VETUS VITA, VETUS MEMORIA

Old Life, Old Memory

COLOSSEUM

The Capitol

The train was more luxe and lavish than anything Enki had ever seen. He had thought that as he entered and he continued to think so, sat opposite Cleopatra. Ellara and Idola had retired to the mentoring carriage near immediately, leaving the two to entertain themselves. Enki'd be lying if he didn't feel the distinct chill that marked their change in status.

We're no longer designated volunteers. We're tributes now. One of us has to die for the other to come home.

It was an unspoken acknowledgement, both of them acutely aware that (if things went to plan) only one of them would be riding in the same train back home. Enki shuddered, not wanting to think of who that'd be. He believed he deserved it but he knew that Cleo felt the same way, especially with her older sister mentoring her.

"- other Careers?"

Lost in his thoughts, Enki only managed to hear the end of whatever comment Cleopatra had made. She looked at him expectedly, like she always did, wanting to theorise and make guesses on their allies for the next two or so weeks. She was prepared like that; her life seemingly revolving around the Hunger Games even more than it needed to. Keepers knew Enki tried to replicate her fervour for it but…

"Huh?" Enki wanted one of the windows to open and suck him away, launch him into the wilderness and leave him there. How he was supposed to retain the farce of a charismatic Career when he was too distracted, he didn't know. Careers from District Two were known for the might and battle prowess – if he kept it up, all he'd be known for was looking pretty and not having a single thought (ironically enough) in his brain.

Life had thrown him a bone with Cleopatra, however, and the girl just smiled and laughed. "Thinking of ways to kill again?"

"Of course – sorry." Enki's smile felt unnatural on his lips, ever the stark reminder that it – he – was all fake. "You were saying? About the other Careers?"

"Glad you're on my side Kiki, thinking of all those ways to kill –" A touch of genuinity came at the nickname Cleopatra had bestowed him early on, her taking a liking to him for whatever reason. " – I asked what you think the other Careers would be like?"

"Hopefully dumb enough to let us lead the pack but not so dumb they're a liability," He retorted, remembering some old trash talk that some of the older Careers had said once when he was younger. "We definitely want to have a monopoly on the pack."

"Oh, definitely. Perhaps they could even be weak and we can start off looking strong by killing them instantly?"

Glancing over, Cleo wore a mirthful smile before she laughed and shook her head. "Kidding – numbers are what we need to begin with." She went silent for a moment, her gaze being attracted by the rolling hills of Panem's wilderness before she looked back at Enki. She flashed him one of her trademark smiles, one that radiated warmth and confidence. "I bet we'll be a force to be reckoned with, you and me."

Enki nodded and returned the same sentiment, though his mind stuck on her words as he wondered just how far his facade could go.

The main lounge carriage of Two's train began to fill as the district's Victors filed in. The recaps of the reapings were due to air, as indicated by the violet sky seen as the train flew through Panem. All of the reapings had finished, giving the team of District Two time to look at Enki and Cleo's competitors and generate plans around them. Enki was nervous and, from the way he looked at Cleo and saw the same trepidation in her eyes, she was the same. As if on instinct, both of them linked arms and sat close as they went through the reapings.

The Ones seemed frilly and too fragile to be of note. The boy, Tiaran, seemed to be suave enough but even some of the Victors around him mentioned 'style over sustenance' and that he'd likely be an easy kill. Hearterelle, the girl, certainly had a more determined glint in her eye and Enki could imagine she'd be vicious when she needed to be. Still, she seemed to be bubbly enough and Cleo had cooed at her effervescent personality.

They skipped over their own reaping, much at the relief of Enki – he didn't need nor want to see himself again. Not on camera, at least.

The District Four male, Finnos, was definitely more charming than Tiaran had tried to be and seemed to have more personality in his little finger. Never one to oogle at the guys around him, Enki bit back a sigh as he realised he couldn't simply admire the boy in the arena, knowing that one of them would have to die for the other to come home. ("You can still talk to him!" Cleo had said later on that night, actively encouraging a small romance with a grin on her face.) The girl, Molly, looked… average. If Enki were honest – and some of the Victors echoed his opinion when he said it without thinking – there was nothing overtly special about her. Kirkor even suggested she had been a last minute option, seeing as she looked so weak compared to Finnos.

"It never hurts to have a reliable early death," Ellara said knowingly, nodding at Enki as if to suggest he needed to begin to think that way. He would – just he equally wouldn't be happy with it.

The District Sevens were an interesting pair. The boy, Faunus, was described by the Victors around Enki as being a 'classic District Seven Career.' Having been forced by Marida to watch a large number of the previous Hunger Games, Enki could agree; he looked robust and resolute within himself. The girl, Ponderosa, was more skittish but reminded those around him of the inaugural District Seven Career Victor.

Enki and Cleo looked at one another as their mentors and the Victors spoke about the trainees, wondering just what exactly they had gotten themselves into.

The main training hall felt empty when it was devoid of any equipment. The sleek, sterile walls that encased them served only to elevate The Hunger Games to a level of professionalism that even Enki didn't think that District Two realised. Being part of a Career district, a privilege was seeing pictures of the facilities beforehand so training day strategies could be theorised in class. Without all the weapons and survival simulations lining the walls and floors, it was a stark reminder as any that, next year, they'd be replaced once more with twenty-eight new faces.

The thought was macabre. Far too solemn for the confident Careers of District Two. Enki knew that, which was why he tried to smile smugly at Tsiphone le Bellark. The head trainer failed to be imposing – her size and stature undermining whatever threat she could have (not that Enki doubted it for a second; some of the youngest at The Sanctuary were the most feral) – but, in that moment, she commanded the worlds of twenty-eight teenagers. And she knew it, based on how relaxed she was.

Nothing seemed amiss about the collection of the tributes; as he was sure everyone else did, Enki simply assumed that training started before the mentors were aware in a cheap way to undermine them. From what he had seen about the relationship between the Capitol and the districts, it seemed apt in Enki's mind. What unnerved him – as it did for everyone else, judging from the side glances people shared with one another – was how the thirty-one living Victors made their way to the far wall, taking the seats he thought were for the Gamemakers, and grouping in their districts.

He glanced at Cleo, hoping she'd have an answer for the inner workings of the Academy like she always did. Perplexion glittered her face; eyebrows furrowed in a way that told Enki that even she was confused by it all. He glanced back to the wall of Victors, recognising all of District Two's and some of the other Careers. What struck him as the most unfair (not for him, however) was the sheer number of Victors from One, Two, Four and Seven and how some districts, like Five, had none. It was another reminder that the Capitol he had been warned about growing up did exist; that they worked relentlessly to pit the districts against each other.

"Tributes! I welcome you to The Deliverance!" Tsiphone spoke with purpose, knowing that everyone in the room (the Victors included - Enki noticed some of them winced at her words) hung on to her words. "I'm sure you're all confused. The Deliverance? What could that be? Fear not, our dear warriors, allow me to enlighten you."

Enki hated how quickly people from the Capitol could adopt a condescending tone as if it were a second, innate nature.

"The Deliverance is where you will be delivered to the Victors." She motioned to the wall behind her, each of the thirty-one Victors staring back at her. Some of them looked hardened, others looked past her and roughly in the direction of the tributes. Enki had no doubt in his head that they tried to avoid eye contact as much as they could. "One by one, I shall call you forward and announce your statistics and you will be considered 'delivered' to the Capitol formally." Tsiphone paused, taking the time to stare at each tribute and Victor individually.

"The Deliverance is to remind you that even the strongest of your district cannot protect the most vulnerable. It is a ceremony brought on by the blood the rebels shed when they thoughtlessly and violently killed without remorse." Tsiphone turned to face the tributes. "To the one of you standing here who will join the Victors behind me, you too will one day be unable to help the most vulnerable. Remember that, during your tenure in the arena."

Enki hated how visceral the silence felt. It was encroaching and felt like it was going to reach out and curl its fingers around his neck at any moment. He felt suffocated but too frozen to try and move. It reminded him when he first came from The Sanctuary to The Nut – the way all the Peacekeepers looked at him and sized him up, trying to decipher if he was a threat or not. He realised quickly that this was the same thing, just worse because death was guaranteed for twenty-seven of them.

"With that, The Deliverance will start. Tiaran McTavish, eighteen-years-old, District One!"

His stomach dropped, partially cursing the world for putting him in a district so close to the beginning. His thoughts became louder too, the more he realised how similar it was to the Peacekeepers and the memories that came with it. He only snapped out when his name was called.

"Enki Lamarck, eighteen-years-old, District Two!"

With heavy footsteps, Enki stepped forwards to the small lit up circle in the centre of the room. There, alone without any of the other tributes beside him, Enki realised just how alone it was meant to make him feel; a reminder that, even after all the alliances, it was every person for themselves.

"Mr. Lamarck is our tallest tribute this year, measuring six feet and five inches. Weighing a healthy weight for his height at just shy of two-hundred pounds, this is the District Two male!"

Enki felt the scrutinising stares of the Victors in front of him and the piercing ones from the tributes behind him. Both had their own agendas, he was sure, but both were trying to decipher just how much of a threat he would be and Enki fought the urge to shudder. The Career Victors looked mostly satisfied with him; those from Two still proud of his achievements to get where he was and the other Career Victors certain he would make a good ally for their tributes. A means to an end… he thought, knowing that they'd want him to die so their tribute could live. The non-Career Victors looked at him with malice in their eyes. He didn't need to think hard to know why; he knew statistically that he'd be responsible for the deaths of some of their tributes. He would be the danger they couldn't protect the most vulnerable from.

It was sobering and Enki only found comfort in the gaze of Ellara. She gave him a small thumbs up and a nod, indicating he had done the right thing and had made a good impression. Satisfied, he puffed his chest out (figuring he should make himself more imposing, if anything) and waited for Tsiphone to dismiss him.

TRIBUTE DESIGNATION: District Two Male

NAME: Enki Lamarck

AGE: 18

STATISTICS: 6 feet, 5 inches. 200 pounds.

PREFERRED WEAPON: Maul

DAY ONE ANALYSIS

The District Two Male primarily concerned him with close combat weapons. He showed aptitude with the maul and warhammers, wielding them with relative ease. He possessed a confidence when doing so, suggesting an attempt to intimidate those around him. Most were and the attempt can be deemed as successful. Although he did engage in duels and spars with the trainers, he displayed hesitancy in striking back. This leads us to wonder if he will have a difficult time with killing in the arena, placing him at risk of being identified as the weak link within the Career alliance.

The District Two Male fit in well with the Career alliance and spent a large portion of his time speaking to his district partner. The two of them appear to possess a close bond that will likely persevere in being unified throughout the tenure of the Games. He would often give the District Four Male glances, leading us to believe there is an interest with him on the District Two Male's part.

DAY TWO ANALYSIS

The District Two Male participated in various survival courses, as opposed to trying the opposite type of weapon to his preferred weapon like the others in the Career alliance. Trainers noted that he had a deeper affinity with creating a fire, building traps and being able to identify some rudimentary, edible food. This suggests that the District Two Male has a higher proficiency in the survival area of the Games in comparison to his allies. We can predict that he will be able to survive by himself to some degree, should the alliance fall through. A lot of the information he knew seemed to be rooted in tales and advice that has been passed down through the generations.

The District Two Male and the District One Female spoke extensively today. Both enjoyed their company and she seems to have awakened a fun-loving side of him. Trainers reported seeing him laugh more and allegedly caught him asking her if she thought the District Four Male was attractive or not, further cementing the notion that there is a romantic interest between the two. The District Two Female joined them soon after, leading us to believe that there is a potential inter-Career alliance that could form from these connections.

DAY THREE ANALYSIS

The District Two Male continued to showcase his affinity with the war hammer classification of weapons. Many of the Outer District tributes seemed impressed, if not intimidated, by his strength. The District Two Male appears to both underestimate and be aware of his strength; he seemed to be grateful at the District One Female complimenting him and telling him not to concern himself with any doubts he may have about his capability. This suggests that his mental fortitude is not as sound as the other males within his alliance, however his raw strength may prove to negate this.

We can confirm on this third day of training that the District Two Male and the District Four Male are interested in each other to some degree. Both spent the day talking to one another, sharing jokes and trying some stations with the other's company. We suspect that, within the arena, some form of romance will blossom if they have not done something already. The District Four Male has seemingly joined the inter-Career alliance that may form in the future.

EDIT: District Two Victor, Kirkor Shale, confirmed that the District Two Male and District Four Male have been meeting outside of training hours, confirming our suspicions.

PROCLIVITY TOWARDS ALLIANCES?

The District Two Male is firmly within the Career alliance. He meshes well with them despite the hesitancy that our professional eyes can detect and his peers seem to seek his approval. He is amicable with the rest of the group and appears to be in good graces with all of them. He, like the rest of the Careers, have placed the District Seven Male as their leader. He agreed in the District Four Female's reasoning that the level-headedness and thoughtfulness of the District Seven Male makes him the most ideal candidate for the position of leader. The District Two Male appears fine with not leading the Careers, muttering something to his district partner about being too indecisive, which caused her to laugh. We do not predict that the District Two Male will prematurely leave the alliance nor do anything to intentionally jeopardise it. We suspect he will stay with it until the very last opportunity.

We have been able to group the District Two Male with a select number of his peers based on the interactions we have seen.

District One Female (HEARTERELLE VERSAILLES) - The District Two Male and the District One Female seem to have struck a friendship through confiding in each other about the mishaps of the other trainees, specifically peers within their alliance. She appears to make him feel more at ease (akin to his district partner) and they have been observed going to stations together and eating together. Though we have no doubt this is his weakest relationship with the Careers he is closest to, the District Two Male enjoys her company.

District Two Female (CLEOPATRA LAVINSCOUNT) - The two tributes from District Two are intertwined as is the district's standard. They fight well with one another and are in sync. Though she seems to be unaware of it, the District Two Female is able to fill in some blanks for the District Two Male and covers for him, describing what the trained eye can see as a distracted mind due to external affairs as him thinking of ways to kill, thus embellishing his deadliness. She employs the nickname 'Kiki' for him. Both tributes from District Two have referenced a pact they made on the train ride here, leading us to believe they won't harm each other until a finale scenario.

District Four Male (FINNOS TYDALL) - The District Two Male and the District Four Male have struck up a deep friendship. Both are clearly infatuated with one another and many of the ground trainers have overheard attempts at flirting from both sides. Although the District Two Male doesn't appear to be the type to lean into the budding romance (much unlike his District One counterpart), he still enjoys the attention he is getting from the District Four Male. He specifically is fond of the boy's humour and is the loudest when laughing at his jokes. Many of the trainers were shocked to hear just how loud the District Two Male was after he laughed at milk coming out of the District Four Male's nose. We suspect that the District Four Male is the only person that could sabotage his relationship with the District Two Female. EDIT: With Kirkor Shale's input in mind, we have every right to believe that the District Two Male is engaged in a romantic escapade of sorts with the District Four Male.

PREDICTED PLACEMENT:

The District Two Male shows great force with his preferred weapon, albeit underestimating his power if anything. His raw strength and intimidating posture will serve to help him in the arena, as he appears to possess one of the personalities and mindsets that could be broken by the arena. We make this evaluation based on how every act of charisma he does and whenever he acts aligned with his One, Four and Seven counterparts, he looks unsure of himself and if he is in deep thought. He possesses a reliance on his district partner which appears to be mutual; both have mentioned looking out for each other wherever they can. Should a fracture in the Career alliance happen prematurely, District Two will likely remain united.

The District Two Male shows great adaptability within fights – taking notice of what his opponent is doing and translating that into his proficiency with the maul. His hesitancy to show his full force has minimised as the days of training have progressed, indicating a more resolute headspace in fighting. Should a tribute be unlucky enough to be on the receiving end of one of his swings, we predict there will be fatalities.

With these factors considered, we predict that the District Two Male will place within the top ten. It is in our professional opinion that he is a strong contender for the victory but will need to overcome the obstacles of the other males within his alliance, excluding the District Four Male. From what we have observed, should the District Four Male or the District Two Female come into any sort of harms way, the District Two Male will try and save them.

FINAL PREDICTED PLACEMENT: Fifth.

The private session with the Gamemakers had hung like a dense cloud over the heads of the tributes – everyone could tell as much. Though some like the Careers were jovial about it, confident that their abilities would speak for their deadliness, it was undeniable that not a single person underestimated just how important the score would be for initial sponsors.

"Idola tried to tell me they don't mean shit," Cleo had mused one night as the two of them stared at the festivities that happened outside the Tribute Tower. "She forgot people craft entire strategies around those things."

As he had thought then, Enki knew that the scores mattered more than people liked to give them credit for. Nobody would sponsor a Career with anything less than a nine and nobody would give a second glance to a tribute who scored something below a five. Rightfully, as Cleo had said, some tributes constructed entire game winning strategies around the arbitrary ranking of the Gamemakers. The Careers had spoken about theirs – in years passed, some Career alliances had tried to have low scores to lull the other tributes into a false sense of security and other alliances simply did all they could to intimidate all those around them. Faunus had decided that, for sponsorship reasons, the latter was where they needed to aim. Thus, all of them had instructions to give their absolute and make a statement to the other tributes.

That had weighed on Enki – and it continued to, as he sat sandwiched between Cleo and the girl from three, Bissette – as he continued to manifest that his perfected facade remained true. Keepers knew he was trying but that ever present worry still sat in his brain; the small voice that told him, inevitably, it'd all unravel. In an attempt to calm himself, his thumb grazed over the small wooden ring he had made one night during the Winter Mocks to remind himself of Nanna. It was made of birch, its silver sheen reminding him of the moon that his twin was named after. Enki always tried to not think of Nanna, especially when he was trying to be the Career he needed to be, but he couldn't help but wonder where he was and if they would support his actions. More importantly – and what Enki sought more than anything – was what would Nanna guide him to do?

A robotic voice on the overheard system that summed Cleopatra snapped him from his thoughts, squarely reminding him where he was.

Now's not the time to get distracted. Please brain, gimme a break.

"See you on the other side," Cleo said with a smile, giving him her trademark warm eyes but shooting a cooler glance to the Threes behind him.

Like clockwork, Enki gave her a similarly cuffed reply. "Good luck! Can't wait for the eleven plus score!"

With the doors closing behind his partner, Enki was left alone with his thoughts again. They were quiet today, letting him have a better, clearer chance at remaining focused. In spite of that, they were still there, existing as a means of torment. If he were back at District Two, Enki would occupy his time with training or planning his next escape into the parks by himself. With neither luxury available, he feared that being left to indulge in his insipid thoughts would hinder him.

Maybe I still deserve it – another roadblock to prove how sorry I am.

He shook his head, instead choosing to try and make small talk with the Threes sitting next to him. With Finnos and Molly not due until he had come and gone, Enki figured any talking was better than nothing. He hadn't conversed with them much, barely remembering their names as Zeno and Bissette, but he had tried hard to paint himself as a more laid back Career alongside Finnos. He had figured doing so would allow him a wider pool of tributes willing to talk to him if things went south in the arena.

"You have a plan for this?" He asked the two of them, facing them after clearing his throat. "Any weapons you're dying to show?"

Zeno narrowed his eyes, an eyebrow raised in scepticism. "Why do you care?"

Enki had been told that this was how some would react to him but, after days of most tributes fearing him and the pack and vacating themselves wherever possible, it was a shock. It didn't anger him like it would some of the other Careers – if anything, his curiosity was piqued. "Just wondering – trying to make small talk, y'know?"

"So you can figure out our weaknesses?" Bissette chimed in, her face mirroring Zeno's. "Keepers, the Twos really are bad when it comes to being covert."

"What's that supposed to mean? I –"

"It means we don't have any interest in talking to you of all people." Zeno interrupted him, feeling a power high from being given the opportunity to do so. "We're not going to give you the satisfaction of it so just leave us alone. You might be popular because you're a Career but that means jackshit to us."

They were fighting words – words intended to mask something. Enki was familiar with those words, having used them a lot since being in Two proper. He didn't hold it against Zeno but it stung to be reduced to a Career, as if Enki himself didn't matter in their eyes.

They shouldn't matter in mine, if I want to go home.

Enki was silent for a moment, chewing the inside of his cheek. "No chance at all for a conversation?"

"I'd quite literally rather die and judging from how you brutes have been eyeing us up, I'd wager that'll happen pretty soon."

The candidness of Bissette's words stuck with him. He had known that the other districts of Panem lamented the Games in a way that was incomprehensible in District Two but to hear a pessimism so unabashedly shocked him. Whereas he had a desire to live and survive, it sounded like Bissette had already resigned to what she perceived as a likely death. It was times like that, words like that, where he missed The Sanctuary the most. People had such a carefree viewpoint of life – people like Bissette seemingly only knew the death sentences.

The pack's plan had paid off. The Ones, Tiaran and Hearterelle, had both scored a ten. Both himself and Cleo scored elevens; Finnos scored a twelve and Molly a ten with both Sevens also scoring elevens. With not a single other tribute scoring close (Hatcher from Eleven scored a nine but both Enki and Cleo decided it was best to ignore that for now), it seemed that the Careers were in a prime position to dominate the Games in the way they had hoped.

Ellara was pleased, pulling him aside after the entirety of Two's victor pool congratulated them for their scores, eagerly reminding them that statistics placed them among the deadliest Careers. Enki was proud (more than proud – it felt good to be completely ravished in compliments and not questions or demands) but knew the steel control he had displayed in front of the Gamemakers wouldn't be replicated in the arena. His mentor had reassured him that messy kills were fine ("So long as they get their show, they won't care Enki") and that a kill was a kill, at the end of the day.

The quietness of the corridor compared to the main space of Two's apartment was stark to Enki. His thoughts were louder, reminding him that if he couldn't perform back at The Sanctuary and defend the home he said he loved, then he was destined to fail again. Enki hated that voice specifically.

"A marvellous job Enki – you should be proud of yourself." Ellara's smile was warm and maternal, something similar to what the women The Sanctuary would wear on the daily. Enki had missed that. Multiple mothers for their community couldn't be replaced by whatever Marida tried to be and he had yearned for something similar ever since.

"You think the other tributes will be scared?" His question was accompanied by a toothy grin – a genuine one, seeking approval.

"Their mentors are likely having the panic conversations right about now – no doubt I'll even hear the Ones fretting about it after."

Ellara's smile put him at ease, as if everything had planned would happen in the very way she intended.