-Billie, D6F-
Demetria is all sweet and kind that morning. It makes me absolutely sick, how she acts so sweet to us one day and then acts horrible to us another day. She just wants to see us dead, she doesn't care if we win as long as we die gruesomely. It's sick, how she's like this. I hate it, I hate her. I hate the Capitol, and I hate the Games. And yet, I'm here.
Amari and I don't get along well at all. He impersonates me and mocks me. He's generally just rude and horrible! I can't believe him, really. I could've had an ally, really, if anyone had made any effort to talk to me! I don't need allies, though. I really don't.
My mentor Clara is much better. She was quick to answer any questions I threw at her, and she's on my side through and through, no matter how that little shit Amari tries to sweet-talk her or anyone! She wants me to win and she wants me to kick ass. She believes in me even though I'm deaf, which I need.
We eat breakfast, all of us quiet and awkward. Clara gives Amari an icy glare, and Demetria looks to be chatting cheerfully, but I can't hear her- (good). I eat quietly, glancing up every once in a while but ultimately ignoring the others.
We have private training sessions today. I have to perform unlike I ever have before. If I don't get a good score, nobody will take me seriously. I need someone to take us seriously. I need sponsors, I need the Capitol to take me seriously. Which means that I have to do well.
We go down the elevator without a word. Nobody is on it today, which is a relief. I hate being surrounded by people, it just makes me anxious. I try to remember Clara's advice, to relax and do my best, show off. Keep a cool head. I sigh a bit, the nerves swirling around my stomach like butterflies.
I just want to go home. I don't want to kill, but if that's what it takes, I'll have to. I have to get back to Mirabel. No matter what kinds of stupid arguments we have, she's still my sister and I love her. Lucie and Blossom, my friends. I have to get home to them. Without me, there will always be a missing piece, I know it. That's just the kind of bond we have.
We all sit in a dimly lit room. The environment only increases my nerves, looking so dramatic and technological. I wonder if that was its purpose. I bounce my legs, my hands fidgeting and aching for something to do. I don't like to sit still, and always come up with ways to use my time. Now, though, I'm trapped. No shenanigans here. One misstep and you're out before you even know you're dead.
I wish I had a token, something I could mess with. Something that could entertain me. But no, I just have to sit here and watch the others, some of them talking or huddled together, some of them sitting alone, some of them using their good old defense mechanisms: curling up into a ball, holding their head between their knees, biting their lip and quivering. I just sit and watch with a blank face as the tributes go one by one into the room to show off their skills.
First is Callum, who, though he's from 1, seems very anxious for his session. His hair is finally back to its natural blond, and he walks into the room trying to fake confidence. Time passes, and then Iridesce perks up, I assume as her name is called, and goes. I try not to imagine what she's doing in there.
After Iridesce, Vidarr goes in, from where he was sitting and talking to the boy from 4. Maggie goes in after, her head held high. She means business.
After her, Ductor from 3. His District partner taps him on the shoulder, and I remember that he's deaf, like me. I wonder if he'll talk about it during interviews. Or, sign about it. I see his lips move, but I don't know if he's talking or just mouthing. I wish I knew. Oh, how I wish I wasn't deaf. After a bit, Cyra gets up. After seeing her hair black and silver for so long, it's odd to see her blonde.
Collin from 4 goes next, not looking any other tribute in the eye. After, Serafina Anya gets up and offers the other tributes a smile, radiating confidence.
Then Hamilton, who quivers with nerves. I notice he was curled up into a ball earlier after his allies both left. His District partner sat with him and stroked his hair reassuringly. How sweet. I wonder how long it'll take for them to turn on each other. His District partner, the mute one, goes after him. Cory, I think. I always mess her up because her name's more commonly used for boys.
Then, Amari goes in. I watch him saunter in, giving his ally from 9 a wide grin and finger guns before going into the room. I realize that I'm not going to hear them when they say my name, and my chest tightens with nerves.
Suddenly, the seconds start to take forever. It feels like a year has passed and nothing happens. I see the others perk up, some of them glancing straight at me, and assume my name has been called. I stand up, remaining calm, and walk through the doors into the Training Center.
Clara told me to expect anything when I walked through those doors. Sometimes the committee is still paying attention to District 6, and sometimes they're bored. I can't see very well and can't hear if there are any conversations happening, but the co-Head Gamemakers are still sitting just as they were the first day: Santana Villanueva with her clipboard and a judgmental bitch-face, and Diesel Bundren draped over the railing, a look of excitement and interest on his face.
I take a deep breath and walk to the hand-to-hand combat station. I found during training that I was good at fighting, and nod at a Trainer, symbolizing the start of a fight. The Trainer is a woman with ashen skin and a dark ponytail. I go through my mind for the advice I'd gotten from the trainers.
In the second of my nerves, the trainer attacks first, her fist swiftly coursing at me. I duck below her, my mind rushing to figure out what to do. I avoid her leg kicking up to my face and continue to dodge her punches, swift and offensive. I would rather not be on defense, but I know that the Gamemakers will want to see it all, so I continue to fight. I dodge her swift swipes, staying on the balls of my feet.
She throws a punch and I crouch to avoid the punch and then lunge my entire weight forwards, ramming straight into her knees and sending her tumbling backwards. I scramble to get on top but she's quick to get back on her feet. Now, though, I have control of the fight.
I clench my fists and bounce on the balls of my feet, swiftly moving closer and bringing my fists around in quick, swift attacks. It makes contact with her face, and then in the second she loses her balance, I grab her by the shoulders and use my weight to throw the both of us onto the floor. She quickly strikes back, though, wrenching her arm out of my inexperienced grip and throwing a punch that I dodge, and she uses the change of weight to slam me into the ground and pin me the proper way, drawing what I think is a groan from me as I've lost control.
The second fight, I take control, springing into the offensive. I use strategy along with any of the strength I can muster against her, and this time easily subdue her. She lies on the ground and looks slightly stunned. I challenge her again, ready to win two out of three. I might get a little bit over the top with the fighting, seeing as the trainer drops out, clutching her nose, after our final fight. I smirk, feeling much more comfortable as I walk to the climbing station.
I start on my way up the bars, scurrying quickly up. I don't know if I'm quiet, which is my ultimate weakness. I feel like I'm being quiet, though, and sneaky, so I keep on doing what I'm doing. I get higher and higher, until I can see the whole Center from a bird's eye view. I jump back down, being as agile as I can, and give a small bow in conclusion before quickly ducking out of the room.
I feel nothing but relief when my private session is over. Phew, I can finally breathe again. Amari smiles and waves at me, but I can see right through him. He's just a schmoozer, Clara's right.
I sigh quietly, thinking about my sister Mirabel at home, who was always there for me even when our parents were out working. My friends, who went out and caused chaos with me… They need me to get back. I need to keep living, I need to get back.
I sigh and hope that I scored high enough that some sponsors look my way.
~.~.
-Rachel, D10F-
Eleanor, our escort, is very friendly and motherly, slightly. She watches us, making sure neither myself nor Raoul has our elbows on the table, making sure we eat healthily, blah blah blah. It really is appreciated… But, still really annoying.
We all eat quietly. Zander Smith, Raoul's mentor, eats and stares at us in a tense silence, before he gets up, fairly quickly. He's always been coming up with excuses to escape us, especially Eleanor. He can't stand our escort, though it's known that she's his only granddaughter. He must hate the Capitol side of her, because honestly, what self-respecting District 10 citizen wouldn't?
"Well, you have private sessions today, so I'm gonna have a smoke," he says, getting up and avoiding looking at the young woman. "Raoul?" he gives my District partner a look. Raoul quickly stands up, nodding in agreement.
I remember when they first came into our train car and Raoul practically shit his pants he was so intimidated. My District partner's definitely bucked up a bit. I mean, he tripped up onto the stage, which still gives me a good laugh. Now he's seemed to calm down, become more comfortable. Maybe he has a chance now.
My mentor, Aleah Meyers, is much more serious. She got straight to business to give me a strategy and give me Games advice, which I appreciated a lot. We don't have any kind of personal relationship, but we don't really need to. The 69th Victor and I are left alone with Eleanor, who is still concerned for my welfare and Raoul's.
"So, you said you found an ally?"
"Yeah. That boy from 9." I take a sip of hot chocolate, enjoying the smooth, deep taste of chocolate in my mouth. I have to say, of all the food I've had here, the hot chocolate I've had every morning is definitely the best. Way better than the orange juice I tried, "a much healthier alternative," according to Aleah and Eleanor. No. It just sucks. Orange juice sucks balls. Hot chocolate is the good shit, that's where it's at.
"That's good. I'm sure a lot of people were watching you, huh? Because you volunteered?"
"Eh," I shrug. "He was the one that stood out. He's an orphan like me, and we relate on a lot of things-"
"Rachel, you do know that only one of you can come out, right?"
"Of course." I do know it.
"Allies are only good if you use them for what they're worth and then pick them off. That's how it works. You're in the Hunger Games, not a fairytale. You know that of course, don't you, volunteer?"
"Yeah. I know." So maybe she's right. I sip the hot chocolate. She's certainly adamant about her strategy, though. Little does she know that I have a strategy of my own. I haven't told her everything, of course. She knows I didn't tell her everything. We're both strong-willed people, so we've butted heads a lot.
"What if allies become friends?"
"You have to prevent that from happening."
"Why?"
"Losing an ally you were friends with just brings more pain. It'll ruin you. If you want to win, they have to die."
"Right. What's so wrong with dying for them, though?"
"If you want to die, you're kind of crazy."
I sigh a bit. "Hm." I don't take it any further, knowing that she won't budge on her mindset and there's no way in hell I'm budging on mine. I just sip my hot chocolate in peace. I'm glad that my hair has gone back to its natural black. It's certainly more calming to look around you and see people. Before we all just looked like Capitolites, who I consider sub-human. I can't believe I was one of them. I would've tried to jump off the side of the Justice Building rather than even look like one of them. Disgusting Capitol scum.
I tug uncomfortably on my jumpsuit, looking at the red number 10 written across the chest. I feel ready for this, really. It's almost unnerving, how ready I feel. Raoul and Zander come back, and we get on the elevator to go down to the ground floor. The view from the 10th floor is disgustingly commercial and not natural at all. The Capitol is just damn unnatural.
The room is lit eerily, and I sit with Kade. The tributes are getting pretty nervous about this. A lot of them look around nervously. Hamilton from District 5 has his head between his knees, his District partner sitting with him and looking scared. Those poor dears.
I don't see Raoul at first, but then I see him talking to Edgard for a bit. I wonder if they're going to ally or not. Zander and Aleah are both so serious that they immediately insisted we separate, so I know nothing about his strategy at all. My own District partner, and I don't have any kind of advantage over him. Also, I don't even know him that well. I suppose, as Aleah said, that's better. So maybe she's right sometimes.
"Hey," Kade says. "How are you? Nervous?"
"No," I say. "I'm nervous because I'm not nervous, actually." I laugh and he does too. I can tell he's nervous, but that broke some of the tension. I think he needs a good laugh sometimes. I take a mental note.
"Ah. I wish I could say the same, but… This is important." The importance of sponsors can't be denied. Sure, I mean, you can do well without them, you can win without them, even, but if you get in a situation, sponsors are like a security blanket. They can send you what you need. They can be the difference between life and death, if it comes to that.
"Yeah, it is. But I know that you could win without sponsors, Doll."
He laughs. "Thanks, so could you. But I'm sure people are already going to sponsor you just because you volunteered."
"You never know," I say, "I could get a 2 and then I'd be brushed off."
He laughs. "I think you can do better than 2."
"Do you?"
"Sure. I've seen you training. You can do it."
I smile sweetly at him. "Aw, thanks."
I glance around.
"It's kicking!" Felicity screams. "IT'S KICKING!" everyone looks up but the two deaf tributes, who are lucky in this situation I think because she's shrieking. I cover my ears as Felicity screams about how "IT'S KICKING ME! EVERYONE!"
Nobody really pays attention. Kade and Kendal and a couple of the others just say "Nice," to make her feel better as she takes Cyra's hand and puts it on her swollen belly, talking quite loudly about how "it's kicking what a miracle!"
I sigh and go back to Kade, who gave a glance to his District partner Karima when nobody is looking. One by one, the tributes are called into the Training Center. Before Hamilton's turn, we hear him quivering and whimpering, as if on the verge of a panic attack. His District partner helps him, and Kade's face falls at the pitiful boy. He really has a big heart, probably too big for the Games.
Kendal gives the room a last glance over, maybe trying to strategize who's sitting together and who's talking to who, before he gives a kind of awkward nod, probably noticing he's being watched, before going in, his shoulders going up in a calm deep breath as he goes. Riella gets up quickly, glad to hear her name called after being left with Nautica from District 8, the only two Careers from the outer District. That kid has a weird air around him. Kade and I have a hushed conversation about completely random shit under our breath, the tension in the room still high.
After that, Nautica is called, and looks around the room, a smirk on his face, before he goes to his private session. I wonder what he's up to. Felicity goes after, deflated at the lackluster reaction to her news, going into the training center. Kade's blue-green eyes look around the room nervously, knowing that his time is next. I'm sitting close to him and can feel his temperature heating up from the nerves. He starts to bounce his leg nervously as the time goes. I can feel the nerves radiating off of him.
"Hey, no worries," I say, gently patting his hand reassuringly. "You'll make it."
"Alright…" he nods a little bit, biting his lip as the voice calls, "Kade Fields, District 9."
"You've got this. Show them why they shouldn't mess with you, Doll. Best of luck." I give him a wink and blow a kiss teasingly, causing him to laugh a little bit as he goes out to the Center.
I look around at the tributes that are left. Kade's District partner just looks awkward, not knowing what to do now that her ally is gone. Raoul sits with Edgard, but they must've run out of things to talk about because they're both quiet. Martina is sitting by herself, taking deep breaths. Leo and Wren sit by themselves, too, not knowing what to do.
The silence is palpable, practically. They call Karima next, who scurries off quickly. Still silence, for a very long and very awkward time. Then, they call Raoul, who gives Edgard a nod before going off into the Training Center. While Raoul's training, Wren sneezes, causing all of us to jump. A couple of half-hearted "bless you"s are muttered.
I feel relieved when I hear the voice say "Rachel Turner, District 10," and quickly get up, going into the Training Center. I see the Head Gamemakers there, still watching just as intently as they had been all through training.
I go to the sword station, taking a deep breath. I did limited stuff with swords, avoiding it in favor of the more important survival stations, but I know how to wave them around. The sword here is much lighter and very much nicer than the one I had, as well as very much sharper instead of the rusty, blunt end I'd had before. It takes a bit of time for me to find my footing and my balance. Once I do, though, those dummies don't stand a chance. First, I fight with the frozen people, to get a feel for the weapon. I know the spots to hit, just above the heart, neck, stomach, exactly where to hit the dummy. I am rewarded with fake blood, which doesn't sound like a great reward (it isn't).
I then move on to a trainer waiting, trading the deadly sharp sword for a blunter one as we spar. She's a much better fighter than people back at time, and subdues me at first, causing me to scramble backwards. The second time, though, I start to analyze her attacks as I dodge. I realize that she's only jabbing at the deadly places, and calculate my strategy accordingly. I use what very little I know about blade work to deflect her attacks, then jab at her weapon arm, causing her to drop the weapon. I go in for the attack with a clean "stab" through her chest. I know I've won, and smile in victory. I continue to spar until I feel like my point has been made, losing a few battles but getting right back up to fight again and win. By the end, I've won five times and lost 3, which I'd say's not bad for a girl from District 10.
I give the Gamemakers a last little salute before I walk out of the center.
~.~.
-Martina, D11F-
Delicia isn't very nice about waking us up in the morning. She just bangs on the door and then goes out to eat her breakfast. The woman only sees us as inconveniences anyways. I sigh and get out of bed. Today is the day that I can prove her and anyone else that doubts my District wrong.
I get up, relieved to see the girl in the mirror that I recognize again. My wide brown eyes, black hair and eyebrows… Phew. I'm glad my reflection is me again, because it certainly wasn't before. I brush my teeth and change into the Training suit. It's pretty comfortable, and I'd be fine wearing it into the Games. But, I'm sure the Arena is going to be much more complicated than just a Training Center.
I go out for breakfast and see my team sitting around. I take a mug of hot chocolate and sip some of it, enjoying the taste. Delicia talks about her newest style: a dress covered in raspberries- ("custom made, just for me!"), eggplant earrings ("healthy is the new bold!"), and many assorted hairclips with various desserts on them, her plump little arms waving excitedly as if she's telling this story to herself. It seems she's only interested in her. Her green-tinted skin and bright yellow hair clash, and she wears bright green contacts, that match her bright green lips. She talks on and on and on, seemingly forever.
Donavan, Edgar's mentor, just looks bored. He doesn't look amused with Delicia's antics, as she goes on and on ranting about how the young ones got put in the higher Districts just because they're young and blah blah blah fuck you Diesel Bundren blah blah blah. I tune her out, instead daydreaming about Jackson, my boyfriend, who I need to get back to. Not to mention my family. I get lost in my daydreams of my boyfriend, snapping out of that only after Chaff hits me on the back.
"Huh?"
"Edgard and Donavan went for more strategy talk," he says, "I think they were just sick of hearing Delicia talk."
"Hey! You're one to talk, rat! You can't even do anything but drink anyways!"
"Well I'm here mentoring while you're just going on and on about yourself! At least someone here's fighting for their tribute!"
"I wouldn't fight for tributes from District 11! Insects!" she looks at me, a condescending look in her eyes. I keep a smile on, trying to be patient with her. If I fight back, she'll only use it against me. Trust me, growing up with a lot of siblings, I know stuff like this. She acts just like my little brother Trey, or my five-year-old sister Marlene, when they're in a bad mood. And she's just as loud as my nephew Demarcus. And he's not even one year old. I laugh at this thought but immediately regret it, as she turns to face me, her little green face scrunched up in a scowl.
"What's so funny!?" she asks, the rage practically palpable.
"Nothing," I say, trying to stop laughing. She's such a baby. She quickly leaves, going to find the others.
"You were thinking mean things about her," Chaff says, grinning.
"It's impossible not to," I say, shrugging.
"You have heart, I'll give you that." He claps me on the shoulder.
"Of course I do. I have so much I need to get home for."
"I admire it."
I'm pretty sure we've had this conversation before, almost exactly, but I don't say anything. Chaff is to the point where he's so addicted to alcohol that he can't put it down for the Games, but he's the same with or without it, I suppose.
If I win, District 11 will finally have a Victor that is competent, and we need one of those. Chaff is barely confident because of his addiction, and Donavan is too overbearing, and his Games still haunt him. I don't doubt that the Games will haunt me, I really don't, but my support system is so strong that I can't imagine I would turn to a life of alcohol. I wouldn't dream of doing that to myself.
"We should be getting down there for your private sessions," Chaff says, getting up. "Let's go, Sugar."
"Don't call me Sugar." We've definitely had this conversation before. I board the elevator with Chaff and Delicia, Donavan and Edgard. There's an eerie awkward silence as we go down to the Training Center. They escort all of the tributes to a room and make us sit as a mechanical voice announces that it's Callum's turn to go to his private session.
This is one of the reasons why being from District 11 is not ideal. I have to sit and wait here for all of them to go. I know it's going to be a long wait, and I don't have anyone to talk to. Hamilton is curled up and quivering, and I feel a part of me aching to go over and help him. I hold my place, though. He's not Trey, this is the Games. I have to get home to Trey, so that I can console him. To do that, every single person in this room, and one out of it, will have to die. I look around at the faces and feel a ball of nerves flying around in my stomach. I don't want to kill. I'm going to have to, but I don't want to.
And yet, here we are. Everyone in this room is trained to kill, including me. We've all been trained. We've learned how to survive and how to fight. We've learned how to hurt people, in the name of self-defense, in the name of getting home. It's sick. I'm officially a trained killer. We all are.
I watch as each tribute goes into their training session, wondering what they'll do as they go. Iridesce is called, and I know she must be showing off her weapons skills. Vidarr goes after. Even though he was reaped, I'm sure he's trained. Surely District 2 wouldn't send somebody with no experience into the Arena.
Suddenly, Felicity starts shrieking, causing all of us to look up.
"It's KICKING!" she shouts it over and over again. She takes Cyra's hand and guides it to her stomach, the girl from Three's eyes widening in surprise at not expecting to be grabbed.
Maggie looks relieved when the voice says her name, and quickly leaves. I'm sure showing off her weapons skills is probably much better in her eyes than sitting here with a girl celebrating new life that's going to have to die if we want to live. Felicity stops being so excited when the rest of us go back to staring at the floor.
Some of the tributes are having hushed conversations, trying to distract themselves from the inevitable private session and the horror of what they're really doing. I just sit quietly, trying not to let my mind wander too much. I don't want to be distracted during my private session.
After that fiasco, Ductor goes in, probably doing stuff with survival that he picked up. Cyra follows, giving one last concerned look at Hamilton over her shoulder. Collin surely is trained as well, going in and looking pretty confident. Serafina Anya. Then, in goes Hamilton, quivering and pale. After him goes Cory, her face betraying her nerves and fear.
After that, Amari goes, and he gives us all a confident smile before doing so. The girl from 9 is left alone, clutching her little stuffed bunny for dear life. She's not Marlene, I have to keep reminding myself. She's some girl that is a stranger that has to die for me to get back to Marlene. Even so, the resemblance is striking. Not in appearance, of course, this girl has pale skin and is much older than the 5-year-old, but in posture and expression, she matches my sister exactly.
I quickly look away, trying to rid myself of the thought. I have to keep on fighting, I have to take lives, but I have to get home. My family and Jackson will be waiting for me there.
Billie goes next, her face determined. After her, Kendal, who looks like he's really trying to keep a straight face and hide the nerves. Then, Riella. She gets up quickly as soon as she hears the first syllable of her name, her eyes betraying a kind of discomfort or fear at Nautica before her face sets again. She seems calm as she goes into the center. After her goes Nautica, giving us all one last smirk before going to his session. Felicity goes next, seeming nervous.
Kade says goodbye to the girl from 10, who makes him laugh with a flirty wink and kiss-blow, seeming to release the nerves. Karima goes next, putting her bunny in her pocket and putting on a brave face. After her goes Raoul, seeming pretty nervous but keeping his composure.
Edgard gives Raoul a nod. I've seen them talking a lot lately, I think they're allied. I wouldn't know, though, we've been pretty separate this whole time. I know that Edgard was interested in allying with him, though.
When he's in there, we're all sitting around and then Wren sneezes, causing me to jump a little bit. I mutter "bless you," and so do a couple of others, though I'm not sure why we would want a girl that has to die for us to live to be "blessed." It just seemed like the right thing to do.
Then, Rachel goes, giving the room one last look around before moving confidently to her session, black ponytail bouncing behind her. Of course she'd be confident, she volunteered.
The remaining four tributes all exchange glances. I can tell by how Edgard shifts that he's not only really nervous about his private session, but he's also very uncomfortable with the awkward silence that's washed over the room. Nobody is talking, it's dead silent.
"Edgard Lowell. District 11." He quickly gets up and doesn't look behind him as he hurries to the Training Center. The Twelve tributes accidentally exchange a glance and both look away at the awkward eye contact. I feel nothing but relief when the voice beckons for me.
I go into the room and don't know what to do. I see the Gamemakers watching me interestedly and freeze. Part of me was hoping that they'd be bored by now.
I go over to the sword station, picking up a blunt weapon and challenging the trainer to a fight. I wave the weapon around clumsily, but soon am subdued by the woman. I spent so much time on berries, but I can't just do berries for a private session. That's the first way to be deemed as another 11 Bloodbath that only knows berries!
I do another fight, and lose again, but this time narrowly. I decide to leave it before I dig myself into a deeper trench, trying to find something I can do to show off. The silence in the room is even more awkward than the silence in the tribute room.
I decide to do some climbing, doing my best to reach the ceiling. I make it a ways up, and pretty quietly, but don't quite reach the top. I think that they made it impossible on purpose, though. After that, I quickly scurry to the station for hand-to-hand, grabbing some spiked knuckles and doing my best to beat up a punching bag. I put everything I am into it, knowing that I need sponsors. I grunt with the effort as I beat up the punching bag, using everything I've ever learned about fighting from my older brother Tristan. Even if it was playful back then, it's the difference between life and death now.
I stop when I realize this must've taken forever. It feels like I've been in my private session for half an hour, maybe more. I don't know if that's really the case, but since it feels like forever I awkwardly put the knuckles back and quickly leave, unable to deal with the awkward silence any longer.
"That was short," Rachel comments when I get back, causing me to facepalm, frustrated with myself. I know that it was really important to get better with berries, though. I'm colorblind, and need to know the anatomy and structure of edible berries. I am a master at identification now, without having to know colors. But part of me wishes I had thrown caution to the wind and picked up a weapon, truly picked up a weapon. It's too late now, though.
I guess I'll just have to wait for my score to see.
A/N: I'm sorry for the cliffhanger! I hope to get the next chapter out really soon! Because I just have to write scores, another Diesel POV, Interviews, and maybe a night before the Games from a Capitolite POV, and then we're FINALLY in the Arena. Phew, we're on the home stretch! I'm sorry it's taking so long to work up to the Games. I didn't think doing all 24 POVs twice would be so taxing (I'm kind of optimistic about my writing workload sometimes :P) but yeah it's a lot. I hope this allows you to get to know the tributes better, though, and appreciate them all more.
Also, I had 2 SYOTs quit on me in one week, and I'm just saying that I REFUSE to quit this one. I get SO pissed when people do that. In fact, when people discontinue their SYOTs, I get a fire under my ass to update this one just to spite those people even though they're not following this story or anything XD I don't know, it's weird. But it's also the reason I wrote a 5500 word chapter in like two days. It'll be nice to write something that isn't training, though.
Also, my collab for the 96th Games is still in dire need of tributes! Please, give it a read and submit! Dreamer and I aren't going to give up, and we're going to update fairly regularly, unlike a lot of SYOTs you'll come across! We're both experienced with SYOTs and have both finished partial SYOTs. I promise you it'll be really awesome, please submit to that! It's got a lot of familiar faces from this story in it and I just know you'll like it if you read!
Okay, I think that's all I have to say. Hopefully I can get the next chapter out within this week (but life's hectic, so no promises). As always, let me know if you have any requests for plotlines, interactions, or anything of the sort!
Chapter Question: Out of the three POVs, which do you think got the highest score and why? What's your estimate for each of their scores? I'm sorry these are so lame, I suck at coming up with them. As we go into the Games they'll get better.
