Gus

I'm not sure what to expect when I walk into the Remake Centre. I certainly wasn't expecting the President of Panem himself.

"President Snow!" I cry. "It's really you! What have I done to earn this honour?"

I bow before Snow to show him my respect. He has done an excellent job in keeping the rebellion under control.

"Guston Starkwain," Snow says. "You are going to win the Seventy-Sixth Hunger Games."

I gasp. Snow thinks I'm going to win? "Of course, sir! I'll fight my hardest!"

"You won't need to fight too hard," Snow says. "It is already decided. My gamemakers are going to rig you to victory."

I should be overjoyed. I'm going to win the games. I'm not going to die!

But one word bothers me. Rig.

Grandpa would question that. He'd want my victory to be honourable.

"You're rigging the games?" I ask.

"You must understand, Mr Starkwain," Snow says. "This country is in a volatile state. To consolidate our victory over the rebels, we need an ideal victor. Fawkes Chau was the best available option in the Quell but he had some rather… unfortunate skeletons in his closet. For this years games, I wanted someone unambiguously heroic, someone noble, another Luka Starkwain. You fit the bill perfectly. You've already selflessly volunteered to save your cousin."

Something about what Snow's just said doesn't sit right with me.

"Was the District 5 reaping rigged?" I ask.

Snow nods. "Unfortunately, yes. In these turbulent times, rigging every aspect of the games is a necessary evil. If you hadn't volunteered Dynamo would've been a perfectly acceptable victor, but we anticipated that you would. If you perform your role well, there will never be another games which will be rigged on this scale. I want you to be a hero, Guston Starkwain. Do heroic things, things that will make you liked in every district. When you kill, kill with respect. Protect weaker tributes than yourself. Don't be afraid to take risks. My gamemakers will protect you if you do. Play the role of the perfect victor."

That's a lot of pressure. I think.

"What if… I can't?" I ask, feeling foolish.

"Then you will die," Snow says. "And the rebels will gain power. If they become powerful enough… your family will be the first targets."

"I understand," I say. "I'll do my best. I'll win the games for you, sir."

"Good," Snow says. "Now go, see your prep team. I doubt they'll keep you long. You're far more civilised than your competitors. Remember that."

"Thank you, sir," I bow before I leave. I can feel the pressure mounting. I need to be perfect. Otherwise my family will suffer.

I just wish I felt more confident.

They dressed me like my grandfather.

My stylist, Nerissa, assured me that vintage was in this year and processed to dress me in the exact same costume Grandpa wore for his parade. Same tunic, same cloak, same laurel wreath. The only new element is some holographic lightning bolts that turn on when I get into the chariot.

I wonder if Grandma approves of my costume. She was the one who'd designed Grandpa's parade costume. It was the very first parade. She was a nameless art-school student who'd won a competition. He was a volunteer from a district that'd never won. But that one costume changed everything. That one costume brought them together. That one costume is the only reason why my family exists.

It feels almost sacrilegious to wear a copy of it.

Nerissa Leads me out to the chariot. I'm joined by Tornada, who's naked except for some hazard tape wrapped around her body to preserve her modesty. It would be an exact copy of Aunt Sotope's costume except her skin is covered with this glowing green makeup that makes her look radioactive.

She looks at me and she laughs.

"No way," she says. "No way did they give you the same costume as your grandpa."

"At least I look the part," I say. There's a reason why Aunt Sotope's stylist gave her such a revealing costume. She was an athlete. The sponsors saw her body and realised she was a contender to win. Tornada's costume just makes her look weak and skinny.

Tornada rolls her eyes. "Look, Guston, my mentor has advised me that it would be 'strategically beneficial' for me to be allies with you. Maybe I was a little… rash when I was reaped. I'm sorry for taking your watch. Can we start over?"

I hesitate. Tornada was horrible to me on Reaping Day but now she looks so apologetic. Maybe Beta convinced her to reconsider her behaviour. She looks so skinny in her costume, so weak, so vulnerable. I can't forget what Snow told me about protecting tributes weaker than myself.

I also can't forget what Snow said about Fawkes. He had some rather… unfortunate skeletons in his closet… He must've been referring to Binah Katayanagi, Fawkes' district partner from his first games. He killed her in her sleep at the final six. District 3 never forgave him, even though she was later revealed to be a notorious hacker who blackmailed peacekeepers.

I would like to hope that District 5 would be more forgiving to me than Three was to Fawkes. But I don't want Tornada Crossway to be a skeleton in my closet.

"We can try," I say. "I accept your apology. I've just… been considering allying with the Careers. I can't guarantee they'll let you in."

"The Careers, huh?" Tornada says. "I think I'll be fine. Both my mentors have experience working with Careers. They'll know what to do."

She's right. Beta mentored a former Career in the Quell. Tesoro joined the Careers in his games. I also know that Tornada has careful hands and quick reflexes, since she was able to steal my watch. With three days of training, she could pick up some weapons skills, though I doubt she'll be able to put on much muscle. Maybe it would also be useful to have a thief on my side. Tornada could make all the sneaky moves I'd be scared to make for fear of not being heroic enough and having her around being sneaky would make me look more heroic in comparison.

As we take our places in the chariot, we have a perfect view of the Twos. The Threes and Fours are all so short, I can see over their heads. They've both wearing peacekeeper uniforms but, instead of helmets, they're wearing elegant silver crowns. Both the Twos look incredible but I find myself focusing on Hephaestion more. In that clean white outfit, with a halo of silver resting in his curly hair, he looks like a model from one of the Capitol's posters, a prince in peacekeeper attire. I get a sick feeling in my stomach just looking at him.

What did you do, I wonder, to get your district to hate you so much? You certainly don't look like someone they'd hate.

Just before the doors open and the chariots start moving, Hephaestion glances over his shoulder, looks me straight in the eye and gives me a shy little wave.

Not sure what to do, I wave back.

President Snow makes an appearance! Now we have confirmation that the District 5 reaping was rigged. The games will also be rigged in Gus' favour, provided he plays the hero. Since Gus already wants to be the hero that shouldn't be too hard, right?

We also have Gus communicating with an ally or two during the parade. Firstly, by making a truce with Tornada. She seems to have changed her ways but time will tell how long Gus will be able to trust her. Secondly, by waving to Hephaestion. Gus still doesn't know why Hephaestion was booed during the reaping but Luka will probably tell him after the parade.

I was originally going to do a full parade chapter but it was really long and it wasn't really relevant to the plot. It was just mentors chatting and tributes wearing outfits so I decided to cut it. Next chapter will be day one of training.