The last chapter until after the fifth, the next one will reveal the pairs for this story. Someone asked me if they could change votes, of course, you can. Up until the 5th, you can change your votes to your heart's contents!
Remember, even if you only pair your character up, it will help as there are a few characters without a public voted partner at the moment.
Enjoy this final un-paired chapter.
Akhal Breker, 18
District Ten Female
I watched the other Tributes move silently around the whitewashed room. Some, like the Careers, chatted among themselves. Others, like the boy from Three, sat in the corner by themselves. I, on the otherhand, watched them through the small glass window in the door, too on edge to walk into the room with a group of potential killers. I myself could be one. I wasn't kidding myself when saying I would be ready to kill. Then again, having the skill and having the guts were two different things. The odds were still far from being in my favor.
However, the potential threat of my killer being in the room was not the main thing that frightened me. The whole thing just did not seem right. Never before had I heard about Tributes being gathered into the same room. I hadn't seen my mentor since the station and I had been out for seven days due to some form of surgery, the whole thing was playing on my mind. An overthinker naturally, it had sent my mind into a whirlwind.
"What are you doing?" I almost jumped out of my skin when a deep voice spoke from behind me. Ducking out of the way, I darted to the side and turned, only to see a dark haired boy looking back at me. Have to admit, it took a few seconds to realize it was Frederick. He looked vastly different with his black hair at shoulder length. He also had the same metal crown upon his head, he looked like a princess. A muscular, scary and deadly princess.
A smile spread across my face as I thought about the sharp dive and tiny scream Frederick had gotten out of me. "Erm, seeing what is up, I guess," I said with a nervous laugh, the boy looking far from amused.
"It will be nothing dangerous-"
"Oh, I know," I grinned, scrambling to my feet. "They haven't shown us off enough but, I don't know, something is up."
Frederick gave a small nod as he himself peeked through the window. He did so for a few moments before turning back to me. "Well, it all seems harmless-"
"Can I walk in with you?" I asked, sounding slightly more enthusiastic than I should have. Even Frederick seemed slightly taken back by the idea.
"It's a free world...why?" Now it was my turn to be taken back, stumbling over my words as I tried to hide my true intentions of seeming stronger than I really was. Before I could speak, Frederick cut in. "You sure we haven't met before this?"
"No," I said, holding my hands in front of my body in surrender. "I mean, I have seen you about but that's about it." Frederick fell silent like he was expecting a different answer or thinking over his options.
"Fine, but don't think this means we are allies-"
"Understood!" I sang cheerfully, bouncing to my feet. I didn't need to be allied with him at this stage, I just needed people to think we were. A strong ally might turn people away from starting a fight with me. One could hope.
I hoped to Fredericks side. As he reached out, I pulled his hand back towards me, a nervous grin on my face.
"Alright, on three, one-" with a groan, Frederick kicked open the wooden door, startling most of the Tributes inside of the room. I couldn't help but give a small whimper
He then turned to me, fire in his blue eyes. "We would have to come in, it was for the best, ay!" it was no use, my attention had been diverted.
I couldn't see through the windows but the floors were not a floor at all. Right below ours and everyone's feet was a vast, deep tank of water, full to the brim with colorful fish.
Mikeo Nunez, 17
District Eight Male
"This is so cool!" the girl from ten laughed with joy, her smile only getting bigger as the smaller fish swam around her feet. It was a childish joy that I decided I would get on with. If only her District Partner was enthusiastic. He just watched her like a tired parent.
"They look fun," I said to Cerulean, she didn't seem to agree, bringing her eyes from the fish that swam below her to look at the pair for a moment.
"No thank you," she sighed, tracing her finger along the glass. I slumped back down against the wall, rather defeated by her sadness.
"Y'know, it might help to get out there and meet people-"
"Mikeo," she sighed. "You can go do what you like but please leave me be...it's a lot to take in. I'll be fine soon enough" I gave a nod and a sigh as I turned back to the pair.
"Well, I really want some allies so I'll go and chat with them...I'll be back soon," I reassured my District partner and although she offered a weak smile, I could tell she didn't feel much better.
"You don't have to-"
"I want to, see ya in a tick!" Cerulean mumbled something in reply but by that point, I was already pushing through the thick crowd of tributes. I glanced back but once again, her head was down, trying to come to terms with what the Capitol had done to her. It was cruel and I myself was finding it hard. However, I respected that everyone had their own ways of dealing with loss. Maybe if she could run, she would feel better than being left with her thoughts.
As I came to the edge of the crowd, I saw the pair from Ten jumps, both being taller than the average Tribute. The girl let out a little scream before crouching to the ground.
"What do you think it is?" she asked, looking at a large fish below their feet. The gray fish did somersaults, squeaking as it went. It even looked like it was smiling.
With a grin, I jumped towards the pair. "It's a shark!"
"A what?" the dark haired male asked, moving away from the animal.
"I thought they would be bigger," the girl sighed, sounding slightly disappointed.
"Well," the male mused, turning to me. "Where are its teeth then?" I looked back at the animal and frowned, the guy was right, in the fish's mouth was a set of small, rounded off teeth, nothing like the sharks I had learned about.
As we stood and pondered over the creature, the Four male joined us, trying to hold back a snigger.
"That isn't a shark," he said with an amused grin. "It's a dolphin, pretty much harmless unless you're a fish."
The girl from Ten's face softened as she looks back at the animal. "It's the cutest fish-"
"Oh, it isn't a fish," Four laughed. "It's a mammal-"
"An animal that gives birth to live young," the Ten male mused.
"Not always," the blonde male replied. "There are some fish that give birth to live young, a mammal-"
"Is something that feeds from the female mammary glands, basically breasts!" the ten girls said with pride, rocking back and forth on her feet.
The ten male narrowed his eyes at her. "Calm down...how you know that stuff?"
The blonde girl shrugged, "I breed horses, biology is pretty much my only strength."
Her District partner gave a small shrug as I stepped forward, holding my hand out to the girl.
"Well, I'm Mikeo Nunez, District Eight." The girl grinned taking my hand and shaking it.
"I am Akhal Breker, District Ten-"
"District Four, Niko Davenport," the blonde boy said, holding out his hand and shaking mine and Akhal's with a strong, hard grip. I and Niko then turned to Akhal's District Partner who looked unamused by the whole event. His arms crossed and a scowl on his face.
"Frederick, future victor-" Frederick was interrupted by the pair from Twelve sniggering. Then all hell broke loose.
Hyacinth Rodgers, 17
District Twelve Male
The man with frizzy green hair and beedy blue eyes had been sat in the corner of the room since we arrived. He wasn't taking notes and was clearly important judging by the amount of Peacekeepers around him. He was watching us all intently like he was waiting for something to happen.
"What do you think he wants?" Laura said, scrunching her nose up in disgust. "Who even is he?"
I looked back at the man and smirked. "Not a man of style, judging by that haircut." Laura let out a small giggle as she rolled her eyes.
"And you are?" she shot back. I chuckled in reply, feeling my shoulder length hair and sighing.
"Well, I ain't now-"
"You got a problem?" a deep voice growled in our direction. We both turned to see the male from Ten looking back. "Eh, can you talk?"
"Very well thank you and I could ask you the same thing, you are the guy shouting at us," I said calmly but I could already feel Laura tugging on my arm to stop.
The dark haired male grinned as he stepped away from his group, ignoring his District partners ples for him to stop. "You think I'm not skilled enough?"
I couldn't help but laugh in response. "What are you going on about? I haven't said anything-"
"You didn't need to say anything, I know your kind!" He bellowed, drawing in the attention of everyone in the room.
I looked at his red face and scowled. "My kind?"
"Twelves, fucking scum of the earth if you as me-"
"Oh fuck off!" I growled back. "You're no different to us, same boat, man."
"Yeah, sure, we play the same Game," Ten sighed, seeming to calm for a second. "But your people are the reason we all are." He then turned to the crowd of attentive Tributes in front of him, his neck building with veins. "Katniss and Peeta are the reason for these crowns on our heads, the twist, the rebellions, the deaths and these two, both growing up a stone's throw away from the star crossed lovers, will cause the same thing, they are just the same-"
"Oh yeah, and we all shoot arrows and bake bread too in Twelve, get your head out of your ass!"
"Hyacinth!" Laura squeaked, tugging on my arm a bit harder this time.
"But you admit that your District caused all of this?" the blue eyed male laughed, moving closer towards me. I tried to stay calm as he grabbed me by the scruff of my sweatshirt and hauled me closer to the other Tributes. "Admit to them that your people caused all of this pain." I looked at the crowd. Some showed me silent pity while some, like the Careers, scowled back at me.
"Frederick, stop it," his District partner said growled, walking towards him.
Frederick ignored her, turning back to me and pulling me close to his face. "Apologise to me for changing everything-"
"What's happening to your band?" I whimpered, the fear of the stronger male and what was happening to his headset unnerving me. Frederick knotted his eyebrows but when he looked at mine, he dropped me quickly to the floor.
I looked up at him as the silver band around his head turned a dark brown, like dye being spilled in water.
He looked to his District partner whose band was going the same colour. "Frederick...whats happening?" By the time he turned back to me, it was a solid brown.
"What are they doing?" he asked the group of Tributes, one by one, their bands turning brown, like an infection. Even Laura's was. Then Frederick lost it.
With a shriek, he started tugging at his band, screaming with every tug. "Get it off me!" he repeated with fear as he moved his hands around to the side of his head and started to tug. He wasn't the only one. The room was filled with the sound of fear, some Tributes even racing for the doors and begging for help.
"What's happening?" Laura whimpered trying not seem frightened as she touched the band on her head. I looked back towards the green haired man to find him now in front of the frightened Tributes, smiling. This is what he was waiting for. For a fight to break out.
"Don't try and take them off!" he shouted the sound of the panicked Tributes vanishing with the sound of a gun pointed at them. Even Frederick stopped. "You wouldn't like what happens if you do, even death is better than that."
Andrew Strauss, 17
District Eleven Male
"Sit!" the green haired man barked, the Peacekeepers cocking their guns as they repeated the order. Me, along with everyone else sat down, still shaken by our bands, there were even some sobs that I was unable to place. The man waited until everyone had calmed down a bit then spoke.
"Now," he said with a sigh. "I am Zircon, your Gamemaker for this year and I'm here to tell you about the orders of events from here on out and about those bands on your head." Everyone seemed far more invested now, I found myself leaning in.
"So, in five minutes, you will be lined up in District order, One through to Twelve, females first. From there you will be taken into a room with cameras were you will be asked a set of questions. The answer to these questions will help the Capitol when voting your pairs. After this, you will be taken to a room to relax while the voting takes place. This should take six hours at the most. In this room, your pairings will be announced and you will be escorted to your stylists. After this will be the regular chariot rides but in your respective pairs and then we end the day with your pairs being shown your sleeping quarters. So, today is going to be very long but very, very important." I listened to Zircon speak and pierced my lips, it seemed a bit too much for one day if you asked me.
Noelani placed her hand into the air with enthusiasm, her back perfectly straight. "Sir!" she spoke clearly.
"Miss Palmer, go ahead."
Noelani gave a sweet smile but I could tell she was feeling uneasy. "What will be happening the rest of the week?"
"Oh," Zircon laughed, waving his hand dismissively. "No need to worry about that, after today everything is as normal, schedule wise. So you will have a week left involving training, interviews and personal training. The Bloodbath will take place on the 2nd July." Noelani mumbled thanks as she slumped back down. "So, any more questions?" I glanced around me, everyone trying to avoid eye contact with the man. "Wonderful, then we will move onto those things on your head."
He turned to one of the Peacekeepers, taking a show and tell style band. "Now, this is the latest in Capitol technology but don't worry, we have tested it as much as we can." I thought of all the poor Avoxes that were forced into situations where the band malfunction and felt my body shiver. "These bands were attached to your brain during surgery, thats why, Mr. Loophole, you should not pull at them. Well, you see, this year is all about love and what comes with love? Trust and no secrets. We think for your relationships to reach their full potential and blossom, there can be no secrets, no lying. That is why this brilliant piece of technology picks up on your brainwaves. Each emotion triggers different brain activity. Your band changes colour based on those emotions. Those colours are, if I am correct, Black for contentment, Red for love, Brown for fear, Blue for sadness, Green for happiness and its original colour for no brain activity at all. In other words, dead. So, don't think about lying to your partner or anyone else because from now on, your feelings are pretty much written on your forehead."
"Fuck," Stefan growled, clearly envying the Volunteers from the year before. I would have pity for him if he was Reaped. As a volunteer, he deserved everything the Capitol threw at him. I wasn't sure I did, though.
"But stay calm, that isn't all!" Zircon cheered, clearly proud of his twisted invention. "These babies also hold a camera, so we can see the love stories from your eyes, your trackers, monitors your health, for us more than you and keeps you grateful for your love. Lovers don't leave each other's side for more than a few hours, so you have an hours worth of separation time, then your band will send a nasty little shock to your brain. Not deadly but very, very annoying-" he stopped when he saw Violet's hand in the air, on the verge of tears.
"Can these things be removed?"
"Yes, Miss Hardgrove but only after victory and these can only be removed by a train professional, anyone else could leave you with severe brain damage or death." Violet gave a deep breath as she looked away, trying to come to terms with everything. "Now!" Zircon cheered, clapping his hands together. "If you will, please line up at the doors to your right, Miss Delacor being at the front and Mr. Rodgers at the back please."
Still in shock over the information about the bands, stuck around our heads that we could not take off, we shuffled our feet into order, me being behind June and in front of Laura form Twelve.
As Zircon joined us, he was followed by two Peacekeepers who pushed two large glass bowls, each holding twelve coloured balls. One bowl held pink balls and the other, blue. They stopped either side of Paisley and Zircon began to speak.
"You will be taken into the next room one by one, five minutes between each. When you leave, please pick a coloured ball. The girls go first, the boy must pick the opposite colour to what his District Partner chose-"
"Why?" Ezra question, crossing his arms.
"All in good time Mr. Arlington, but for now, just trust and pick a coloured ball, Paisley, if you will?" The dark skinned girl scowled at the man before stepping forward and picking out a blue ball.
I hope this chapter helped you understand the bands better, of course, the Capitol left some things out that you will understand later in the story. It's odd to think that these lot will be paired up next chapter. It's rather exciting.
Question: What do you think the coloured balls are for?