Fay Flink

District 10 Female Tribute

"I think we should split up," Colt said. "We can cover more ground. We can share what we learn after practice."

That seemed sensible. "Where are you going?"

"Flamethrower Station."

"Flamethrowers? Really?"

Colt shrugged. "I asked Rowan about it. There weren't any flame throwers when he was a tribute. Grace gave me the same answer. I think it's arena-specific."

Fay tried to picture what kind of arena she'd need a flame thrower in. None came to mind.

"What about you?"

She looked around. The knife station was empty. So were most of the weapon stations. The girls from Two and Four were at the archery station. The rest of the careers were climbing ropes.

"I'm going to the knife section."

Colt nodded. "That's right. You work in the Butcher Section."

Fay knew how to handle a knife. She cut meat for a living, and Fay was allowed to handle the weapon. At work anyway. If a peacekeeper caught her with a knife on the streets, she'd get a beating.

After the careers, Fay was sure she was the best with a knife. That delusion came crashing down when she spotted the tributes from Five and Six. The boy from Six grabbed a knife the instructor called a butterfly knife. The boy spun it in his hand like he was a performer. He did tricks with it and slushed up a dummy pretty well.

Fay took it back. Six was the best with a knife. She didn't bother waiting for them to leave. Grace was right. It was a good idea to hide her strength. And it would save her the embarrassment of competing with him.

Fay was trying to pick a station when she remembered a conversation with Grace. Her mentor had gotten drunk and spilled stories Fay wasn't supposed to know. The boy from Nine who won a few years ago had dressed up like an Avox to sneak into the Gamemaker box for his private session. It got him his eight score.

She wanted to impress the Gamemakers. She needed a good score. If she knew what they were looking for, it'd be easier.

But should she? It might get her in trouble. Then again, Nine's newest Victor got out alive. But he was a fan favorite before he got into the arena. That might have saved him.

Did she want to risk it? No. If Fay angered the Gamemakers, that was it. There was no way she was making it out of the arena.

That wouldn't do. The Gamemakers were off-limits. But what about the other tributes?

Fay looked around the gym. There were dozens of Avoxes. Each of them were waiting for an order.

None of the tributes were paying them any mind. Fay slunk to the edge of the gym and ordered an Avox girl to follow her. The girl was about the right size.

Fay got her into the bathroom and ordered her to strip. "Stay here," Fay ordered.

The Avox nodded.

Fay slipped back into the gym, using her hat to cover her face. Before she did anything stupid, she had to test it. If there was one tribute here that wouldn't get made about her sneaking around, it was Colt.

She found him over by the Flamethrower Station. One of the instructors was teaching him the correct way to hold the weapon.

At first, she stood a respectful distance away. She slowly got closer until she was standing just a bit away.

Fay didn't move for a few minutes, watching as Colt fired the flamethrower.

She was about to step away when the boy from Two appeared. "Out of my way, dead meat."

Colt glared at him. "I'm not done, Two."

"You're done when I say you are. Leave."

"Make me."

The boy looked like he was about to do that, but the instructor got in between them.

"It's illegal for tributes to fight before the arena. If you insist, I'll have the peacekeepers escort you to your suites. You'll spend the rest of training there."

The boy bared his teeth. Colt didn't back down.

"You are welcome to stay, but he was here first."

"It's fine. I was leaving."

Fay admired Colt. He stood his ground against the monster. She wouldn't have been able to do that.

Fay followed the boy from Two at a respectful distance. Close enough to hear him.

The boy from One was smirking. "What was that?"

"Nothing, Lustrous."

"You couldn't even intimidate Ten? It's a good thing I'm leading the pack."

So One is the leader, Fay thought. She made a mental note to tell Colt.

"Why don't you go try to scare him?"

Lustrous shook his head. "No thanks. We had a whole class at ABE about breaking the rules."

"He's right, we did." Lustrous's district partner appeared and wrapped herself around Two. "I don't think it's going to be a good idea."

Fay noted the way Lustrous glared at Two as his partner clung to Two. He didn't seem to be a fan. That might be something she could use.

"Where is Laverna?" Lustrous snapped.

The boy from Four pointed over his shoulder. "She's still with Catalina."

"Are they at the archery station?"

"It looks like they're going for a climb."

Sure enough, the girls from Four and Two were on the climbing wall.

"What are they doing?"

"It looks like they're getting closer."

Lustrous sneered. "We're going to the climbing wall."

"Why?"

"We're part of the Alliance. If they want to fuck each other, fine, but they're with us."

"You want to join in?" Lustrous's district partner asked.

The two boys laughed at him.

"You know what I mean. We're supposed to be sticking together. It's tradition."

"Since when do you care about tradition? Didn't you spit in Gleam's face when she tried to give you advice?"

Fay thought he was going to snap at her, but Lustrous nodded. "I might have been too rude. Come on, let's go see if we can get their attention."

For now, Fay let them leave. She could have followed them, but there were other tributes. Fay was in a unique position to get information without anyone being the wiser.

Fay never would have guessed the boy from Six could do that knife trick. So, what else could the other tributes be hiding? The pair from Seven hadn't touched an axe, but they were from the lumber district. They had to know how to swing an axe.

After the careers, there were two alliance groups. Five and Six. Seven, Nine, and the girl from Eleven. Strange enough, the boy from Eleven wasn't invited to the group. Was there bad blood between him and his district partner? That's something Colt would want to know.

She abandoned her search for the alliances and found the boy from Eleven instead. He was alone at the weapon station. The big boy had lighter skin than anyone she'd ever seen reaped from District Eleven. Cattle had an ingroup preference. That's one of the first things she learned working at the ranch.

Maybe the people of Eleven did.

The boy was swinging around a mace and smashing things. He laughed like a madman when his weapon made contact with a trainer.

The older man crumbled with a scream of pain. Fay thought that that'd be the end of it, but the boy didn't stop. He hit the instructor two more times before the peacekeepers restrained him.

The peacekeepers forced him to drop the mace and then dragged him back. The boy fought them the whole way. That was stupid. Pissing off the Gamemakers before the games started was a one-way ticket to the afterlife. The more he fought in the Training Center, the more his chances of survival fell.

Fay couldn't make sense of it. Why would Eleven piss off the Gamemakers like that? It was an unspoken rule that hurting the trainers like that insulted the Gamemakers.

And if there was one group of people who hated being insulted, it was them.

As the boy was being dragged away, Fay looked him in the eyes. At that moment, Fay wasn't looking at the boy from District 11.

She was back home. It had been a hot day at school, and she was glad to be home. That joy didn't last long. Mandatory viewing was announced, and the live feed from the Sixty-Eighth Annual Hunger Games appeared.

That was the year the patriotic girl from Two won. Fay couldn't remember her name, but it wasn't the girl she watched. The big, strong boy from Six had finished off the boy from Two. The Six boy ripped off the careers head with his bare hands. Blood sprayed everywhere.

Everyone waited on bated breath for the boy to leave so they could collect the body. But Titus didn't move. There was a look in his eyes before he started to cook the career boy.

That same look was in Eleven's eyes.

Catalina Grey

District 4 Female Tribute

"Hey? Catalina? Wake up." Someone was shaking her.

One of the trainers wanted her to get up and go to spear-throwing. Catalina preferred the katana to the spear. How many times has she told them that? But a well-rounded education was important.

When she opened her eyes, it wasn't the grizzly old trainer. The most beautiful man in the world was looking at her. Finnick Odair's smile was infectious.

"Hurry up and take a shower."

Catalina looked at the clock on the dresser. It was four in the morning. Training wasn't for six hours. "What's wrong?"

Finnick laughed. "Nothing is wrong."

"Then why am I up?"

"We're going out."

"We're... Going out? Out where?"

"To see the Capitol."

The bylaws of the Hunger Games established what a tribute could and couldn't do while they were in the Capitol. Tributes were only allowed to move through the city during the parade and the interviews. Tributes had to stay in the Remake Center and the Training Center.

Those were the rules. Catalina should know. She studied them at the Conservatory.

"It's against the rules."

"For most of the tributes," Finnick corrected. "But District 4 is part of The Alliance. You know we get special treatment from the Capitol."

Everyone in the country did. District 4 was one of three districts allowed to train their children for the Hunger Games.

"This is one of those privileges. As long as you stay with me, you'll be fine."

Catalina didn't know what to think. She complied when Finnick ordered her into the shower.

A dress was laid out for her on the bed when she came back. A note from her stylist said to enjoy a morning on the town.

So, even the stylists knew about this? That put her more at ease. Her stylist would have reported it to the Games Board if this wasn't allowed.

Finnick met her on the elevator. He hit the Base Floor. The peacekeepers didn't even blink an eye as she walked out. One of them stopped Finnick to ask for his autograph, but that was all.

"I can just walk out?"

"I always take my tributes out."

"Have you mentored before?"

Finnick was in so much demand that he didn't have time to mentor.

"A few times. I mentored Annie Cresta a couple of years ago."

Finnick was the one who mentored their crazy Victor? How could she have gone crazy with Finnick Odair watching over her?

Before she could say anything else, Catalina was on the glittering streets of the Capitol. It felt like she was stepping into an alien world. The people resembled strange creatures, warped vestiges of what humans should look like.

A few people in the crowd looked normal. They were in the minority.

A sleek, black car was waiting for them on the sidewalk. The hum of the engine reminded her of a cat.

"We better hurry up," Finnick said, pushing her in as people started to recognize him.

He closed the door right as his rapid fan base hit the door.

"Drive!"

The black-clad driver pulled away, leaving a frothing crowd.

"Where are we going, sir?"

"Are you hungry, Catalina?"

"A little bit."

"Take us to Lescheres."

"Very good, sir."

"What's Lescheres?"

"It's one of the most popular restaurants in the Capitol. It's a reservation only. There's a two-month waiting list."

"Did you make a reservation?"

"No."

"Then how are we going to get in?"

"I'm Finnick Odair."

He said that like it explained everything. In a way, it did.

"Seafood?"

"It has seafood options, but it's a French restaurant."

"French?

"French comes from France. It was a country in the old world. Before the Cataclysm destroyed the world and Panem rose from the ashes. One glorious Capitol, ringed by thirteen districts. Twelve now."

Catalina could hardly believe it. "How... How do you know that?"

History pre-Panem was restricted. It wasn't even taught in the Capitol.

Finnick winked. "People like to tell me secrets."

From the outside, the restaurant didn't look impressive by Capitol standards. It was a simple, white brick building. A glass wall revealed a large hall with tables.

The car took them to the back, where a woman wearing a fox pelt was waiting for them.

Finnick got out first and kissed her hand. "Madam Silva."

"Please, dear. It's Andromeda to you. And who is this? One of your lady friends? She doesn't look like a regular."

"This is Catalina Grey. She's my tribute."

The woman descended on her like a vulture. "My dear, it's so nice to meet you! I'm Andromeda Silva! It is such an honor."

Catalina wanted to pull away, but her media training kicked in. She gave her best smile. "It's so nice to meet you. Any friend of Finnick is a friend of mine."

"You're so precious!"

"Precious enough to sponsor?" Finnick cut in.

Andromeda sighed. "My sweet, I would like nothing more, but I had my eye on that beautiful boy from One."

She wanted to sponsor Lustrous. Catalina barely hides the snort. Lustrous was deadly, but he was an idiot. The old crow would be wasting her money.

"He's a common gem. Pretty to look at, but it offers nothing of value."

"Harsh, darling. But he is very pretty."

"Then why not sponsor Catalina? She's a true gem in the making."

"Yes, she is darling, but can she win?"

"Can she win? Of course, she can. You're looking at District 4's next Victor."

"Well... She is such a peach. If you recommend her, I have no choice."

"Thank you, dear Andromeda. And the matter of our private room?"

"Everything has been prepared."

"Sometimes meeting a tribute is the best way to secure a sponsorship," Finnick told her as they walked away.

"Is that fair? Only tributes from the Alliance are allowed to leave the Center."

"It's not fair," Finnick agreed. "Life isn't fair. We take every advantage we can get. I will do everything in my power to bring you home, Catalina, even if it means breaking a few rules. Why don't you forget about Madam Silva and enjoy the food?"

Dean Alba

District 5 Male Tribute

Dean was an only child, but Joy could have been his sister. His friends all had siblings, both younger and older. They always complained about their brothers and sisters, but if this was what it was like having a big sister, Dean wished he had one.

His parents were working triple shifts at Coriolanus 3. During the Hunger Games, the country needed power for mandatory viewing, so engineers were often excused from the reaping.

His parents hadn't come to see him off. They worked on the other side of the district. Joy had been his rock. She promised everything would be okay, and he believed her.

Mikaela and Edgar were a welcomed addition to their group, but Dean clung to Joy above all else. Maybe it was the way she volunteered for her sister. Or maybe Joy was the warm person that drew others to her.

And it wasn't just for comfort. Joy didn't let things get to her. When Edgar tried to teach them only about wielding a knife, it didn't click for Joy. Dean and Mikaela got the basics, but Joy failed.

She didn't let that stop her. She went around to each weapon at the station, searching for something she could use.

In the end, she picked up blow darts. Dean was surprised, but after a day of training, she started to hit the bullseye. Even Edgar was impressed.

"I think you can do it," was all Joy needed to say to get them a blow-dart gun. None of them had the same kind of talent that Joy had. The instructor called it an inherent skill.

"That's going to help you in the games," the instructor said. "Why don't you come back after lunch? I can teach you some tricks."

Joy grinned ear to ear. "I'd like that, but what about you?"

Edgar shrugged. "I'll continue the knife training. The little runts need it."

Well, Edgar was right about that. Dean had been disarmed so easily that even the instructor laughed. Dean needed all the help he could get.

"I'll come back."

"Let's go! We have to hurry!"

"What's the rush?" Mikaela asked.

"It's the best part of training. We don't want to miss it!"

Joy knew what he was talking about, and she shook her head with a laugh.

"What is?" Mikaela asked.

"Lunch!"

If there was one good thing about coming to the Capitol, it was the food. Dean's family wasn't facing starvation, but their food was bland in a way he never knew. The Capitol had spices and seasonings that made food taste so much better.

He could smell the food before he saw it, but then Dean ran into the boy from One.

Dean fell on his butt. One remained standing.

"What the hell was that, meat?" One hissed.

"M-meat? I'm Dean."

"Meat can only be meat, meat. And meat needs to be a little more careful. We don't want to cause an accident."

The boy from One dumped his drink on Dean's head.

"Oops."