A/N: Hey, y'all! Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! Oh, and thanks for being patient with me. Enjoy the chapter and please review :)
"How do you walk in those?" Cyana asks me as I approach her. I glance down at my golden five-inch heels. I remember how impossible they were to manage last year, but somewhere along the line, I became a pro at walking in them.
"I've had a lot of practice," I answer her. "Do you know how much time we have before the interviews start?"
This is the first time I've seen Cyana all day. The prep team took her in before breakfast and worked on her all day. I thought I was off the hook with prep work until an unfamiliar trio of Capitol citizens showed up at my door to do my hair and makeup. Lilith sent a dress along with them, which I am wearing now. It looks a lot like a shorter version of the white magnolia dress I wore for the Games Highlights.
Still, I'm grateful my outfit falls down to a few inches above my knees, unlike Cyana's. Her dress just barely brushes the top of her thighs. I had a feeling Lilith would make her dress too revealing, so I had to rethink the interview angle I was going with.
At first, I thought sweet and likable would be the best fit. I know she's too shy to pull off the sexy persona Lilith tried to make for her. After an hour or two of discussion yesterday, Cy and I eventually decided on mysterious. It doesn't matter that she doesn't really have a master plan; as long as people think she does, they'll be interested.
"They told me I have to line up in ten minutes. That was a few minutes ago," she tells me. Her voice shakes ever so slightly.
"Don't be nervous. Nathaniel will help you answer the questions. It's his job to make you look good," I say, trying to comfort her.
"I don't know if I'm more nervous about the questions, walking in these shoes, or having a wardrobe malfunction," she admits. She tugs at the bottom of the dress, trying to make it longer. She doesn't make much progress before she has to pull at the top of the dress to keep it from falling too low.
"Leave it be, Cy. Just remember to cross your legs and you'll be fine, I promise. It really is a pretty dress you're wearing." I see Lilith likes dressing people up based on their names. She couldn't resist putting Cyana in a sparkly cyan-blue outfit.
"Thanks," she says with a sigh. "I just wish it were a little longer like your's."
"Consider it a compliment from Lilith. She put you in this dress because she knows you can pull it off. She told me she didn't dress me that way because I don't have enough shape," I say. I'm not sure if that will make her feel any better, but it's worth a shot.
"Well that's not very nice of her," she says, looking down. Guess not.
An voice comes over the intercom to tell the tributes to line up backstage and the victors to take their seats in the audience. "Remember, mysterious," I tell Cy one last time before I am forced to leave.
This year, the previous victors take up the entire first row. The Capitol people must think it's cute to put us in numerical order because my reserved seat is on the edge. Next to me is the boy from Three who won two years ago. I lean forward in my seat and smile at Alec a few seats to my left. I can see Kallan too, near the middle of the row.
Music starts playing and Nathaniel Flickerman rises out from center stage as usual. This year, his skin is dyed a lilac purple. People scream with admiration and I clap out of politeness. Just then, a second chair rises in stage and the audience gasps in confusion. Before I have time to ponder what the empty host chair is for, a woman walks across stage with something very small in her arms.
She sets it down on the chair, and I see it's a baby. Oh, it makes sense now. Nathaniel was expecting a child last I heard. Nathaniel introduces the infant as his son, Caesar, which gains a collective "awww" from the audience. They didn't do any alterations to the baby's skin, but that didn't stop them from dying the child's little tuft of hair purple to match his father. Capitol people and their crazy fashions…
They obsess over Caesar for another few minutes, then the tributes walk in a line out onto the stage and sit on the sofa. I study the faces I haven't been able to see since the reaping, trying to connect them with the information Michael and Cyana have given me.
The first girl up is Tiffany from One, who Mike with be allying with. She mostly goes on about how she promised her boyfriend she would make it back to him. She is followed by her male district partner, Orion. He's a little rude to Nathaniel, but he definitely comes off as strong and determined.
Alaina from Two is up on the stage now, and I can't help but think she looks like Cyana. She's dressed in a similar low-cut dress, but unlike my tribute, she sticks with fierce and sexy. Craig from District Two once again makes himself look like the odd man out in the career alliance. He isn't as physically strong or threatening as the others, and he wasn't a volunteer. Mike told me that the main reason he is in the group is because Alaina wouldn't leave him behind.
As usual, District Three is nothing too memorable because I am anticipating Four. I tense up when Cyana's name is called. Despite her previous worries, she does not trip as she walks across the stage. She takes a seat and her eyes scan the crowd nervously. She regains her smile a second later. I figure she just remembered Isidora's order to look happy.
"Cyana Wilson, may I say you look lovely tonight. I bet you've enjoyed having Lilith as your stylist, yes?" Nathaniel asks, leaning towards her.
"Yes," she replies in a tiny voice. 'Louder,' I mouth to her when her eyes meet mine.
"Aw, you don't have to be afraid to speak up! We won't bite! Now tell me, do you have any special plans for the Games?" he questions.
"I do," Cyana says a little more confidently.
"And what would that be?"
"If I told you, it would ruin the surprise," Cy answers with a smile. She looks out to me again and I give her a subtle thumbs-up.
"Now that's what I like to hear! Entertainment at it's finest!" Nathaniel laughs. "Cyana, your mentor is Mags Brine, last year's victor. How is it working with her?" I blink in surprise when the camera pans over to me. I'm still not a fan of the spotlight, but I am able to give an embarrassed smile and a little wave before it turns back to the stage.
"Mags is really nice. She's like an older sister," Cyana answers, and I feel my face pull into a genuine smile.
"That's good to hear. I have another question for you. Is there anyone special back home? A young man, perhaps?" Nathaniel prods.
Cyana becomes a little flustered then. "Um, no, not special like that," she says, her voice projection fading. Nathaniel is about to follow up with another question, but she speaks up again to change the subject away from anything embarrassing. "I have enough people worth fighting for, like my family and my best friend, Lea," she says shyly.
The buzzer rings as she finishes the statement. Nathaniel thanks her and calls Michael up to center stage.
"Ah, Michael Harbor, nice to meet you. I've heard you're among the top five in the polls of who will win," Nathaniel says as he shakes Mike's hand.
"Really? I'm glad to hear it, Nathaniel. I've worked really hard for this," Mike says. He looks pretty relaxed.
"I'm sure you have," Nathaniel responds. He doesn't ask about any training, probably because you technically aren't supposed to prepare for the Games. "What do you think your family is saying about you back at home?"
"Pretty much everyone has been really supportive of me, so I'm sure they're cheering me on. The only one who wasn't happy about me volunteering is my mom," he answers. He still sounds confident, but I can tell he feels hurt when he mentions his mother. "But I think she'll change her mind when I win and bring honor to District Four," he finishes. The crowd cheers at his answer.
I know a confident answer is good. I just can't help but feel bad about his mother back in Four. I know she'll be heartbroken if Mike dies, and the thing is, Mike truly believes he will win. I have to say, it reminds me of someone I used to know.
Mike does a good job with the rest of his interview, and Nathaniel continues onto the other districts. Most are fairly basic. There's all the usual questions about the Capitol and training scores. Also, there always has to be at least one teasing question on whether tributes have any feelings for their mentors of the opposite gender. It always embarrasses them, just like it did me, and the crowd eats it up.
I pay special attention to the Eight tributes, who are part of the underdog alliance. They seem like nice kids, not exactly victor material, but nice nonetheless. When the girl says she found people she can trust, I know Cyana is included.
The boy from Nine, Barley, gets plenty of attention.
"I don't believe we have ever seen a volunteer from an outlying district. Can you tell us your motives behind that?" Nathaniel asks. I'm curious to hear his answer myself.
"I know the boy who was picked, and I know his family needs him a lot more than people need me. It wouldn't have been right for him to die here," Barley answers.
So he didn't volunteer just for a chance at fame. He did it to save someone's life. That has to be the definition of selfless. He has my respect.
Nathaniel looks unsure for once. "That truly is noble, but how can you be sure you will do better? We've heard plenty of rumors about alliances that may or not be forming. We were all eager to see your score…"
"I know, I only got a six," Barley responds. "I never said I was the strongest. I just believe in doin' what's right. I think there are plenty of underdogs here that deserve a shot."
Yes, Barley from Nine is definitely one to watch. I pay attention to Nasser's interview as well. When Nathaniel comments that District Twelve rarely does good in training, he defends his home.
"Life isn't easy in Twelve. You can't expect us to worry about the Games when we're spending all our time just trying to get by. I never planned on getting picked, but I'm going to do my best. It's time for Twelve to have some luck," he answers, closing out the show with a bang.
I'm hoping the underdog alliance does well. I feel guilty about wishing for that when one of Four's tributes is in an opposing alliance, though.
"Lucky thirteen! I'm so excited!" Isidora squeals when our team is back on the fourth floor. The time has come to say our goodbyes.
I hug Michael and wish him luck. When I go to hug Cyana, I feel the crushing weight of knowing I might never see her again. It's not a good feeling. Everyone always wants the chance to say goodbye, but when it comes, it hits you that you will never be able to say everything you want. It will always seem hollow.
"Please, stay safe. Remember what you're fighting for," I say sadly as we embrace.
"I'll do my best," she says.
The tributes are sent to their rooms. "You two should get some rest. You won't have much time to sleep these next few weeks. I on the other hand, get to stay up and watch pre-Games talk shows!," Isidora tells Alec and I.
We look at each other and shrug at Isidora's excitement. We both go to Alec's room because we're way too anxious about tomorrow to sleep any time soon.
"Do you think there's anything else I should have told Cyana? I keep feeling like I forgot something," I say as I lay down on Alec's bed and look up at the ceiling.
"You can only do so much, " he says. "Kallan's lucky he doesn't have to deal with any of this right now."
"Yeah, but he had to deal with it for seven years. He deserves a break," I remind him.
"That's true," he says.
I can feel knots pulling at my stomach already. I'm worried sick about the tributes, and I know all to well what they are going through tonight. Their own personal horror movie begins tomorrow. Are they sleeping right now? I doubt it. If they feel anything like I did last year, they're being kept awake by paralyzing fear.
I think back to the little panic attack I had that night. The chill in my bones ran so deep that I could feel it in the core of my being. I couldn't stop shaking and I felt like I would die right then and there. Later that night, I woke up screaming and Alec found me.
"I never did thank you for what you did last year," I say suddenly. "It really did help to remember what I needed to fight for. I tried to do the same thing with Cy."
It takes Alec a second to get on the same page as me, but then his green eyes flash with recognition. "Oh, no problem. It feels good knowing you can have that future now, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, maybe," I say, my eyes drifting to the ground. The future family I had envisioned isn't exactly compatible with the life I am living now. Their lives would always be at risk.
"What do you mean?" Alec asks. I shake my head and say it's nothing, but I look pointedly around the room so he will know it isn't something to discuss here. He looks like he understands.
"I guess I should go back to my room and try to sleep," I say reluctantly.
"You can stay here if you want, as long as you don't kick me," he says with a small chuckle at the end.
"Kick you? What?" I ask in confusion.
"You kick in your sleep," he explains.
"I think I would know if I did that," I say.
"Mags, you've fallen asleep by me before. You kick in your sleep," Alec says smugly.
I can't think of any way to deny that because I probably do kick when I have nightmares. "Well at least I don't snore like some people here," I say, folding my arms.
"I snore?" he asks skeptically.
"Yep. Loud, too," I smile. Loud is an exaggeration, but he doesn't have to know that.
After I've changed into a t-shirt and pajama pants and we are in bed, my mind immediately drifts back to worrying about the tributes. At least the kicking and snoring thing got it off my mind for a few minutes. I don't think I'll have much luck with distracting my thoughts tonight.
I don't really do much to support my case that I'm not a restless sleeper. Even as I'm just trying to drift to sleep, I toss and turn enough to have to apologize to Alec several times. After a few hours, though, I hear a soft snoring next to me.
I'm not sure when exactly I fall asleep, but I know I do because I have the feeling I just went through a nightmare the next time I open my eyes. Dawn's light illuminates the blinds. That makes me shiver since I know that Mike and Cyana are being lead to the hovercraft right about now. Mentors don't be ready until just before ten because our work station is on the top floor of the training center. Who knows how far away the arena is this year.
I bury my face into Alec's arm and start imagining the different types of horrors that might await in the arena. Alec doesn't wake up until just after eight. He looks around groggily.
"Slept okay?" I ask, my voice muffled by his arm. I would make a joke about him snoring if I didn't feel so sad.
"It was okay, besides the bruises I probably have from you elbowing and kicking me all night," he says. I don't respond. "It was a joke…Mags?" he asks, brushing the hair out my face.
"I know. I'm just really stressed out," I say.
"All we can do is try to help them. Come on, we should go eat breakfast," he says.
Somehow, I manage to pull myself out of bed and go eat breakfast. I try to block out Isidora's commentary because I'm really not in the mood. I can tell I'm doing a good job of ignoring her when Alec snaps at her for saying something that I didn't catch at all. I'm sure I'm better off not knowing.
Alec and I make take the elevator to the top floor twenty minutes before the Games are due to start. I look around in surprise when the doors open. In all my years, I've never seen a place that looks so high tech. The room is filled to the brim with computers and screens and buttons. Everything is a shiny silver chrome.
There are twelve different spaces around the room, separated by short, thin, barrier walls. The walls don't block you from seeing others; they are just a way to designate different work stations. There are two chairs per station. Twenty-four mentor seats for twenty-four tributes. Of course, most of them are empty.
Mounted on the back wall are two giant screens. Like the screens at the workspaces, they are blank at the moment.
"What are those for?" I ask.
"The top one is the map of the arena. We can't see it until the tributes are in. The bottom is the feed they are showing in all of Panem."
"Oh," is all I say. I walk over to the District Four workspace and examine the screens. It's all a little overwhelming. From what I can tell, there's different buttons I can press to get views of different areas of the arena. There are screens for our tributes specifically. Then there's a separate monitor where you can check how much sponsor money is available and purchase gifts to send via parachute.
I sit down in my chair and look to the station next to me to see Sola, the District Five victor I met on my victory tour.
"Hey," I greet her weakly. "How are your tributes?"
"Hey, Magnolia," she nods to me. "Honestly, I don't know how long they'll last. Let's hope they survive the bloodbath," she sighs. "What about yours?"
We talk for a little while, until a loud robotic voice makes me jump. Tributes in tube. Arrival in thirty seconds. Prepare your stations.
"Good luck," Sola whispers. I turn to my screens and grip Alec's hand for support. My breathing is already labored.
All screens in the room flash to life in unison, and I am met with the sight of Mike and Cyana as they are pushed into the sunlight. The other, bigger screen gives a good view of what they are seeing.
The arena is filled with hills, hills, and more hills. The cornucopia is situation on the tallest hill, in the dead center of the oval arena. The top is flat and wide enough to contain the twenty-four tributes spread equidistant from the center. Beyond the main hill, others coat the distance, some steeper than others. The further away from the center, the more trees there are. They appear very thick at the edges of the arena.
The only source of water appears to be a wide river that winds randomly through the hills. The tributes are dressed in standard clothes and boots. A little box at the edge of the screen tells me it is average weather with a slight breeze.
The sixty second countdown chimes down, echoing loudly throughout the room.
10, 9, 8, 7...
I freeze in fear from the horrible memories that chime brings. I'm sure everyone hear is reminded of their own time in the arena. But I have to focus. For Michael. For Cyana.
3, 2, 1. "Ladies and gentleman, let the thirteenth annual Hunger Games begin!"
They are running. Mike towards the cornucopia; Cyana away from it. I try to keep track of their alliances, but they are everywhere. Some tributes have reached the Cornucopia and have gotten weapons. Kids are screaming. Kids are dying. Mike throws a spear into a boy from Ten.
I can see Cyana better now. Her and the two from Eight are running away, huddled together. Barley and Nasser are running to the nearest packs. The girl from Eight glances back and sees Nasser cornered by a sword. Within a second, she is screaming and all three are running back in confusion.
"No! Run, Cy, run!" I find myself screeching. I jump up and lean against the desk. Alec grips my hand harder and I realize I'm making a scene. I'm not the only one. Others are screaming at their tributes. Some are pounding their fists in exasperation.
A knife lodges in the neck of the teen who was about to attack Nasser. The tribute from Twelve grabs a pack and the five underdogs are running away again, with the boy from Eight bringing up the rear.
An arrow flies into Eight's thigh and he screams in pain, but keeps moving. I slide into my chair in relief when they are far enough away from the bloodbath to escape further notice. They regroup behind a hill.
"Cyana, Tailor, you two carry the bags," Nasser says, and they nod. Him and Barley help support the injured boy.
"I say we head for the trees," Barley says.
"I can fish, so we should stay near the river," Cyana adds.
They start moving through the hilly expanse, headed north. I divert my attention to Michael's screen to check on him. He is splattered with blood and has a few gashes, but otherwise seems fine. He's still fighting, though, so I have to look away. I don't want to watch that.
"My heart is about to pound out of my chest," I tell Alec.
"This is the worst part," he says, his eyes never leaving the tribute screen. He's doing a much better job at keeping his voice level than I am, but I still see him wince and flinch every time there is a death onscreen.
It's an agonizing bloodbath. The surrounding hills can provide decent coverage, but to get to them, you have to run down the hill the cornucopia is on. Some kids run that direction and start tumbling down the massive hill, only to be picked off one by one by those with weapons on top of the hill. It's just like the big grass plain last year. The game makers made sure you have to run through an area where you are very vulnerable before you can reach safety.
By the end of it, nine of the twenty-four are dead, including one from Mike's alliance. It turns out Craig from Two wasn't cut out for the Games, after all.
Everyone is on the move now. My tributes are safe for the moment, so I can take a minute to breathe. All I can think is that these next two weeks will be agonizingly long and difficult.
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