Chapter 21

Rose Tyler's POV (Capitol)

Well, the tributes have been training for two days now and there's only one day left before the interviews. Obviously we're not allowed to watch what they're doing as of the moment, but there're large, electronic scoreboards dotted about the Capitol, with the odds.

They take into account height, weight, District history, and what the Gamemakers have already seen in training. Of course they're never fully accurate, as some tributes hide their talents and save them for the games, but they're a good estimation of some of the careers and how they'll pit against each other.

At the moment, District 4 is doing best, with the other careers and 7 coming close behind. It's odd really… Usually the outer districts have odds that are ridiculous, coming in at about 50-1 sometimes. Whereas the careers are usually around 5-1. This year, the playing field is remarkably even, and that makes it incredibly hard to choose who to sponsor.

Micky is still pleased with his sponsor of the boy from 2, which I can understand, but it's not very wise of him. He has no idea what the other districts have to offer and it was a rash decision at best.

In any case, I've all but made up to not bet on a career district, mostly because I'm being stubborn. I decided after the parade that I would try to sponsor someone who would need me. And also not the scary one from 12 because I have a feeling he'll do just fine.

I wonder if Martha's going to sponsor anyone… Maybe I could rope her in to sponsoring the same tribute as me; then it wouldn't just be me and I'd have someone else who was bearable to watch the actual games with. Don't get me wrong, Mickey's great, but…

My train of thought is interrupted by a frantic knocking on the door. Jumping, I hurry to answer it, wondering who it could be.

Harley Quinn is stood on my doorstep. My eyes widen in surprise and I stand aside immediately to let her in.

"Harley. Hi." I mumble as she walks in, looking annoyed. "It's been a while."

"Yeah, sorry about that." She replies looking around the hall. "How've you been?" She asks me and I shrug.

"Alright. You?"

"Not very good. Can I talk to you about it?" She asks me, finally catching my eye. I nod hurriedly.

"Of course."

Harley and I have known each other of years, mostly because our parents were friends. She's head Gamemaker now though, so I hardly see her anymore, which is a pity. I'm slightly miffed that she only came to see me because she needed someone to talk to, which makes me feel like a shelf friend, but whatever. If she needs me, I'm here.

We head into the kitchen and she sits opposite me at the island counter, drumming her fingers on the table top.

"There's been this huge upheaval at work, and I'm in trouble." She tells me and I feel the blood drain from my face. When Gamemakers are in trouble, we don't hear from them again. Ever. They aren't even mentioned.

"Oh God. What happened?" I ask her and she sighs, rubbing her face.

"You know how the Head Gamemakers decide the arena? I'm not meant to tell you this, but I don't suppose it matters much now. I came up with this idea, where it would be a maze? We'd have a clearing in the middle for the cornucopia, and some pools, but that would be it, and it was going well. The President had agreed to it, and the plans were going ahead very successfully. And then, a couple of days ago, I found out that the President had changed to arena to this ridiculous castle design. I suppose it was a good arena, but I was told it was his idea, and you know… All that work I did. Gone." She sighs.

"Well that's alright. You still get to do the games, even if it's with a different arena." I reassure her, patting her hand, but she shakes her head.

"That's not the end of it. Yesterday, I decided to ask the President about it, and he had no idea we'd changed the arena." She tells me, avoiding eye contact, her voice taut with stress. I frown.

"What… You mean…"

"Somebody else, and we don't know who, changed the arena. It wasn't me, and it wasn't him, and now I'm in trouble for letting it happen." She confesses, the panic pouring out through her words. I can't think of anything to say. The games have been infiltrated, and we don't know how much of a risk this is." She tells me, on edge.

"Oh my God, Harley." I mumble, uselessly. She looks up at me, urgent.

"Listen. This can't get out. We're going to have to pretend that everything is ok, and that the arena was our idea and that it was planned. We cannot appear as vulnerable." She blurts, speaking so fast I can barely understand her. But I nod, because she's in trouble, and she needs reassuring.

"Ok. Ok." I say, quietly. "Why did you tell me?"

"I had to tell someone who I was friends with. Someone who wouldn't spread it around. I trust you, Rose." She mumbles and I smile weakly.

"Thank you. You're going to be fine, alright? Just pretend like it was your idea all along. The audience won't suspect a thing." I tell her, trying to sound dismissive, when really I'm panicking. This could go so badly wrong. Head Gamemakers are to blame if the games go wrong.

"Really?"

"Yes. You'll be fine."

It was a short chapter this time (sorry) bUT INTERESTING TWIST, AM I RIGHT? I wonder what's going to happen, and also I wonder who on earth managed to change the arena plans like that? I'm joking I know exactly what's going to happen but you don't so ha, I bet you're on the edge of your seats right now. Once again, please REVIEW with what you thought, which can be praise, constructive criticism, or ideas about what you want to see in the future of this fic.

Thanks for reading! Please stay excellent and as fabulous as you are, and remember to stay positive! You're all fantastic.

Lucy XXX