District 2: Jaehaera Blackfyre (17) Family Interview

"Has it been hard ever since Jaehaera left?" I ask, handing the microphone to the father.

He nods. "I never really appreciated her laugh. Now that she's gone I'd give anything to hear it just one more time."

The mother takes the microphone next. "But I'm so proud of her for making it this far. And I know she can make it home if she really tries. She's a super smart kid."

The next person to take the microphone is a girl with a similar form to Jaehaera but with eyes as cold as eyes. Wrought with jealousy. Her response is practically through her gritted teeth.

"Yes. The most wonderful half-sister I could have asked for. Hope she can come back. Can hardly wait."

After she finishes she throws the microphone back into my hands like a hot potato.

"Well, there you have it folks," I tell the cameras. "Stay tuned for the other interviews after the commercial break."

District 2: Nero Ryker (18) Family Interview

"So what's your earliest memory of him?" I ask Nero's brother.

"Well I was born a few years after him, so I don't really remember," he responds. "But he always told me that while my mom was having me in the next room he was eating chips and watching a Christmas movie."

The mother takes the microphone. "Yep. I was expecting Nero on the first of January but he came out on the fifteenth of December. He just couldn't stand to stay inside me any longer, apparently."

"And when I saw him for the first time…" the mother continues, tearing up a little. "I just couldn't think of anything but how pretty his eyes were."

District 3: Pixel Watt (12) Family Interview

"As the only twelve-year-old in the final eight, how much of a fighting chance do you think your granddaughter has?"

"I'd say quite a good one," the grandfather answers. "She's a really smart kid. Started reading Dickens when she was eleven. And she's definitely a trickster. I always had to expect the unexpected whenever she was around."

"Are there any particular lessons you learned from her over the years?" I ask.

"Pixel taught me to always look on the bright side of things. To never grow old, whether or not you may be eight-nine years young like myself."

This constitutes a chorus of laughter from the small crowd assembled to watch the interview.

District 5: Adelaide Hampton (15) Family Interview

"All we want is for our little bumblebee to come home," both of the fathers say in unison. An avox hands them each a box of tissues.

"But we have to stay strong and try not to think about it. It's what Adelaide would want," one of them says.

"Did you always think your girl would make it to the final eight?" I ask. I hand the microphone to the shorter dad, the one with reddish hair.

"Yep," he says. "We knew she had it in her. And we all know she has it in her to win. Because to win you don't have to have the fastest feet or the strongest body, you just have to have the smartest mind, and she has such a smart mind."

District 6: Lincoln Blitz (16) "Family" Interview

Lincoln is the only one of the final eight without any family, so we went up to a random guy on the street to be interviewed. He's going to pretend to be Lincoln's cousin Charlie. They look similar enough I don't think anyone will know they aren't really related.

"What do you think of Lincoln's situation?" I ask. "You know, trapped on the branch above the water he can't swim across?"

"I'm really worried about him," 'Charlie' responds. "He's… um… I remember at a family reunion one time I tried teaching him how to swim. I think he knows the basics. But that water is really deep. I don't know if he'll be able to reach dry land."

"When was this family reunion?" I continue.

"Eight years ago. Oh, yeah, um… well, our mom got married to a second guy without telling the first one and he was super mad when he found out. Then he shoved us all in the car and told us to leave, and we drove to the other husband's house. Then we, um…"

Pause.

"Invited the whole family over to celebrate, um… Halloween."

Another pause.

"Thanks for your time," I say, wondering how the heck we're going to edit the footage to pull out the tiniest bit of sense.

District 7: Cerise Yew (15) Family Interview

"What's the last thing you said to Cerise during the goodbyes?"

The aunt tries to respond, but the words all clog up in her throat and she can't talk. The uncle takes the microphone from her and coughs loudly once to clear his throat.

"We didn't say anything. I guess there weren't words to describe the situation. I suppose some of the most intimate things are said without words."

"And how's it been around the house, caring for the younger kids without Cerise' help?"

"Brings back lots of memories. From before my sister- and brother-in-law died and Cerise came to live with us," the father answers. "Way more chaotic. The two of us have never been as kind to our stepdaughter as we could have been, but I think I speak for the both of us when I say I can't wait until she comes home."

District 10: Orford Shaw (18) Family Interview

"This is the interview we've all been waiting for," I exclaim. "What on earth do you think your son has been up to? We often see kids five and under making up imaginary friends to help them get through hard times, but Orford is almost a grown man and he's been talking to the air for a week. What do you think is going on?"

"I think the pressure has gotten the best of him," the mother explains. "He's always had a vivid imagination, and I think that's helping."

The father interrupts. "And from what we've gathered… we think he's imagined he's talking to a clone of himself. He sets up two beds every night, gathers food for two people every day, and talks to nothingness almost every waking moment of every day."

"But his imaginary ally is just that—imaginary," the mother continues. "A fantasy. A figment of his imagination. And we hope he realizes that, because the sooner he snaps out of this phase the sooner he can focus on what really matters in the games."

"Getting back home," I say.

She nods.

District 11: Jaro Veldt (15) Family Interview

Our entire team shuffles quietly through the hallways of the hospital. Our goal is to get a solid interview with Jaro's little sister, the one whose medicine was so expensive her brother volunteered knowing victory was the only hope of getting her treatment.

Naturally she's now the most famous girl in 11 so the line for visitors is a good three hours long. When the wait is finally over, we step silently into the room.

The girl lies on a long mattress on the floor. She's covered by a single blanket. A needle sits in her arm. Her hair is streaked with ugly greyish colors, and her face is sickly yellow, drawn-out like her features have been melted away in some kind of fire.

"Good evening, miss," I say softly, kneeling at her side. "What's your name?"

"Cora," she responds. "Is Jaro doing well?"

"Very well," I answer. "He made it to the final eight. We're here to interview you. How do you feel, knowing your brother loves you enough to risk his life for you?"

"You know, before I didn't believe in angels," Cora says. "The whole concept that life had a meaning didn't make much sense to me. But since Jaro volunteered I've known without a shadow of a doubt that heaven is real. There's a piece of it in all the kind things people do for one another. I can't see miracles physically but I felt one when Jaro stepped forward, because the most real things in life are the ones that nobody can see."

A/N: Hope you enjoyed these! I know they're all very short but I couldn't figure out how to make them longer without making them very repetitive as well.

And how do you all feel about Orford now that you've read his interview? I hope everything makes sense now.

I won't put a question on this chapter, but I will tell you that sponsoring will stop once we reach the final five. So if you want to sponsor a tribute get on that asap.