-Kendal, D7M-
Cobra is extremely intimidating. They very rarely smile, their cat eyes look judgmental as they survey us. I would never hate my escort because they're agender, no way. But they do make me uncomfortable because of their attitude.
They're going off at the moment about the co-Head Gamemakers. "Diesel Bundren just thinks he so smart," they're saying, "But he knows nothing! Doesn't he know that he's overstepping his bounds?! When President Snow returns to his position of power, he'll smite the idiot! He thinks that he can put his sister in District 1?! There are escorts like moi who are working their asses off down here that deserve to be moved up to Districts that actually have a chance-"
"We have a chance," says Briella, glancing at me. I quickly nod in agreement with her.
"We'll see about that!" says Cobra. "How many Victors does your District have again?!"
"We have more than most," I say, and am about to start listing them when the door opens and the mentors come in.
Adler Shelton and Heather Pierce give us each a look. Cobra's face contorts with disgust.
"Oh, it's you," they say, sneering at Adler.
Adler makes a face at them. "You're disgusting," he says. I wish they wouldn't argue like this.
"You cannot talk to me like that!" says Cobra.
"You're not exactly hot stuff," says Heather, making a face.
"Who knew the Capitol sweetheart could be so incredibly rude!?" Cobra says.
"Well, I'm Adler, and that's Heather. We're your fucking mentors."
"Don't cuss," says Cobra.
"Fuck you," Adler fires back.
"We should be rewatching the reaping," I tell them, looking at the screen. I really don't want them to fight.
"I would, if this girl over here would shut up."
"I am not a girl!" shrieks Cobra. "You should not call me that!"
"Hell if I care, you're so damn touchy!"
"Adler," I say, crossing my arms. "Respect their pronouns."
"Even the eleven-year-old over there agrees!" Cobra says, and I shake my head.
"Be respectful, please," I say.
"Listen, kid, you'll see that she-"
"Respect their pronouns!" I say, louder and with more force. "You're not being cool or trendy, alright, you're just being an asshole. Respect. Their. Pronouns." I try not to get angry or harsh, but this is making me fire up.
Adler just gives me a smirk. "You'll see, she can't respect anyone."
"Listen to me!" I say, balling my fists. "I don't care what you think about them, alright? Everyone deserves respect for their pronouns and if you don't give it than you're an asshole and I'd rather not be mentored by you at all!"
Briella's eyes widen and she stares at me.
"Kendal, I know that Adler is an ass, but-"
"If he won't respect their pronouns, then he has no room to be talking to me."
"You're making a mistake kid," he says, "And a fierce enemy."
"Maybe if you showed some basic respect to people, it'd be different."
"Fine!" says Adler, "I don't have to mentor you!"
"I will," says Cobra. "I'll take on the little monkey and prove once and for all that I am the most superior mind on this train! After all, I've been at this 2 years before you knew how to do anything!"
"See if I care, then," Adler gets up. "You can see how painfully inadequate you are and come back to me later. I'm gonna go get a drink." He leaves, stomping a bit as he goes off.
Heather and Briella look stunned. My District partner gives me a glance, and I know she thinks I'm crazy for standing up for them like that and throwing my mentor away. I'm not a boy, not fully, and I know that he wouldn't respect that about me, and I don't want his help. I know that makes me crazy, but I don't care.
"Well then," says Cobra. "Glad we got that settled." Briella and Heather exchange a look as the Capitol anthem plays and Saxon Hastings announces the reapings. District 1 is sunny and bright. The girl is reaped and immediately volunteered for by a girl that looks strong. She steps to the stage confidently.
The boy is reaped. "Gravity Stowers!" The cameras go in close on him and my heart skips a beat. Fuck, I'm so not straight I'm so not straight, I am so incredibly not straight. He has curly brown hair, and eyes a shade of green that you only see written about in literature. He looks shocked but starts to the stage, glancing back, before someone volunteers for him.
Gravity Stowers. Wow. Maybe H should stand for "hot damn." I'll have to remember that. If I get out of the Games alive, I mean.
I don't catch the name of the volunteer before the 2 reapings come on. The girl volunteers, but I observe from the 16 section. Briella's eyebrow raises. She's just as observant as I am, I suppose. Her name is Maggie Blackstone.
Then, something shocking and unheard of happens. The boy from 2 is reaped. Vidarr Yggdarval. He's 18, but… He doesn't look particularly bloodthirsty, just… Calm. I wonder what's going to happen there…
Then, District 3. The girl is reaped from the 18 section. Her name is Cyra. By the time she's on the stage, her eyes start to pool with tears. The boy is 15, and he has fresh tears on his face when the cameras find him. He starts up to the stage keeping an expression of stone. Ductor.
District 4 has two volunteers. The girl has wavy black hair pulled into a ponytail, and brown eyes framed with dark lashes. Serafina Anya, her name is. She's only 17, but that's no reason for me to count her out. The boy volunteers, though he doesn't look thrilled to be doing so. His name is Collin, and he's only 17 as well.
District 5 comes after. The girl is 17 and has to be dragged to the stage by the Peacekeepers, gaping in horror. Her name is Cory, and I'll remember her because of her red hair. The boy is 15, and he's incredibly pale, his dark brown eyes full of horror. His name is Hamilton.
I feel bad, horrible, but I can't do anything now but focus on getting back to District 7. I mess with the letter H in my pocket, trying to come up with what it could stand for. H for home. Yeah, I mean, it works, but that's really lame. We'll see.
The girl reaped from 6 is 16, and she makes her way to the stage, breaking down into tears halfway there. I feel so bad for her… Her name is Billie; she tries to control herself as the boy is reaped. The boy is 15, and he keeps on an expression of stone as he makes it to the stage, looking determined.
District 7 is next. I bite my lip as I watch Briella be reaped. After ripping her hand away from where she had been holding another girl's, she keeps her head up high, fists clenched, as she goes up to join Cobra on the stage. Then, I'm reaped. Hearing it again, "Kendal Beck!" brings back all the emotions I felt back to me, as if triggering a nightmarish memory. I manage to look calm enough as I go to the stage, though.
The first thing I notice about the girl from District 8 is her large stomach. The thought that there's a pregnant person in these Games sends a chill down my spine. I hope I don't run into Felicity. The boy looks confident and motivated as he joins the escort on the stage. Nautica, an odd name for someone from District 8, but memorable.
The girl from District 9 starts crying when she's reaped, and as she walks to the stage she has a total breakdown. My heart breaks but I know that if I want to see Agata and my Aunt and parents again, she's going to have to be dead. Karima, she's 15. The boy is older, 17. I notice the lack of younger tributes. For me, it can be both a good and a bad thing. After all, the young ones are sometimes the hardest to kill or see dead, but these older tributes are mature and probably less afraid to kill. His name is Kade.
The girl from District 10 is reaped, but soon someone volunteers for her. The girl looks confident and introduces herself as Rachel Turner. A name that won't be easily forgotten. The boy is reaped and comes out of the 17 section, shaking as he goes to the stage and tripping a bit on the way up. Cobra laughs, but I don't think it's funny. His name is Raoul.
The District 11 Square looks more and more dilapidated every year. The girl comes out of the 18 section, a look of sadness and terror in her eyes that is only familiar to someone from the District who has experienced the fear of being reaped. Martina. The boy takes a while to realize he's been reaped, and seems horrified as he goes to the stage. Edgard.
District 12 is last. The girl is crying as she goes on the stage from the 17 section. She has blonde hair and blue-gray eyes. My heart breaks for her but I know that I'm going to have to get past that if I want to get home. The boy doesn't going until someone pushes him, and makes his way slowly to the stage from the 16 section.
They show a last recap of all the tributes, and I see the fear in so many of their eyes. Even my own.
"So, do you see any who stick out? For alliances?" Cobra asks me. "You're going to need them."
"Not really yet," I say, "I'm just going to have to talk to people."
Briella glances at me, but doesn't say anything.
"Well, you can come with me, Briella," says Heather, getting up.
"You can all call me Riella," she says, with a polite nod to me and Cobra.
"If I catch Adler on the way, I'll try to slap some sense into him."
-Vidarr, D2M-
I stare out the window, watching as we get farther and farther away from home. Away from Ashe. Away from everything I've ever known.
I knew, somewhere in the back of my mind, that it would come this. That, ultimately, my District wouldn't give me security.
Every action has consequences. I should've known.
I mess with Ashe's scarf wrapped around my neck and only hope she's safe.
Maybe they're taking her, too. For interrogation. Maybe she's on a car in this same train, information being forced out of her.
That thought makes chills crawl down my spine. I look over at the girl who volunteered beside me, who sits across from me on the couch, picking her nails.
I bet she regrets volunteering right about now. Or maybe she's just refusing to look at me because I was reaped. Both are just as likely.
Meanwhile, our escort Vienna is trying to get us to eat. She makes plates for each of us, picking out her favorite items and saying, "Oh, you're just going to love this!" as she goes.
"Here you are, Vidarr."
"You can call me Vi, if you want," I say, putting a hand up. "And… No thanks. I'm not really hungry."
She holds the plate out to Maggie, who shakes her head with a quiet, "No thanks."
Vienna seems disappointed. "Oh, okay. Well, let me know if there's anything I can do for you." She sits back down, examining her bright pink nails and adjusting her dress.
We both agree quietly.
"Well, you're going to love your mentors," she says, trying to lift the mood. So far she doesn't seem too bad, for a Capitolite. "All of the Victors are admirable, of course, but your mentors are truly the cream of the crop!"
District 2 does have a lot of worthy, smart Victors. Surely no matter who my mentor is they can give me some good advice. Right now, I'd do anything to be back with Ashe.
The Victor of the 76th Games comes in first.
"Oh, Nikko!" gushes Vienna, standing up again. The man in question gives her a smile, but his eyes hold a bit of concern.
"I've been instructed to mentor the female tribute," he says. I'm pretty sure the mentors aren't usually instructed. Maggie looks up. "But, I'll be keeping an eye on you as well," he says to me.
"…Do I not get a mentor then?" Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me.
"Of course you do," says Nikko. "She's just… In the bathroom. Thrwoing up."
"Oh… Wow. Must be one hell of a bug going around then," I say, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly with a small laugh. "My wife wasn't feeling so hot this morning either."
Three pairs of eyes stare at me. They're judging me, I think.
"Have you been living under a rock for the past eight months!? Pit is pregnant!" Vienna says, crossing her arms. Well, I've kind of been living under a rock, in a sense.
But… Oh yeah.
That makes sense.
Surely they wouldn't have given me the headstrong, loud, feisty 80th Victor for a mentor without her being distracted by other things.
"She'll be fine, though, and she'll be available to you as best as she can," Nikko says. "And…" he bites his lip. "I'll do the best I can for you."
By the look in his eyes tells me that he knows who I am. Or, at least, to some extent. He knows that by helping me he could be putting his life or the life of someone he loves in danger. All for me. I'll never be able to repay him.
"Thank you." That doesn't even begin to sum up how grateful I feel.
"So, tell me a bit about yourselves. Maggie, you go first."
"Right. Well, my name is Maggie. I'm 16. I want to get home to my family. To… My girlfriend, Hannah."
I look up, slightly surprised. Not in a bad way or anything, just surprised. I guess she knows to some extent what I'm going through.
"Yeah? I actually have two Moms, as well as Pit," Nikko says. "So I can understand how that must be for you. How about you?"
"I'm Vidarr, but people usually just call me Vi because it's easier. I have a wife back home, but…" I trail off, avoiding the fact that even if I get home, she might not be there waiting.
"Oh, yeah. I definitely understand your predicament."
Suddenly, the door to compartment slides open and my mentor is standing there. Pit Kensy looks totally different than she does on television. Her choppy brown hair is sticking up everywhere. She's wearing casual, way oversized clothes. She has bags under her eyes, she's pale, she's got a look of pure exhaustion on her face like she's just puked her guts out. Oh wait…
"I'm here," she says.
Nikko gets up and Vienna is immediately by her side.
"Maggie, let's go to another car," says Nikko, and my District partner nods, getting up. When he walks past Pit, they exchange a dark and knowing look, that makes my heart drop to my stomach. When the door closes behind them, Vienna is helping Pit to the couch.
"Pit, dear, is there anything you need? Sit, I'll get it for you," Vienna says. Our escort gets my mentor a glass of water and Pit sends her off looking for more pillows from the other cars.
"They've told me some things about you," says Pit.
"Oh…"
"They think that putting you with me will be a disadvantage to you. Because, y'know." She pats her swollen belly. Yes, she's very pregnant. "However, even though I feel like shit, you've still got a full mentor in me. I'm not going to let anything stop me. I'm going to be the best-" she groans, shifting, "Fuck you, Peregrine- mentor you can get."
"Peregrine…?"
Pit rolls over and groans. "This little fucker," she says, patting her stomach.
"Oh…" I say.
Pit finally settles laying on her side and glances at me. "I'm going to work hard to be there for you. Even if I go into fucking labor in the mentor room I'll still be there to support you. Because fuck Snow if he thinks that I can't be a kickass mentor because I'm pregnant. That just puts a fire under my ass." She glances at me, her brown eyes alight. "So, don't hesitate to ask me questions."
I can't help how awkward I feel. Should I ask if I should do something for her?
Suddenly, she sits up again. "Actually, hold that thought. I gotta go pee."
She heads out the door with one more, "Fuck you Peregrine!"
Vienna comes back just then. She sits on the edge of the couch, tossing the pillows down.
"Don't think I haven't heard things about you," she says. "Having a best friend Head Gamemaker has its perks."
"I just want to get home to my wife and lives a peaceful life," I say quietly. I have to convince her that I'm not a dangerous or violent rebel.
She glances at me, her bright pink lips pulling into a tight frown. "We'll… We'll see what kind of plans are in store for you," she says. Well, at least it doesn't sound hostile.
Pit comes back and Vienna moves off the couch for her. My mentor plops back down on the couch and spends no less than ten minutes rolling around and groaning before she turns to me again.
"This here is the first step to your success. In your position, it's critical that they become so attached to you that those guys in charge cannot possibly bring themselves to harm you. Your only hope lies in getting those people in there behind you. And you have a lot to prove, especially because you're from 2 and you were reaped."
I nod a bit, and Pit continues. "It starts the moment you arrive at the Capitol, and it never ends until you're falling into the slow, dark embrace of death itself. You have to make them- fuck you Peregrine- cry at your story… Impress them. Make them root for you. And… Prove that you can be their loyal lapdog. If you want to see your Ashe again, that's what you have to do."
I nod a bit. Pit is scary, but I trust her. She knows what she's doing.
"Well, what are you waiting for?! Get at that window, and start waving your ass off at people. Little charmer smile, wave! Chop chop!" I quickly get out of my seat and to the window as Pit groans another, "Fuck you Peregrine."
I watch the colors of the Capitol get nearer and feel slightly sick to my stomach as memories resurface.
But, I force on as charming a smile as I can manage and start waving out the window at the cheering crowd.
~.~.
-Cory, D5F-
I sit in the train nervously, the boy I've been reaped beside giving me a look. He's young, only 15. Sure, it's only 2 years younger than me, but there's such a difference between being 15 and being 17. I remember back when I was 15. I hadn't graduated yet, so I was just keeping up in school. Probably worrying more about Victor in the reapings than about myself, at that time.
And now, here we are. This poor boy.
He glances up at me, his dark brown eyes making contact with mine.
He doesn't say a word to me, nor do I to him. I couldn't kill this boy (hell, I don't know if I could kill anyone), but especially not him. Not only is he so young and looks so afraid, but he's also from my home. I think his name is… Hamilton? If I remember correctly. He breaks his gaze of me and pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket. His token, I'm sure it's meant to be. He looks at it and sighs quietly.
Hyacinth puts plates in our hands, tossing her high black ponytail over her shoulder and giving us a smile with burgundy lips. "Eat, eat now," she says. "Neither of you will win the Games when you're so thin and desperate-looking."
We get up and she leads us to the food cart. I admit that it smells delicious, and I'm starving. Both of us load our plates high, but neither of us speaks or even makes a gesture.
"Make sure you get vegetables, now," she says, scooping some green and orange stuff up and putting it on our plates. It doesn't smell particularly great, but it smells like it actually tastes like something, which is something I very rarely get.
"You can't have any dessert until you eat them all," she says, nodding decidedly. We sit and eat together.
"Elbows off the table, please, Hamilton," she says, sounding slightly stressed out. She acts like an overbearing mother. Not even my uncles were this strict. Eating the huge piece of chicken on my plate is hard so I put my silverware down and decide to eat with my hands, but Hyacinth gives me a glare. "Use your fork and knive properly now, Cory," she scolds me. I pick the silverware up again and do the best I can with it. Hyacinth massages her temples.
Just then, we hear the doors slide open. The mentors from District 5 walk in. Abner Sheraga, mentor of the 51st Games, and Deborah Sullivan, Victor of the 79th Games.
"Oh, yes," says Hyacinth standing up. "Welcome, Abner and Deborah, welcome!" She stands up. Deborah doesn't look particularly happy to see her, but when Abner snarls and gives the escort a shove, Deborah is there to hold him back from doing anything else.
"Hello Hyacinth," says Deborah, glancing over to where Hamilton and I eat hungrily, as best as we can with silverware. When she turns her back again, Hamilton scrapes some of the long green vegetables from his plate off under the table. I give a silent laugh at the action. I like most of the vegetables, but agree that some of them, like the ones that look like little trees, are less pleasant to eat. Hamilton looks up at me and provides a small smile, and I return it. We had tuned out Hyacinth's talking, but perk up again when we hear her speak about us.
"Here, please, come see your tributes!" Hyacinth walks over. "They're certainly a quiet couple," she sighs. She glances at our plates. "But they do eat their vegetables like true champions. Get some dessert, both of you! Get some fat and muscle on those bones!"
The two of us get up quickly and pick some sweets off the table. I bite into a tart and it actually tastes pretty good. I get a glass and fill it with water, drinking gladly. Here, it comes out of a tap right inside the compartment.
I munch on the tarts and eat dessert.
"Cory, is it?" I look up at hearing Deborah's voice, completely devoid of all emotion. "Come with me."
I nod and follow her as she exits the train. She sits and I sit with her.
"Well, I want to get this started right away. The more advice I can give you, the more advantages you can get. First, let me tell you a bit about the Games in general. A lot of District 5 tributes come in here without any kind of potential. But I can see some in you. You're 17, right?" I nod. "Right. That's older than most. You're going to have a lot of making up to do for your reaction at the reaping, but you can do it. Do you have any strategies in mind?" I shake my head. I have no idea what I want to do. "Well, being from District 5, you have an edge over some other tributes. "The most important thing to do now is to play your story to the Capitol masses. Do you know what I mean when I say story?"
I consider. Yes, I do. Even if I don't speak, I can still tell stories. I can still convey meaningful expression to the crowds. I nod.
"You use your story to get them to get to know you. If they feel like they know you, they'll appreciate you more. Then, in the Games… Go alone. You don't need to be putting your trust and life into harm's way just for an ally. Stay hidden, stay in defense. Don't get in other tributes' ways and they'll all kill each other off. It's often a strategy of middle-District tributes."
I nod a little bit. Deborah gives me a look. "What are your strengths?"
I get up and start running back and forth, going from one side of the car to another.
"You're fast?" Deborah says. I stop to nod. Then, I tap my temple. "You're smart." I nod again and then I flex my biceps, showing off how strong I've gotten from work. Nothing compared to some tributes, but it might just give me an edge over someone who hasn't worked. "You've got some strength."
I smile and nod and sit again.
"So… You don't talk."
I shake my head, taking some water and drinking.
"You'll never talk?"
I shake my head. Never.
"Alright. Besides that, what weaknesses do you have?"
I wrap my arms around myself, conveying that- "You love?" I shake my head and pretend I'm going to fall backwards. "You trust too easily." I nod. Then, I make my expression horrified, curling up on the couch as if I'm having an anxiety attack. The feeling is just too familiar. "You're… You're anxious?" I nod. Then, I make a motion like I'm picking up a sword, making my expression confused. "You don't know about weapons?" I nod a last time.
"Well, Cory, you'll never be able to get past not talking. The Capitol has technology here that allows you to talk-" I quickly shake my head. Deborah sighs a bit but keeps going. "As for trusting, you have to find a way to protect yourself from other tributes. Only you can do that. It might be painful, but you have to." I nod. "And for the anxiety… We have medications here for that, but sometimes they aren't helpful to tributes that have dealt with it for so long because getting assimilated to the meds just to be taken off of them in the Arena… Not good. Again, you'll have to control it as best as you can. As for the weapons, you're going to learn. Make your way there during training. Just in case. You never know. Hopefully if you hide long enough you won't have to use them much." I nod a little bit. Hyacinth walks in, and Deborah looks up.
"Oh, there you are."
I hear muffled shouting from the other room and quickly get up, my heart sinking in concern. Is Hamilton okay? "Oh, they're fine in there," Hyacinth says. When I peek into the room with one eye, I see Hamilton standing in a defensive position.
"Please," he says, begging, his eyes wide, "Please give me more advice!"
"You're going to kill! You're going to be a murderer, get it into your head!"
"How can I avoid it though?!"
"You can't!"
"He's getting a little bit out of control," Hyacinth says, causing me to look over. "That poor troubled soul. He's calling himself Lucifer again. Pretty soon things might get violent."
I look over, gasping a bit. I can't help but feel concerned for my District partner.
"I called the Peacekeeper force, they should be here to make sure nothing happens to Hamilton."
There are more footsteps, and more muffled yelling. Deborah looks slightly annoyed at having to put her mentoring on pause, but soon Hyacinth convinces her to let Hamilton join her while they try to calm Abner down. The 15-year-old comes in, his eyes wide as he sits down. He looks horrified.
"Oh, sweetheart, it'll all be okay," Hyacinth says. Hamilton looks horrified. "Things just got an itty bit out of hand."
He starts to breathe heavy and I can see in his eyes that he's going to have a panic attack. I quickly get up and sit by him, coaxing him to look at me. I make a motion like breathing, taking his hand to reassure him. I make a breathing motion, slow and steady, counting to 10 on my fingers. He knows what I'm out to do and breathes with me, in and out. I keep nodding and giving him reassuring smiles and expressions as we breathe together. Slowly, but surely, he starts to calm down.
Eventually, he sits up. "Thanks," he says quietly. I give him a smile in return as a "you're welcome."
"Oh, we're arriving in the Capitol!" Hyacinth says. Hamilton sits up and dries his eyes before the two of us go to look out the window together. It's amazing, colorful, and bright. Hamilton puts up a hand and nervously starts waving at the people out the window. I do the same, putting on a smiling and waving as animatedly as I can.
I try to push out the thought that if I ever want to see my home again, Hamilton will be dead.
-Karima, D9F-
I sit with my District partner, who I see is older than me. I respect him as he's a couple years older than me. I sigh and stare out the window as the colors fly by.
James's red eyes drill into mine, asserting dominance. Kade glances back and forth between us, frowning. I glance at my District partner.
"Well, some tributes we have here," he says condescendingly. I look up, and a desire fires up in my gut to show the mentors I'm better than him. He's not being nice to us.
"I'm going to fight," says Kade. "You can't stop me. I'm going to fight."
"Of course you are. Open your eyes, boy! You're from District 9!" He scowls, and I shiver a bit. He's certainly scary. "I've been escorting for twelve years! I deserve to be so much higher than your crummy District!" James scowls, his nostrils flaring slightly in anger. I hug my bunny closer to me, trying not to feel afraid.
"Sir, please don't lose hope in us," says Kade, giving me a glance. "We can still fight."
"Diesel Bundren is the worst!" says James, scowling. "He plugged in his friends, who have never escorted before in their lives, to the high Districts! I deserve to be up there, I've been escorting for twelve years! I am the best escort these Games have ever seen and I'm stuck in District Nine of all places!"
"Please, stop being so spoiled," says Kade, "Please just listen to us. You could have a Victor in one of us. We're going to fight."
I'm going to do the best I can.
"You know nothing, District swine! That girl has no chance! Look at her!" The blood roars in my ears as I blush when the guys look at me.
"I can do it!" I say. "I can do anything!"
"Be real here, now," says James. "You can't do it. You're young and you're from District 9." I feel a determination to prove him wrong so suddenly. "Besides, you're nothing but skin and bones. The dining cart is there, so if you even want a shot to look less like the rats you are, I suggest you start eating."
"I'd rather be anywhere than here with your bullshit," Kade says, causing my eyes to widen. I quickly get up, escaping to the dining cart before a fight starts. Kade is soon behind me. I take some food and sit down, amazed at how it doesn't even feel like we're moving.
The mentors, Gabriel Yates and Sunnoria Amaranth, come into the car just then. They're two back-to-back Victors, Gabriel 61 and Sunnoria 62. It's rare that something like that happens, but the District ate well two years in a row. I don't remember it, though, I wasn't born at that time. The buzz from winning their Games was long gone by the time I was born. Never in my lifetime has District 9 had a Victor. And now, I have to be a Victor. Or else I'll die. I don't want to die.
I eat my food, enjoying the taste of the food. I push some beans around my plate, refusing to eat them. I tried, they're horrible.
"Hello dearies," says Sunnoria, taking some food before she sits down with us.
"Afternoon," says Gabriel, taking a seat.
"Hello," says Kade.
"Hi," I say quietly.
James enters once again. "Are you ready to be civil?"
Gabriel looks up. "James," he says, not really seeming happy to see him. "Here to splutter more bullshit about the Capitol? I thought I told you to sit back while I give real advice."
James snuffs. "There's a reason I never see you mentors," he says. "I should be up with the higher Districts, and not those two whores!"
"That's enough," Gabriel says. He stands up. "Kade, if you're done eating, come with me." Kade nods and gets up, grabbing some dessert as he goes to another car with his mentor. James goes off the other way.
"Well, it looks like we have this car to yourself," says Sunnoria. "That James… He's so very self-centered and shallow. Don't worry about him, though. I'll be around."
"Thanks," I say quietly.
"So, Karima, right? You're how old?"
"Fifteen."
"Okay, so you're not the oldest, but you still have a shot. What are your biggest strengths?"
"I'm analytical, and I'm careful. And I don't trust too easily."
"Those are very good strengths that will do you a lot of good," she says. "You have a lot of potential, Karima. You have to see it in yourself. Younger tributes have won the Games before." I nod a little bit.
"I will do all that I can for you, okay? You don't have to be afraid to come to me. In the Games, there aren't a lot of people that you can trust, but I'm someone that you can. I promise. Stick with me and together we can do great things. Alright?"
I nod a little bit with a small smile. "Alright. Thank you."
I get up to go over and get some dessert from the table. I put lots of chocolates and tarts and cakes on my plate, anything that looks good, which is most of it. I smile as I pile up my plate and sit back down across from my mentor.
She gives me a reassuring smile, her gray eyes gentle. I give a small smile back to her. I can prove I'm better than James, prove I'm better than anyone else in the Games with me. I can do it.
"What do you have to get home to?"
"I have parents, and my Gram, and my best friend Ferris…" I hold the bunny closer to me, sighing quietly.
"Yeah? Well, the Games might be a little rough, but think of them, alright? They can help you through. Is that going to be your token?" she glances at my bunny.
"Yeah," I say quietly. "My Gram made it for me."
"It's nice. That'll be good to remind you of home."
I nod a little bit.
"I have confidence in you, Karima."
Gabriel looks back in. "We're arriving in the Capitol."
"Oh, yes! Come with me." Sunnoria takes me back out to another car, where Kade is already standing at the window.
"Look at it, Karima," he says, amazed. I stand beside him, amazed.
"Wave to your adoring fans, now," says Sunnoria, and Gabriel gives her a glance.
Kade puts a hand up first and starts to wave.
I do the same. I can do this. I can be cuter than him. I put on a big beam and start to wave, smiling at the crowd. They wave their hands at me, and I hop a little bit as I greet them, waving. They cheer for me, whistle, smiling as they applaud…
I… I can do this.
I could actually win the Hunger Games.
A/N: Hi! Hope you liked this chapter! Just so you know I'm not paying as close attention to word counts for these ones like I was for the reapings, so some tributes' POVs will be longer than others, it's all in what I feel like writing. And even if your tribute's POV doesn't have a lot of words, they'll probably be featured in other POVs so I feel like it'll even out.
That being said, alliances and Bloodbaths have officially been locked in! Unless I get an idea from someone I like better for alliances, they're pretty settled in stone.
That being said, I'd love for you guys to tell me which tributes you want to see interacting, even if it's just a conversation. Also, don't worry, all 24 tributes will get one more POV before the Games start, but I put them together very strategically so they're not in District order. Don't worry though, all the tributes will get one.
Also: Do you like to make characters for SYOTs and actually see them written with past reapings? Do you want to make a character that will be loved dearly, drawn, and headcanoned with often? Do you want to have a character whose lineage is tied tightly into my canon? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should submit to my new partial SYOT, Masque: The 42nd Hunger Games! Please consider it, and please considering submitting a District partner, because those are what I really need to get the story started. I promise this is the last I'll mention it. Probably.
Chapter Question: Out of the four escorts in this chapter (Cobra, Vienna, Hyacinth, James), which one was your favorite and why? Sorry I know these questions are starting to get kinda lame, I'll try to think of better ones in the next chapters XD
(Pls submit to 42, if you submit and read that one, you can get a bunch of points that you can use for your tribute on this story! I'm begging you! I promise it'll be really good!)
