Samantha Von Hindenburg, District twelve female (13)

It seemed I was in the "Hunger Games". Samantha knew what those were, of course, but not DOCTOR HINDENBURG. So I made sure to ask my mentor lots of questions about it on the train ride to the Capitol. He seemed really confused but he gave me a lot of tips.

Of course I knew a lot about science, but unfortunately, it was time science. I knew chronometers and equations, not chemicals and projectiles. I didn't think there would be any time machines in the Arena, so I would have to learn something new. I decided on traps. I wasn't very strong; I was more of a research scientist. With traps, I could keep the other person far away until I was ready to come and... I still couldn't believe we were expected to kill other children. It would have been bad enough on its own if I wasn't a grown man. At least I was in a girl's body. Ew, it felt weird saying that.

Someone came up behind me while I was in the middle of tying a complicated knot. I turned around in annoyance.

"Excuse me, I'm very busy," I said.

"WHAT?" the young woman, who was rather statuesque and neatly groomed, squeaked. She looked behind her at her friends. "Did you hear what the Twelve just said to me?"

"Can I help you with something? Otherwise, I'm trying to work." I said. I didn't know why someone would be messing around when we only had a few days to learn how to survive.

The woman leaned down to glare at me. I wasn't sure but I thought I recognized her as the girl from "District One". As I recalled they were known for being very rich and very vapid. "You're lucky we're not allowed to fight here, Twelve. I'll see you in the Arena."

"I'm sure you will." I said. What a strange thing to say. Of course we'd all be in the Arena.

"Are you stupid or just suicidal?" one of the girls' friends asked.

"Look, I was just trying to work here and you all keep bothering me." I said. Samantha would probably let herself get pushed around by these dummkopfs but I had my pride. They weren't really going to come chasing after a little girl in the "bloodbath". They would want to take out the people who were actually threats to them. Of course they didn't know I was actually a brilliant scientist. As far as they knew I was just a mouthy kid.

"There's something wrong with her. Let's get out of here before we catch it." One of the woman's friends, another young lady wearing less makeup, said.

"Good riddance." the first woman said as she turned and flipped her hair at me.

You really shouldn't mess with the Careers, Samantha piped up inside my head.

Oh, it's fine. They have better things to do then chase me around. I argued back.

You should probably get some allies. Samantha suggested. It was fun, trying to keep up with two daydreams at once and one of those was daydreaming that I was stuck in my own body.

Just maybe lay low for a while? Samantha asked.

Very well, fraulein, I will go try the daggers station. It was there that I realized how dumb what I'd just done was. The last thing I needed was a bunch of armed teenagers mad at me in the Arena. It was totally unlike myself to be so impulsive and irrational.

All at once I came to a fearful conclusion. It had to be the experiment. Launching myself across space and into a new body had not only changed me physically- it had changed me mentally. My sanity was degrading under all the stress and trauma. Already it was hard for me to remember my life back home before all of this. I was starting to merge into this new body. If I didn't find a way back soon I would lose myself.

I have to watch myself. If I'm not careful I won't have to worry about being stranded forever in this body. I won't have any body at all.

Dionysus Bacchus, District One male- 17

My leg was jiggling as I tried to sit still at the lunch table. I didn't know why I had such a headache. I hadn't had any alcohol in two days. It seemed like a weird time to have a hangover.

Speaking of having no alcohol for two days... I was all on edge. I'd never noticed how annoying all my allies were. Allure, with her titters and snide comments. Anthony the goody two-shoes angel who was too good for this pure Earth, with his mother and his noble crusade to free the Avoxes. I really wasn't sure what killing people in the Games was going to do to help the poor but what would I know? Something about his smug face made me just want to punch it.

"Hey. You listening?" Ceto's voice broke in to my inner monologue. Her voice sounded much harsher and more grating than normal. And it wasn't just her. Just listening to everyone else talk was like nails on a chalkboard.

"Huh? What?" I asked.

"We were discussing if we should buddy up for the Bloodbath, as an extra precaution." Ceto said.

"Oh. Yeah, sounds like a good idea." I said.

"He wasn't even listening." Nero commented.

"I was, too! You know what-" I stood up. "I'll be right back. I just gotta grab something."

As soon as I was out of sight I started speedwalking toward my room. I just about threw the door open and hurried to my bedroom, where I took a bottle out from under the bed.

I waited a day and a half. That's good enough. I'm just gonna take a little. Just to take the edge off. I took a sip of alcohol and right away I felt myself coming back together. The nervous, bad-tempered energy evaporated and I felt like myself again. See? I'm just trying to get back to myself. It's not a problem. It's like... medicine or something.

"Three days, hmm?"

I whirled around and saw Enigma in the doorway, a most sarcastic expression on her face. It was impressive how someone so small could look so parental.

"I just took a few swigs." I said. "I'm hardly DRUNK. What are you even doing here?"

"I saw you go bolting down the hall and knew what was up. So you couldn't even stop for two days? Nice." She said.

"I can stop whenever I want!" I protested.

"Except right now." Enigma said. "Look, I'm not gonna stop you. But I'm not gonna waste my time either. You wanna win the Games, go do it yourself." She turned around and left the room.

Whatever. I don't need her. If I was honest with myself I would have admitted it scared me a little that I'd pushed away my mentor. But really she was being unreasonable. I wasn't wasted or anything. It was one drink. It's not the end of the world to have one drink. I could still think straight. I could still fight. I'd do this on my own, with or without Enigma.

"Hey, I'm back." I said as I sat back down just as the other Careers were finishing their lunches.

Allure made a show of sniffing the air. "Have to go powder your nose?" she smirked.

"I was in the bathroom. You want more details?" I asked.

"Hope you're not feeling sick. Be a shame if you weren't at your best in the Arena." Ceto said.

"So anyway, who should we all buddy up with?" Nailah broke in, clearly feeling awkward at being between Ceto and me.

"By District?" Nero suggested.

"Absolutely not." Ceto said. Anthony rolled his eyes.

"Long-range fighters with short-range fighters?" Nailah suggested.

"That sounds good." Anthony said. "You want to go with me?" he asked Nero.

"Sure, sounds good." Nero said.

"I want Nailah." Allure said.

"Me? Why?" Nailah asked.

"You're pretty cool." Allure said.

Ceto looked at me with politely-veiled distaste. I looked back at her with much the same expression.

"The Hunger Games makes strange bedfellows, I guess." I said. I half-expected her to blow me off and say she'd go it alone, but clearly she wanted to keep the peace.

"Just make sure you can walk straight." Ceto said.

Damn, I don't drink all the time. Like the rest of you never partied? No wonder you're all so stuck-up and sour-faced. I'd rather be a little wild than just constantly miserable.

Preji Soultier, District Three male (17)

As inconvenient as it was, I knew I should make some allies. I'd never really had friends before. Every time I made one, they ended up either abandoning me or turning against me. I'd come to learn that most people couldn't be trusted. It was better to be alone and safe than with a friend I couldn't trust. I'd rather get killed by a Career than backstabbed by my own ally.

The boy from Eleven- Culter, I thought his name was- seemed like a good ally. He was quiet and seemed very determined and self-contained. I found him at the archery station and snuck closer.

"Any luck?" I asked when he was in between shots.

"Not really. Guess I should try something else." He said. I hadn't wanted to say anything, but I'd noticed most of his shots weren't going where he'd aimed. Not that I was judging- I'd never picked up a bow before and wouldn't have done any better.

"I've been at the fire-making station. It's not so bad once I figured out what I was doing." I said, hoping it made me sound like an attractive ally. People would like someone who could build a fire, right?

"We had fires back in Eleven sometimes, to burn all the brush. We'd roast sausages or whatever we could scrape up." Culter said, looking off wistfully.

"Pretty wild how we're going into the Arena soon, right? And most of us will be on our own." I said.

"Yeah, so far. I'm looking around for allies but I'm not sure yet." Culter said.

"Oh? Me, too. What kind of ally are you looking for?" I asked.

Culter shrugged. "Someone who can take care of themselves, I guess. I've been working with the weapons, so I guess someone with skills that will balance that out.

"I've been working with fire, and from back in Three I know electronics stuff. Maybe that would be a good pair." I said.

Culter looked me over. "What's your Games plan?" he asked.

"I was gonna try to explore the Arena and set some traps." I said.

Culter's demeanor darkened. "I don't know. I don't want to kill anyone who doesn't attack me." he said.

"It's the Games. Everyone's going to attack you eventually." I pointed out. I didn't like feeling like I was a bad person just for wanting to stay alive. Goodness knows I didn't ask to join the Games.

Culter shrugged again. "I guess. I just don't want to start any fights. I'll finish one if someone else stars it, but I'm not looking for trouble.

"I was at the slingshot station, too." I said, trying to switch tracks and salvage a potential alliance I could see was fading away. "Can't really kill a person with that but I could maybe get some birds to eat."

"Maybe." Culter said absently. He was clearly losing interest.

"You got a lot waiting for you back at home?" I asked. At that point I was just grasping for anything. Maybe if I got to know Culter outside the Games we would have something to talk about.

"I suppose everyone does." Culter said. "Me, I was hoping to get married soon. Guess that won't happen now."

"Maybe you'll win." I pointed out.

"Thanks for saying it, but I don't think any of us wants anyone else to win." Culter said.

Sheesh, it's like pulling teeth. I'm trying to be friendly here.

Maybe Culter wasn't the right ally for me. It seemed like I was just wasting my time. I politely excused myself and left him at the archery station. When he made no move to come after me I knew he definitely wasn't interested. Of course not. That would be too easy. I'd been dragged into the Games and now I couldn't even find an ally. People wrote me off before they even knew me.

Whatever. I didn't need to waste my time on people who wouldn't even give me a chance. I had more than enough of that back in Three. There were plenty of other Tributes to try. Bess and Omar, for example. She was really strong and he seemed like a clever fellow. Or maybe Connor. He certainly seemed put-together. I had to catch a break eventually I found Connor at the poisons station and decided to shoot my shot again.

"Any luck?"

I thought I'd get three more out and then I can use the rest for interview and private session POVs! I kind of want everyone to be in those though so I'll have to figure something out