This year just keeps getting worse and worse for me. The interviews don't really help anyone, except for the now star crossed lovers of District 12.
After my tributes left, just passing by, we mostly just hung out back stage and tried not to remind myself of how my tributes had bombed that experience. The interviews had always been my favorite part of my time in the Capitol. Even when I was a tribute, I liked them the best because it was easiest for me to speak to the people and express myself.
Marvel was stupid and Glimmer was just, well, pretty. If she wins, she might be a new heartthrob for all the guys in the Capitol. For that, I feel bad for her. Cato and Clove came off as cocky, like I imagined. I don't even think they had to train themselves to be that way; they just were. The girl from 5 was amazingly sneaky and I put her on the top of my threat list.
Rue was so cute up there, in her dress that made her seem even more youthful. She seemed so delicate sitting under the bright lights, answering the questions in her quiet voice. Rue was innocent and that was the worst part of it all.
Katniss was silly. I watched and each time she turned in her fiery dress and giggled, I lost more and more fear in her. For the first time, I had the serious thought that she might not make it past the bloodbath. She could've just been wearing a mask that had us all fooled, until she sat back down on that chair and calmed herself down. When she started talking about her sister, they should've just crowned her victor right then.
She had the entire audience in tears. I bet that she could tell them to get her back home and they would all do it without a second thought. The worst part of it all was that she didn't even know she was doing it.
Peeta was the best interview of the entire night. He was funny, cracking jokes about the showers, which are not my favorite part of the Capitol. When he got serious was when it all went nuts. The question came about the girl back home, the one asked to every good looking tribute. And, for once, he seemed almost scared.
He didn't look the type of scared you get when you look death in the eye. That scared is different than the scared you get when you are about to spill your guts out to someone because they are interrogating you. You thought Claudius would've asked to tell the world about some dark family secret.
Finally, he stammers out that he doesn't have anyone back home. Claudius gives him some relationship tips and then Peeta messes them all up because someone winning won't help him, which is strange. Claudius obviously wants to know why, like Claudius always does.
"Because she came here with me." Peeta stammers out and you can hear the gasps coming from the audience. Tabia gasps too. I turn around and she quickly covers her mouth with her hand. The last thing we need is an unsupportive escort.
Then the interviews are over. I send Kanani and Paul to bed, which I know they aren't going to sleep, but they really should. They aren't going to sleep comfortably in the arena, so it is best to stock up on it now. Johanna bangs open the door before I can even get another thought in. It is a good thing Kanani and Paul are gone.
"Why did Peeta have to say that? Have you seen the rankings?" She says angrily. When I shake my head no, she grabs the television remote and turns on the television. Sure enough, Katniss Everdeen is listed as number one.
"We can still work around this. If we kill her in the bloodbath, no one will even know what is going on." I tell her, but she doesn't think it is a good response.
"Or we could give up, let her win. It won't be so bad. What did she ever do to you?" I throw out. She glares at me like I said the stupidest thing ever, which would be the concept of the Hunger Games.
"Don't you like bringing home victors? It isn't fair to have someone already be winning and they haven't even made it a day in the arena."
"The Careers have no problem with doing that."
"I don't care because they have had training and can put up a fight. Katniss…just…I get this bad feeling about her. She is trouble and I can tell." She explains.
"Just go to bed. We will see what happens in the morning." She gets up to leave before I throw in one more word.
"Just don't talk to Enobaria. That is the last thing we need right now." With that, Johanna is out the door and I can hear her footsteps stomping down the hallway until they stop with a door slam.
"5….4….3….2….1!" And they are off. All twenty four of them are running as fast as they can, some stopping to pick up things that tempt them in the cornucopia and others take off toward the surrounding forests. Those are the smart ones.
The first person I notice is Katniss, who surprisingly, takes a stop at the feast. Enobaria has clearly put the plan into action, because Clove starts launching knifes at her. One hits the boy who is wrestling her and the other hits in the bright orange backpack that she has grabbed. She takes off without Clove running after her. Clove just sticks another knife into a boy's heart.
I notice Foxface has also been held up at the arena, but she has sneakily plucked some things that people didn't concern themselves with or were thrown when their owner died. She ducks into the forest in the same area Katniss did. I don't worry for either of them. The chances of either killing the other are slim.
When the bloodbath is finally over and it gives the time for the gamemakers to count the bodies is when people's tablets start flashing off. It starts with Cashmere, who makes it by, Enobaria, who follows, Beetee, who loses the girl, and then me, who everyone expects to go by. But it doesn't.
Paul is dead.
Sorry if this chapter was rushed! I just wanted to get into the games more. Thanks for all your reviews! There will be a special announcement in the next chapter!