Zetta Diamons Pov-
In the five years I've been watching the Hunger Games with my little sister Sasha, I've never once taken her to see the interviews until now. They're too far away from our house, and our Mom and Dad don't like leaving us alone because we're so young. But now that I'm thirteen they've agreed to let me take Sasha out to see them.
"When will it start?" Sasha asks, swinging her eight-year-old legs.
"Patience, Sasha. There's the music now."
Caesar Flickerman leans forward in a deep bow. The audience bursts into applause. As he rises up again, his midnight-blue hair swivels around his heart-shaped face.
"Good evening, Panem!" Caesar shouts.
More applause.
"Tonight, we will all get to know our competitors a little better, as a three-minute interview is provided for each tribute. First, we have the pleasure of hearing from District 1's Sangria Ashworth!"
The girl struts on to stage, bringing on a sigh of veneration. Her mostly see-through white gown swirls around her feet as she sits down across from Caesar, flicking her blonde ponytail over her shoulder.
"How are you enjoying the Capitol so far?" Caesar asks.
"Great!" the girl replies. "And I can't wait to be back here in a week or two."
"Oh, so you're confident?"
"Well, yes… I haven't been training since I was little just to die in the games." The girl's tone is far too flirtatious to feel cocky, though it certainly makes me feel a bit uncomfortable.
A chorus of laughter is raised from the audience at her remark.
Caesar clears his throat. "What's your favorite part of the Capitol?"
Sangria wrinkles her forehead as if thinking hard. "The lights at night."
Before she can explain further, her buzzer sounds, and she zips off of the stage.
"Next we have the other half of the District 1 team, Declan Benitoit!"
Declan swaggers into the spotlight. He wears a tight suit made of a shiny silver material, and a cosmic black tie runs down his front.
"My, you look great today!" Caesar remarks.
"Thanks," Declan responds. "And I'd like everyone to give a round of applause to my stylist for fitting me into everything."
A wave of soft laughter and clapping rolls over the audience.
"Got a girlfriend?" Caesar says so suddenly it's kind of comedic.
The boy blushes for a millisecond, but he quickly regains himself; his handsome smile returns before long.
"Nope. If I like someone, they know it. I'm pretty straightforward that way."
No sooner has the boy's buzzer sounded than he begins his journey off of the stage.
"Let's put our hands together for District 2's Jaehaera Blackfyre!"
Jaehaera walks onto stage wearing a deep violet skirt. A black sash runs across her torso, and glittering polish decorates her nails.
"You look beautiful." Caesar fawns over the girl's look.
"Thanks. I love the dress too. Too bad I'm not allowed to keep it," she responds. There's something cold about her voice that I can't quite place. Something that tells me she thinks she's above all this pre-games stuff.
"Aww. You're not?"
Jaehaera shakes her head.
"So what do you think about the 83rd Hunger Games?"
The girl answers quickly. "They're great."
"And the tributes?"
"They're…"
The end of her sentence is never heard as the buzzer rings and she walks out of the spotlight.
"Next up is Nero Ryker, also of District 2!"
Nero walks onto stage wearing a dark-gold jacket. Something about the folds of the shirt reminds me of battle armor, and his shoes match his shirt.
"Nero Ryker!" Caesar shouts. "Please take a seat?"
The boy sinks down into the chair, making it look miniature.
"How are you liking the Capitol, Nero?"
"It's very… colorful," he replies after a long silence.
"And do you like the food?"
"It's very… tasty."
If he's intentionally answering vaguely, his plan is working. It just works to make him all the more intriguing.
"Are you willing to kill in the arena?" Caesar asks.
The boy answers quickly. "Yep. Only one tribute can go home, and it's going to be me."
"You're sure?"
He nods in confirmation. "Sure."
His buzzer sounds. Nero gives a salute to the clapping audience before leaving the stage.
"Next in the spotlight is Pixel Watt from District 3!"
Pixel starts onto the stage grinning. Her smile isn't uncomfortable—in fact, it seems friendly. The kind of smile a friend gives you when they're waiting for you to notice a trick they've pulled.
"Please make yourself comfortable, Pixel!"
She sinks down into the chair across from Caesar, her legs barely touching the floor.
"Are you ready for the games to begin?" Caesar asks, his hair swiveling around his face as he leans back in anticipation of her response.
"Yep," she replies, still smiling. "No point worrying about the future when I can't change it. Tomorrow isn't a given, you know."
The audience hums in agreement.
Caesar responds softly. "Those really are words to live by."
He leaves a few seconds for the audience to grow quiet before continuing.
"Did you leave anyone important back home?" he asks.
Pixel freezes. "Just my grandpa. I really miss him…"
The audience awwwwwwwws, and it's a long time before the girl's youthful smile returns.
Pixel jumps off of the stage when her buzzer sounds, looking excited and nervous at the same time.
"Next up in line is Joule Merchiers, also coming from District 3!"
Joule wears glasses that wrap around his entire face, and his short hair is slicked back. He wears a suit and tie that appear to be made of ground silver, and he's admittedly hard to look at without squinting.
"Joule Merchiers…" Caesar contemplates. "That's no ordinary name."
Joule laughs. "Well I'm no ordinary person."
Laughter.
"No, seriously, watch me!" Joule says, leaning forward in his chair.
I crane my neck to watch as he sticks out his pink tongue. He reaches his tongue upward and lightly taps the tip of his nose before raising his hands in triumph.
"I think we'd better award Joule the title of victor right now!" Caesar laughs.
"Now, Joule, I know we're all wondering about the boy who tried to volunteer for you at the reaping."
I'm shocked at how quickly the mood changes from cheerful to solemn.
"Yep. He was my brother," the boy explains, adjusting his glasses. "And I just hope I can come home to him."
"Well, I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say I'll be rooting for you in the arena."
Joule's buzzer sounds, and he quickly leaves the stage.
"We now have the privilege of hearing from District 4's Dory Krillgood!"
The small girl starts into view. She wears a blue dress that runs down to the ground, and her hair cascades in curls down her back.
"Now, Dory, I'm sure we're all very curious about how you earned a 6. 6es don't grow on trees, after all." Caesar has a short chuckle at his own joke.
"I have my ways," Dory says. "You'll just have to wait until the arena to see."
"Oh, I really do hate cliffhangers!" Caesar says.
A chorus of agreement rises from the audience.
"Did you leave anyone special back in District 4?" Caesar says, his face lighting with a devilish smile.
"My parents. My mom's a nurse. My dad's a fisher," the girl answers quickly.
"You know that's not the answer we're looking for. Anyone really special?"
"In that case," the girl continues, "there's nobody. Now, if you don't mind me asking, have you got a woman of your own to talk about?"
Caesar blushes through his white makeup, but the loud buzzer sounds before he can answer.
"Let's give a warm welcome to District 4's Cyan Costas!"
Cyan strolls onto center stage. His blue suit is decorated with a transfixing scale design, and several areas of his hair are dyed turquoise.
"How are you doing, Cyan?" Caesar asks, his tone as though he's talking to a good friend.
"Lovely. Marvelous day, might I add," the boy answers, imitating a very fancy and posh Capitol accent. Several people laugh from different locations in the audience.
"Got anything planned for the games? Anything exciting?" Caesar continues.
Cyan resumes his default voice. "Nope. There's definitely going to be a lot of hunger, but that's in the name of the game. I can't predict much else."
"Ooh, sneaky use of statistics," Caesar notes. "If I wasn't smarter, I would've assumed you're from District 3!"
The two share a short laugh before the boy's buzzer sounds. Cyan glides off of the stage.
I recline my seat slightly backward, eagerly awaiting the next tribute's entrance.
Here are the first 8 tributes! 16 to go.
Question 1: As a 16-18 year old, how long do you think you'd survive if you competed in the Hunger Games?
Question 2: Which of the three Hunger Games novels is your favorite?