Chapter 22- Dexsia Greentree
I fluff out my dress around me, making sure it all falls in neat pleats. I've never really cared for fancy dresses and dressing up, but tonight is different. Tonight I'm going to be live on television for all of Panem, and it is exhilarating. I'm standing in front of Cossus, who's looking sharp in a black suit with red jewel accents on the jacket.
Meanwhile, Catullus has put me in a deep red dress with a gold hem that has no sleeves and falls just above my knees. My hair has been braided up and piled on the back of my head in an elaborate bun; dark eyeliner and red lips highlight the rest of my face. In Capitol terms, and even in District 2 terms, I am stunning tonight, and I'm not afraid to admit it.
Ahead of me Velvet stands in a dark purple suit made of, of course, velvet. It's quite warm out tonight and he must be sweltering in that material. Treasure is dressed in a flimsy blue dress that billows around her knees. I wonder how she feels going on first of any of us.
We're all lined up backstage, waiting for our cues. When whoever is in charge waves us on, we'll go and take our seat with Marcus Fireglen, the man who does the interviews, and has been doing them for at least the last five years.
I can hear chattering in the audience, which disappears when the anthem plays and we all snap to attention. When the last note fades out, Marcus bounces onstage with an overly cheerful smile on his face.
"Hello, Panem!" he says, and the audience applauds. "Welcome to the interviews for the 36th Hunger Games! I think we're ready to meet our contestants, don't you think?" The audience screams its approval.
"First up is from District 1! Ladies and Gentlemen, put your hands together for Treasure Lockwater!"
Treasure steps out in six-inch teal high heels, waving cheerfully at the crowd. She takes Marcus's hand and sits down on the chair across from his, beaming ear to ear.
"Well, Treasure, how are you feeling about tomorrow?" Marcus asks, and Treasure only laughs.
"Oh, Marcus, I can hardly wait! I'm enjoying my time in the Capitol so much that I can't wait to get back here!" she says, and Marcus pats her arm.
"Sounds like we have a victor in the making right here! Tell me, Treasure, what's your favorite thing about the Capitol?"
"Oh, all of you! I'm so grateful to have so many people on my side, and I love the fashions here! I mean, just look at this!" she says, waving at the audience and then at her dress. Even though Treasure may not be the brightest bulb in the box, her mentor is very clever in helping her get sponsors. Of course, if she gets sponsors, I benefit from it, so I let it go.
Next up is Velvet, who plays up the arrogant angle.
"Win? Of course I'm going to win; I'm going to be the best victor you've ever seen out there. How can I not win, look at me!" he says, flexing his muscles on stage. I roll my eyes. I'm not scared at all for my turn next, is that normal? When I look back, I can see the boy from 3 having a quiet panic attack.
"Thank you Velvet Dusksand! Next up is from District 2, and we all love District 2, don't we?" Marcus says, and I prepare myself to step onstage as the audience applauds.
"Please welcome to the stage, Dexsia Greentree!"
I step out automatically and flash the audience the most dazzling smile I can. I can see a couple hundred people in the audience, but I can't see any of their faces. Taking Marcus's hand, I let myself be guided to the seats where the interviews are conducted.
"How are you doing tonight, Miss Greentree?" Marcus asks, and I'm all too aware of all the eyes in Panem watching me.
"Oh, Marcus, call me Dexsia," I say, crossing my legs. I don't like these shoes; they're too tall. And really, my dress is too short to cross my legs comfortably, but I manage.
"Well, Dexsia, how are you feeling about your odds tomorrow?"
"I've never felt better. I know I'm the best going in there," I say, and smirk a little. I love the attention, just love it; the more eyes on me, the better.
"Let me ask you a few questions: what is your greatest strength, and what is your greatest weakness?" Marcus asks.
"I'm the best girl with a sword you'll ever see, and I don't have any weaknesses, Marcus. And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you them. That would be giving too much away, wouldn't it?" I say.
Aulus and I worked on my angle yesterday; he told me to be confident and well-prepared. And it's no secret my talent is with the swords.
"Well, Dexsia, it sounds like you're going to be just fine in the arena," Marcus says.
"I'm going to be the best, Marcus, just you wait and see!"
"Oh, I can't wait to see you in action!" Marcus says, swinging his microphone like a sword, which gets a few laughs from the audience. I just keep smiling as prettily as I can, but the stage lights are hot and my forehead feels damp under my bangs.
"Let me tell you, Dexsia, that dress you're wearing is one of the best ones we've seen on this stage! Well done to your stylist!" Marcus says, holding his microphone properly again, and the audience applauds for Catullus. The buzzer goes off then, and Marcus helps me up.
"Good luck, Dexsia Greentree!" he says, I give another wave and smile to the audience, and then I climb the stairs above the stage where Treasure and Velvet are already sitting. I take my place by them, and sit back to watch the rest of the interviews.
Dove Rosestar
Sitting backstage waiting is excruciating. At least we're not standing in line anymore; after the girl from 3 went up someone brought chairs and let us sit down. Right now we're watching the girl from 5, and she is absolutely terrifying. I work my hand into Cabel's and he squeezes it tight. Since I'm the girl I'll go ahead of him. I don't want to go on at all.
I like my dress, though. It's cerulean blue, tied with a black sash at the back, and dotted with green gems. And I get to wear flats, unlike most of the girls who are in high heels that look really uncomfortable. My prep team put my hair up in two buns on either side of my head, so I have two black knobs for hair now. All in all, I don't look terrible, and presentable enough.
"Let's get this straight," Alyss, the girl from 5 says, arm over the back of the chair she's sitting in. Her blonde hair has been curled and piled up on top of her head, making her look taller than she is, which is very, very tall. "I never wanted to get reaped, and I thought I could go one more year being lucky. But no, I'm here, and I tell you Marcus, I'm going to kill every person in that arena so I can get back here as a victor."
"Think you can do it?" Marcus asks.
"Think I can? Of course I can, don't be stupid," she says, laughing a little. It's not a joyful laugh, though. The buzzer goes off just then and Marcus shakes Alyss's hand, helping her up. She turns, walks up the stairs, and joins the rest of the tributes on the platform above the stage.
"Don't we have some good competition, people?" Marcus asks the audience, and they cheer. "Let's meet another tribute who I know we're dying to get to know! Let's give a warm welcome to Kouza Skyroad!"
The tall and menacing boy from District 5 lurches out onstage, grabbing Marcus's hand in his and squeezing tightly.
"So, Kouza," Marcus says when they're seated, "Tell me a bit about yourself. Got family back at home who are betting on you?"
Kouza nods shortly, hands fiddling on the arms of the chair. "Yes, I've got family. But you know what I am, Marcus?"
"What?"
"Furious. I should be back with my girl, not here talking to you. And I'm going to tell you, I've heard a lot of other people so far tonight say that they're going to do whatever it takes to get home, but they have nothing on me. I'm stronger than all of them, I'm more determined than the rest of them. I'm going to be your victor."
Marcus is taken aback, but recovers quickly. "So, Kouza, tell me about that 10 you received in training. Highest mark this year."
"Not high enough. I wanted a 12."
Kouza and Marcus go back and forth for a minute or so more, Kouza spitting angry answers to Marcus's tentative questions, and everyone is relieved when the buzzer sounds. Kouza is obviously very dangerous, and I don't want to meet him in the arena.
Someone from backstage gets me ready to go into the wings; Cabel squeezes my hand one more time. I'm trying to keep calm, but I'm scared nevertheless.
"Next up, coming all the way from District 6, is Dove Rosestar!" Marcus announces, and I'm onstage shaking his hand, and then I'm sitting down, trying to smile and look at Marcus and the audience at the same time.
"Dove, how are you tonight? Marcus asks.
"I'm fine," I say. Too short an answer. I tack on, "I'm so happy to be here!"
"I'll bet the Capitol was a shock to you, wasn't it?"
Gush. Lexa told me to be humble but enchanted with the Capitol. "It's so much more beautiful than I ever imagined!" I say, smiling in what I think is an animated way. I've been smiling too much for the people since I got here, and I'm sick of it.
"Tell me a bit about yourself; what do you like to do in your spare time?" Marcus asks.
Good question. What do I like to do? My mind is blank. So I say the first thing that comes to my head.
"I like to sing at home, and when I walk around my district." It's true, I love to sing, though not for anyone else but me.
"Ooh, we have a singer! Ladies and gentlemen, we have a talented girl on our hands! Dove, go ahead and sing something for us!"
Oh, why did I say I like to sing? Look what I've gotten myself into! I never even sing for Cabel or my mother, let alone the whole of Panem. I can't refuse, though; I risk my sponsors. And I need sponsors. Maybe singing will help that cause along.
I smile, trying to stall, trying to think of a simple song that would be appropriate for an interview. Racking my brains, I settle on an old song that Mum used to sing to me as a small child.
"I give you roses and daisies to keep,
I give you the sunset as day grows dark.
I give you the dove, the finch, and the lark,
To fly overhead and sing you to sleep."
The audience has hushed, listening to me sing, and I hope I'm not offkey. I pause, wondering what to do next. Do I continue the song, or do I end it there? Marcus decides the matter.
"Oh, do sing more, Dove! Do we want more?" he calls to the audience, and they cheer. I can feel my face turning red at their attention, and I can feel the heat from the other tributes glaring at the back of my head.
"I give you the world and all its dreams,
I give you the sun and the moon.
I give you the cardinal and the loon,
And the light from the moonbeams."
I smile sheepishly at Marcus. "That's all of it," I say.
"You are a very talented girl! Oh, that was beautiful! What do you think?" Marcus exclaims, and the audience cheers louder. I blush redder, and then the buzzer goes and that's my interview, it's over, and I'm shaking Marcus's hand and climbing up the stairs to sit beside Kouza, who is glaring menacingly at me. I stare straight ahead and wait for Cabel.
"Wasn't that spectacular? I don't think I've heard a voice that pretty in I don't know when!" Marcus says, and I blush even redder when I see the cameras focused on me still. I try to smile for Mum. I'm glad she got to hear me sing one more time.
"Now, this year we have a sibling group! Let's bring out Dove's older brother and see what he has to say! Welcome to the stage, Cabel Rosestar!"
Cabel walks out, smiling in what I can only describe as a noble way at the crowd. He takes Marcus's hand in his, shakes it once, and says, "Good to meet you, Marcus."
"Come take a seat, Mr. Rosestar," Marcus says, and the two of them take their seats. "So, Mr. Rosestar," Marcus starts.
"Cabel."
"Yes, Cabel, how are you tonight?"
"Never been better, Marcus."
"I have it on good authority that that little singing girl is your sister, is that right?" Marcus asks.
Cabel nods. "Dove's my sister, yes."
"Now, tell me, how did you feel when Dove's name was pulled out of the bowl? Must have been a shock for you, both of you going in together."
"I was shocked, and truly devasted, Marcus. I've been trying to keep her safe all my life, you see, and she's really important to me. So in that moment I felt like I'd failed her and my mother."
"And how are you feeling now with the Games tomorrow?"
"I'm glad I've had Dove with me; it makes everything easier, and not so nerve-wracking. I promised my mother before I left that I would take care of Dove, and I mean to uphold that in the arena."
"You're a brave young man, Cabel," Marcus says, and he actually looks touched. "We've heard your sister sing; are there any other talents that run in the family?"
Cabel shakes his head. "Dove's the talented one, always has been. I'm just the big brother," he says, and laughs a little. Me, the talented one? But Cabel has always been the perfect son, perfect citizen. Except for being a rebel. Maybe that's his hidden talent.
"What's your strength, and what's your weakness?" Marcus asks.
"I'm keeping my strengths a secret, but I can tell you right now what my weakness is, and it should be quite obvious: Dove."
"Well, Cabel, I wish you luck in the arena," Marcus says, the buzzer rings, and the audience is clapping for my brother as he walks up the stairs to sit beside me. I squeeze his hand tight. I'm glad Cabel's come with me, or I've gone with him. Whichever way it works. We'll go in as a team, and everyone else will have to watch out for us.
Terra Coppersmith
I'm trying not to look at Fletcher beside me, because I know he's grinning again. I never should have gone to talk to him in his room; I'll never be able to kill him now. I like him too much. I also like him too much, which also poses a problem.
I'm poking at my nails that my prep team did for me; gold and sparkly. I'm fine with my outfit, too, which is a thin gold dress with curlicues of red swirling through it; they've left my hair loose and curls keep popping into my face. Under my dress I'm wearing the necklace with my mother's ring that Iry gave me the day of the reaping. Every so often I touch it, to make sure it's still there.
The red headed girl from 7 is currently onstage, perfectly at home in front of the cameras.
"So, Cedar, how are you feeling about the Games?"
"I'm more than okay. I've come to do something for my family and go home, you know."
"Oh? And what's that?" Marcus asks.
"Do you recall Comfrey Duskforest, 20th Hunger Games?" Cedar asks.
"Well now, that's a long time ago! I'm not sure!" Marcus says, visibly confused, as am I.
"What's she getting after?" I mutter to Fletcher.
"She was my aunt, and she died on the third day of the 20th Hunger Games. So, I'm here to avenge her and win for my whole family," Cedar says with a humorless smile.
"You're going in for a whole family! Well, I think you have a good shot at it, Cedar, what with that 7 you scored in training."
"I'll be better than that 7, you'll see. I'm not going to go in there to die; I'm going in to win," she says, and the audience applauds.
"Watch her in the arena, I think she'll be dangerous," Fletcher says without his usual cheerful tone.
"We're all going to be armed and dangerous, Fletcher," I say.
"Except maybe her," Fletcher says, gesturing to the little girl from 9 beside him. She's not going to make it out, and neither will the twelve-year old from 3, but most of us have a fighting chance in there, which worries me.
"Everyone I've talked to tonight has assured me they're going to be that victor. How do you feel with that?"
"Well, the rest of them are wrong, aren't they?" she says, tipping her head to one side.
Cedar flips her brilliantly colored hair over one shoulder. "Aren't you concerned with your hair in the arena?" Marcus asks, admiring it. "Anyone will be able to see it from a mile off."
"I'll just kill them then," Cedar says. I can tell, what between the unusual hair and the cocky attitude, that Cedar is going to have a lot of sponsors in the arena. I'm just going to have to match her.
"Thank you, Cedar!" Marcus says as the buzzer goes, helping her up and raising her hand above the air as though in triumph. Not so fast, I think. Cedar does a dainty curtsy and runs up the stairs to the seats above the stage.
How am I going to play up Determined while slipping a goodbye and a word or two to my family at home at the same time? Meanwhile, I'm watching the boy from 7, Branch, go up onstage and flounder his way through his interview. He's just a kid, thirteen, and has a terrible stutter that makes it painful to listen to. Thankfully, the buzzer goes before long and Branch is sent off to sit up top with the others.
"You're next, Terra," Fletcher murmurs in my ear. I jump and look at him, fingers flying to my necklace.
"Knock their socks off," he continues, flashing me a grin that drops my stomach into my toes. Will you focus, Terra? This is no way to behave!
"Who's next, do you think? I know!" Marcus announces into his microphone and the audience erupts in applause. Some woman grabs my arm and drags me out of my seat and into the wings. I glance back once to see Fletcher still sitting there, arms crossed and smirking, one side of his mouth turned up higher than the other. But Deecey liked him, my thoughts scream. Yes, but you're also likely to die in the next few days, and so is he. No harm liking him. I'm tired of the constant battle in my head, and it's not even important to my survival.
"Let's welcome out Terra Coppersmith from District 8!"
I take a deep breath and step out onto the stage; immediately I'm blinded by the stage lights and have to blink a few times to get my bearings and find my way to Marcus Fireglen.
"Hello, Terra!" Marcus says when we're seated.
"Hello to you too, Marcus," I say.
"How are you feeling onstage tonight? Have you ever had an audience before?"
"Never! I'm just loving it here," I say, catching Shuttle's eye in the audience. Smile, be determined, is what she says with her eyes.
"Tell me a bit about yourself; who's waiting for you at home?" Marcus asks.
"Well, I have my little sister Iry, who's eight," I say, and my voice unexpectedly catches. I force myself to push through. "And my best friend, Deecey, and her mum who is like my own mother. And I just want to say I love you to them, and I miss you so much! See you soon!" I say, turning to the cameras in the audience, and I blow my family a kiss. They'll see it, and they'll know I love them, even if I don't ever get to say it to them in person again.
"Isn't that sweet!" Marcus says, patting me on the arm gently. "Sounds like you have some people you're angling to get home to."
"Absolutely. I promised my sister I would go home to her, and I intend to keep that promise."
"No matter what happens?"
I nod. "No matter what happens."
"You've mentioned family and friends, but do you have anyone special who's waiting for you in District 8?" Marcus asks, eyebrow raised.
"Like who?"
"Any special boy or girl at home?"
I shake my head. If anyone was to be special, as Marcus is suggesting, he's not in District 8 anymore. Suddenly I see Fletcher behind Marcus in the wings, slightly blurry from the lights onstage, and he's grinning like an idiot. Does he ever stop? I'm exasperated with him; I can't be focusing on him so much come tomorrow.
"Nobody like that."
Marcus switches topics smoothly. "In your private sessions you got a 7, which is quite a popular score this year. Can you tell us how you got that score?"
"I can't tell you everything, Marcus," I say in a teasing tone. "I have to leave some elements of surprise for the next few weeks."
"Terra, our time is almost up, but, as you have heard, everyone else we've seen on this stage tonight has said they're bound and determined to be the victor. Do you think you can do it?"
I sit up straighter and look Marcus straight in the eye. "I'm more confident that I can win than of my ability to breathe," I say.
"There you have it, ladies and gentlemen! We have another potential victor!" The audience applauds just as the buzzer goes, and Marcus lifts me up by the hand, hugs me briefly, and whispers in my ear, "Good luck." I smile at him, smile at the audience, then turn and make my way up the stairs to sit beside the boy from 7.
"Come on out, Fletcher Wellrock!" Marcus shouts, and the crowd applauds. Fletcher comes out good naturedly, as always, waving at the crowd. From up here I can see more of the crowd; a couple women have pink hair and one man has hair as blue as a blueberry.
"Isn't this a fun night?" Fletcher asks, settling down in the seat I only recently vacated.
"Absolutely! I take it you're having fun, then?"
"I always have fun, Marcus; it's all about seeing the good in every scenario. See, I'm nervous about audiences, but you'd never know it, would you?"
"Not until you mentioned it! Tell me Fletcher, what's something that's stood out for you this week?"
"Probably the food and company for me; both have been superb," Fletcher says, flashing a quick grin. How is he so relaxed onstage? I don't believe his nervousness bit at all.
"Tell us about your superb company, Fletcher," Marcus says, leaning the microphone towards Fletcher.
"For starters, have you ever met my district escort?"
"I can't say I have."
"Once you've seen him, you'll never forget him. Orange suit; obsessed with orange? Goes by the name of Postumius Opiter?"
The lights and cameras find Postumius in the audience, and he waves them off cheerfully, beaming from ear to ear with the attention. Of course he's wearing orange, which just drives home Fletcher's statement.
"I tell you, Marcus, it's never a dull moment with him around. Now on the other hand, there's my district partner, Terra, and she's the other half of the superb company."
"Really, Fletcher, tell us more!" Marcus says, pressing in even closer. Meanwhile I'm turning bright red and a couple of the other tributes are looking at me in confusion and suspicion. Me? I'm the superb company?
"She's just an all-around nice girl to talk to, and I wish I could have known her better back home," Fletcher continues, keeping that cheerful and charming smile on his face. My heart keeps dropping to my knees, picking itself back up, then dropping again. I don't even bother telling myself to quit it. I hope Deecey isn't taking it the wrong way at home.
"How do you feel about your chances in the arena?" Marcus asks.
"I feel pretty good about them. Really, anyone can win, so why not me? Besides, I'm the best looking out of all them, so that has to count for something," Fletcher says, getting a few laughs. He smirks at the audience before turning back to Marcus.
"I'm going to guarantee you that there's going to be a District 8 victor this year, and that victor will meet you back here in a few weeks. How does that sound?"
"I'd love to see you back, but I can't pick favorites! That wouldn't be fair, would it?" Marcus says, turning to the audience; quite a few people shout dissent.
"You can say that all you want, but I know I'm your favorite. I won't tell, don't worry," Fletcher says. His buzzer sounds; his time is up.
"Let's hear it for Fletcher Wellrock of District 8!" Marcus shouts, and the place just erupts in applause. I think that Fletcher is a crowd favorite tonight, and I can't blame them.
I think he's my favorite tonight too.
Fletcher comes up the stairs two at a time and sits down next to me. Surreptitiously he pokes my knee, and when I turn to look at him, he winks. Then we turn our heads to the front again; I pretend he's not there, but I'm all too aware of his presence next to me as the next tribute, the little girl from 9 comes out.
Would it be so bad to like Fletcher Wellrock?
Catalina Nightwind
I'm so scared as I walk out onstage, but I can see Ripple and Solara and Miri in the audience, and they promised me they would encourage me, so I try to be brave for them, and for my family.
I want my mother! I'm so scared to be all alone.
"Hello there, Catalina! Aren't you just the tiniest thing?" Marcus says, taking my hand and leading me to the interview chair.
I nod. "I think I'm the smallest," I say.
"I think it might work to your advantage though; you'll be able to crawl in mice holes to hide," Marcus says, and I nervously giggle. "I hope it's not too windy in the arena, or I'd fear you'd just blow away!"
I pet the soft dress around me, smoothing it down on the chair. Looking at the lavender blossoms on my nails. The flowers they painted on my arms are starting to itch a little.
"What an interesting style choice you have, what with your flowers. Can you tell me about them?" Marcus asks.
"I love flowers a lot, because there's all sorts at home. And I think it's beautiful to wear flowers all over me; my stylists even put flowers on my nails," I say, holding my hand up for Marcus to see.
"How beautiful! What kind of flower are those?"
"Lavender, and I love my nails a lot because my sister is called Lavender, and I miss her a lot," I say, my voice growing a little quiet at the end.
"How many sisters do you have?"
"Three."
"And what are their names?"
"Edel, Lavender, and Challah. I miss them a lot!" I say, and tears swim in my eyes without my meaning to. I blink them back; I can't cry on live television. The others think I'm weak enough already.
"What does your family call you at home, if I may ask? We all want to get to know the real Catalina," Marcus says, smiling cheerfully.
"My family calls me Cat," I say, barely above a whisper.
"Do you mind if we call you Cat?"
I shake my head.
"Well, Cat, what is your favorite thing about the Capitol?"
"My room, I think."
"And what's so special about your room?"
"It's got so many neat things in it, like food that comes out like magic, and a wardrobe that gives me only clothes I want to wear, and bubbles in the bathroom," I say, and I hear some people laugh in the audience. I also hear a quick, harsh laugh from up above and I glance up to see the girl from 2 watching me with a mean look in her eye. I'm scared of her.
"It can't be denied that we have some fantastic inventions," Marcus says, inspiring applause and a cheer.
"How do you feel about getting a 4 in training?" he says then, looking back from the audience to me.
"Maybe I got a low score on purpose," I say with a faint smile. "Some people do that, you know. I'm not saying I did, but you don't know if I'm lying or not."
"A girl of mystery!" Marcus says. The buzzer goes then, making me jump.
"I'm afraid that's all the time we have, but I wish you all the luck in the world tomorrow," Marcus says. I slide out of my seat and stand next to him as he announces, "Let's hear a round of applause for Cat Nightwind!"
I do a quick curtsy and run up the stairs to sit next to the boy from 8. He gives me a nice smile; I think he's a nice boy.
Ornam comes out next, giving a wave to the audience and a snarky smile. That smile fades when Marcus starts interrogating him.
"What's the thing that's made the most impact on you here in the Capitol?"
"I liked the training; it was fun to use real weapons for once," Ornam says.
"You volunteered; why?"
"Nobody in my family wanted me to go, but I see this as my ticket to fame and fortune, Marcus. And I'd have to be an idiot to not claim it, don't you think?" Ornam says.
"Well, he's right about that, what do you think?" Marcus shouts; more applause. Once Ornam's buzzer rings, the rest of the tributes seem to speed by.
The girl from District 10 seems clever, and with makeup coating her face tonight, she even seems pretty. The boy from that district is so dull that I can see some of the audience getting restless. He doesn't give any interesting answers, and is so quiet he might as well not even be there.
The girl from 11 is obviously scared, maybe as much as I am.
"How are you tonight?" Marcus asks.
"F-fine. I'm okay!" she says, eyes wide. She keeps twitching her head to the audience and the cameras and back to Marcus.
"You volunteered, didn't you? Did you want the glory, or were you volunteering for someone else?" Marcus says.
"My cousin; she's my auntie's only daughter and I thought it was better if I go," Graine says, her tone flat, but with an edge of panic in it. Marcus does her best to calm her down, but it's really no use. At least I wasn't that panicky.
The boy from 11 is very quiet; he's the one who I don't think is very well. He's really skinny and kind of wheezes when he breathes and talks. I can hear the Careers laughing amongst themselves behind me, even though you're not supposed to talk onstage when it's not your turn. The boy from 8 sees me getting worried and he gives me a kind smile.
Finally it's the last district. The girl from 12 comes out, slightly hunched with fluttering fingers. She has a tendency to duck her head, I notice.
"Tell us about your family," Marcus says.
"I have two sisters," Mara offers, then drops her gaze to her lap. She's wearing a pretty dress; dark green with pleats. Her dark hair is pulled back from her face, and if she would stop ducking and fluttering, she would be very pretty. Marcus doesn't get many answers out of her before her interview ends. She climbs up and sits a few tributes down from me.
"How do you think your chances are?" Marcus asks the boy from 12.
"Absolutely superb. Look at me, I'm the best they've got; anyone else who's said that they're the best is lying. Just you wait, Marcus, you'll see me with a crown on my head within a week."
"Historically, District 12 hasn't had good luck in getting victors," Marcus says.
"I'm going to start our winning streak," Dussel says with a over confident smile. Then his own buzzer goes, and the interviews are concluded.
"Here's to the tributes of the 36th Annual Hunger Games!" Marcus Fireglen shouts, and the whole audience jumps to their feet and cheers and claps for us.
The anthem plays then, and we all stand solemnly to listen to it. I twist the bracelet Challah gave me around and around my wrist.
Please let me go home.
Once the last notes of the anthem fade out, we tributes are herded off the stage into the wings. Ripple, Solara, and Miri meet Ornam and me backstage and keep hold of us in the fight towards the elevators.
Today we fight for the elevator, I think, looking around at my fellow tributes. Tomorrow they'll be trying to kill me.
I'm so scared, so, so scared, but Ripple grabs my hand and pulls me towards the elevator, and I don't have any more time to think about it before the button is pressed and we shoot upwards for the last time.