A/N; Chapter Five is here! I will say one thing though. If you have any ideas for Chariot Costumes, I would love to hear them. Coming up with the costumes was hard, and I have some repeats in here. So if you have any ideas, please DM me with them.
Now then, I hope you enjoy. :)
Chapter Five; District 6 v District 13
Arrival and Parade
Valsa Cates, 11
District 6, 6th female
As the train pulling into the station, I was curled up on a sofa crying. I was the second youngest tribute ever, the youngest to ever be on the way to the Capitol as a tribute. While there had been seven-year-old and a ten-year-old reaped in the Six-Hundred-and-twenty-fifth Hunger Games, where the age range of reapable tributes had been five-year-olds to eighty-year-olds, someone had instantly volunteered to take the place of the young child. The only person who was a tribute who was younger than me, was Cherry Woodrow, who was only three day old when she won. That year, two Victors were allowed. Her mother, Pliny, was the other Victor. Cherry's father, Oaker had won the year before, and Pliny's older brother, Jason had volunteered to protect Pliny. It had come down to Jason, Pliny and Cherry, and Jason killed himself to let Pliny and Cherry to win. So, while Cherry was the youngest ever tribute, starting at literally a second old, she didn't go on the train to the Capitol, so I was the youngest in that regard.
Either way, one thing was certain; I was going to die. I could not see a way around it. My twelfth birthday would have been reaping day, so unless Pauline from Thirteen was born after me on the same day, It was impossible for anyone to be younger than me. I curled up further into Porche, who had been comforting me for the past few hours. She gently held me. "It's going to be all right. I will keep you safe I promise," she whispered into my ear. I looked up at her. "Really?" I asked "Are you going to team up with me? Why? I am useless. I have literally no skills at all."
Porche comforted me, and smiled "No one is useless." She said "you do have skills, and we can find them soon. We may also be able to team up with other people. There are quite a few twelve-year-olds from Thirteen, and Pauline of course, who is also eleven. We might be able to ally with them."
As she finished speaking to me, the train pulled into the station. Swansea stood up from the corner where she had been talking to Eugene, Santiago and Werntius. "OK everyone, we will take you out in groups of twelve, each by mentors. So, those being mentored by me, please stand up and follow." Twelve of the girls, including Kentucky and Holly, stood up and walked out of the train. I could hear the clamouring of the Capitol citizens, all trying to get a picture with the tributes. I saw through the window several people trying to get a photo with Kentucky. Eugene then led out the first group of boys, which had the entire career pack in. I watched lots of people, especially teenage girls, trying to touch Saturn or Buster. Both boys took in their stride, and posed for many pictures with them. Eventually, Eugene managed to get all twelve boys to move onwards. Werntius led me, Porche and the other female tributes out onto the station.
The station was big. So much bigger than any building I had ever seen before. The walls were wade out of marble that shined white. There were towering pillars of black stone, arching far above my head, by the ceiling. I could see statues of previous presidents along the walls, from President Ravinstill who started the Hunger Games to President Heavensbee to the previous president, President Coriolanus Snow XXII. Hanging from the ceiling, there were long banner, colour grey. On each of the forty-eight banners, the was one of our faces, taken from the close up shot during the reaping. I could see, on one of the many other platforms, pink banners, with the faces of all forty-right District Thirteen tributes on them. There was already a crowd of people there, waiting for the District Thirteen tributes to arrive.
I feel a hand on my back, as Porche gently pushes me forward. I remember the advice Werntius gave me, and try to act small, innocent and adorable by clinging to Porche and hiding half my face in her arm. Werntius had suggest for me to do this because the audience may see me as a cute and innocent person. Also, my enemies may not see me as a threat, so will not attack me, allowing me to possibly survive for a while. I heard a few people calling my name, trying to get a photo of me. I turned my head slightly to allow then to see part of my face, making me seem like a shy child. I heard a few people make some sounds that made it seem like they find me cute. Werntius smiled at everyone, but started ushering us into the waiting limo to take us to where we were staying for the time before the games.
After the reaping recaps, Sphinx Flickerman had announced that there had been twenty-four temporary hotels built in the Capitol, surrounding the normal tributes centre, where the Gamemakers and their team were staying, with one building for each District. The car I was in headed for the District Six building, which was painted light grey. I saw Swansea and Eugene standing outside, with a crowd of the previous twenty-four tributes. The limo we were in pulled up at the entrance, and we all got out. I stood next to Porche, who wrapped an arm around me protectively.
Five minutes later, the final limo pulled up, with the final twelve boys and Santiago in. Santiago came to the front of the crowd, and stood next to his fellow mentors. "The way you will all be split into floors is by numbered pairs, so Chelsea and Buster are on the first floor, Merced3es and Railson are on the second, all the way up to Kentucky and Tank being on the twenty-fourth floor. Meals will be on the ground floor, as will a small gym for the people who survive each round to train in while they wait for the other Games to play out. The theatre for you to watch the scores announcement and the other Games this year is also on the ground floor. Me and my fellow mentors will be on the top floor. Please go into your pairs, and you will be led up to your room. There, you will meet your stylist and prep team. For these games, each pair of tributes has one stylist and four prep team members. They will sleep on the same floor as the pair they are caring for. You will be prepared for your Stylist by your prep team, then dressed in your costumes. You will then be transported to the Avenue of tributes for the parade, which starts in seven hours."
I took a deep breathe, let go of Porche and walked over to me partner, fifteen-year-old Lincon Beltran. I looked at him, and he smiled at me. I did not know anything about him. He was from a completely different part of the District to me. Lincon had nice, tanned skin, probably from working outside at a garage or something similar most of his life. He had dark brown eyes, that matched his short spiky brown hair. The mentors started leading the pairs up, one at a time. Swansea took the first pair. Werntius took the second. Santiago took the third. Eugene took the fourth. Swansea took the fifth. Werntius took Lincon and I. As we were walking to the lift, we passed Santiago on his way out to collect the next two; Nuvi and Chassis. We took the lift up to the sixth floor. We entered the room and my mouth fell open.
It was bigger than any room I had seen in my District. The walls were a beautiful grey pattered marble, with the District Six emblem, a train going along tracks with two clouds in the background, on each wall. There was a small kitchenette on one side, with a giant TV on a different wall. The sofas were a deep red, and an electric blue carpet led to a hallway, that had several rooms leading off it, which I presumed were the bedrooms for me, Lincon, our Stylist and the Prep Team. Speaking of them, there were five people sitting on the sofa talking, with a whole load of papers on the table in front of them. The person I guessed to be the Stylist was giving instructions to the Prep Team. I overheard words like "remove the hair" and "only trim the nails." Werntius coughed to get their attention. "Lincon and Valsa, may I introduce your Stylist, Kallisto Tronbus, and the prep team; Empanda, Gratian, Ivanticus and Vestis. I advise you listen to them and do what they say" Werntius pointed to each person in turn, nodded to us, then left.
Percy Lizbeth, 18
District 13, 18th male
Niler left us in the presence of our Stylist, Euphemia Westman, and our prep team, whose names I hadn't bothered to listen to. Euphemia clapped her hands twice, and jumped up from her seat. "Hello Percy, and hello Namora. I must say, that when I saw you two, I was happy. You are both a stylist dream. Percy, you are wonderfully muscular. I have so many ideas for you. And Namora my darling. Being reaped while pregnant. I don't think there had been a pregnant tribute since the great Pliny Woodrow. The audience is already loving both of you. Now then. My amazing Prep Team here will take care of you both. Guys, just what we discussed for now, nothing more. Then I shall look at them. Tax and Clio, take Percy. Gaia and Gala take Namora. Chop chop!" she said, clapping her hands again.
Me and Namora were taken to the separate rooms. I was stripped naked, a pushed into the bathtub, which was full of scalding water. Tax leant over, grabbed my legs, and scrubbed them with a rough cloth. He scrubbed hard, trying to get the small bit of dirt and sweat that was on my legs off. Meanwhile, Clio stared trimming my stubbled face. They worked together for the next two hours, slowly making my body "appropriate" to quote directly. By the time they were finished, my skin was raw, I had no hair on my face, and my chest hair had been washed and combed. I had no hair on my legs. The hair on my head had been washed with a wide variety of products, and now sat neatly combed on my head. My nails had been filed to be uniform and straight.
I was now standing, naked, next to Namora, who was equally as nude. Her skin was a bright red as well, and she had no hair below her shoulders at all. She was fidgeting, and I knew all she wanted to do was cover herself, but was stopping herself from doing so. I reached out and grabbed her hand, squeezing it slightly to offer my support and show her I love her. Euphemia slapped my hand, telling me not to touch Namora, as she was trying to figure out what to dress us in. I bit my lip to prevent myself from retorting, knowing that it probably was not a good idea. I just quietly hoped that we wouldn't be dressed like last years tributes, were dressed like a nuclear missile. The costume had been made of actual metal and had apparently caused minor cuts in the tributes skin, which had to be quickly healed before the games began according to Tax.
After five minutes of just walking around us, Euphemia clapped her hands again, which was quickly annoying me. "I got it!" she cried, "You four, over here now." She called to the prep team. She turned to us. "Go and put something basic on, then eat. You will need the food. You have one hour while we talk and get your costume ready." She waved her hands at us. I looked at Namora, then we both walked to our separate bedrooms, and I pulled on a pair of grey jeans and a dark green top. I walked out of the room, and walked over to the kitchenette. I grabbed a few fruit, a a knife and made us both a bowl of fruit salad. There were many weird fruits, so I just grabbed the one I knew, like apples and pears. I found some yoghurt in the fridge, so I took it a put a generous amount into each o0f our bowls. I put them on the island in the kitchen, then got us both a glass of water.
By this point, Namora had appeared, looking beautiful as ever, even though she weas just wearing a pair of sweatpants and a red t-shirt. She sat down next to me, and laid her head on my shoulder. "You good babe?" I asked her, concerned.
"Yeah. Just a little tired. Out baby did not like what they were doing to me. They kicked me several times during the prep work," she replied. "And now, we will never be able to see them."
"I pulled her into a hug as we both started eating. "You are, unfortunately, quite right, we both won't be able to meet them. However, if you survive round one, that means you are at twenty weeks. Then, there are twenty-two weeks between surviving, and the start of round two. That means, if you survive these games, our child will be born. We just have to hope that the Capitol will send our child back to Thirteen. We both know you parents will look after our baby." Namora looked at me. She stared at me for a good five minutes before saying "We can only hope babe," before return to her food.
We spent the rest of the time eating just talking together about random things and what our costumes for the parade will be. After eating, Namora curled up and rested her head in my lap. I played with her hair and gently rubbed her shoulders. I heard her sigh happily and saw her close her eyes. Suddenly, Euphemia stood up and exclaimed "and that is that!" which jolted Namora up. I glared at Euphemia and wrapped my arms around Namora again.
"You two," shouted Euphemia excitedly "will shine tonight!" Me and Namora exchanged a look of worry, not knowing if that would be a good thing or not. The prep team took me and Namora back to our separate rooms. I was stripped naked again, and Tax and Clio came forward and started painting intricate patterns on my body in neon green and yellow paints. I felt swirls and lines painted on my entire body. Tax continued to work on painting my legs and arms, while Clio stood up on a stool, and with some hair dye, turned my hair bright green. I finally realised what Euphemia had meant. Namora and I were going to look like we were literally radioactive. District Thirteen worked with nuclear technology while also doing graphite mining. It was mostly graphite, but apparently Euphemia thought that the nuclear aspect of our District was more interesting.
After forty minutes of having my body painted, Euphemia came in with my costume. It looked like a bunch of rocks in all honesty, but I didn't complain. I knew that they could just send me out naked with this body paint, and oddly enough, I didn't want that. She came forward, and handed the costume to Tax and Clio. I helped them put it on. There was a layer of a silk like material between my skin and the rocks, that meant I could not feel them at all and the costume was actually quite comfortable to wear. After a few minutes of adjusting and some final touches of paint, I was moved in front of a mirror so I could see my costume. I looked like a radioactive rock. My costume was covered in rocks, that seemed very light, with cracks in between the rocks themselves. Through these cracks, the green and yellow paint showed, creating an effect that looked like the rocks were glowing with radioactive energy. It actually looked quite good.
I walked out of my room and saw Namora. She was dressed similarly, with the same intricate pattern of rocks with glowing green cracks. However, here belly had a swirling pattern, starting from the centre and swirling out clockwise. I smiled at her and held her hand. Euphemia Led us to the elevator, and we headed down to the ground floor. Winter was there on the ground floor and waved at us as we came out of the elevator. He signalled us to go through the doors, where we got into a car, just for me, Namora and Euphemia. It drove us through the Capitol streets. I saw several people look and point at the car excitedly. It was obvious they knew that some tributes were in there. Eventually, the car pulled up at the end of the Avenue of Tributes. We got out and I looked around. I could see a few other pairs of tributes, as well as some other groups of tributes that were obviously alliances. I looked at Namora yet again, smiled at her, took her hand and we headed to our chariot. We stood there for a half hour, waiting for the Parade to start. During that time, we talked to a few tributes, and ended up making an alliance with Cowl Shappo and Mitt Vires from Six as well as Bellamy Krenka from Thirteen, who Namora knew from back in Thirteen. We didn't really have a name for our alliance yet, but we would come up with that. The others headed back to their chariots, as the anthem started. It was time for the Parade.
Octavia Creops, 31
Hunger Games announcer and commentator
I reached for my bottle and took a drink of water. It was time for one of my favourite moments of the Annual Hunger Games, The Tribute Parade. It was here where we could see the tributes in person for the first time. This was the only time pre-Games where I would doing it instead of Sphinx, as I did not do the scores announcement nor the interviews. This was Sphinx's third year, as his father had retied after the Nine-Hundred-and-Ninety-Seventh Hunger Games. Sphinx was only twenty. The Flickerman family had been doing that since Caeser Flickerman started during the thirty-fifth Annual Hunger Games. From him, it has been passed on down the generations to son, daughters, nieces and nephews, always keeping it in the same family as they seemed to have a natural charm needed for the interviews and scores. It was about two minutes before the Parade started when the camera turned to me.
"Hello Panem!" I called. "Welcome to the first Tribute Parade of the One-Thousandth Annual Hunger Games, The Fortieth Quarter Quell! My name is Octavia Creops, as you undoubtedly know. Now, the Parade itself will start in just a minute, but beforehand, I have some amazing news from our Victors from Districts Six and Thirteen; from District Six's Swansea Holfranlong, Victor of the Nine-Hundred-and-Ninety-Third Hunger Games from Six recently got engaged to her girlfriend Ishania Goldbon. I sure we can all offer the happy couple a big round of applause, no?" I shouted. A thundering applause sounded from the stands, and the camera switched to show Swansea smiling, before flashing her new ring at the camera. "Secondly, from District Thirteens Niler Osk, Victor of the Nine-Hundred-and-Seventy-Second Hunger Games. He has recently become a grandfather. His oldest son and Daughter-in-law, Hadrian and Alma, have recently welcomed a healthy baby girl, who they have called Sally, after Nilers mother. Lets all hope Sally will follow in her Grandfathers footsteps and become a Victor too!" A second round of applause sounded, and Niler appeared on screen, smiling. He raised his glass and toasted the air. The anthem then started, and I sat up a little straighter in my seat. "Ladies and Gentlemen, let's get started!"
"First, we have District Six, the District of transportation! First out, dressed as racecar drivers we have Chelsea and Buster! I love the design of the helmets, although we cannot see the faces. I hope they are smiling. I know I would be. Next out is Mercedes and Railson. They look train workers. While they are a little young and small, I am sure we can all appreciate the idea that the designer was going for. The third pair is Severa and Chevy, both are fifteen years old. They look amazing in their night black suits. I love the stars all over. Reminiscent of the old ways of travelling by using astronomy. Cowl and Rivet are out next. Their stylist has dressed Cowl in bright yellow and orange, while Rivet is in white and pale yellow. Supposedly to represent the sun and moon. I don't really get it. Axelle and Crystaler are out next. Their stylist appears to have tried to make them look like buses, unfortunately the result is not very good. Unlucky there. The sixth pair features our youngest ever tribute here, Valsa along with Lincon. These two have wings on their back! Oh, like an aeroplane, I get it. Not bad. Nuvi and Chassis are up now, and they are amazing! Just look at those costumes. They are actually floating. I want those rocket boots after this. Mitt and Cylinder have appeared. Their costumes are not quite as good as the previous pair, but the mechanic costumes are not terrible. Better than the buses. Madeline and Slanten here look like they have just been covered in car oil. Surely that is not safe! Keep all fire away from them, folks. Porsche and Texas are now coming out of the tunnel. OK, their costumes are just weird. They are just covered in silver metal. What is that meant to represent? Nevermind, as the eleventh pair Lexi and Charlie are now visible. They don't look comfortable. I can imagine why! It would not be nice to be dressed as a giant rollerblade, but oh well. Now we come to Guega and Arizona. These two have rail costumes on. Like, actual train tracks. Weird but inventive, I think. We are now halfway through District Six. Izzy and Ryder are next. They look like hovercraft pilots. Those silver helmets are thankfully showing their faces. Give us a smile Ryder! There we go! And here we have two cousin, Zoey and Bentley. They are dressed as giant wheels. Well that is a unique interpretation of the Districts profession. Colma and Nelson next! They are dressed in simple chauffeur uniforms. Nice and simple, I like it. Not too over the top, but not too underdressed. Azalea and Jason are next. Woah! They look exactly like Illinois and Maeve, the first two District Six Victors. I love that! That is really amazing. I hope this is done again. Anyway, next is Damla and Ford. They are dressed as hovercraft pilots as well. Well, I suppose it would be hard to get twenty-four different outfits for this one Games. Mandrai and Apollo are out now. They look like two cars. The costumes do not look like they fit well. Look how much they are wincing as they are scraped by the sides of their costumes. Ouch! Raven and Saturn are next. I am in love. Those train conductor outfits look amazing. Those wonderful colours. Plus, showing Saturn's muscles is a very good idea. I am sure lots of people are loving these as much as Raven and Saturn are. Holly and Paxton are next. That is quite a revealing mechanic outfit Holly is wearing. Looks absolutely amazing. Paxton as a tool box however, is not so great, but they do go together well. Ariel and Kieth are next. Now these are much better rail costumes. Those silver bands swirling round the tributes is amazing, with those wooden planks joining the bands. There is even a little train on the tracks. I am guessing magnets are working there to keep it on the tracks. Maddison and Dasher are here now. Why are they dressed as horses? Oh wait, I get it! You ride horses. Yes, I love it now. What a interesting idea, and certainty new for District Six. Dasher and Bonnet are the second last District Six pair. With their engine outfits, I don't think they are going to be remembered much. It is not very flattering. Finally, we have Kentucky and Tank, the last pair. They look like taxis, complete with that red paint all over their bodies. Not what I thought I would see, but I like it. We have five minutes to wait now before we see District Thirteen start."
I stood up, and grabbed a bottle of water, which I chugged down quite quickly. While yes, that was normal, as it was twenty-four sets of tributes like a normal Games is, I had to do it again in just a few minutes. Normally, the President would now do a speech, but that was being saved for after all forty-eight pairs had been down the Avenue. I was told there was one minute left, so I jumped back into my seat and settled down, ready for the next set of tributes.
"And now we have the tributes from District Thirteen, the District of Graphite and Nuclear research! Pair number one is Sophia and Graphite. They are dressed as miners, with quite revealing outfits. How inventive. Not like we see that so often from District Twelve as well. Queenie and Ernie are next. These two have this amazing graphite armour on, although it would probably not much use in an actual fight. It is perfectly tailored to show off the muscles on both of them. Celestina and Mike are third. They are dressed in rocket costumes again. I thought that we agreed we wouldn't do that last year? Oh well. Let's just hope they made them better this time. Kessie and Birdie, who are dating, are fourth. They look horrible in those pickaxe costumes. Can they even see? It looks like the front of the pickaxe is blocking their eyes. The next pair, dressed as pencils. David does not look happy about that, and Willa looks scared of David. There is no need to be scared Willa, this is the Hunger Games! Poilkam and Miles next. They are wearing hazmat suits. Very clever. Suits the nuclear theme very well. Laurel and Harlow are next. They are just covered in green paint. OK then. Ember and Toni are next. They are dressed as batteries. Apparently, graphite is used in batteries. I think that is more of a District Three costume myself, but I am not a stylist. Clara and Nuclear are out now and are covered in graphite. As in, graphite powder. Clara does not look comfortable next to Nuclear. Delia and Luke have appeared. They are in simple silver suit and dress. Look beautiful, but is one of those ones that don't represent the District. That type is more common recently though. Pauline and Callisto are dressed as pink colouring pencils. I like how it matches the make up they are wearing and the District colour. Twelfth out are Bellamy and Elijah, with shocking pink hazmat suits. I don't think it quite works, but that is just my opinion. Trinty and Philip simple pink jumpsuits on are next. Three pink outfits in a row. What an amazing colour palate. Ivy and Lupus are dressed as dead trees. What? Why? Unless it is meant to show how nuclear power destroys life, but we have Districts Seventeen and Eighteen to reverse that. Whatever, not important to dwell on, as Taliah and Victor are coming out. They are dressed as scientists. I am guessing nuclear scientist. YES! Look at their shoulders, they have that radioactive symbol. Amazing. Alma and Fission are here. Miner again. At least they have decent clothes on. But just a normal average costume I'm afraid. Waverly and Ezra are dressed as bottles of polish. I guess that is a use for graphite. Is that actual polish in those jars? Next is Namora and her boyfriend Percy. They look amazing. They are a radioactive rock land. The green glow from between those cracks is astounding. Emily and Lucian are next. They are wearing something. I cannot quite identify what it is. It looks like a costume based of some medical technology, but I am not a doctor, so I have no idea. If you figure it out, please send me a message telling me what it is. Ximop and Hugo are next. These two are wearing their reaping outfits! Where was their stylist? Oh, hang on, I am being told that their stylist unfortunately is in hospital right now. That timing is just nasty. Julia and Martin are twenty-first. They are literally numbers. Julia is wearing a number one costume and Martin is wearing a number three costume. That is the first time I have seen that. Catherine and Easton are third last. They have costumes they look like the best two District Thirteen Victors of all time; Easton is Hiliz Leegs of the One-Hundred-and-Fiftieth Hunger Games and Catherine is Blache Piere of the One-Hundred-and-Seventy-Fifth Hunger Games. That is two pairs that look like previous Victors. Will this be kept up in the other Games. We can only wait and hope. The twenty-third pair is Terra and Remus. They both look like they just climbed out of the mines. They are covered in dust, sweat and graphite. Not the most attractive look. Finally, we have Polly and Hadrian. This pair is another set of scientists. That is it. All forty-eight pairs have done the parade. I will now ask you to turn your attention to our dear leader President Quintavius Snow!" I call, ending my long commentary. I wasn't terribly surprised that there were several repeat outfits. There were twenty-four pairs after all. I tuned out the President's speech. I had written it for him, so I knew exactly what he was saying. I just drank my water, and watched the tributes. Ten minutes later, the chariots turned back around, and rode back to the start. Tomorrow was day one of training, and when me and Sphinx would start making predictions, and doing a lot of interviews. I love Hunger Games season, and was so excited it would last a full year this time.
Kentucky Basquet, 15
District Six, twenty-fourth female
It was midnight when I snuck out of my room. I moved quietly towards the elevator, making sure not to wake my stylist or the prep team. I was going up to the roof to talk with Dad. I was lucky I was on the second highest floor, as it meant that it was barely a minute before I was up on the roof. As soon as I opened the door and saw him, I ran straight into my Dad's arms, and started crying. He held me tightly against himself, gently soothing me. He kissed me on my forehead and then knelt down to look at me directly.
"Kentucky, listen to me," he said in an urgent whisper. "You have to fight, hard. You are going to have to kill others. I know you don't want to, I didn't either. But you have to. Every single on of the one thousand Victor has got at least one kill except for Cherry in the Seven-Hundredth, but only because she was a newborn. Every Victor that could kill, did. Even those Victors who only killed the final person got one. Even Aliex from Eighteen. She stated in her interview that she would not hurt anyone. She killed the last tribute after they butchered her District partner. She was a pacifist as they come before that. I am going to be harsh here but You. Will. Kill. Some. One. There is no two ways about it."
I gulped and looked at him. "I know Dad, I'm just so scared" The tears started flowing again. I felt Dad's arms wrap around me, and pull me tight against him again. All I wanted to do was curl up into his chest and cry for hours. I didn't want to die, and I didn't want to kill anyone. I just wanted to stay in my Dad's arms for the rest of my life, held by him and kept safe.
I took a deep breath and looked up at him. "I have allied with a few other tributes. We are going to make an anti-career alliance." I said. "So far, it is me, Axelle, Cylinder, Lexi, Philip, Ximop, Terra and Hadrian. That makes eight. I know that Queenie, David, Nuclear, Buster, Saturn, Jacobi and Kieth will be the Careers. I have no idea about Holly, Celestina or Miles. I was planning on approaching them tomorrow."
The door suddenly opened again, and we both whipped around. Thankfully, it was Swansea, Eugene and Werntius. Swansea walked over, and hugged me tight, while Eugene put a hand on my shoulder.
"We really shouldn't be saying this, but we all want you to win," whispered Eugene into my ear. I smiled at him, and nodded.
"About what you were saying Tuck," Dad muttered "Holly will probably go with the Careers. She has been Saturn's equal the entire time in the Academy. Try and get Celestina and Miles on your team, and anyone else strong for that matter. If you have more in your alliance than there are Careers, try and take the Cornucopia, but retreat if your allies start dying quickly." I gulped. I hadn't thought I might have to abandon my allies. "You have to be ready to turn on them in a moment. You can never be the first person to betray, you have to be the first. Do not make friends with them, but act like you are."
"I really should get back to bed," I stammered. "I need a good night sleep for tomorrow." Werntius, Eugene and Swansea all went to the other side of the roof to leave me and Dad alone.
"I love you Tuck, so, so much. You can win, I know you can," Dad said urgently.
"I love too Dad. However, I need you to promise me that you will look after your tributes, and leave Swansea to mentor me. I am assuming that you chose not to mentor me as you would not think about the other eleven tributes." I stated, rather bluntly.
Dad chuckled lightly "Always smart, my darling. Yes, that is why I didn't want to mentor you. And I promise to take care of my tributes. I swear on my life. Now get to bed, you have a big day tomorrow. Swansea will talk to you then." I gave him one last hug, before heading to the door, and heading back down to my bed. Just ass I was closing the door, I heard Dad start to cry again, and Eugene whispering something to him. I could not quite make out what they were saying, but it didn't matter.
I got into bed, and curled up. I was scared. I really did not want to die. But I did not see how I could survive. There were ninety-five other tributes in this Games alone. Then, I would later have to fight against tributes from One, Two, Four, Seven, Nineteen and Twenty, all off whom would be very well trained, and would be able to beat me in a fight quite easily. I resolved to making a good friend with any ally that was still alive after this first round, as I could then stick by their side the entire time, and would have someone to fight with against opponents.