6 years passed quickly. The kids spent every single day training hard. They were kept in separate rooms, and contact with each other was strictly forbidden. Severe punishments were given to those who break rules.
5 days before the official start of the Death Carnival, they were taken out of their separate rooms and gathered together in a spacious one. It was the first time in 6 years that they had seen each other. Everyone looked different than the scrawny, terrified kids they were last time. If it was possible, the Careers looked even stronger and bulkier. Their very presence is intimidating.
No one made a sound, save Tamora who's humming loudly to herself. Eye contacts were occasionally made, though lasting only for mere seconds. Drake couldn't stop sneaking looks at Savannah. He longed to call her over and simply chat. But no, he can't speak anymore, hasn't spoken for 6 years. The price for the 'gift' of silence.
"More like a curse," Drake thought sullenly.
"Welcome, the tributes of the Death Carnival!" Hazard's voice boomed out suddenly. 26 children turned their heads towards the direction of the voice. There, on the doorway, stood the five members of Org XII, Hazard right in the middle.
"Now I'm sure all of you are aware that 5 days from now, you will be taken to our special arena where you will fight for your very survival. The Death Carnival will last until only one remains standing. The question is, will that be you? Nobody knows."
Devious spoke up, "But you have got to prepare. The reason why we gathered you all together here instead of letting you train is so that you can formulate your plan, ask us anything you're unsure of, treat your injuries, and of course, to beautify you. You want to look good for the cameras! This is also the time for you to form alliances. Now I'm not forcing you to form one. If you prefer working alone, then that's fine."
A grey-haired man in a lab coat, Daedalus, chuckled, "I want those from Districts 1-7 to come with me and Athena to the lab, so we can 'beautify' you, gihihi. The rest will wait out here first, gihihi."
Who knew the beautifying process was even worse than injections of the Serums? A few hours later, everyone looked squeaky clean, and well, beautified.
"Now is the time for you to form all your alliances!" Athena called out.
The Careers, save Glimmer, immediately gathered together and formed the temporary alliance. Alicia grabbed Maver, Meteor and Lance, then whispered, "Can we let Silver into the team please? Pretty please, with sugar on top?"
Meteor didn't look too happy about that. "He's not a Career. And anyway, you've got no time to be falling in love in the arena."
"I am not in love with him!"
Lance scoffed, "Oh really now? So you don't want him in the team anymore right?"
Maver stood silent all this while, crossing his arms. Alicia suspected that if he still had his eyes, he would be rolling them.
"Ugh! You guys are impossible!" Alicia threw up her hands in the air, exasperated.
This time, Maver spoke up, though his voice was barely a whisper, "Of course, you can leave us and join him. It's your choice."
Alicia seemed to have lost her voice, as she watched the three boys calmly walk away. "Boys. Impossible to understand. Fine! Wait up you guys! I'm joining you!"
Secretly she thought of a plan on how she'd join Silver later on.
A plan that Ace could see, just like all the other plans being formulated in the room, thanks to his mind-reading abilities. His ability has improved so that he could see and hear anyone's thoughts within a five-mile radius, ten miles if he strained harder. He stood quietly at the side, watching, learning. Quite a useful power…
He also know Rhea's, the Charmer, plan. "Since I won't be able charm the mutant, I should form an alliance with her. That way, I can avoid getting killed by her for a while," Rhea thought. She approached Liana, and took note of her strange outfit. They were indoors, but she was wearing a hat, and rain-boots. She was also wearing an overcoat and thick, wooly gloves, though it was sweltering in the room. She was sitting alone, sipping something from her cup. Liana appeared shocked when Rhea sat in front of her.
"I propose an alliance."
"I don't accept, I'd rather operate alone."
Rhea complained, which was hard to do when you're whispering, "But why? Isn't it better for you to have someone watching your back?"
Liana stared at her, "Not if they're gonna stab my back with a knife later on. Besides, why would you want to partner up with me? I'm a mutant, a freak. I'm sure you'd scream if you see what I look like without the coats and the hat."
Rhea laughed, "You can't be that scary."
Without a word, Liana took off the coat, the hat, the boots and the gloves. Rhea bit her lip to keep from screaming. Okay, the furry ears on top of her head and the silky tail were quite cute. But where her hands should be, were claws, capable of tearing open someone's throat. She wasn't wearing any shoes now, and instead of feet, she had paws, not very furry but rather scaly, with extra sharp, two-inch nails.
Rhea gulped and laughed nervously, "See, I told you you weren't that scary."
Liana raised one of her eyebrows. "Not even after you see this?" She grinned then, revealing extra pointy canine teeth. Her eyes started to glow too, an eerie yellow.
"Guess she doesn't need her claws to tear open someone's throat," Rhea thought, feeling a little sick.
"Okay, okay, you're scary. But I still propose that alliance. Quit your eye-glowing thing will you? And close your mouth."
Liana giggled, "You're quite brave. Yeah, okay, I'll be your temporary ally. But what's your special ability anyway?"
Rhea smiled, extending her hand, "I'm Rhea, the Charmer."
Ace saw the two girls shook hands, and took note. The Fox and The Charmer. He then turned to where Glimmer and Azura was, also shaking hands on the alliance. The Electric Girl and The Brave.
Savannah had formed an alliance with Fawn and her best friend Rey. She had also gathered her nerves and stalked up to Drake.
"I'm proposing an alliance, will you join us?" she cried out, her voice coming out louder than she wanted. Heads were turned towards her direction, making her blush. "So? What's your answer?"
Drake grinned and nodded. He followed her towards the group.
"She asked me! Me! I can't believe my luck! Oh yeah! I am so AWESOME!" Drake thought excitedly. Ace almost laughed out loud reading his mind. So, The Size Manipulator, The Camouflaged, The Silent One and The Bow and Arrows Wielder (The Two Best Friends and The Two Lovebirds) are together.
The Eagle-Eyed, The Acid Wielder, The Silent Predator and The Strong. The hunter pack has been formed too.
The day ended quickly, with strategies planned out and alliances formed. Ace was quite pleased to have gathered tons of useful information. He figured working alone would be better, so he wouldn't have to deal with the guilt of killing his own 'ally' later on.
4 days later, in the Control Room,
"Athena, are the systems up and working?"
She nodded, "The whole of Panem will be watching the game."
Hazard sighed, relieved. "All right then, how soon can we start?"
"5 minutes sir. You can load the tributes into the hovercrafts now."
Hazard barked out, "Zeus! Devious! Daedalus! You heard her! Load them up!"
The three saluted, crying out 'Yes, sir!' in unison.
Athena's hands tapped furiously on the keyboard. 5 minutes later, she leaned back on her chair, clearly exhausted. "All right sir, we're connected. You can start talking."
Hazard joined his two hands, intertwining the fingers. "Long have I waited for this."
In one of the houses of Victor's Village, District 12,
"Sam! Clary! Breakfast's ready!" Katniss cried out.
Peeta came out of the bedroom, still disheveled and sleepy-eyed. "What are we eating?"
Katniss shrugged, laughing, "I honestly don't know. I fried the thing that looks like chicken and cooked soup. Actually, I just heated water and threw in stuff into it. Taste quite okay though."
Peeta grinned and kissed his wife. "I'm sure it would be delicious."
Katniss looked at him skeptically, "Is that sarcasm?"
Before Peeta could answer, the phone rang. "I'll get it," Peeta called out.
From the tone of his voice, Katniss could hear that the matter being discussed was of utmost importance. When he finally hung up, she asked, "What's wrong?"
"Turn the TV on."
A man, probably in his mid-thirties, came into view. Holding a white rose in his hand, he looked just like a younger version of the late Snow. Katniss gasped out loud, as memories of the war resurfaced.
The man smiled and started talking, his voice upbeat. "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Good day to you all. My name is Herald, but I go with the name Hazard. I am President Snow's grandson, sent away for exile years back. I hate him, and would do anything to take revenge. But since he's dead, I decided I'd take it out on you all, Panem. In 5 minutes, you will be watching a deadly game live, played by 26 tributes that I kidnapped 7 years ago. These children are special. Using the serums that I invented, I gave them certain abilities. They're not simply children anymore. They're now killing machines, and they are mine. Do you still remember the Hunger Games? This new game is just like it, but even deadlier. The fight for one's survival."
Hazard looked at his watch, "Oh look! 5 minutes is up! So now ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you, to the first ever Death Carnival!"
The view changed into what must have been the arena. It showed a dense forest, with a wide, circular lake in the middle of it all. No Cornucopia can be seen. There were 26 stationary hovercrafts in midair.
Hazard's voice boomed out, "Tributes! When the gong sounds, jump out from the hovercrafts! Do this within 5 seconds, for the hovercrafts are programmed to self-destruct after 5 seconds. If you don't jump, the hovercrafts will blow up, with you in it. So get ready!"
50 seconds, 30 seconds, 10 seconds. The gong sounded, and instantly, two or three figures jumped out, landing perfectly on the trees.
Hazard cackled, "Let the first Death Carnival begin!"
How was it guys? Please leave a review! Constructive criticism are much appreciated!
As you all know, the tributes here are based on my classmates. They love making fanfics too. Check them out in these fanfic accounts:
Ace Cahill, D7 boy : AceCahill
Cyan Wilder, D10 girl : ThatRandomTribute25
Alicia Carstairs, D2 girl : Clovecarstairs02
Meteor Cavalier, D6 boy : Meteor Cavalier
Drake Oblivion, D11 boy : Drake the Dragon
Asdf Qwerty, D10 boy : Master2909
