By comparison, this one actually is lighter. And I do enjoy Survivor and have seen that season, but the Heroes v Villains thing was Tracelyn's idea and I thought it was cool. I have been thinking about a Hunger Games/Survivor crossover sort of SYOT in the HG universe but with elements of Survivor, though.
"I don't think I want to win anymore," Steel said that night. "I don't want to serve this country."
"You could win it easy. I saw you at the table. How did you do that?" I asked.
"Peacekeepers see out their orders. Nothing moves you when you're at attention," Steel said. "But I only joined because I thought the orders were worthwhile. Maybe they were back then. I wish they'd never brought me back."
"Want to hear something really silly?" I asked Steel.
"What is it?" she asked. I smiled at the memory.
"I was a model before the Games," I said.
"Yeah, that is silly," Steel said sarcastically. "You're hideous."
"They used to call me Panem's Sweetheart," I said. The memory had lost its luster. I could remember when I used to be proud of it. It used to be I thought it was worth something. "But it's not true."
"You seem pretty sweethearted to me," Steel said.
"No, not that. Panem doesn't have a heart," I said.
Stage Four was held in a different room. There was one large room with two doors set into the far wall. Titian stood between them like some horrible parody of a games show host.
"Congratulations. You're the top four out of sixteen. But that doesn't really matter, does it? Go big or go home. No second prizes. This next test is to determine your ability to work with others. The Capitol values a team player. We're also very accommodating. You can go ahead and select your own partners," he said. Steel and I stood off to one side. Margo and Kisarna were almost as fast to find each other. They'd probably bonded just like we had. It was sort of funny, but we were back to where we started: Heroes and Villains. Margo and Kisarna, two classical, merciless Careers. Me and Steel, the backslidden patriots. If I could even all myself a hero. I'd killed half a dozen people. Maybe it was just three villains and Steel.
"This next test is very complicated, so please listen carefully. Behind me there are two doors. Each door leads to a divided room containing two chairs, two desks, and a wall to separate them. In a few moments, each of you will enter one of those rooms along with your partner. From there, you will each take a seat in one of the chairs. After that, you will not be able to see your partner," Titian said.
"How many of us have to die this time?" Kisarna interrupted.
"No one. Not necessarily. But this is where it gets complicated, so perhaps listen more and talk less. On the desk in front of your chair, you will see a large red button. The color is not important. That's just for drama. The important thing is what that button does. Press that button, and your partner will be killed."
"What happens if we don't press it?" I asked.
"It's entirely your choice. No harm will come of you just because you don't press the button. But it's not that simple," Titian said. "There are four options. Option A: neither of you press the button. Neither of you die. Option B: partner A presses the button. Partner B dies. Option C: Partner B presses the button. Partner A dies. Option D: both partners press the button. What do you suppose happens then?" Titian asked.
"Both partners die," Margo said.
"Ehhh..." Titian imitated a buzzer. "If both partners press the button, the partner that presses second dies. So it's all up to you. If you trust your partner, there's no need to press the button. But wouldn't it be nice to have one more Tribute eliminated? Maybe you don't trust your partner so much after all," Titian said. "But it's all up to you. Ready to start?"
Steel took the desk just inside the door. I went through the inner door to the desk on the other side. As I walked away, we looked at each other one last time. We tried to divine each others' souls through our eyes. I wished we could have discussed things, but they didn't give us any time. I sat in the metal chair and faced the giant red button.
"You have five minutes to decide, but I suggest you decide faster than that. Your time starts... now," Titian said. The button stared at me from the desk. My hands were in my lap. I wondered how lightly I could rest my hand on the button, and how much pressure it would take before it went off. I wondered if it was a quick death, or would Steel dance like Beth.
I felt my breath swelling my chest. I was aware of my nose between my eyes, and the sound of my heart seemed loud and insistent. I imagined Steel on the other side. Peacekeepers kept the peace, she said. Did that mean pressing the button was an aggression to her and she wouldn't do it? Or did she interpret Titian's words as orders to eliminate me? Peacekeepers see orders through, she said.
The button was the cause of all my fears, but it was the only thing that could dispel them. I was shaking in my chair, and I glanced around every few seconds, worried I'd see a gun at my head for an instant before it all ended. That was the worst part of all- the suddenness of it. If I had to die, I wanted to know it was coming. I didn't want to be like Beth- alive one instant and then dead before my brain even knew it. Every second in that room, I lived with that possibility. At any instant, everything could cut out.
What was Steel thinking there in the next room? Was she deliberating over what course of action to take? Did she know what she had to do, and was just summoning the courage? I was only sure of one thing: my actions weren't a factor to her. She would do what she thought was right.
That was what decided it for me. Even if Steel thought Titian's orders were to kill me, she wouldn't do it. She didn't think it was right anymore. Just like my actions, the Capitol's orders were now irrelevant to her. She didn't think it was right to push that button, or she would have pushed it already. There was nothing to be afraid of.
The next three or so minutes were as light as air. I felt invincible and immortal. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I wasn't going to die in that test. The button lost its terror and looked laughably oversized and tacky on the desk. I wanted to see Steel again and feel how close we'd become through this. I only wished she could be as certain as I was that she was safe. But I imagined that by now, she'd come to the same conclusion. Titian's voice came from over a microphone.
"Time's up! Come on out!"
I opened the door to Steel's room. She was still there, and she came toward me as soon as I got through the door. Seeing her made joy and relief swell up inside me, and we both went in for a hug at the same time. We squeezed each other like sisters, and we held hands as we went out to meet Titian. He was standing in his same spot. Blood stained the carpet outside the other door.
"Congratulations. It seems trust isn't dead after all. Which is more than can be said for some people," he said, looking down at the bloodstain.
"Who pushed the button?" Steel asked.
"Both of them," Titian said.
"Who was first?" Steel asked.
"Kisarna," Titian said.
"So where is she?" Steel asked.
"Dead," Titian said.
"What? You said whoever pressed first lived," I said.
"We lied," Titian said.
"What?!" Steel asked. It was almost heartwarming that she still looked shocked. Titian smiled.
"Anyone who presses the button dies. You both press the button, you both die. Kisarna and Margo both pressed the button the second the timer started. We didn't tell you that part because it might have affected your calculations. Did you think the Capitol wanted someone who would betray a partner? Now we know we can trust you," Titian said.
And now we know we can't trust you.