"So, Freya, what have you enjoyed about the Capitol?" Caesar asks.

"Uh, well, like a lot of people, I've, uh, well, it's sort of a weird thing, but I've, uh, really enjoyed the clothing. It's so soft, and that's just something I really, uh, you know, like," I mumble.

Caesar gives me a big, reassuring smile. "Oh, I understand. Be careful though. Sometimes that clothing can get you in trouble! One time, I had been wearing all these silk shirts that were so soft that I barely felt like I was wearing anything. It was wonderful until I walked outside one day, and the wind was really cold that day, and I thought: That's odd, my shirt should be protecting me against this. It was only then that I realized that I forgot to put a shirt on!" The audience laughs at his joke and I join in.

"I'll try to make sure not to forget my clothes in the Arena," I say with a smile.

"That's good," Caesar says. "Now, Freya, would you mind telling us a bit about your home life?"

"Of course," I say. "Well, I don't have many friends. Or, really any friends. In case you can't tell, I'm a bit shy." I smile shyly. "But I do have my family, my three siblings and my parents. And I have the owner of the store I work at, Bayleigh. She's a nice person."

Caesar nods. "There's nothing wrong with being a bit shy. Have you made any new friends since you got here?"

"Well, he's not exactly a new friend, but it is the first time we've really talked," I say. "I've really gotten to know my District Partner, Rudolf. He used to come into the shop all the time, delivering meat, and now we're allies. It's probably a good thing that I knew him, otherwise, I doubt I'd be able to make allies!" I smile.

"I see," Caesar says. "Well, that is a stroke of good luck then. Any other allies?"

"No, unfortunately," I say.

Caesar nods. "Well, Freya, I hope that you and Rudolf do well in the Arena, you have been a delight to talk to. Unfortunately, it's almost time for Rudolf to come out here. Thank you, Freya. Best of luck."

We stand. "Thank you, Caesar," I say. "It has been a pleasure." We shake hands and I walk offstage.

Rudolf Urs Huber –16- -D10- POV

I walk onto stage wearing a white button-down shirt under a midnight blue suit.

"Hello, Rudolf," Caesar says.

"Hello, Caesar," I say. We shake hands and I sit down.

"It's nice to finally meet you. I've heard quite a bit about you from Freya," Caesar says.
"Nice to be here and get to meet you," I say. "I've been watching you for quite a few years."

"I imagine!" Caesar says. "So, tell me, Rudolf, is it true that you and Freya know each other?"

"Yes, it is," I say. "I used to make delivery runs to her shop almost every day for my dad. We all own a farm, my two brothers and me."

"I see," Caesar says. "And she'd often be at that shop?"

"Yes," I say. "I swear she was there more often than the owner!" I joke.

"Well then, maybe she should be the owner," Caesar says. "So, Rudolf, what is your life like, besides making meat runs to Freya's?"

"It's not that exciting, Caesar," I say. "I live on a farm and I take care of the pigs. So, I raise pigs, feed pigs, kill pigs, sleep with pigs, deliver pig meat, it mostly revolves around pigs actually. I guess you could say that I'm a pig."

Caesar laughs. "You certainly look better than a pig. So, tell us about that Eight. One of the highest scores on there, especially from someone in District Ten. I know you can't tell us too much, but could you maybe give us a hint?"

I laugh good-naturedly. "I can't tell you too much, but I will tell you that it certainly involved pigs. And no, not that roast pig that you guys eat, although that looks delicious."

"I see," Caesar says. "Being mysterious. Well, I hope that you get a chance to take a taste of that roast pig one day. It is delicious. In fact, when you first mentioned pigs, that's where my mind went to."

"I assure you," I joke, "it, unfortunately, had nothing to do with that kind of pig. I mean, I don't see how it could be involved unless I like, shot an arrow through it or something, which would, of course, be crazy."

Caesar laughs. "Of course. Well, it's been a pleasure, Rudolf, but I'm afraid that our time together is almost over. I wish you and Freya the best of luck in the Arena."

We stand. "Thank you, Caesar," I say. We shake hands. "It has been a pleasure meeting you too." I walk offstage.

Olivia Dean –18- -D11- POV

I walk onto stage in a cream-colored ballgown.

"Good evening, Olivia," Caesar says. "A pleasure to have you here. And may I say, you look stunning tonight."

"Good evening, Caesar," I say. "A pleasure to be here. Especially with a man as handsome as yourself." We shake hands and sit down.

"You flatter me, Olivia," Caesar says. Then he winks at me. "But I'm afraid I'm a bit too old for you."

"Oh, really?" I ask. "How old are you?"

"I thought this interview was supposed to be about you," he says. "And besides, that's classified information. Not even the President knows." I laugh.

"Very well. Ask away, Mr. Flickerman," I reply.

"I intend to. So, let's talk about why you volunteered. Why was that?" Caesar asks.

"Well, Hayden, she's the one who was Reaped, she's my stepsister. Although to me she's just my sister. She's only thirteen and I couldn't let her go in the Hunger Games, she wouldn't stand a chance," I say. "I figured I did, and either way I couldn't just let her die, so I volunteered."

"That is very selfless and noble of you, Olivia," Caesar says. "Your sister is lucky to have such a good big sister. Is there anyone else important in your life?"

"Not really," I say. "My family, which is my sister and my brother, both younger than me, and my parents, then there are my friends. But that's really it." I follow Marquis's instructions to not tell the Capitol about him.

"I see," Caesar says. "Anything else you want to share?"

"Not that I can think of," I say.

"Well, that's okay. Our time is up, unfortunately. It's been a pleasure, Olivia, and good luck," he says. We stand and shake hands.

"Thank you, Caesar. It has been a pleasure," I say and then walk offstage.

Elias McKellen –12- -D11- POV

I walk onto stage in a nice gray suit.

"Hello, Elias," Caesar says.

"Hello, Caesar," I say. We shake hands and sit down.

"So, Elias, what have you enjoyed most about the Capitol?" Caesar asks.

"Oh, I don't know," I say. "It's so hard to pick."

"I understand," Caesar says. "Why don't you tell us about your home life then?"

"Of course," I say. "Well, I have a small family, just my mom, and my sisters. Unfortunately, my dad left when my sisters were born, like the coward he is."

"I see," Caesar says. "What about friends?"

"I have one," I say. "Anton, he's still only ten though."

"I see," Caesar says. "Anyone else important?"

"No one I'd rather talk about," I say.

"Of course," Caesar says with a coy tone. "Well, have you made any new friends in the Capitol?"

"Nope," I say. "Don't plan to either. I don't figure I need 'em."

"I see," Caesar says. "Anything else you'd like to share with us?"

"Nope."

"Okay then. Well, it's been a pleasure," Caesar says. We stand and shake hands.

"You too, thank you," I say before I walk offstage.

Everest "Eve" Asher –12- -D12- POV

I walk out onto stage in a light blue and poofy dress.

"Hello, Everest," Caesar says.

"Hello, Caesar," I say. "Eve, please." We shake hands.

"Of course, Eve," he says. We sit down. "So, Eve, what's your life like back at home?"

"Well, life is a bit hard for me," I say. "You see, I live in an orphanage. My mom died when I was six and my dad died a year ago. So it's just me and my brothers now. They're all younger, and the orphanage doesn't have a lot of money and they do have a lot of orphans," I repeat a line I'd been told many times myself, "so I have to do a lot of work to provide for them. Luckily, some of my friends help out, but they're all in the same spot I am. I miss school a lot."

"I see," Caesar says. "Well, I'm so sorry for you, Eve. Do you think that doing that work will give you a bit of an edge in the Games?"

"I sure as heck hope so," I say, "because I imagine that I'll need it. But I am a part of that big alliance, so that should help me."

"That's good," Caesar says. "I do hope that they help you. Do you think you stand a good chance?"

"I think that I'll try my best," I say. "I've got a family to feed, after all."

Caesar nods somberly. "Well, I wish you the best of luck, Eve. It's been a pleasure."

"Thank you, Caesar," I say as we rise. "It's been a pleasure too." We shake hands again and I walk offstage.

Heller Horvath –14- -D12- POV

I walk onto stage in a nice cream suit.

"Good evening, Heller," Caesar says.

"Good evening, Caesar," I say. We shake hands and sit down.

"So, Heller, how has the Capitol been?" Caesar asks.

"Oh, it's been wonderful," I say. "Especially the showers and the sheets."

Caesar nods. "The sheets are like a little slice of heaven. So, Heller, why don't you tell us about your life back in District Twelve?"

"Well," I say, "I have a decent number of friends," although none of them are real friends, "no girlfriend, and no parents. I live with my sister, Astrid. And… although I love her, she's a bit… how do I say this?"

"It's alright, take your time, Heller," Caesar says.

"Thank you, Caesar," I nod. "She's just… she's a bit unstable is all I'll say. I'm actually that when I get back, I can use my money to get her the professional treatment she needs. Say, Caesar, do you know if I could get a Capitol doctor to treat her?"

"I don't know," Caesar admits. "But I'd imagine so. It's good that you're so concerned about her, Heller." Heh. He fell for it. Hook, line, and sinker. "So, have you made any friends in the Capitol? Any allies?"

"Yes, in fact, I'm a part of that big alliance that Eve and Luz and all of them are a part of too," I say.

"Ah, wonderful," Caesar says. "And do think that that will boost your odds?"

"I hope so," I say.

"That's good," Caesar says. "I imagine it will. Well, Heller, it's been a pleasure to meet you. I wish you the best of luck." We stand.

"Thank you, Caesar. It's been a pleasure as well," I say as we shake hands. Then I walk offstage as the lights go down.

Right as the interviews finished, in her private balcony that she shared only with her father and several guards, Lucy Snow got a call on her cell phone. Stepping out of the President's box into the dark hallway beyond, she answered the phone.

"Yes?"

"Ma'am, we've found a girl who we think must know something about the stolen weapons, an Emily Connors. She had a stolen sidearm on her when we picked her up. We thought you should know," the voice of the Head Peacekeeper of District Eight, Johnathon Horn, said.

"Bring her to me," Lucy instructed.
Horn paused for a second before answering. He had hoped to deal with the situation himself, but it was apparent that the young President's daughter was not going to let that happen. "Yes, Ma'am."

Lucy hung up on the man without a thank you or goodbye and returned to her box to tell her father that she needed to head home earlier than usual tonight to deal with a situation and that he could tell any other curious politicians that she didn't feel well.

In District Eight, as soon as the TV turned off, Emma O'Neill heard a knock at her front door. When she opened the door to Kaitlyn Thomason, she knew that there was going to be an issue. When Kaitlyn gave her the small salute that was the symbol of the small group of Rebels, she knew that there was going to be a big crapping issue.

"Come in," Emma said. "What is it?" She asked quietly after the door was closed.

"It's Emily," Kaitlyn said. "She's been taken by the Peacekeepers."

"Crap!" Emma cursed. "Do we know where?"

"No," Kaitlyn said. "We only know that they found her with her gun on her. I was only a few feet away. I was going to meet her. I'm glad I wasn't early."

Emma nodded. "Okay. We need to know what's going on. Let's identify a soft target who can tell us what we need to know. A Peacekeeper, ideally a new one. Off duty, too."

Kaitlyn's eyes widened. "And what are we going to do when we capture a Peacekeeper?" She asked.

"We're going to get him to tell us what he knows, of course. Come on. I'm going to grab my gun and then let's go get the others." Emma walked off to her room. Kaitlyn stood in the hallway for a second, wondering about what Emma had just said. Suddenly, it was all getting very real, and she knew the implications of what Emma was suggesting they do. She also knew what would happen if they got caught. For a moment, she considered telling Emma that she couldn't do it, handing over her stolen weapon, and then letting this all be someone else's problem. But then she thought of seeing her friend dragged away, kicking and screaming, by a Peacekeeper patrol. She thought of the girls, shot at the Reaping last year. And her resolve hardened. She would do whatever it took, and she would follow Emma wherever it took to do what was needed.

For her part, Emma O'Neill's resolve never once wavered, and the two girls soon set out from Emma's house to gather the other members of their small Rebellion. Emma's adopted parents didn't ask where she was going so late – both because they agreed with what she was doing, even if she never actually told them, they could guess, and for plausible deniability, if any Peacekeepers came around – and so the girls set out late at night, not worrying about the rapidly cooling air, with one goal in mind: To find a Peacekeeper to tell them about what happened to their friend.

See after the odds for a long explanation copied from the story where I came up with it about what the odds mean and how the Capitol citizens conduct their betting. Essentially the base odds are 1:24, lower is better, higher is worse.

Official Capitol-released odds:

Blaze Herrscher: 1:6

Aislie Dellarouse: 1:6

Sabine Allaire: 1:6

Eric Torres: 1:6

Mouse Conen: 1:24

Valencia Bisset: 1:12

Aphelios Asturias: 1:6

Ariadna Starsgaard: 1:6

Levi Nasue-Keenly: 1:96

Casca Ishtar: 1:96

Dante Myers: 1:24

Miria Wallace: 1:36

Griffin Jefferson: 1:24

Luzson Byrne: 1:24

Ollie Rousseau: 1:24

Vanessa Vandermeer: 1:24

Toby Green: 1:36

Alita Whicker: 1:24

Rudolf Huber: 1:36

Freya Swindlehurst: 1:36

Elias McKellen: 1:240

Olivia Dean: 1:24

Heller Horvath: 1:24

Everest Asher: 1:24

Note: Tribute's odds were significantly affected by the large "Outlier" alliance, resulting in a flatter than usual curve as the dynamics of this alliance make it harder to predict who will survive and who will not. On the other hand, many non-allied Tributes have had their odds decreased as any encounter with such a large group would likely be catastrophic. Expect the odds to be updated quickly and often as new developments occur in this Games, one unlike any we've ever had before! – Bob Tucker, Head of Hunger Games gambling department, the Capitol.

(Author's Note: Here's how the Capitol odds work in my system, which I had way too much fun coming up with. So, a Tribute's base odds, everything being equal, would be 1:24. The highest odds go is 1:1, which in practice no one ever gets (since 1:1 means one in one, or that it is certain that they win, which never happens). Therefore, odds of 1:2.4 would mean that it's ten times as likely that that Tribute will win, whereas odds of 1:240 mean that it's ten times less likely. 1:48 would be two times less likely, etc. Capitolites can bet in one of two ways: Place betting and special betting. (That is on places, the main event, there are many side bets, ie, if Athena and Isaiah will stay together or break up, etc.). In place betting, you simply bet on a Tribute getting a certain place (Ex: Vallory will take 13th). This betting is heavily influenced by the odds. You can also take points on a bet, up to a limit. Points are essentially saying: I bet this Tribute will get x place, plus or minus three places. (Ex: Vallory will take 13th, with three points taken means that Vallory will take anywhere from 13th to 16th). You can also take points up. (Ex: Vallory will take 13th with three points down and three up would mean that Vallory will take anywhere from 10th to 16th). If you take points, and the numbers come out so that you lose the original bet, but are within your points, you only lose a percentage of the money tied to how many points off you were, instead of all the money if it's out of your point range. (Ex: You bet 1,000 Panem Monetary Units (PMUs) that Vallory will take 13th with three points in either direction. She takes 12th. You pay out 333.33 PMUS, versus 1,000 if you lost completely). The limits are no more than three points on 1st or 24th, and you can't reach to first or twenty-fourth with bets on any other place, and you can't take points for places higher than 20th that go down to below twentieth. There is also special betting, which is essentially place betting, but without points. It's most commonly used for 1st or 24th places when you're sure someone will win or die first. It's a lot of fun for those Capitolites who enjoy high-risk, high-reward. Another note: In any type of betting, you can't change your bet during a combat encounter. You can change your bet on a Tribute when they're not in combat if you realize they're not a good choice (say the careers are stalking them, or they can't find food), but if someone leaps out of the bushes at them, you've just lost your money. If the above seemed way too long, it is, and none of it besides the odds bit is important, sorry. Also, Capitol-published odds take into account all factors, interviews, alliances, training, etc.)

A/N: One short chapter and then it's time for the Games! What do you all think of this chapter? Please let me know! Are you guys excited about the Games! Thanks to everyone who submitted interview ideas and to all of you readers and submitters! See you soon! – JStar14H