June 1st, 1942, One Day Before The Competition
When the officials positioned by the train station call Otto to let him know that the American and Canadian lottery winners have finally arrived at Berlin, Otto is ready for everything to begin.
He's in the state box with Hana as the twenty-eight are brought to the large stage in the main square, thousands of German citizens crowding in to watch these children be presented to the world. Troupes of soldiers march through the square to rapturous applause, and food-sellers are selling dozens of baked goods and cups of water to the hungry crowds. They're all excited to see what will happen next, to see if any of these young adults will crack and break down in front of the nation.
Hana's done her duty well. This feels entirely removed from the fact that almost all of the children will be dead in the next few days.
Hana nudges Otto as an announcer calls out the name of every lottery winner, looking to the right of the line. There, Otto sees the four from Turkey and Afrikka, the two from Turkey cowering on the stage while the boy and girl from Afrikka stand in the light of flashing cameras. They're unafraid of what will happen next. "You see the ones from Africa and Turkey? They're all listening to the translators, but the boy from Ghana understands English - he's watching the translator to the left. Perhaps if we find a way to nudge him and one of the English-speaking children from Britain or America, we can have some interesting moments."
"Isn't he the bloodthirsty one who killed our troops in his home country before he was arrested by Ghana police?" Otto asks. "Perhaps he isn't the most charismatic English-speaker out there. You may want to look for someone else to interact with those four, darling."
"Well, it's one way we could stir up drama," Hana huffs. "We have to make a plausible story if we want to make it interesting for viewers. Set up heroes, set up villains, choose people for our audience to root for so that they're fine with the deaths and cheer for our victor. We can't have any random kid win the competition, that wouldn't seem right. They have to earn it. They have to be the hero we all root for."
"Haven't we had this conversation before?" Otto looks at his wife, tired of her persistent questions about how they'll choose a worthy victor. "You have all of those independent variables in your maze to stop tributes who aren't playing well and will allow the ones we like to continue to play. We don't have all of those moveable walls for nothing, you know. And we have those bu-"
"But still!" Hana huffs at Otto. The announcer finishes introducing all of the winners, and the two watch all of the children refuse to bow on the stage before turning back to their discussion. "I know that this competition is supposed to be cathartic for you, but without a plausible storyline, we're not going to have anyone on this continent who's sympathetic to the competition except for, I don't know, sadists or something. You want to continue this, right? You want to continue being the Fuhrer?"
"I know, I know," Otto sighs. "You'll be in charge of it all, just as you wanted."
"Of course." Hana smiles triumphantly at Otto, walking to the door of the booth. "And now, we better get ready for the ball. It's only a few short hours until they all meet each other, and time is short! Quick, I need to get dressed well."
Otto nods, a weary look on his face. "Of course, darling."
.oOo.
The car takes them back to their mansion as fast as it can and Otto gets dressed quickly, putting on a dark suit and smoothing down his hair. He glances at the several ties to choose from, then quickly knots a blood-red tie around his neck and folding his shirt collar back down.
The symbolism won't be lost on the lottery winners.
Hana takes much longer to get dressed, nearly an hour passing before she appears from her dressing-room. "Well, I do believe that I'm ready to begin. Did you hear that the girl from Great Britain had a breakdown while travelling to be fitted for a dress? They say that she cut her hands on some glass that she dropped on the floor of the car, or at least that's what I've heard. There are a few doctors taking care of her hands, but she won't be in peak condition for the competition. Quite a pity - from what I've heard of her so far, she seems like a regular firebrand. If she could get past this, perhaps she wouldn't be a half-bad choice for the victor."
"So be it. If she hurts herself, it is none of our concern." Otto takes some time to admire Hana's dress, a lovely red number that's made of a fabric he doesn't know, clinging to her body and travelling down to her ankles. She lifts up the hem of the dress and smirks, showing the stiff fabric that makes the bottom half of the dress. It moves easily, but pushes away from her ankles. It lets her easily, Otto realizes, move around in what would otherwise be an impossible dress to walk in.
He wouldn't expect anything less from his wife.
"Letting it billow out like this makes it quite easy to walk around in dresses. I could run in this if I needed to," she says. Otto nods, letting her know that he's impressed, and follows her to the door. "So, are you ready for the ball, my Otto? Maxie is with the nurse, and he's excited to have a night of games before we come home. Everything is ready."
"If you are, I am as well." Otto smiles to his wife, and she gives him one back before entering their car.
She's excited for this ball, and he can't help it - he's excited as well.
Everything is coming together.
.oOo.
Hana gives a grin when she reaches the ballroom door, looking back at her husband. "Will you be heading to the table right away, darling? I'd like to move through the crowds and get a feel for the children. It's always best for an engineer to know what she's working with."
"Yes, I'll be going to sit first. I'll see you when you're satisfied." Otto nods to Hana and walks into the ballroom, pausing to talk to one of the stuck-up generals who seem to have all decked themselves out with medals and ribbons for the ball. They all want to make an impression, but more importantly, see who the twenty-eight are.
She doesn't blame them. After all, she's doing the same herself.
She herself gets caught up in a few conversations with friends, some about the competition tomorrow and others about her dress. But after assuring them that she'll get them in touch with her stylists - she had to stifle a giggle at that, being the one who had designed her own dress - she drifts into the crowd and lets herself listen to the conversations.
Hana had always been a quiet child, to the point where her mother claimed that she only found her voice at the age of ten. But it wasn't because she was shy. No, it was because she was observant, silently remembering everything her siblings had done to file away in her mind. They had been unpleasantly surprised to find out the reason that they were always caught for breaking dishes or fighting with each other was not because of their mother, but because they hadn't noticed Hana creep into the room and listen.
She does the same now, walking through the crowd and acting as if she's not there. And no one pays her attention, least of all the lottery winners - what a strange name for the children, she would have to ask Otto to change it to something more interesting later on - that she was watching. And from there, she was able to watch them all to her heart's content.
She learns quite a lot as she watches them all move through the crowds, talking to each other in hushed tones and trying to forget that this could be the last night of their lives. The boy from Britain hadn't volunteered because of a death wish, it was something more. He seemed as if he was trying to make up for some long-forgotten promise, to compensate for something that didn't matter anymore. But he seemed friendly, charismatic even, and she liked his spirit. Perhaps he'd be a plucky underdog to root for.
She always liked the dark horses.
To her surprise, listening in on the girl from Britain let her discover that she had broken the glass because she was throwing it at her partner. Norman had seemed to escape the brunt of the glass, but Caoimhe had suffered cuts on her hands from trying to pick it up. Interesting.
When she watches Karol Karski attempt to write "kopnij mnie" on a paper napkin and pin it on an unsuspecting German officer, she knows that he's an upstart. Not someone she wants to see go far.
Neither is Johannes, the boy from Baltacia who fits all too well into the same position as Karol. Along with Marcus and Bosede, as well as the boy from Northern Europe, - Antoine? - she had her hands full with rebellious types. Oh well, she'd deal with them soon enough. And if any felt the need to repent, she'd always be open to a redemption arc.
Everyone likes to see the bad boy turn good.
When everyone sits down and begins to eat the feast, made of beautifully cooked pheasants that had been shot only the day prior and dishes of vegetables, buns, and more, she's able to see that the Polish girl is starving. From the way she shovels food into her mouth, mechanically feeding herself before grabbing more, Hana can see that she's missed more than a few meals. But she's not the wiry girl that could pull off a victory - she's too young to fight against some of the larger lottery winners, and small to boot.
Hana would bet money that she'll be dead in the first five minutes, along with the pair from Turkey who poke at their food and try to push away their tears. If she was closer, she'd just hand them a napkin and hope that was enough.
She would do the same for the girl from Iberia, a feisty girl named Andrea who wastes no time eating her meal then pointing out all of the people she finds funny in the crowd to the boy next to her. A pity she's so young - Hana would like to know the girl better.
When she sees the boy from Iberia, Pablo, shiver before trying to sit up straight when he's touched by a careless waiter, she knows that he's seen bad days in whatever brothel he was brought up in. The boy from Switzerland acts similarly, but more frightened than anything - he's an introverted one.
"Are you alright, darling?" Otto asks, startling Hana out of her thoughts. "You're very quiet tonight."
"Just watching the children," she replies. He nods in understanding, letting Hana fall back into the world of these children. He knows that it will pay off when they need to decide who they want to survive.
Amal Issa sits up straight and coolly observes the rest of the crowd, her eyes falling on Hana before looking away. But it doesn't feel like Amal's scared to Hana - she's just doing the same thing as Hana is doing, watching the rest of the people here. She's looking for weaknesses.
Hana likes this one.
The girls from the Baltic region and America are talking to one another through a translator, and Hana snatches the few words that she can hear from their side of the room. They're talking about clothing and siblings - interesting, perhaps both will bond in the arena. From reports, she knows that both are fighters. They'll be an interesting combination in the competition.
If they make it past the first five minutes, of course.
The boys from Canada and America are discussing something intently as well, occasionally leaning over to ask a question of their counterparts. Elaine, the one from America, seems to take it well from her flirtatious smile and the way that she puts herself above the rest of the table - Hana knows a leader when she sees one - but the boys seem wrapped up in one another. Perhaps they were friends back in their home countries? Canada and America can't be that large, can they?
The girl from Canada seems shy, picking at her food and trying to avoid eye contact from others at the table. Hana feels a tinge of pity for her. She's the one from the fringe religious group - the Amish, descended from those who still lived in the past in parts of Europe - and the fact that they would have kept her isolated would mean that she wouldn't have much experience being around others.
Oh well, hopefully she'll find a way to best the competition. Hana likes her as well - she's another underdog.
The girl from Russia, seated next to the Canadian, is the only one who attempts to make conversation with Abigail. Hana smiles as the two fall into a conversation that she can't make out, knowing that the girl from Russia will be entertaining if she runs away at the beginning of the competition. It'd be a pity if she fell all too soon - something that seems could happen to the girl from Switzerland, who's haughty but still nervous while speaking to a few couples who are brave enough to speak to the competitors. But she's trying, Hana will give her that.
Oh, it's always fun to see into people.
It makes her feel powerful.
.oOo.
When servants come to take the tables away, a few lottery winners - no, she's calling them competitors now because lottery winners is a stupid name - regretfully take one last bite of their meals before standing up. On one side of the room, the elites of Berlin dance with their partners while watching the twenty-eight competitors.
The pair from Slavia are the first to make a move, laughing as they start to dance with one another around the ballroom. They're quite good - Hana raises an eyebrow in surprise as they weave in and out to the sound of a Bach composition. But there's something more…
The way the girl clutches her partner, although she's been told they're both married…
The way the boy stares a bit too long at the girl…
Hana smirks.
And then the rest of the competitors take the stage, a few simply refusing to dance while others try for the fun of it. To the delight of the audience, the boys from Canada and America attempt to waltz around the room. Hana finds it strange as well - they're so comfortable with each other, too comfortable, even for friends.
Oh.
She smirks again.
The Italian competitors dance as well, but they have none of the chemistry as the pairs before them. The boy seems attracted to the girl, at least physically, but she pays him no attention as they attempt to follow the complicated steps before collapsing in a heap. She's used to this type of attention, it seems.
And judging by the slight smirk on her face, she knows it.
Hana, along with the rest of the audience, all turn from their positions on the dance floor when the boy from Russia is ushered up onto the stage. After a long, quiet conversation with her mentor, the girl from Northern Europe ascends the stairs as well, and takes a violin. The boy positions himself in front of the orchestra, waiting for the girl to find her way into the group before beginning.
They're both hesitant at first - the girl struggles to keep her hands on the violin, and the boy takes too long between a few of the opening notes to continue conducting - but they fall into their places as the orchestra plays on. A few beautiful minutes later, and they've finished, the crowd applauding for the two. The boy stands in the spotlight, blushing, but the girl hands back the violin and darts away to an exit.
Hana sees tears on her cheeks.
"Do you see the girl from France?" Otto murmurs as they sway back and forth in one corner of the room. "She's young, but she's smart. Perhaps she'll make it past the bloodbath."
"All of them are young and smart, dear. What makes the difference is their cunning. That Gabriella does not have cunning. She's not the winner that we're looking for."
"And who is?"
Hana smiles at Otto, his face illuminated by the warm light of the lamps above."You'll have to wait and see, darling."
.oOo.
It happens all too fast - after the ball, she falls asleep blessedly quickly and wakes up only a few hours before it's time to begin. After putting on clothes and finishing her hair and make-up, something that takes too long for her tastes, Hana grabs breakfast and hurries to the car. The waiting valet looks up. "Where to, miss?" He already knows the answer.
"To the control centre, please." He nods and they speed away, taking only a few minutes to reach the building. Hana leaps out and nods to the man, before opening the double-doors and hurrying to the room where Otto is waiting.
When she gets there, she sees that her husband is surrounded by monitors. "You've been here for a while, I suppose?"
"They're all ready to begin." Otto gestures to the many screens, each portraying a different angle of the elaborate maze that Hana had designed over the past few months. "Soldiers chained every lottery winner to their pedestals, and they'll break them all before making a break for the closing exits. Others are stationed in the sides of the mazes, in the hollow spots where cameras are and such so they can get them back onto the lake and away from the dam - the children have all been told what will happen if they don't run to the centre."
"To all of the supplies." Hana smiles, looking at the gleaming pile of supplies. There were swords, axes, hatchets, knives, spears, and all sorts of packs with useful items in them for every competitor. The braver competitors would get the spoils, and the cowardly would have to starve it out in the maze. Of course, supplies wouldn't matter if they were stabbed to death from the get go, but she hoped they wouldn't think of that at first. "And they're starting to wake up from the injections they got today so they wouldn't know where they are - easy, darlings, you have all the time in the world. No need to begin too soon."
After all, the doors to the centre of the maze would not open for any competitor until five minutes passed. That would be more than enough time for the initial killing to begin.
As the soldiers move to break the chains, their black-and-white silhouettes moving quickly on the screen towards all of the competitors, Hana tenses.
It's finally time to begin.
I am very confusing but hopefully this kind of made sense woooo
Anyways, bloodbath tomorrow! Excitement! I think we're going to have a lovely time in the arena, especially with these characters. But there will be surprises tomorrow, yes - get ready.
And that's everything! I'll be taking the poll down soon and replacing it with a final eight one after this, so that will be quite exciting. I'll see you all soon with the bloodbath!
Enjoy. Until next time, TheAmazingJAJ