A/N: I'm so sorry I've been gone for as long as I have. Quarantine has frankly sapped most of my energy out of me. Without going into details, I'll just say that I work in the medical field and this pandemic has been a lot. However, I'm going to see this story through to it's completion, and this was a fun chapter to write, so I sincerely hope you like it.
Rotto Mangle, the Compassionate Bully
District 7 Male
I shuffle down to the Training Center, for the last time. After today, we have a day to prepare for the interviews, then the interviews themselves, and then it's off to the Games.
After going through training, I doubt I have much of a chance. The first day, I tried to join up with the Careers, like Earnest and the rest of the members of the Goon Squad suggested. However, they turned me down, some of them even laughing at me when I went up and made my request to join them. The guy from District 2, who looks to be the leader, told me they had too many people already, but I got the hidden message: I wasn't good enough to be part of the Careers.
They're probably right, but I'm not useless. I'm stronger than many of the tributes here, even if I don't look like I am. Being part of the Goon Squad naturally attracted a fair number of fights, so I know how to handle myself decently enough in terms of hand-to-hand combat. My mentor has said it's a good skill to have and to not count myself out yet, but now that I've seen these Careers train, I know trying is futile. Sure, I can protect myself in a fistfight, but that's no match for a sword coming at me or a knife thrown faster than the speed of light.
As I get down to the Training Center, I see Malinois and Malik, my allies. After my rejection from the Careers, Malik asked me if I wanted to be in an alliance with him. Apparently, he was turned down by the Careers just like I was. His plan was to assemble a group of guys to take down the Careers. I figured that it was the only shot at an alliance that I was going to get, and being in an alliance was the best way to keep myself alive as long as possible, so I agreed. I've been regretting it ever since.
Malik is awful. He's the self-proclaimed leader of our alliance, and he definitely espouses upon himself more often than he does anything else. He's not even as good as he thinks he is. Yeah, sure, he knows how to wrestle, but he's never handled a weapon before. And I've seen enough of the Games to know that if you want to win, you have to know how to use a weapon. It always comes down to weapons in the end. Malik doesn't seem to be able to put enough brain cells to use to figure that out. He's also unbelievably sexist, to the point where I'm utterly disgusted by it. Malinois suggested that we try to add the girl from District 11, Scythe, to our alliance, and I thought that was a pretty good idea myself. But Malik sneered at the notion, insisting that no girl was going to ever be a threat to any of us. Since then, Scythe has gone on to form her own alliance with the girls from Districts 1 and 10. I haven't mentioned this out loud, but that group scares me almost as much as the Careers. Underestimating them could get us killed, and Malik is certainly underestimating them.
The other thing that I don't like to admit is that Malik reminds me a little bit of Earnest. His contempt towards women and his delight in the suffering of those he considers beneath him are all traits that my cousin is starting to show. The rest of the Goon Squad all have some of the same qualities, but none so much as Earnest. I haven't wanted to confront it before, since Earnest has been my best friend, basically my brother, since we were both born. I've forced myself to overlook the flaws he had. But now that I'm seeing them on another person, I'm being forced to confront these uncomfortable truths, and I don't like it one bit.
And I know, in the unlikely event I somehow win these Games, I'll have to confront Earnest as well. Just the thought makes my stomach churn. I don't want to destroy the bond we have, but at the same time, I won't be able to turn a blind eye to the person he's becoming. I don't want to see him turn into someone like Malik.
As for my other ally, Malinois is a bit of an enigma to me. He doesn't seem to like Malik much more than I do, but he's also fairly tough. I suppose he joined the alliance for the same reasons I did: He thinks an alliance will get him farther in the Games. However, I don't trust him. Malik's cruelty and stupidity makes him easy to read. But with Malinois, I can never figure out where his head is at. I have a feeling that when the time suits him, he'd stab both Malik and I in the back and not lose any sleep over it. He's not ruthless, as far as I can figure, but he also hasn't given up. I don't think he'd hesitate to kill anyone.
And that is my biggest weakness. Both Malik and Malinois would kill anyone here without a second thought. The very idea of that sickens me. How could I look at the little girls, the ones from 6 and 9, who wouldn't even tip the scale at 100 pounds, and kill them in cold blood? How could I take someone's life from them, especially if they aren't trying to take mine in the first place? We're being asked to murder or be murdered. I've never really given it much thought before, but now that I'm being forced into the situation myself… I'm beginning to understand things I never have before.
I'm beginning to understand why the Mockingjay and the Districts fought so hard to free themselves from the tyranny of the Games.
I'd never say this out loud, of course. That would guarantee my death in the arena. But now I have to ask myself if it's worth it or not. Could I be a symbol of hope? Could my death cause a revolution, like Rue from District 11 in the 74th Hunger Games? Could I possibly have some greater purpose in dying rather than living?
No. I must not think that way. The Capitol has proven time and time again that the Districts will never be able to rise up against them. If my death would indeed inspire a revolution, that would just get more people killed in the end. Besides, I'm not an innocent. People would not fight for my cause, especially if they won't fight for the cause of those who are innocent, like the little girls from 6 and 9. The Capitol has us firmly beneath their heels, and it doesn't matter if I live or die; I wouldn't be able to change that with either outcome.
All I can do now is wrestle with what I truly want. Do I want to try and live, against all odds? Or do I want things to end quickly, and try to make my death as painless as possible?
It should be an easy choice. Even though I know it's likely an inevitability, I don't want to die. I have my parents and my little sister waiting for me, and even Bay told me that she believes in me before I left. They all believe that I can be a better man. But how could I be the better man they want me to be if I come home? For if I do, I know that I will be coming back a killer. Winning the Hunger Games and murdering go hand in hand.
"Mangle! Are you gonna pay attention or not?" Malik shouts, finally breaking me out of my thoughts. Training has begun for the day, and I hadn't even noticed. But instead of going over to any stations, both Malik and Malinois are looking at me expectantly.
"Sorry," I mutter. "What were you saying?"
Malik scoffs at me before continuing. "I was saying that we should discuss strategy a little," he says, not bothering to keep his voice down like most do when planning tactics. "I need to tell you what to do so you don't get yourselves killed in the bloodbath and make me look bad. We can figure out other stuff later."
"So, you mean it? You want to rush right into the bloodbath?" Malinois asks, his eyebrow quirked. He doesn't seem very comfortable with the idea, and I'm not either. Rushing in at the bloodbath presents us as easy targets to the Careers. They're better trained and there are more of them, but even those facts don't seem to penetrate Malik's ego.
"Yeah, we are," Malik snarls at Malinois. "Only sissies don't go into the bloodbath. And it'll be the easiest way to pick off some of the weaker Careers, like the guys from One and Eleven. After they go down, we should be able to take care of the guys from Two and Four easily enough."
"What about the girls?" I ask. I know Malik doesn't think much of any of the girls here, but I've seen both of the girls from District 2 and 4 train. They're vicious, and the both of them are very serious contenders to become the Victor.
Malik scoffs at me again. "They're girls. They're not threats," he assures dismissively. Malinois and I glance at each other out of the corners of our eyes. He, at least, seems to be on the same page as me. We don't want to take any chances by underestimating anyone, least of all anyone who's been trained. But still, I bite my tongue this time. Malik has proven that if people get on his bad side, he'll take it personally. He's already signaled out Jaxs Williams from District 5, simply because Jaxs refused to join our alliance. I don't need Malik as an enemy.
"So, we go after the weaker guys from the Careers. I'll take point on the attacks, but I'll need you to back me up," Malik continues now that neither Malinois nor I are voicing any complaints. "Make sure that no one can attack me from behind. But remember, the guy from Five is mine. You can weaken him if you want, but leave it to me to deliver the finishing blow. Got it?" Both Malinois and I nod silently, but judging from the hard look in Malinois' eyes, he doesn't like this plan any more than I do.
Maybe, we could get lucky in the arena and leave Malik to die. Then Malinois and I could set off on our own. But then, we'd be down our strongest team member. Malik might have serious flaws, but he's also easily the strongest out of the three of us. And without Malik, I don't know if Malinois would want to continue with an alliance. He might just decide to go in on his own, and then I would be as good as dead. I need all the help I can get.
"Good. Now go get training. I want to be alone today," Malik finishes before lumbering off to the wrestling mat, like he always does at the beginning of the day. It leaves Malinois and I alone for a moment, but before I can even turn to Malinois to see if he wants to train together, he's already heading over to the weight training station. I'm on my own for today.
After a minute of scanning the room, I decide to dedicate today to learning about survival skills. Up until now, Malik has favored weapons and strength training, neglecting everything else. I figure that at least having a basic knowledge of surviving would be useful in case I outlive my allies.
I decide to start at the fire station. My district partner, Patricia, is just finishing up when I walk over. She gives me her signature dirty look as she passes by. I know that she has it out for me, though I'm not too worried about her. As far as I've been able to tell, she's going into the Games completely alone. While I don't think she's incompetent, I also don't think she's going to get into a three against one fight just to take me out.
I can get the fires going easily enough. My father is one of District 7's blacksmiths, so I've been exposed to fire from a young age. This is at least one thing I can do well. It's not much, but it's something.
After I finish with the fire station, I look up just in time to see the Gamemakers enter the room above us. As always, one of the men, who is shockingly normal looking, sits directly at the front of the balcony and watches us all with shrewd eyes. I get the feeling he's the Head Gamemaker, but I don't know his name.
He's the next test I must get through. I don't know if I have a prayer in these Games, but I have to just focus on my next step. That's what my mentor has told me at least: Take these Games one step at a time. I can worry about the bloodbath, the arena, and possibly being betrayed by my allies later. For now, all I have to worry about is impressing the man who looks down on me now.
Glancing at the blue ribbon still tied around my wrist, I make my decision. I will not go down in these Games without a fight. I will prove myself a contender, so I better start acting like one. So, with renewed energy, I work myself as hard as I can today. I will not be defeated by my own doubts. And I will prove to everyone that I can come out of these Games a better man than who I was when I went in.
Scythe Johnsyn, the Focused Provider
District 11 Female
As I go into the final day of training, I can't help but feel ambivalent about my chances. I have trained like a Career all my life, but unlike the Careers, I hadn't wanted to go into the Games. I'm here to protect my siblings, not for glory like they all wanted.
As such, I have a more realistic view of the Games than any of the Careers, or any of the other tributes for that matter. I've seen firsthand what winning does to a person. I am the daughter of a killer, and my mother never lets me forget it. She's constantly reminiscing about her time in the Games, reveling in the kills she got. Those were always her favorite parts; during my training she would often go on in great detail about how each of her kills was made. It used to make me physically sick, but after a while I got used to it. But it never made me look forward to the task that I knew I had to do.
I was destined for these Games from the second I'd been born. The other Careers chose this, but I had this path thrusted upon me. Though I'd been a volunteer, I am just as trapped as the rest of the tributes who'd been reaped.
Still, as I've looked at the other tributes, I'm about on level with the rest of the Careers. One on one, it would be a toss-up as to who would come out on top (though I'm fairly confident that the boy from 1 wouldn't pose too much of a problem for me), but I definitely couldn't take all of them at once. And I'd decided early on that I didn't want to join the Career pack myself. I'd much rather wait to take them on when the inevitable breaking of the pack came. I didn't want to get caught up in the breaking if I could help it.
But I was aware that I would get farther with some help. I didn't want to join the Careers, but I'd figured that having one or two close allies who showed some promise would help me out just in case I did get ambushed in the arena. My sole purpose for recruiting them was to use them as meat shields to further my chances in the Games. Though I had never wanted to enter the Games, I was desperate to come out on top. My siblings were counting on me to save them from the wrath of our mother, and I was determined not to let them down.
But I hit a snag. My plan so far had come together perfectly. I'd allied myself with two girls who showed promise and were fast learners. They also had skills that I lacked, since I mostly trained with weapons over agility or healing prowess. Sorelle had the former, and Nix had the latter. I'd done everything right.
But I hadn't counted on coming to care for these girls. I counted them as true friends, and I hadn't given any thought to that possibility. I had known that forming attachments in the Games was about the stupidest thing I could do, yet it had happened anyway. Sorelle and Nix are both wonderful people. How could I betray them? How could I live with myself if I killed them? They deserve better than that.
And the worst part was that they trusted me wholeheartedly. I'd wanted to give them help so they would be able to fight alongside me in the arena, but the more I worked with them, my motives had turned to teaching them what I could, so they had a better chance of surviving on their own in case I died protecting them.
I hadn't told them my original reasons for forming the alliance, and at this moment, I didn't see much of the point. For now, I had made the choice to keep them as safe as long as I could. I'd deal with the guilt of betraying them later if it got to that point. Until then, I didn't really want to focus too much on it. It would only serve to break my concentration.
The pre-Game fanfare was never something that was discussed thoroughly in my training with my mother, but I had known what was expected of me. I would present myself as a Victor's daughter who was determined to continue the family legacy. What I have presented to the Capitol thus far has been exactly that, and I would have the chance to make another mark tonight when the Gamemakers scores were announced.
"Miss Johnsyn! You're up!" I hear a voice call out, pulling me from my thoughts. I'd been waiting to take a last workout with a scythe before the Games, and it was finally my turn. I stepped up to the trainer and grabbed the fake weapon, twirling it in my arms a few times as both a ritual and a warm-up.
Going through the first few exercises is as easy to me as breathing. As much as I hated to admit it, training with a scythe has become sort of a way for me to de-stress. It was something I could do without thinking, and though I'd never wanted to pick up the weapon to kill, I wasn't at all sorry that I'd been trained to wield it. By now, the scythe was an extension of myself, as horribly cheesy as that sounded.
After a few brief warm-ups, the trainer has me move through the most complicated patterns he knows. This provides more of a challenge for me, which I'm thankful for. There is nothing but my scythe and my enemy. I tune out any thought that didn't concern either of those things. It's more than a welcome distraction; it's exactly what I need at the moment.
The trainer showed me the technique first, and then I did my best to replicate it. It wasn't easy, and it required every ounce of my concentration and knowledge about the scythe, but towards the end of my session, I had mastered every move he's given me. All that was left was that he wanted me to have a sparring session with him.
I take my place in front of the trainer, holding the blade of the scythe in front of my body in a defensive position. I was quick enough with the weapon to switch between defensive and offensive positions in a matter of seconds depending on what was called for, but I always preferred to start defensively. It was the biggest difference between my fighting style and my mother's. She always went in for the attack. I am more cautious, and I like to size up my opponents before striking.
The trainer and I circle each other for a few moments before he makes the first move. It's easy enough to block, but I get the sense he wasn't trying to go for a killing blow right away; he wanted to see how many of the techniques I'd be able to incorporate. Without meaning to, I adopt a slight grin on my face. I'm more than willing to meet his challenge.
Over the next several minutes, he pushes me to the extent of my prowess. It's exhausting, but exhilarating. In the back of my mind, I'm fully aware that the Gamemakers are watching and preparing for our private sessions later today. I must impress them. I must continue to have the people of the Capitol think that I'm a likely prospect for a Victor, so that I might be able to rely on sponsorships when supplies run scarce. I have to do what I can now to secure myself the best chance I can get once I'm in the arena.
Finally, when I'm nearly spent, I see an opening. The trainer has begun to tire too, so I muster up the last of my strength and press my advantage. I gain ground, and after a couple wickedly fast attacks, I've disarmed the trainer with my fake scythe pointed at his neck.
He grins at me. "Excellent, Johnsyn," he commends me. "You shouldn't have any problem as long as you can get your hands on a scythe in the arena." With those words, I'm dismissed, so I leave the mat and rejoin Nix and Sorelle.
"You were so good, Scythe!" Nix praises me. Sorelle simply nods in confirmation. She's very quiet, and I've never seen her face since she refuses to take off that mask of hers. But the both of them are good foils to both me and each other. I grin, still panting heavily after my fight. It was one of the most intense I'd ever had, but coming out as the winner definitely padded my ego. Nix offers me a water bottle and I take it gratefully, taking a few long, slow sips.
"Thanks," I say once I've regained my breath. "Once we get into the Games though, I'll need to be able to get one of these for us to have a fighting chance. During my private session with the Gamemakers, I'll be sure to show them what I can do with the scythe. That should guarantee them putting at least one of them in the arena, and we need to make sure we get it. I don't want to spend too much time at the bloodbath, but if you guys can watch my back while I go in for the scythe—"
"I'll do it," Sorelle says quietly, cutting me off. Both Nix and I stare at her, causing her to shift uncomfortably for a moment, but she persists on. "I'm the fastest runner and the most agile. If you can watch my back, I should be able to get supplies the fastest, which will let us get out of there quicker."
I blink a couple times in surprise. I'm astonished by the comradery these girls have shown me. Even now, Sorelle is willing to put herself in the most dangerous position at the start of the Games so I can get the weapon I favor. Of course, she knows I'm the best fighter out of the three of us, but to be so willing to help shows that she has real trust in me.
"Sorelle is right," Nix pipes up. "She has a better chance than either of us at getting to the Cornucopia quickly. She's also the most likely to outrun any of the Careers if they try to attack her from the front. As long as we're protecting her, I say this is the best plan we can have once we're in the arena."
I sigh, but nod. This alliance is not a dictatorship, and though I was the one to put it together, I'm not the leader. I don't like the idea of putting Sorelle in danger, but she and Nix are right; Sorelle is much faster than me. And the votes are two against one. That alone settles the issue. "Alright," I concede. "Sorelle will take point in the arena, and Nix and I will cover her." I turn to Nix. "The best way to do that would be to grab the closest weapons you can find. Usually there's plenty of knives scattered along the ground. We might also be able to grab a couple packs since I want Sorelle's focus to be on getting the scythe. Don't go after anyone if you don't have to, and definitely don't throw a knife. We don't want anyone else getting a free weapon. If you see anything useful for healing, let me know and I'll take care of most of the fighting if you want to grab some of those items. And be sure to let me know if you're in danger, both of you. I want all of us to come out of the bloodbath relatively unscathed."
Both Sorelle and Nix nod to show they understand. While I'm not the leader, both of the girls defer to my understanding of the Games since I've easily got the most knowledge of them out of the three of us.
Almost immediately after our conversation, a shrill bell rings, causing Nix and I to start slightly, and Sorelle to noticeably flinch. A voice comes over the loudspeaker. "Will all tributes line up outside the training center. The private sessions are about to begin."
Quickly, I pull Sorelle and Nix into brief hugs. "Make sure you're underestimated," I remind them before I leave to take my place outside. That was also a strategy we discussed: I want most of the other tributes, specifically Malik's group, to focus on the Careers instead of us. It's another way to keep all of us safe.
Because although I want to win, more than anything, I'm determined that if there is no way for me to come out of the arena, it will be either Sorelle or Nix. Neither of these girls deserve to die. And I will raise my scythe to defend them at all costs.
Turner Hill, the Head Gamemaker
"No alcohol today. And keep the food to a minimum," I bark orders to an Avox who is waiting on myself and the other Gamemakers. The Avox nods before backing away out of the room, leaving me alone.
While the other Gamemakers have gone off to who-knows-where, I'm still in the balcony that I will use to judge the players in my Games. I know that in the past Gamemakers would use this time as an excuse to feast and drink. I will not allow that to happen. I want everyone, especially myself, to be carefully watching what we have to work with this year.
For the most part, we're supposed to be judging the players based on their strengths. But, unbeknownst to anyone but myself, I have mostly been looking for weaknesses. I want to know what each of my players fears the most. I want to know how I can make their worst nightmares a living reality in my arena. And then everyone in the Capitol will proclaim that my Games have been the most exciting they've seen for generations.
And so, I have watched. And I have learned. And now, I'm about to learn even more. I will see what each tribute favors, and I will see where they do not wish to go. And the more information I collect, the more I can sabotage their minds in my arena.
I glance at the clock on my wrist, and my excitement builds now that it is time. My fellow Gamemakers trickle into the room, and while they're upset that there is no feast waiting for them, they know that if they do not listen to my rules, they will find themselves out of a job and possibly missing a tongue as well. They know that now is the time to focus.
After they've all entered the room, I take my usual chair right at the front of the balcony, my fingers folded in front of my mouth. Another Avox leaves the room to escort the first tribute in, and even the corners of my controlled mouth turn up slightly. It's about to begin.
Aurora Noechel, the Reserved Genius
District 5 Female
During my training days, I've been biding my time and keeping a low profile. I don't want to stand out too much, and I definitely want to keep my skills hidden from the others. After scoping out my competition, I've decided to go into these Games alone. For now, I don't want anyone to think I'm a target. If the private sessions go the way I intend them to, I'll probably get a high score, but the benefit of appearing mediocre in training is that no one will be able to guess my secret talent. They won't know how to take me down.
Speaking of my competitors, for the moment, they have us all sitting down outside the training room with a couple guards around to make sure we don't start any fights with each other. Before coming to the Games, I always rolled my eyes thinking that tributes would be idiotic enough to start fights before the actual Games, but now that I'm here I've been proven wrong. The boys from Districts 1 and 6 seem itching to get into fights, like they don't have enough patience to wait for the arena.
I, however, don't mind their impatience. Impatience makes people do stupid things, and that only makes them easier to take down. Even more so than my knowledge of chemistry, my brain is my most important asset. As long as I stay calm and am able to think rationally, I believe I have a good shot at winning these Games and getting back to the life that was ripped away from me at the Reaping.
"Jem Glori, District One male!" a robotic voice calls out from unseen speakers. The aforementioned boy gets up, stretches his arms out, then adopts the same expression that he wore at the Reaping: slightly manic and full of confidence. I barely stop myself from rolling my eyes at him. I've seen tributes who are all brawn and no brains countless times before in the Games, and I'm certain that my intelligence will be able to keep me safe from tributes like that.
Still, he does have one advantage over me: he's going first, and that means the Gamemakers haven't gotten the opportunity to get too inebriated yet. He will have most of their attention. As the female from District 5, I'm not too far down the line, and I'm hoping my talents will be able to capture their attention, but there are no guarantees that they will be coherent enough to listen to me.
We don't see the tributes after they've completed their sessions, so the room just becomes gradually emptier as the tributes are called forward. When Jaxs, my district partner is called in, I begin to feel a familiar rush of excitement course through me. I haven't had the opportunity to mess around with chemistry since before I was reaped, and I have definitely missed it. Of course, I've never used chemistry to attack others before, but it will still be nice to do something familiar, something that reminds me of home.
It's strange, but before now I hadn't thought much about the fact that I'll be using my skills to kill. I accepted early on that going into the Games and wanting to come out alive was going to mean that I will be the end of at least one person's life. I don't particularly want to think about it too hard. If I do that, I might start doubting my decisions, and that's something I cannot afford to do. I want to go back home, and I will do whatever I must to achieve that. Nothing will sway my mind.
"Aurora Noechel, District Five female!" the now-familiar voice calls out, breaking me away from any unpleasant thoughts. I wipe my palms on my pants, excited again. It's time for the Gamemakers to see why it would be foolish to count me out of these Games.
When I walk into the room, I find it's set up very much the same way as it has been throughout the past three training days. I've focused on survival training mostly and I've done some training with a knife just in case I can't get my way with the chemistry set, but I don't feel like it will be enough to keep me alive. I have to prove to the Gamemakers they should give me what I need at the Cornucopia, or I know I will have no chance of making it out alive.
I look up to the men and women I'm supposed to impress, and to my great surprise, I find that all of them are focusing on me intently, especially the man sitting front and center. I assume he is the Head Gamemaker, and he's quite a shock to see. He doesn't have many of the usual surgical changes that are commonplace in the Capitol. He has his hands folded over his mouth and is staring at me unblinking. It is to him that I address my question.
"Can I please have a chemistry set?"
Some of the other Gamemakers look confused and begin whispering amongst themselves, but I ignore them. The only one I need to worry about is the Head Gamemaker. He is the one who will decide my fate now.
He stares me down for a few moments before holding a hand out, silencing the murmuring behind him. "Please get Aurora Noechel what she requested," he says to a nearby servant. The servant bows their head and then scurries from the room. It's not long before they return, but those moments of silence where I'm not doing anything are agonizing.
Finally, finally, the servant returns with a black case and when I open it, I find everything I need. Just looking at the labels I can already tell that I'll be able to make acids, fires, and explosives. Now it's time to show what I can do.
The first thing I do is combine a few elements to make a highly acidic substance. I have to be careful since I don't have gloves or goggles, but soon enough I have a vial of extremely potent acid. I walk over to one of the training dummies and pour the vial over top of it. Immediately, the fabric sizzles up, dissolving before our very eyes.
"It won't work as quickly on skin, but you get the general idea," I announce before going back over to my set.
I've become fairly good at starting fires the past few days, so I take my toys to that station next. First, I quickly mix together a flammable substance and pour it out over some of the wood we've been given. Over the last few days, I've made sure that I can get a spark made, so I take a few minutes to light a branch on fire, take several steps back, and then toss the fire onto the pile I've made. The resulting blaze is more than even I was expecting, and another servant rushes forward with a fire extinguisher before too much damage can be done.
Pleased, I turn back to the Gamemakers. "I can't show you how to make explosives here since I don't want to cause too much damage, but please be assured that with the materials here, I could create one without too much effort." I pause after my words to make sure they last, then I look directly at the Head Gamemaker again. "If you put one of these in the Cornucopia for me, I promise to give you a good show."
He meets my stare with an unreadable gaze, scrutinizing me. He doesn't speak at first, but I don't break his gaze. What I've asked for has never been done in the Games before, and I will convince him to take a risk on me. "Thank you for the offer. I'll certainly take it into consideration," he says after several moments. "You may go."
I bow my head respectfully to him, then finally turn to take my leave. It takes all of my concentration, but I manage to wait until I'm out of the room until I let out an uncharacteristic squeal of glee. I've done it, I can feel it. They were interested in me and what I have to offer. And somehow, I just know then when I go into that arena, there will be a chemistry set waiting for me.
The best part is that I shouldn't even have to battle too much for it. None of the other tributes will know how to use it, so it will be useless to them. And none of them know my secret talent, so they won't even think to try and destroy the set before I can get my hands on it.
I head up to my floor, still grinning. When I reach the landing, my mentor is there waiting for me. "Well? How did it go?" she questions. She's the only one I've talked to about my affinity for chemistry.
"I think I blew their minds," I tell her just as Jaxs and his mentor come around the corner. He raises an eyebrow in question, but I don't elaborate. While my mentor thought it might have been a good idea to partner up with Jaxs to increase my chances, I don't trust Jaxs any more than I trust any of the other competitors. They are all my enemies, and I don't think Jaxs would have any qualms about killing me in my sleep. I've seen him in training. He's doing his best to stay alive, and he wants to win just as much as I do.
But there can only be one Victor, and she will be me. I feel no pity for Jaxs, and I feel no pity for the other tributes either. If they have to die so I can live, so be it. Their lives are not more important than my own.
"Well, it sounds like you both did everything you could," Jaxs' mentor comments lightly. "They won't post the scores until this evening, and they certainly aren't done seeing everyone yet. Shall we get some dinner until it's time?"
No one has any objections to that, so we sit down for another sumptuous meal. The first time I had a taste of Capitol food, I couldn't stop myself from gorging, and I felt the effects the morning after. Since then, I've been more moderate with the rich food. Even though I've never gone hungry and my family is well-to-do, I hadn't ever had anything as fine as what the Capitol is giving us. It will probably make things harder in the arena to go from the finery to living off the land. I'm not looking forward to that at all.
When we're finished with our meals, my mentor Hama switches on the television. They're showing an interview with Kota Garrison, last year's winner. He's speaking openly about the challenges of mentoring for the first time, but is also being vague on the specifics that he's gone into with his tribute.
It occurs to me for the first time that if I do win, I can't just return to District 5 and pretend the Games never happened. I'll be expected to return to the Capitol to give interviews and mentor. Winners of the Games become instant celebrities, darlings of the Capitol. While the Capitol most likely won't want me for the rest of my life, I probably won't ever be truly free of them. They'll have me as long as they want.
It's worrying, but it's not enough to stop me from wanting to return home. But I can see that the cost is growing higher and higher the longer that I stay here. Reportedly, during the Mockingjay's rebellion it was revealed that the Capitol forced some of the more popular and attractive tributes into prostitution. It's a rumor that's never been confirmed, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was true. And when I think of tributes like Wonder Light, I wouldn't be surprised if the prostitution was continuing to this day.
Would that be my life if I won? I'm no great beauty like Wonder Light, but just being a Victor might result in the Capitol wanting to use me. And if I refuse, I'm sure that the lives of the few people I truly care about would be in jeopardy. If I win, I will have to bow to every single one of the Capitol's whims, and there's no way that I can say no.
But even with all of these factors, I won't let it sway my decision. I have to live. I have to come back to District 5. No matter what the Capitol does to me, they cannot take away the one thing that makes me truly happy: using my mind to its fullest extent. I will never allow them or anyone else to take my mind away from me.
The anthem of the Capitol plays, and television has my full attention now. It's time. I'm finally about to make my mark on Panem.
Malik Hudson, the Vicious Misogynist
District 6 Male
After my private session, I'm grinning from ear to ear. It was so nice to have the training place to myself for once, and I spent my time showing off my strength. I didn't want to use a sword, there are too many tributes who favor them. Instead, I prefer a good mace or club. They aren't the easiest weapons to wield, but I'm strong enough to use one. After the damage I did to the dummies in the training room, I know that I can do far worse to any tribute if I manage to catch them in the head with a good whack.
I'm on the couch most of the night, eagerly waiting to see what my score will be. It has to be on the higher end, an eight at the very least. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they gave me an eleven. I'd like a twelve, but no one ever gets a twelve. It would make a statement about me if I got one though, that's for sure. My sponsors would raise by the hundreds, and it would be the first taste of the glory that's coming my way.
Glancing to my right, I see my district partner sitting on another chair, nervously chewing on her lip. I smirk to myself. She likely won't be able to get any more than a four or something like that. She's such a non-entity in these Games. She'll be out in the bloodbath, and will never be remembered. Her experience in the Games will be the exact opposite of mine. Even just looking at her now, I can almost hear the crunch of her skull as I smack it in with my mace. I absolutely cannot wait. I want to get as many kills as I can.
Finally, the anthem of Panem starts playing and it's time for them to reveal the scores. I sit forward in anticipation. Now, the Careers will see what a mistake it was to deny me in their alliance. I'll prove to the whole country that I'm the one they should be watching out for, because I will be the Victor when it's all said and done.
They start with District 1, as usual. The boy gets a nine. I'm not surprised. He's a strong contender, trained since birth to be in the Games. He's not as much of a threat as the boys from Districts 2 or 4, however, and I'm confident that if it came down to me and the District 1 boy, I'd come out on top. Which means if he got a nine, my score must be higher.
The girl from District 1 gets a measly five, causing me to smirk again. She's the weirdo that wears a mask all the time and is scared of everything. Again, I wonder why the Capitol even allows women in the Games. They're never as strong as the men, and they can never fight as well. When women are the Victors, it's usually some kind of fluke. I will ensure that this does not happen in my Games.
Both tributes from District 2 get tens. That makes me frown. The boy is much stronger than the girl. She's been trained yes, but she's also one of the shortest tributes. That is a huge weakness. The boy is one of the only tributes in the arena that might actually have a shot at beating me. The girl should not have a score equal to him.
When District 3 comes up, their scores are much more of what I expect. The boy gets a four, and the girl gets a three. They're also tributes that won't put up any fight, and I can't wait to get a hold of them and smash their brains in, preferably at the bloodbath. The more tributes I can take out at the initial bloodbath, the better.
District 4 is next, and I fully expect the boy to get one of the highest scores. The girl will probably also get an undeserved high score, just because she's trained. I'm correct, but that still doesn't stop my shock when I see their actual scores. Both of them receive elevens. There is no way that the girl should have gotten an eleven. I've watched the Careers train. She's nowhere near as good as any of the guys, and she's certainly not better than me! With how these scores are coming in, I should at least receive an eleven, and even then, that won't look good. I'm already silently fuming at the thought of tying with, or worse, being outscored by, a girl.
Jaxs Williams is next. I bare my teeth at his picture. He was an idiot not to take me up on my offer to join in my alliance. I'm using my allies as meat shields, nothing more, but joining me would mean that he'd be less likely to die in the bloodbath. Now, I'm going to personally ensure that he's one of my first kills.
To my disgust, Jaxs gets an eight. For someone who's not a Career, it's a decent score. His district partner, however, should be much lower. She doesn't have any special skills. Then her score comes up, and my eyes almost pop out of their sockets, because she gets a ten.
How did she ever get a ten? She's scrawny and weak, and she's not from a Career district, so she wouldn't even be trained. I have no idea what's going on in the Gamemakers heads, because this is so messed up. The only consolation I have is that my score must be at least an eleven if all of these girls are scoring so damn high.
Speaking of my score, it's up next. I lean forward slightly in anticipation. This will be my moment. "Malik Hudson, of District 6…" the announcer begins, then pauses for dramatic effect. "Receives a nine."
"That's good, Malik," my mentor mutters, but I barely hear him. I'm seeing scarlet, and I can practically feel my face turning brick red. A nine? I only got a nine? There have been three women that have scored higher than me. That can't be right. These Gamemakers must be out of their minds if they ever think any of the girls would pose any sort of threat to me. I'm so enraged, I can't even gloat when my district partner only gets a three.
And my mentor is crazy if he thinks I'll settle for a nine. I told Panem the day I was reaped that I was going to be the next Victor. How can they take me seriously if I don't get the highest score in training? I'd understand a bit if the guys from 2 and 4 scored higher than me because they're the only ones that are actually worthy competition, but three girls have also outscored me. That's not what Victors are made of.
The only thing I can think of is that the Gamemakers must prefer traditional weapons like swords or bows over maces and clubs… yes, that must be it. They must think that if someone knows how to use a sword, bow, or knife, they have an edge over people who use other weapons or bare hands. They're dead wrong, and I can't wait to prove that when my time in the arena comes.
And I have to remind myself that the scores aren't everything. They're good for getting early sponsors, but it's the actions in the arena that truly matter. Once I take out all the girls that scored higher than me, the Gamemakers will be forced to acknowledge that they were wrong. When I become Victor, I will demand a full apology from them. Victors are the most influential people in Panem besides the President. Once I win, the Gamemakers will be groveling at my feet with their apologies. It'll be great lording over them, as I rightfully should.
Calmed down slightly, I turn my attention back to the television. I've missed the live announcements of the tributes from 7 and 8, but they're keeping track of everyone's scores on the side of the screen. Glancing over, I see that my ally Rotto Mangle from District 7 scored a seven, which is another thing I'm not too pleased about. His district partner gets a six, and the boy and girl from District 8 scored a five and six, respectively.
The boy from District 9 gets a five, and the girl only gets a four. They're more prey to be devoured. Malinois, my other ally, gets another seven. I would have liked for him and Rotto to manage at least eights to prove that my group is not all talk, but I suppose that's too much to ask from those two idiots. I won't be needing them for too long anyway.
The girl from District 10 gets a five, and then it's District 11. The boy managed to get into the Career group instead of me, and his score matches mine. I grit my teeth again. If I'd scored higher than him, it would have proved that the Careers made a mistake. Then it's the girl's turn. Both my allies wanted to recruit her, but I shot them down. Adding a girl to the group only would have made us weaker, even if she is a Victor's daughter. It was her mother than was the winner anyway, not her father, so those Games were probably a fluke.
The girl gets another ten, and I can't stop myself from swearing. That's now four girls that have outranked me, whereas only two guys have done it. "They probably slept with the Gamemakers," I mutter. That's the only explanation for some of these girls ranking so high, especially the one from District 5.
Finally, it's only District 12 left, and they're pathetic as usual. The guy gets the worst score yet, only a two, and the girl doesn't do much better with her four. As soon as the results are finished, my mentor switches off the television.
"Off to bed with you," he says. "Tomorrow will be busy; you'll be preparing for interviews. That'll be the last opportunity for sponsors to judge you before you go into the Games, so don't underestimate how important they are. You'll want to be well rested."
I'm tired, so I don't feel like arguing too much. Instead, I head back to my room, punching the wall once I'm in to let out some of my rage. I've been humiliated tonight, but it doesn't matter. In time I'll show them. I'll prove that I was right when I declared myself the Victor. The second I step foot into the arena, no one in Panem will ever say that I'm not good enough.
I fall asleep quickly, and am greeted by lovely dreams of me bashing in the skulls of the rest of the tributes, and being crowned the greatest Victor Panem has ever seen.
A/N: I'll be posting a list of the tributes scores down beneath just in case Malik's commentary on them was a little garbled. Next chapter will be preparing and then the interviews, and I will do my best to have that up as soon as I can. In the meantime, thank you to everyone who is reading and especially taking the time to review. It means the world to me.
~TT
Jem Glori-9
Sorelle Keylock-5
Nero Casteran-10
Leta McClain-10
Percy Kilo-4
Siri Sparks-3
Zale Turk Asturias-11
Pearlia Beta Poplawski-11
Jaxs Williams-8
Aurora Noechel-10
Malik Hudson-9
Aspen Flatt-3
Rotto Mangle-7
Patricia Norton-6
Samuel Livingston-5
Bree Craban-6
Barley Green-5
Milla Waves-4
Malinois Ferguson-7
Phoenix Grey-5
Rye King-9
Scythe Johnsyn-10
Jake Conway-2
Liza Mannings-4