Gary Winslow, 18

District Six Male, Pair 7

Partnered with Cerulean Westwood

I stood awkwardly in the elevator in my foolish train conductor outfit. Cerulean stood adjacent to me, her head hung low and her body shaking. I liked to think she was as annoyed as me about being placed in a train conductor outfit as I was. There was more to Six than trains and conductors. A racer would have been more up my street. Yet, I could tell by the way she was giving me a wide berth, it was me. I hopped it wasn't because I was ginger.

We were quickly joined by my mentor Cogs and Cerulean's, Cecilia. They both glanced at us before casting their eyes to the ground. I expect the escorts to come in after them but the metallic doors shut with a clank.

"Where are the Escorts?" I asked Cogs.

"Upstairs," he said bluntly, his body shivering. He clearly did not like being in tight spaces. I should have remembered that from our walk down the hallway. It was hard to believe that was a couple of weeks ago. It felt like a few hours. I didn't push my question further, giving an understanding nod to the man.

"So, bit cramped in here," I chuckled, trying to increase the foot space I had. Cerulean offered a polite smile but no one else made a murmur.

"There isn't expected to be more than a few Tributes in here at one time," Cecilia sighed.

I pierced my lips, thinking about the logistics of it all. "But what if all the Tributes want to get inside at the same time.

"That's why there is two-"

"What if one was to break?" Cogs gave a grin at my replies, which brought joy to my heart. Cecilia on the other hand, looked at me like I was a misbehaving child.

"Then, they wait," she said in a stern voice, biting her lip in frustration. I gave a mischievous smile in reply. If every Tribute had to fit into one elevator, it would be chaos. I knew what I was doing to pass the time if I had the chance.

June Briony, 17

District Eleven Female, Pair Nine

Partnered with Mikeo Nunez

When the elevator doors open, I found myself catching my breath. Of all the horrid things the Capitol had done, one of them being the Games, I had to admit, they had an eye for the finer things. Their clothes were far from desirable but their interior design was more my style.

Mikeo looked like a little kid in a candy store, his eyes wide with a wide childish grin stretching across his face. His gazed move over to the curved, black leather sofa and he lost the ability to breathe.

"I think that sofa is half the size of my house!" He exclaimed.

"Half the size?" I sighed, a small smile on my lips. "That is the size of my house." Mikeo's smile dropped as he looked over to me sympathetically. I wasn't hurt, it was the truth.

"Everything here is state of the art, updated this year, for the special event," Seeder said glumly.

I glanced up at her, raising my brow. "What have they changed then...I mean, what did it look like before this?" I directed this question at Woof but the old man looked over to Seeder, begging for her to take the reins.

The middle-aged women sighed. "Not much, the TV is of better quality, the chair used to be fabric, the decor is more silver than the lime green of before, at least that was what it was like in Eleven's suit anyway."

"Sorry you don't get a view of the city like the eleventh floor does," Mikeo sighed, pointing to the large window that looked directly into the other buildings. "That's my fault-"

"Don't be," I said sharply. "I'd rather be with you than on floor two or one, can't stand careers."

The boy smiled. "There is something we have in common. What about our rooms?"

Seeder made a small noise in the back of her throat like she was picking the right words to show. "Er, right this way." She quickly pushed past us and sauntered up the hall, stopping at a pair of large, double oak doors.

"Hopefully this is my room," I mumbled to Mikeo.

The boy let out a suppressed laugh. "Not if I get to it first." Seeder didn't smile at our comments like Woof did. Instead, she grimly opened the doors.

I peered inside and felt my heart drop like a ton of bricks, the same fear I felt when getting Reaped. It all flooding back through my body.

"Only the best for the Capitol's love birds," Seeder chirped in a badly formed Capitolite voice.

Althea Falen, 16

District Five Female, Pair Eleven

Partnered with Frederick Loophole

Frederick had made it clear he did not like me from the moment we were paired together. He took every moment the last day to remind me. Even on the chariots as the Tributes held hands, he leaned in close and threatened to throw me out of the chariot if I tried anything of the sort. To him, I was the reason he wasn't going home, because I chose the blue ball. The bed situation didn't help.

The moment he saw we would be shearing a bed, he lost it. Throwing his weight around, throwing glass bowls of sweets against the wall. Once his rage had been cleaned up by a group of Avoxs, he calmed. That didn't stop him from ordering more pillows, just to separate up on the bed. He didn't want me to touch him, even in his sleep.

Personally, although we were in a honeymoon style room, I wasn't feeling the romance. I didn't expect any if I was being honest. However, I also didn't expect to be placed with someone so set on going home that he walked around for an hour, mumbling to himself and kicking everything in his path. Thankfully, after dinner, he vanished to the bathroom, where he had been for the past hour. I assumed to cry. He was a grown man but he still had emotions. I am sure even a volunteer could be frightened.

At first, Ignored the grunts and banging from within the bathroom but when Frederick erupted in a blood-curdling scream, It was harder to ignore. I leaped from my bed and raced towards the bathroom which lacked a lock due to safety reasons.

I kicked the door open to find Frederick in the fetal position on the floor, by the door being a bloody steak knife from dinner. I slid on the blood covered tiles over to the boy, he swatted me away, hiding his face. His screams had become louder now as he held his head that oozed blood. As I looked at him, I felt my stomach turn. The wound was around the band on his head. He had tried to cut it free with the knife.

"But it is attached to your brain, why would you do that?" I asked, my body shaking.

The boy snapped his head up to look at me, his blue eyes red and poofy. "Because if winning with someone means I don't go home, then I will by myself!" he yelled. Then a twisted, broken smile formed on his lips through gritted teeth. "Even if that means killing you!"

I moved away from the boy as our mentors rushed in pulling him to his feet and screaming for medical help. However, I didn't just feel fear as I looked at the boy. I felt a brewing hatred something that didn't happen often with me. He wanted to win without me. I wanted to win without him. And just like him, I would do everything in my power to be the survivor.

Marzio Nunez, 17

District Eight Male, Pair Nine

Partnered with June Briony

At midnight, Seeder came into our room and told us to turn the lights off and sleep. It sounded like a good idea at the time but sleeping next to June, a girl I had never met before, I felt uneasy. After a couple of hours, it became too much. I kicked the covers off the bed and wandered over to the sofa by the window.

Sure, being the ninth pair, we didn't get a high rise view but the buildings were nothing like the ones back in Eight. Back home, the buildings were small, four-story buildings at the most. Terraced and uniform. Here, every towering skyrise was different and vibrantly colourful. Even with my anger towards the Capitol, I found it calming.

"Can't you sleep either?" June whispered from the comfort of the bed. The cover covering most of her body aside from her shaded face. There was just enough moonlight to make out basic features.

I shook my head. "I would be surprised if anyone can." June pushed the covers off her body and shuffled towards me, taking a seat a few inches away.

I glanced over at her, a soft smile on her lips. "Do you think you will ever love me?"

I thought about her question for a few seconds before sighing, hanging my head in shame. "No," I mumbled. "Nothing against you...Just, I have never loved or really truly liked someone before. I doubt that could change in a week, even a month. If it did, no doubt it wouldn't be real."

June gave an understanding nod. "It's best if we stay friends."

I smiled. "Yes, friends and allies."

"What if we have to marry?" June asked.

I gave a shrug. "Then we cross that bridge when we come to it. Being friends will help us in the Games, keep our heads clear."

June pierced her lips, cocking her head to the side. "I completely agree with you, I am not sure I could love in such a situation. But won't the Capitol find a way to make us fall in love?"

I thought about it. She was right. It was unlikely many Tributes would fall in love without a helping hand. But only because they would allow it. "Then we fight it. If we keep the mindset of survival before love, we should be fine. If they do make us fall head over heels for each other, we have to keep in mind that we have the rest of our lives to love, for the next few weeks, we need to survive."

June's smile softened like she had taken a slight blow to the heart. "I understand." I got the feeling she understood the needed mindset all too well.

Cerulean Westwood, 16

District Eight Female, Pair Seven

Partnered with Gary Winslow

I couldn't sleep. Not because of Gary, the guy had gone out of his way to be kind to me. Giving me half of his steak when he was clearly hungry, allowing me to use the bathroom first, just little things to get me to trust him. Any other year and I would have found his actions troubling but when there could be two victors, it was unlikely there were darker motives.

No, the reason I couldn't sleep was the invisible clock that ticked away deep in my mind. Counting down the seconds until I would be in the Arena. Today was my second day in the Capitol. A minute into it at least. That left me with about 144 hours left. Six days left until the event. Maybe the same amount of time until I would die.

It made me feel sick. Nothing sat right in my stomach and I spent most of my time in the shower, squatting on the floor, sobbing my eyes out. I wanted to believe I had a chance. I was a fast runner after all, if not the fastest. Yet, I had seen stronger tributes, trained Tributes brought down by a simple lack of shelter. It was foolish to assume you had a good chance in the Games. It all depended on too many factors.

I assumed my tears that rolled down my face were silent until Gary spoke up. "Why are you crying?" He asked in a concerned tone, a question very few people in my life asked. They either already knew the answer or they just didn't care.

"I haven't adjusted to the fact that within a few days I could be gone," I hiccuped, the position I was laid in causing me to sound more broken. I don't why I told a stranger my issues, maybe it was the lack of sleep. But when he sleeply placed his arm over my body, patting my stomach like you would pat the back of a loved one, I felt safe.

"Look," he yawned. "I'm not the strongest person this year but I like to think I one of the more trustworthy ones. I won't let you die, not if I can help it. If you do, then I will be dying right beside you." I never thought someone telling you they would make sure to die by your side would be comforting but it was. No one wanted to die alone, it was the worst fate above anything else.

I croaked out a thank you but Gary just gave a distant hum, drifting away, back into sleep. And I continued to cry.

Frederick Loophole, 16

District Ten Male, Pair Eleven

Partnered with Athea Falen

The door to the infirmary swung open, making way for a dense group of Peacekeepers. I watched from the corner of my eyes as they spilled into the room, strategically placing themselves around my bed. A few of them moved to make eye contact with me. I moved my head to avoid this but I was met with something far worse.

"Good Evening, Mr. Loophole," Snow said as he entered the room. His shimmering dress robe and crimson suit caught the light of the flickering candle on the table to my right. "How is your head?"

My hand moved absentmindedly to the tight bandage around my cranium and I shuddered. "Sir-"

"You know, what you did was against the rules? I could remove you from the Games if I wanted."

I swallowed my pride, for one of the first times in my life. I guess it was for survival. "Sir, I am sorry. I panicked, I would have stayed at home if I knew the rules...I won't even get to see my family again if I win."

Snow gave an understanding nod as he moved to the base of my bed. He held his hands in front of him, cupped. "I completely understand your plight but rules are rules, Mr. Loophole. But understand this, no Tribute here enjoys the rules of this Game. However, most of them have the right to be angry, they didn't decide to be here. You could have stayed back home, don't blame the game, blame the choices you made."

I dipped my head, my breathing shallow and blue eyes wide. He was right. I always liked to think I knew best but any wrong that came to be after Volunteering was my fault. "I made a poor choice." I could have chosen to volunteer in three years time but I had to go for the Quarter Quell. For that extra glory.

"I believe in fate, that everything happens for a reason. That you are meant to be here." I gave a small smirk as I looked up at the man yet my body was starting to shake with fear. I knew the real reason he was here. "Look, I would like us to be friends, Mr. Loophole-"

I cut him off rather impatiently. "I really didn't mean to make anyone angry. I wasn't thinking straight, I can make up for it-"

"I am sure you can. You are one of the strongest and a suicide is that the last thing we want on our plate, so I will let this one thing slide." I didn't know whether to smile or show fear. His words did nothing to comfort me. It was a threat. If I didn't behave, the only way I was getting out of here was in a box. "But do not be mistaken. If you take me or this nation for a fool again, even if it is just a mere attempt, you will not be going home at all. Understood?"

I gave a slow nod as I removed eye contact, my eyes focusing on the blood that was still lodged under my nails. "Is there any way you can change who goes home, maybe swap me and Akhal-"

"Rules, Mr. Loophole." Snow said in a frustrated voice. "Miss. Breaker won the right to go home, she just happened to pick the right ball."

I gave a nervous laugh, my short fuse starting to show "Of course she would pick that ball, blue is her favorite colour-"

"Oh, isn't that cute." Snow said, his trademark, snake-like smile spreading across his face "You remember her favorite colour." I didn't reply, puffing up my cheeks to hide the red anger that was starting to paint my face. If he wasn't holding my life in his hands, I would have beaten him. No one, even my parents talked to me like this. "As I am sure you have figured out, there is only one way you can go home, alive and it isn't winning by yourself."

As I remembered the words I had spoken to Althea back in the bathroom, I felt my voice snag in my throat, erupting in a small squeak."How-"

"Let's just say the walls around here have ears." There was that smile again and those yellow, cat-like eyes that bore into my soul. I thought about what he had said, about there only being one way to go home. The rules were that within a pair, you had to go to the District of the member with the blue ball. Althea chose blue, I chose pink, so at the moment, I would be going back to Five. Having the pink ball, I would have to pair up with someone who chose a pink ball who was from a higher District than me. Both June and Laura chose blue so they got to go back to Eleven and Twelve. That left Hyacinth and Andrew but Snow knew I wouldn't go for them, being straight. That left one option. The only plausible way back to Ten for me was the girl who held the ball. The girl I came here with. Akhal Breker.

I erupted in a tired laugh, my brain overwhelmed by the whole situation."That can't be the only way,"

"Well, you already remember her favorite colour, how much harder can marriage be?" My smile dropped as I felt myself starting to panic. There was a reason, even Snow couldn't have known why I couldn't pair with Akhal, let alone possibly marry her. I was sure even Akhal didn't remember. "Well, I just came to warn you off further...outbursts." The guards started to walk towards the door. However, just as Snow was about to exit, he turned to me, the candlelight catching his eyes in a sinister way. "I do wish you well, Mr. Loophole, and may the odds be ever in your favor."

Frederick was a bit longer because of the things that happened within his POV. Don't worry, longer POV will come when we get to Training chapters (which we are one chapter away from). Chapters won't get longer, I don't think. Just the POV's will be more spread out over chapters so they can be longer.

Questions: What do you think about the POV's and what sort of Arena do you think I will have? (Already planned out, just interested to see what you think...I don't think anyone will get it).

POLL RESULTS! At the end of chapter 13, I asked you to vote for your favorite Tributes. I have the results. The top five are as follows.

1st- Chrisjen Dalteir, 17 from District 7

2nd-Stefan Roberts, 18 from District 2

3rd-Frederick Loophole, 16 from District Ten

4th-Gary Winslow, 18 from District Six

5th Cerulean Westwood, 16 from District Eight

I have decided to award points to all top five but there is a difference between the winner and second place.

Alice kingsleighs (submitter of Chrisjen) gets ten points

Jolteon2404 (submitter of Stefan) gets five points

Norbus95 (submitter of Frederick) gets four points.

Bladeismypenname (submitter of Gary) gets three points

CuriousClove (submitter of Cerulean) gets two points.

Don't feel disheartened if your character didn't win, it is just a bit of fun. Congrats to the top five. I will most likely do another poll on the favorite couple after the next chapter.

Until then, thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed!