Aurelia Charm, District 12 Mentor, 21

I stormed into the District One Academy, scanning the gym for him. It was a busy weekend of training, and the gym was packed. Trainees were lifting weights, sparring, throwing weapons. He wasn't among them.

"Out of my way," I said, glaring. Trainees parted before me, their eyes widening as they realized who I was. I tossed my hair as I marched toward the offices. I left a sea of silence in my wake, the trainees watching intently as I went about my business. I couldn't blame them. After all, I was a legend. They'd seen what I was capable of.

I reached the offices, heading straight for the head trainer.

"Sheen!" I called. "Sheen!"

"What now?" Sheen asked, poking his head out of his office.

"I need Braun," I said. "Now."

"Can't it wait?" Sheen asked. "I have a private session in five minutes."

"No, it cannot," I replied. "I can't find him. I need to talk to him."

The head trainer grumbled and ducked back into his office. I followed him, standing in the doorway as he made a phone call.

"I'm looking for Augustus Braun," said Sheen, watching me. "Oh, why?"

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"No reason," he said. He listened for a moment. "He's at home? Thanks. Talk to you later." He hung up the phone. "He's at home. He's not here."

"I already went by his house," I said. "You're lying. I know he's here."

"He could be elsewhere," Sheen suggested.

"He doesn't go anywhere else. He practically lives here," I said. "He's in the back, isn't he?"

Sheen remained silent.

"Pathetic," I said. He looked away. I left him there, heading around back to Augustus Braun's private gym.

Since winning his Games ages ago, Braun had channeled much of his fortune into this place, including a private gym for his personal use. Sometimes he did private sessions for tribute candidates. For a fee, of course.

"Braun!" I said, turning the corner. "There you are!"

Braun set down his enormous dumbbell, turning away from me to get a towel. He wore no shirt and was practically dripping sweat, his normally slicked-back hair askew. He was just as muscular as he was as a tribute, and frankly, it was almost disgusting to look at him for too long. He was a giant. He wiped sweat from his forehead as he spoke.

"What do you want?" he grumbled, turning back towards me.

"I need to speak with you," I said.

"What now?"

"I'm not Mentoring those Twelve kids again," I said. "It's ridiculous. I don't understand why they're my problem."

"Well, I'm not doing it, and one of us has to," he stated. "Tough."

"Why can't Piers or Claudia do it?"

"I believe Piers is already with Six," he said. "And Two has Nine this year. I think Marius Nero has them. Perhaps if you actually attempted to Mentor your tributes for once, one of them would survive, and it would be their problem after that."

"Have you seen them? They never stand a chance," I said. "Bloodbaths, all of them. And I don't understand why I can't have Six, at least. Piers is always freaking out about something."

"At least he tries," said Braun, preparing to lift another dumbbell. "Can't say the same for you."

I glared at him. He ignored me, busy lifting his weight.

"Do you know who's been picked for us this year?" I asked.

He set the weight back down, shaking his arms out. I could see the sweat flicking off them from where I stood. Disgusting. "Yes, I do," he said, wrinkling his nose.

"What, are they weak or something?" I asked, noticing his reaction.

"I don't know if they'd both be my first choice," he said.

"Who?"

"I can't tell you," he said. "Besides, it's none of your business."

"Oh, it absolutely is my business," I said. "Because you're going to get them out of that arena alive, and then I won't have to spend any more time in that hellhole with bloodbath tributes."

"I'll do my best," he said simply, preparing to lift the weight again.

I scoffed. "Oh, you better."

He looked back at me, sizing me up. "I don't answer to you, Aurelia," he said. "Unlike everyone else here, I'm not scared of you."

"Maybe you should be," I said.

He paused. "You're not in the arena any longer," he said, his voice low. "You don't need to fight everyone all the time. No one is trying to kill you anymore."

"You don't know me," I said, glaring again. Who did he think he was?

"I know you very well," he said. "I've known you for three years. I Mentored you."

"Whatever," I said. "I'm done with this conversation. Have fun lifting rocks or whatever."

"Aurelia-"

I strutted out of the room. I could feel his eyes on my back as I left, walking back through the offices and out the front door. The trainees moved aside for me again, going silent as I passed them by.

I hate it when he tries to pull that nice guy act. He always does that. You'd think that after three years, he would drop it, but no. Every single time.

I'm sick of bloodbath tributes. I'm sick of breathing Twelve's disgusting coal air. I am a Victor, the best of the best, and I deserve better.

Braun had better produce a Victor for One this year, because I'm over this.

*Hi, everyone! I hope you enjoyed meeting some more of this year's Mentors! This SYOT is still open, so be sure to submit if you haven't already :)

-r-b*