Chapter 26

Rose Tyler's POV (Capitol Citizen)

"You join us now as we move onto the scores of the outer districts!" Caesar calls, enthusiastic as ever. I can't help wondering how much he actually cares; this is a yearly procedure for him, and I don't know how it can still be of any interest to him. Maybe he's just easily pleased.

The screen changes and morphs beyond him to show the grinning and striking features of Jack Harkness, and the rather plain, bored looking Tally.

"Jack Harkness of district 10…"

The capitol has actually got pretty high expectations for Jack. He's tall, built like a boxer, and displays enough confidence for the tributes of district 2. It's not like he's an unlikely pick. However, I know what the citizens here can be like; bet first, think later. A lot of the potential sponsors for Jack will be riding on this score.

"Receives a score of 9!" announces Caesar, the surprise clear and ringing in his voice.

Martha shoots me a look and I nod.

They've been training. District 10 deals with livestock; herding cows about is the most exercise Jack will have ever gotten. And a score of 9 is not normal for the outer districts; more often than not it's reserved for the careers. So the question is… What did Jack do in the training room that impressed the Gamemakers that much? I don't know too much about it, but I do know that they're superficial. They base quite a lot of the scores on attitude and looks. Jack is clearly not short of either, but it wouldn't have earned him a 9, so it's a wonder what he ended up showing the Gamemakers. Swords? Strength? I don't know.

"Tally Youngblood of District 10 earns a score of…" Caesar trails off, dragging out the suspense and I wonder fleetingly if she's trained too. If Jack had and they're both from 10, then I wouldn't mark it as impossible. "6!" Caesar finally announces and I shrug.

Maybe not. 6 isn't the most dramatic, or interesting, score. It's downright mediocre. I know what Tally will be now, with her score and bored attitude. She'll be collateral. She won't be anyone's target, and she won't be the biggest threat of the game; she'll be a pawn, lost as a means to a larger goal. Funny how much difference 3 points can make.

I write their scores down.

"Moving swiftly onwards to our beloved District 11!" Caesar continues and I scoff.

Beloved? The tributes from the outer districts are emaciated and weak. Everyone in the capitol can see it (not that anyone does anything) but it's clear as day that the President does not trust the outer districts. Beloved when they're in the games perhaps, but grossly ignored would be a better description for the majority of their lives.

"Male tribute Luffy Monkey!"

And we catch another glimpse of him. I'm once more shocked at his happy-go-lucky attitude; he's grinning from ear to ear, and whilst I realise it's pre-recorded footage, shouldn't the threat of the games be just a little bit daunting to him? Skinny little boy from District 11? I'd be terrified.

"Given a score of…" Caesar pauses to look at his card, eyebrows rising in surprise. "7!"

"Is that normal?" I ask Martha who shrugs.

"I don't even know anymore. This year's games are weird." She mutters.

I wonder what Luffy did though… He's so small and… Naïve? He just seems a bit too optimistic for the Hunger games.

"And the female tribute Dekka Talent…" Scary, brutish, powerful Dekka. She's honestly what I'd call the embodiment of power, what with the silent-but-deadly attitude. Besides, she's so well built up; it would take a brave tribute to face her. "Earns herself a score of 9!"

I throw my hands in the air.

"What? Is everyone training now?" I ask, incredulous. Martha laughs softly.

"Apparently."

Dekka stands behind Caesar, pictured with her arms crossed and a seemingly permanent frown etched across her dark brow.

"Well then." I sigh, writing the scores down.

It's not as if I'm unhappy for district 11, because their scores were really very good. Only, this is the year I choose to actually bet, and it's also the year that the competition is weirder and closer than ever. And honestly, I don't think the number of high scores will do anything to help the violence of the games. You raise everyone's scores and suddenly no one's all that special. Danger is more common, but so is skill. It's going to be a close one.

"Lastly, let's go to the scored for District 12!" Caesar finally announces, and the screen lights up with the terrifying smile of James Moriarty, and the elegantly beautiful features of Teresa Runner. I don't like looking at Moriarty for too long, just because of that smile. It's unsettling. Teresa is a pleasant distraction.

"James Moriarty is awarded a score of…" Caesar begins, his smile fading slightly. "12!"

I scoff.

12 my ass. He's scary but it's not in a strong, powerful way. He couldn't have got a score higher than the careers. Never. The pre-recorded image of him starts to smile even more, exposing brilliantly white teeth and I flinch.

How did he get that 12. Was it a punishment? If you have a high score you're a target. Or did he threaten them? Maybe he actually is strong.

And then it hits me properly.

Whatever he's done, it's worked. Whether he deserved that 12 or not, people will be talking. There is no such thing as bad publicity when it comes to the games, and as long as he has people asking questions, he has people attention. He has their sponsorships.

"Creepy." Martha murmurs, voicing my thoughts exactly.

"And last but not least, Teresa runner, with a score of… 5!" Caesar announces, setting down his cards and nodding to the camera man. This finally seems like a score I can trust. I jot it, along with Moriarty's, score down, and look back up at grinning Caesar.

"Well, ladies and gentlemen, there you have it. All 24 scores for all 24 tributes. Remember to tune in tomorrow for the all-important interviews!" and with a point and a wink, the transmission ends.

"Jim…" I begin, casting a careful sideways glance at him. He turns his head to me, black eyes wide and smile creeping slowly over his face.

"Yes, Teresa?"

"What did you do?" I ask, trying to keep my tone of voice level and non-provocative. Jim laughs, loudly and high pitched.

"Oh, my dear Teresa…" He shakes his head. "If I told you… I'd have to kill you."

He tilts his head at me, smiling sweetly, and I don't doubt it for a second.

IT'S BACK AND (probably not) BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE!

I apologise a lot for not updating all those months ago, but there has been a lot of problems with school work and pressure and stuff, but it's back now seeing as it's the holidays, and I'm gonna try my hardest from now on. It'll be my new years resolution.

Thank you very very much for reading, please PLEASE REVIEW BECAUSE IT MEANS A LOT AND IT IS INCREDIBLY ENCOURAGING, EVEN IF YOU'VE REVIEWED BEFORE. DANKE.

I love you all; stay excellent xxx