*Lystra's POV*
Tanner came into my room just after I had dressed in black. We both stood, motionless, the moment we saw the other. Finally, we both burst out,
"How did you get that score?"
We both blushed and shuffled our feet slightly, and I tried to figure out why I was so embarrised. "Umm . . . you first," Tanner told me.
"No, you," I blushed deeper, and glanced at me restless feet. Stop moving! I told them, but they didn't listen.
"No, really," Tanner said "I insist."
Blushing deeper, I forced myself to look at him in the eye and ask clearly, "How did you get that score – 11 – that's huge, Tanner!" I attempted a smile, but it was empty.
"Not really," he shrugged, still looking embarrassed. "You got a 12, after all."
My empty smile faded as I remembered the picture. "Oh, yeah. What'd you do, Tanner – to get an eleven?"
He looked directly at his feet as he said, "Nothing. They wouldn't even look at me, so I just left. I don't know how long it took them to figure out I was gone. Maybe they thought I did something, and just gave me the eleven. Anyway," he shook himself and looked at me "what'd you do?"
"Oh, Tanner," the tears came to my eyes as I remembered Nich's shocked reaction, her sadness and despair, when I had told her. I lowered my voice so that it would be covered by the air conditioning unit to any bugs. "I drew a drawing – beautiful. It showed a future picture – of hope, happiness, and sorrow. It was the assassination of a president."
Tanner's eyes were like a hawk's, on my face. "The President Snow?"
I hesitated. "No. His son."
Tanner inhaled sharply. "Lystra, what have you gotten yourself into?"
"More," I said glumly "Listen."
And I told him of how Nich was pretending to be Mazie, and Mazie Nich, and how Totsie and Echo were twins. When I had finished, he smaked his head with his hand. "We're all in so much trouble," he moaned. "What are we doing?"
"What are we doing?" I repeated, and I thought for a moment, trying to find a way to explain it to him. "You know . . . when you feel real hatred . . . how it tingles, starting with a single spark, and spreading? That's what we've started. It's a real small spark, and easily will go out . . . but it's still there. Always. And one day, like Mazie – Nich, I mean, said, We will come back in fifty years and make the spark bigger . . . so that all may see . . . and then, the spark will catch and grow . . . and we will have a full forest fire. And my drawing may come true."
Tanner nodded at me, and I saw something spark in his eyes . . . though the word that I would use was not rebellious, but . . . loving?
It was gone in a moment, and Tanner was the same. I didn't mention it to him, and I tried to forget it myself.
"Shall we go up?" Tanner asked, holding out his arm in imitation of the Capitol people. Snorting with laughter, and grabbed it and we headed up onto the roof.
The tributes – all of them, were already gathered in the clearing we had been in the night before. All were milling about awkwardly except for Rayne and Nich in the center. When Nich caught sight of us, she raised a hand in greeting, which I returned, but did not join her.
"Friends," Nich called "and fellow tributes, tonight is the night that you decide what side you're on. I hope you choose correctly. Remember, your life, and other lives, hang in the balance." Nich made it sound as though she was speaking of other tributes, but I knew she was also referring to her decision about which side she was on : against her father. This decision would end her father's life, and most likely her own.
"Who will stand with me?" Nich asked, moving to half the clearing. The other tributes stayed on the other half. Then Rayne, who was still in the middle, spoke.
"What is the point," Rayne called out "to live without purpose, only to know that you are to kill a friend, or die at the hands of one? I say no! I choose to stay with Mazie, and I pledge that I shall be forever peaceful, and shall never harm a one of you if I may avoid it."
Murmurs came from the tributes as Rayne crossed over and stood with Nich. I knew that Tanner and I would join her in a moment, but, for now, we waited.
The girl from 12 stepped over, saying only, "This is wrong. My mother told me to stand up for what I believe in. She would be proud."
The girl from 3 passed over without comment.
The boy from 5 stood in the middle. "I'm sorry," he addressed all of the tributes. I don't want to be a career, or be apart of your alliance, Mazie. Too many risks." He shook his head, and I recognized my own doubts in him. "And I don't want to get too attached to any of you – it will only make this harder. Good night." And he was gone.
The boy from 8 joined the alliance.
The girl from 9 wanted to be a loaner.
The boy from 6 joined the alliance
The boy from 7 joined the alliance.
The boy from 9 wanted to be a loaner.
The boy from 10 wanted to be a loaner.
Then the siblings from 2 stood up.
"We are claiming our right as people of District 2 as Careers," the girl said, flashing a smile. "and I guarantee you, Mazie, you will regret that you ever thought of this . . . little alliance." Her brother laughed cruelly.
The girl form one stepped up to join them. "And I join you." They welcomed her, and stepped out of the way."
The boy from one glanced at the other tribute from his district and chose to be a loaner.
The girl from six chose to be a loaner.
The boy from four joined the alliance.
The boy from three said that he wasn't sure, and for now he would be a loaner.
The boy from nine chose to be a loaner.
And then, left, was Spade, Tanner, and myself. Tanner and I nodded to Spade to go first, and he stepped forward, glancing at each alliance, and then the group of loaners. I knew that all wanted him to join them, for he had gotten a 12, but he was so . . . different . . . none dared speak up.
"I join . . ." Spade spoke for the first time, and his voice was gravely and scratchy "I will join Mazie, if she will have me."
Nich smiled genuinely at him. "Of course I will have you, Spade." She shook his hand "Welcome."
Tanner and I glanced at each other, and he stepped forward first.
"The Capitol is evil. They do not deserve what they have. We do. So here's to a new beginning." And he joined Nich.
I slowly stepped forward, and the air seemed to chill. I felt my facial expression change, and I knew the face that I used as a painter was on it. I looked at each tribute. I raised my arms. "Friends, all of you are friends. Please don't make me kill you. Because, believe me," I smiled evily "if we meet, you will not survive the encounter." I let my arms fall to my side. "May we be friends once more when we meet again, as fellow young tributes, in 50 years."
And, with unspoken agreement, we departed once more. All those in Nich's alliance knew to come back again the next night – the final night.