"After interest in the Games drops to an all time low, President Snow is determined to regain the once amazing popularity. Twelve tributes. One 'arena.' And one game-changing twist. Welcome to the 80th Hunger Games, the Rebirth."

~ The Rebirth Games ~

Chapter Four:

Dinner

"Cheers," says Finnick, raising his thin glass of wine. "It's lovely to see you back here so soon."

Sitting right opposite him with his legs crossed is Beetee Latier. I see his name marked on so many products at stores. He's basically the biggest genius of Panem. A true inventor.

"Good evening, Mr. Tides," he says to me. I nod. "Hey."

He leans forward in his sofa, setting his glass down onto the floor. "Ah, so it seems you have met my tribute already.. The wonderful Tren." Right beside me, she puts on a nervous smile.

"I forgot to mention, Danix. Despite not having a tribute partner, Umbree has ordered that each tribute have an ally, I guess," says Finnick. "You know, just to help the tributes mingle.. Apparently these Games will involve more.. friendships."

I honestly don't know how to react. I thought no tribute partners meant that I didn't have to kill my only friend if it got down to it. Tren seems too innocent. Too kind. And I know I won't be able to save her when it comes down to just her and I.

"Anyway," continues Finnick. "How about dinner?"

After about an hour of rest, I walk back into the dining hall and it has completely changed. The lights have dimmed. The long table is now filled with soft glowing candles. A huge chandelier hangs from the center of the roof. And more noticably, there are avoxes in all four corners holding trays.

"Take a seat, they don't bite," says Finnick.

I can't let the opportunity to play along just pass, even if I'm meant to ignore him. "Yeah. They certainly can't bite after Snow got to them.."

Finnick lets out an odd laugh as the door slides open. Beetee and Tren both walk inside, an avox guiding them to their seats. Beetee sits opposite Finnick while Tren sits opposite me.

"I'm sure you're both very hungry," says Beetee nodding his head to me and Tren. "You should take in all that you can. I hear that the arena will either make you or break you.."

"Yeah, I suppose so. But we just got to get on with it," I reply.

"But it will break me.." Tren sighs as avoxes fill the table with silver dishes, pulling off their lids to reveal delicious foods. "It was never meant to be like this.." she continues, somewhat whispering to herself. "Now seventeen years will go to a waste for the Capitol's entertainment..."

I look up from the plate of steaming turkey and stare into her eyes. "I'm seventeen too."

She looks back at me, and after a moment of silence, Finnick speaks up. "Neither of you are going to die.. Don't be so foolish."

I instantly catch attention of his words. Neither of you are going to die. It must be a way to inspire us, but I take it a bit more literal. "What do you mean that neither of us will die? There's only one victor after all."

Finnick stutters on his words. "I never.. I never said that."

"Odair.." mutters Beetee, gently tapping him on the shoulder. "You are excused to go to the restroom." I watch as Beetee nods his head, Finnick finally copping on a moment later.

"Oh yes! I need to go to the restroom. I will be straight back."

"No, wait! You know something!" I yell as the exit slides open. "Tell me now!"

He tilts his head around and glares at me, saying just one word. "Goodbye."

The avoxes glare at us in confusion and I focus my eyes on the glistening foods. They have almost got a layer of nailpolish, it seems. But I quickly look away, I can't get hungry anymore. Looking up at Beetee, I speak straight to him with no hesitation.

"Explain what Finnick was trying to say."

He carefully takes off his glasses, cleaning the lenses with a napkin. "No."

"Fine," I say loud and clear, standing up from the chair which jerks the table back. "You can keep your secrets. I don't think President Snow or Umbree will be too happy when I announce that there can be several victors live during the interviews." My threatning tone almost sounds sort of fake, which it is in a way. And Beetee bursts out laughing as he puts his glasses back on.

"You're so hilarious!" he cries. "Do you want to die in the Games or be executed a full night earlier for illegally releasing private information? Either way, Snow and Umbree won't mind.."

"As a mentor and precious icon of the Capitol, I think you and the public will be very upset once everyone finds out that Mr. Latier was bullying some of the tributes," I continue. But Beetee only lets out an even huskier, bolder laugh.

"Bullying! You're so funny, Danix. And I don't think Mr. or Mrs. Tides will be too happy about this." He takes a small sip of his champagne sitting on the table in front of him. "You know that they were heading to the Capitol after the meetng for business work.. Maybe you might see them on your journey and explain it all to them!"

"You're hiding a secret. How do you know they're going to the Capitol?" I ask.

He looks me straight in the eyes, pulling his glasses down his nose with his index finger. "What secrets do you have?"

What secrets do you have? The same question Finnick asked me before Maris warned me about him. And she told me not to trust anyone. Beetee could fit into that category. Both know something. Both have just asked me the same question. What secrets do you have?

"I'm done," I say as I storm towards the door. I barely hear Beetee's last chuckle again before I step into the darkness of the hallway. "But don't you want to at least try your starter?"

I'm done with his mocking attitude. And Finnick's too. I don't even know where I'm going. To my room maybe, but as I walk down the hall, I sense an odd shiver go up my back. And it's not because that one question keeps swirling in my mind. What secrets do you have? No, I can literally feel the cold. Then I feel the gentle breeze. Through the dark, I think I see my door but I pass it. I feel pressured to keep walking, by someone. By something. I keep moving until I see the ajar door, a crack in the darkness showing pale moonlight.

I pull on the handle and step outside. Suddenly I'm walking on a smooth plastic surface. A small table and a chair sit beside me and a railing rings around the edge of the platform. I'm on a balcony of sorts. A balcony just inches above the metal railway tracks. I grab onto the steel bars and look out across the rocky terrain. I see countless amounts of tall oak trees. Huge boulders glued to spots across the mountains. I think I even hear water. Maybe from a waterfall or a fountain. And I barely see small dots of light off in the distance. Homes. Buildings. They could be anything, but that can only mean one thing; we're passing through a district.

Of course, the mountains. The rocky landscape. We're passing through District 2, the home of all these things. It's my one conclusion.. And when we spin around a sharp bend and across a brick bridge, I know I'm right. I see towering buildings, even the large Justice Building. I see the Nut looming behind the city. I hear the echoes of cars honking their horns. The chatter of swarming citizens down below. I can see it all.

"It's beautiful."

I instantly spin to see the source of the voice. Standing in the doorway, I see Tren with her blonde hair tied into two plaits. "Out of 1 and 2, District 2 was always the better district. I feel like the Capitol's plague didn't infect them as much."

Suddenly, I hear a loud crackle whir through the dark sky. And I watch as an explosion of color and sparks rains down across the moon. Fireworks. Blue. Green. Yellow. Red. All sorts of colors. They explode, casting brightness over the dull city below. And then comes the cheers, a cheer of a big crowd.

"Ooh-rah! Ooh-rah!" It continues to repeat throughout the night.

"Well, the Capitol's plague has certainly affected them now," I say. Tren creeps up beside me, placing her hand on the bar beside mine. Almost oddly close to mine. I slowly turn to look at her and we both catch eyesight. Awkwardly, I toss my head back around to stare at the fireworks.

"I know I'm not going to win, but.." she turns around, stares straight at me. I'm about to reassure her with hope, but she continues on. "But.. but you.."

I look back around, find her hand even closer. Just centimeters apart now. Her mouth shuts on a clearly unfinished sentence. She wants me to talk, I feel it. So I do so.

"But maybe I can."

"But maybe I can."

Danix's voice booms out from the holographic image as Umbree presses pause on her remote. "Odair is so close to bursting this entire bubble. And if he cannot contain himself..."

A loud, echoey voice cuts her off. "Don't worry, my dear. I'll have the consequences increased for this special occasion. Any sort of spilling of information on the Games is unacceptable. But for these Games... there are just no other options but for death itself to be forced upon those who spill."

"I'm glad you're taking my reinvention so seriously," whispers Umbree. "It's just so... I'm just... I'm so honoured to be accepted by you."

"Yes, but don't use revinvention. It sounds odd.." the man says.

"How about.."

"Rebirth," he continues, interrupting Umbree.

"Rebirth is perfect.," Umbree says.

Snow slowly rises from his seat. "Now, let us go down to the Control Room. We need to see how your Gamemakers have been bringing your ideas to life.."

Author's Note:

Ooooooh... ;)

"But maybe I can."

Hello everybody! Welcome to Chapter Four of The Rebirth Games, Dinner! Not quite the dinner you were expecting, eh? So clearly we have deepened the mystery quite a bit.. What the heck was that about with Beetee? I have said before, but I will say it again, you will not be finding out any time soon. I'm sorry, but it's a mystery! To keep the suspense going, the mystery must keep going up until the end of this story. ;)

So... what do you think the mystery is? I have dropped just ONE clue. Yes, one. Not much, but the start of the Games will open up so many more.. Even if you can't think of a solid theory, just throw out guesses! I'd love to hear what you have going on in your head! :P But note that your guesses will not affect my writing in any sort of way. I have the entire mystery solved in my head, now I have to fill in all the blanks with the pre-Games and the Games. :D

Whether you liked or disliked this chapter, please feel free to leave a review if you would like! I love the support this story is getting already and hopefully I can entertain you all with the Games... ;)

Stay tuned for Chapter Five as the Capitol is awaiting just a little bit ahead.. C:

Thank you all so much for reading, byeeeee! :D