Disclaimer: I own my OCs and nothing belonging to Suzanne Collins. Don't sue me. Please.

Chapter Eleven: Gamemakers and an Interview

That next day, with shaking legs and…shaking everything really, I remember sitting in front of the doors to go into the private session with the Gamemakers. I hadn't any idea what to expect, nor did I want to go in there for those old men, who already didn't think I was much more than a raw piece of meat.

Needless to say that whenever the doors flew open and revealed the training gym, I was nearly chewing my bottom lip off out of nervous habit. I heard my name said over the intercom and slowly entered into the room, only to look up and see what appeared to be a party of Gamemakers sitting, eating, drinking, much like they had been that night when I had sneaked out of my room. Speaking of that night, I also saw my own savior Gamemaker, sitting in one of the plush chairs, chatting away with the others and hardly paying a lick of attention.

I tilted my head at them, curious, really. If they were this distracted and, ahem, drunk, this early, then what would they be later? Good grief, no wonder those poor children in the outer districts didn't stand a chance.

Swallowing hard and stepping into the middle of the gym, I took a moment to look around. All of the stations were out and ready for use, I looked around and exhaled carefully before walking toward the hand-to-hand combat station. In the very back corner, I saw the machine that had been used to train so many before me and that I despised so much that I wished it hadn't even existed. With a mental grimace, I pulled the thing into the middle of the arena, the Gamemakers were beginning to become intrigued, but chatter was still loud amongst them. Before turning on the machine, I had a brilliant idea that I knew Enobaria would kill me for.

Thinking quickly, I sprinted over to the snare station, grabbing the supplies I would need in order to mobilize a snare I had learned to do the day before. I moved quite a ways in front of the machine and assembled the snare in the middle of the floor, using one of the metal beams as a support. If I hated this machine so much, I wanted to be sure that some damage was done to it after we were finished. What better way to show my disliking for this machine then hang it in a snare? Okay, in my opinion, it worked.

By the time I had finished the snare, I knew that my time was running short, but I could nearly feel the eyes of the Gamemakers pinned on me. After securing it, I scurried over to the machine, calming myself before pressing the power button and watching the metal machine buzz to life. Though it was made of metal, in reality it looked pretty realistic, but in my head if I could mentally think of it as less, then it helped me in a sense. I stepped back into position to watch and see just how it was going to come toward me first, every time with this thing was different, one day it could be on a high setting and the next it could be on a low setting. The moral of this machine was to teach preparedness.

And of course, knowing my luck, it came rushing toward me with nearly all of its strength. Seeing its destined path, I sidestepped quickly, but it picked up on this movement and stopped before it ran straight into the snare. That would have been sadly anticlimactic for the Gamemakers, but a blessing for me. This time, it hesitated before swinging at me, I ducked down to nearly a squatting position before taking a hit at the exposed abdomen, sending the machine back a couple feet. The electronic eyes on the machine furrowed, as if it were actually in pain before it came back toward me. I made sure that each of my strikes toward the machine were in just the right angle as Zenobia had taught me a long time ago.

I never realized how important that technique would have been.

My only issue was that I expected the machine to be just as mobile as a human and move just as I would expect a human to. This worked to my disadvantage several times and I found myself getting smacked once or twice, as if the thing were mocking me. It got into quick a little habit of tacking quick jabs that I was unable to block and when it reared back and hit me hard in my cheek, causing me to stumble back, I was angry.

Anger hadn't ever filled me in such a way as it had at that moment. Perhaps, it was because I was thinking of how valuable that moment was to me in that point in time. Maybe, it was because I had already taken one too many hits than I would have liked, but some sort of fire spurred in me as I reared back and smacked the machine at just the right angle, sending it back several feet. Just as it moved forward, I dodged it swing and took advantage of an exposed midsection by kicking it back, closer to the snare, that was just waiting to send it shooting up.

I could feel the blood filling my mouth from the hit several seconds ago and I was determined not to let this machine show me up. After several hits and returns, the opportunity finally came after just missing a hard swing, I grabbed hold of the robot's arm and pushed back with all of my might, its little wheels unable to stop it from soaring backwards into the snare, the twine seemingly perfectly wrapped around its wheels, causing the eyes of the machine to become very baffled and confused. I watched in slight amusement as it tried frantically spinning its wheels, only to have them caught in the twine it had been weaved around. The poor thing must have not been programmed for something such as that to happen because it literally didn't stop running its wheels and began to overheat. When smoke started billowing from the machine, I heard a chatter run through the Gamemakers, who were watching very intently.

Looking up at them, I could neither read if they were pleased nor disturbed, but I knew one thing: that caught their attention. I happened to make eye contact with a familiar face from just a couple evenings before: Seneca Crane. He was sitting near the back of the group, but I could tell by the look on his face that he was just as baffled as everyone else. His blazing blue eyes shot over to me, but I looked back to the Head Gamemaker, whose reaction I wanted more.

The Head Gamemaker, the elderly gentleman didn't make eye contact, but simply said with a shaking voice," You are excused, Miss Stone."

Nodding, I then turned and walked toward the exit. My mouth was bleeding profusely and I needed somewhere to get rid of the red, gushing from my mouth.


While gargling with some concoction that a servant in the suite had come up with, Enobaria was drilling me with all sorts of questions.

"What did you do precisely?" She asked I held up a finger to her as I finished my gargle cycle and spat out the thick substance into the sink. Between doses, I answered her question.

"I used the machine and set a snare," I said simply before filling blood start to gush from the wound inside my mouth and I gargled another cup full of the green, thick substance.

"Used the machine and the snare?" She asked to herself, looking away as if to contemplate to herself before verbally scolding me. As I swished around the liquid in my mouth, wishing this process went a little more quickly. "It's absolutely brilliant. Why didn't I think of that?"

I smirked while spitting out the drink and picking up the last cup," In the process, I also broke the machine so I suppose if, by chance, I do survive, then we should be getting a nice bill from the Capitol to replace their machine."

"Replace their machine?" She asked, or yelled rather. "What did you do to the pitiable thing?"

"The twine got caught in its wheels and it didn't know how to stop running its motor, I suppose," I said casually as I took the last dose, still listening to Enobaria's rant.

To my surprise, she began laughing hystrically, and stepped out of the washroom to gather herself together before coming back in and patting me on the back, just as I spit the last dose into the sink and took a glass from beside me to wash out the terrible taste in my mouth. I looked at her as if she were…mentally unstable as she said," They'll either absolutely love it or make your life a living hell from here on out, sweetheart."

I widened my eyes slightly before asking," How do I-"

She patted me reassuringly," We'll make it work either way. We just needed to not go unnoticed and from the way it sounds, we're definitely on their radar now. Being on their radar can work to your advantage or it can not, I suppose that's part of the reasoning behind the ol' may the odds be in your favor slogan."

Though Enobaria seemed confident enough, I couldn't help but feel a little…uneasy, to say the least.

Whenever we gathered in the living room to watch the results from the personal sessions, I watched as Brutus and Flux entered, naturally together. Small talk between the two of them promptly ended when they realized that they were late and that Caesar Flickerman had already begun to read off the scores of District One's sessions. Flux seemed to be very interested to hear this, but only disappointed when his companions both received scores lower than the prestigious perfect twelve. It was probablya trait unattainable, but the Capitol had to set a limit somewhere; it was not as though they could simply give perfect scores to every Career who stepped in their path.

Lila had been fortunate enough to score a nine while Zane reached an impressive ten. Flux clearly wished to outdo the both of them, but the Gamemakers seemed to believe he deserved the same as his companion, Zane. Whenever I heard the chipper man say my name, I felt as though my heart was on pause as I replayed the events of the session in my head. Silence in the room was nearly unbearable as we all waited for him to say the score that I had received.

"Ten," He said with a big smile before flipping to the next page.

Almost immediately, my lips curled into a smile before I shot a look over to Flux, who stood up and stormed out of the room without even looking at me. Everyone around however, smiled and clapped their hand on my back, proud as ever. Though I should have been more ecstatic than any of them, the back of my head drifted to the idea that receiving a decent score would place a larger target on my back for Flux and his cronies.


That next day, it was time to get all dolled up for the camera once more. Sage and his crew had me for several long, tedious hours as they draped all sorts of fabric over my shoulders, trying to decide just what they were going to put me in before the final appearance to the people of the Capitol. He flipped his green hair about as if it were his job while sprinting around and pinning final touches on my long, floor-length navy blue gown. I was a little unsure of this gown and the gold, sparkling gems pinned onto it, but when he handed me a mirror to see the back of the gown and the pieces of fabric intricately weaved in a precise, beautiful pattern with slits of skin showing, but blending in with the awe-inspiring design.

Matching the dress almost precisely, the eye makeup was navy with separate gold jewels that Sage separately pressed onto the corners of my eyes. Before he placed them on, I was careful to be sure that they were, in fact, temporary.

"You aren't actually-" I started, stepping back slightly.

He smiled, taking a step closer before pressing them on," They'll come off in the shower tonight, no worries."

Unless there was something specific to talk about, I noticed that when Sage was working, he was rather short-winded and not interested in casual conversation. I could respect that about him and it was in this time that his stylist team actually grew on me. They weren't entirely as obnoxious as I originally thought them to be. I chatted with them some as they pinned up my hair, placing another strange hand piece atop of my head before placing my shoes in front of me, golden slippers.

"No heels this time around?" I asked, good-humouredly.

One of the assistants who was taming a piece of my hair whispered," I talked him out of it. You nearly made an embarrassment of all of us last time we put you that high off the ground."

Color rushed to my face as I smiled, realizing the truth in that statement.

Sage returned several seconds later, brushing the large bristles of his makeup applicator against my cheek one last time," Are you ready for this?"

"Excuse me?" I asked, raising a brow at him.

"Are you ready for this?" He asked, folding his arms over his chest, looking at me in a condescending manner. "Are you really?"

"To go and answer some questions?" I asked, warily seeing as he was rather serious about this all of a sudden.

"The people of the Capitol don't simply flip through the channels and breeze past this show on tonight. They're looking for their favorites tonight. People sitting at home with their drinks at hand will be looking for a personal favorite to cheer on, Gamemakers will be looking for the weaklings to work against, while sponsors will be keeping a close watch on their pocketbooks," He said to me, in a more serious voice than I had ever heard him speak in before. "I can't say that I'm in any position to tell you what to do, but I suggest that you play up the outfit I've put you in. Play up the crowd as much as you possibly can. I know what Flux is wearing and he's got the charm, but there's something about a girl in a dress that makes audiences gush. Use it to your advantage."

I raised a brow at him before nodding," Of course. Thank you, Sage."

He placed a hand on my shoulder before pecking me on the cheek," Good luck."

Smiling as he turned and left as the other assistants parted with me as well, I couldn't help but wonder why Sage was telling me all of this. Surely, he didn't care that much. I mean, how attached could a stylist get? Year after year they had to experience the same pain of designing outfits only to have to force themselves to say goodbye in a matter of days, unless they were lucky enough to have a victor one year.


Caesar Flickerman was always one of the most ridiculous and obnoxious men to watch on television. Sure, he was positive and could probably make anyone feel like a movie star, but to say that I was counting the seconds until I could sit under the bright lights on his television set would be a complete and total lie. In fact, if I had the option, I probably would have opted out of the interview, but whenever the gregarious host, clad in an emerald green this year, called my name from where he stood in the middle of the stage, I stepped away from Enobaria, who had been chatting my ear off, and forced myself through the backstage and onto the bright stage, where Caesar was waiting with an open arm.

Immediately, the crowd starting clapping loudly for me and all sorts of screams could be heard. I felt like I was some sort of celebrity and I couldn't help, but for a split second get lost in the applause and the bright lights. Caesar's face was planted with its usually large, unnecessary smile and how surreal it felt to have his hand grab my own and walk me toward the two plush seats behind us as the cheers calmed down.

"Savera, Savera, Savera," He said, looking at me with a smile on his face as he shook his head, nearly in awe. "Let me start off with this: gorgeous gown! Absolutely adore it, kudos to your designer who nearly always makes the District Two tributes look stunning. Am I right folks? Am I right? Give it up for the stylist!"

The crowd was eating up Caesar's cooing over the dress and joined in for another round of cheering and screaming as Flickerman himself leaned back in his chair clapping. I even clapped, searching the audience for the electric green head of hair.

"Now, enough about dresses and makeup," He said, trying to make the tone more serious as he leaned toward me. "How are you feeling, Savera?"

I swallowed hair, but still smiled, making sure everyone thought I was just as excited to be there as they were. Thinking on my toes, I answered," I'm simply enjoying every moment of this that I can. The Capitol is a very…exotic place and I'm merely in awe of every second that I'm here."

Caesar clicked his tongue approvingly," Good for you, now tell us, what's one thing you miss about District Two?"

I looked up toward the ceiling, pondering the question deeply. In all honesty, there wasn't much to miss about District Two…other than my family…my family was definitely the most important thing to me still living in District Two. There wasn't much like the feeling of being able to sit in my yard back home, breathing the fresh air while gazing over the mountains off in the distant. Being in the Capitol did make me miss that.

"My family," I answered simply, looking straight into his brown eyes, decorated with emerald eye shadow to match his suit that appeared to be glowing. "Being at home with my mother and father and brother, Ostro."

Caesar raised his head, nodding in understatement as the crowd let out a sympathetic sigh. I smiled, nevertheless, trying to make them see a more pleasant side rather than dwelling on the negative," Ah, you're a home body then? This must be hard for you then."

To say I was a "home body" was stitching it…I loved my family…not the people in District Two.

"I'm making the best of it, Caesar, as I said before its like a dream to be here, really," I said, trying to force a smile still.

He nodded, returning the smile," What a wonderful attitude to have toward the situation. Since you mentioned family, I thought that it'd be appropriate for us to tell you how much we loved Titus. He was a favorite of ours, right folks?"

At the mere mention of his name, the crowd was nearly in an uproar with people cheering and screaming for him. I beamed at this, trying to convey the message that I was pleased with their support of my brother. I had not spoke of Titus in a long time, in fact, it had been so long since I had even thought his name. I was far too scared to even think of him ,fearing that tears would come and not stop flowing. It took nearly all of my strength to keep a calm and cool appearance about me as he questioned me about my brother.

"He was a good kid," I added after they had calmed. "He was sort of the middle ground in our family. My other brother Ostro is completely off the wall while my parents are both very determined and run by conservative rules. Titus was somewhere in the middle…he kept us all…."

"Sane?" Caesar guessed, raising a brow before laughing as I nodded and joined in with him. The crowd even laughed along with us.

"Definitely," I said, nodding still as I crossed my legs, cracking a smile all the while.

Calming the crowd's laughter, Caesar asked," So, you plan on making him proud then?"

"Absolutely. Titus and I may have different angles of attack and techniques, but since the Stone family has been placed in a situation such as this where two of the three siblings must be in the Games…it can be presumed that I will try my hardest to make my brother proud," I said, trying to sound as heart-felt as I could, knowing that they would love this sort of gig.

As expected, a chorus of sighs and sympathetic ohms were released to the crowd. I looked at Caesar as he apologetically grabbed my hand, squeezing it," You do that, dear. We'll all be rooting you on while you do so."

I nodded, sincerely before smiling and thanking him for his kind words. He wasn't going to let me go without asking one last question," What's your advantage, Savera? What makes you so special?"

I paused for a moment, looking off into the crowd as I pondered my answer. Whilst looking about, I laid eyes upon several different strange people and it wasn't long until my eyes reached my designer Sage, who was watching me just as intently as everyone else in the crowd. Moments later, my eyes moved back to Caesar and I said with a smirk," You'll just have to wait and see."

If the suspense hadn't already been built, then it most certainly was then as I stood, Caesar standing and grabbing my hand one last time before sending me on my way with the air filled with a new anticipation.


If there was any night that I wouldn't be able to fall asleep, then it was that night after the interview was complete and we were all tucked back away into our suites. I didn't even attempt to climb in bed for I knew sleep wouldn't come for awhile. Therefore, I took liberty to walk into the living area and at least pace in peace for awhile. However, this was not a plausible idea because as I walked into the living area, Brutus's son himself was sitting on the couch, looking straight at me.

I swallowed as he stared directly at me, saying nothing.

I simply turned and crossed my arms, looking him straight in the eye through the moonlight," Are you going to threaten me again? I suppose now would be a time more appropriate than ever to do so."

He narrowed his eyes as he shook his head, leaning forward to put his head in his hands," I suppose we're past that point now, aren't we? It didn't work before so I doubt its going to work now."

Baffled by what he had to say, I took a step closer," What do you mean?"

She looked up, shaking his head as he did so," It's not worth the waste of breath…plus, I've been given a task."

I titled my head, still confused by what he was saying. Given a task? What sort of task would include staying up late and sitting in a room by themselves? Or, had he predicted that I would be coming…

"Do you mind telling me some more details about this…task?" I asked, looking at him critically.

He shook his head, as if telling himself that he wasn't about to say the words on his head. He felt the need to give a disclaimer," This is not coming from me…it's completely from Zane, my dad, and Lila…and if this whole ordeal were up to me, then I…." He paused, staring off into space as he ran his fingers through his dark hair before leaning back in the couch and looking up to the ceiling. "I don't know what I'd do, but it wouldn't be this…I'd just kill you from the beginning."

For a moment, I had thought that this was going to be a new Flux sitting in front of me, but from his last words, I could tell that this was a Flux who was being sucked into a bigger, strategic plan from Zane, Lila, and his father. Had I been an average person who hadn't analyzed the situation much, then I should have found this to be a partially good thing…it sounded as though my death was simply being delayed, but I found this to be a good thing for a different reason: there were already cracks in the foundation of the Career's small alliance.

A/N: Alright, so I'll be totally honest…the last chapter was a little bit of a filler chapter, but there is a lot of work that went into this chapter and a lot of stuff was going on so I hope that you all enjoyed reading!

How was Caesar? Believable? Any predictions for the future? Let me know :D Thanks for reading!

Also, I want to point out that I may be stretching the truth with the whole machine in a private session ordeal, but I thought that the resources would be available in the Capitol and...I went out on a limb.