Hey guys! I hope that you enjoy this chapter! I'm pretty happy with it! Make sure to review and answer the questions and vote in the poll if you haven't already!

District 2 train rides

Auriel's POV

As the train rattles on, so do I talking to the District 2 mentor, Brutus. He's this past years victor and a great inspiration to all District two careers in training. He's my ultimate favorite District 2 victor following my kin victors.

"You're uncle Dexter really paved the way for all District 2 volunteers and victors! Not that I couldn't have done it myself, but he definitely helped!" Exclaimed the new victor, and now mentor.

"Yeah." I respond. "He really helped me out with training. Did I tell you how I became the chosen volunteer?" I ask.

"No, I don't believe you did." He responds.

I tell him the whole story about battling my cousin for the spot, losing, and then the whole poisoning trick. By the end we are all laughing our heads off, except for India.

"So you're saying you actually poisoned your cousin! That's an awful thing to do!" Exclaims India disgustedly.

"Yep." I respond. "It's better than not even volunteering from District 2! Did you even train?" I question.

"Yes, for your information, I did train. I was one of the best fighters in my class. I was just smart enough to not risk my life when I don't have to." She says.

"Hey now-" I start to respond before I'm cut off by my mentor.

"Now don't get into a huge fight over nothing. It's obvious that India doesn't stand a chance, and you, you are a Lépou!" Exclaims our mentor nodding at me.

"Wait! You can't do that! You're our mentor! You're supposed to help us survive! You can't abandon me! I need your help!" Exclaims India with tears starting to stream down her face.

"I'm sorry India. This is my first year as mentor, and it's going to be my last. Auriel will win the Hunger Games, you will die, and Auriel can take over my job as mentor. I'm not going to be like all these other mentors who lose two tributes every single year. I know what they've been doing wrong. You can't work with both of your tributes. Their's no point. Only one can come out, so it might as well be your best tribute." He says simply and plainly.

India runs out of the room crying. In a way I feel bad for her, but at the same time the extra attention from our mentor will definitely be hopeful.

Brutus and I talk for a while longer. My confidence keeps on growing the more I talk to him.

"So what are your strengths?" Questions Brutus.

"Well I can fight with basically any weapon, but my main strength is survival." I say. Brutus looks surprised so I explain. "I figured it would be an advantage to not just know about the weapons. I've watched all the Hunger Games back several times, and whenever a career doesn't win , it was usually because they did something stupid, like eating something poisonous." I say. Brutus seems to approve.

"I think you're going to be even better than I thought." he says. "Now to the reapings."

We both go to watch the reapings together. At the end we talk about the possibilities.

"So, How do you think the careers will shape out?" He asks.

"Well, it might be a little bit smaller this year. Their could be no district 1 careers this year. The girl for sure won't be. I'm hoping the boy has trained and just didn't volunteer. I guess India could be a career, but I'm not too sure about that girl. District 4 should be helpful. Overall I wouldn't mind just going it with the District 4 pair, but it would be helpful to have more help." I say.

"You'll have to think about that. Once you know who you want make sure to act quickly and let it be known to them that if they don't join they will have trouble coming their way." He says. I nod in agreement.

"I'm going to go check up on India." I say.

"Oh, don't worry about her. I actually thought she could be alright until she broke down. To be victor you have to be emotionless. She's as good as gone." He says bluntly like he doesn't even care, and he probably doesn't. I nod along making look like I agree, but I still go to check up on her.

I walk down the hall to India's room to see her sitting on her bed with our escort still trying to comfort her. I walk into her room to talk to her.

"Hey, do you mind if I talk alone with India for a second?" I ask. The escort looks to India for her consent. India nods, and our escort leaves to give us privacy.

"I'm sorry about what he said back there. He didn't mean it." I say untruthfully.

"Oh no, he meant it!" She responds. "And I'm going to prove him wrong. I'm going to win these games and show him. I'll leave these games unscaved. Then I'll steal Brutus's thunder, and no one will care about him." She says.

"What are you trying to say? You do realize that if you win I die." I say.

"Well that's obvious. I wouldn't mind taking care of you myself." She says threateningly.

I'm shocked to hear these words coming from the girl who was crying uncontrollably earlier.

"The feelings mutual." I fire back. "And at least I have a chance." I feel pretty proud of myself for that one so I just storm out of the room before she steals the momentum.

This war has officially begun.

I hope that you enjoyed that chapter! Here are the questions-

Who do you think will have the final say between Auriel and India?

Did your opinions change on either of these tributes since the reapings?