Hebe re-entered the backstage area, Luca cheering along with the crowd, clapping for her performance.
"Good luck, you'll be great." She smiled and he returned it nervously. Then she heard Caesar's booming voice announcing him.
"Now we have our male tribute from District 4, Luca Merritt!"
"Kick ass."
Hebe walked back to where the other tributes who had already been interviewed were standing to watch the screens. She walked over and stood on her own, ignoring the scathing glares of the careers. Instead she focused on the screen.
"So Luca, tell me, what is the thing you miss most about home?"
"Hmm, uhhh, probably having arm hair." Luca laughed, Caesar joining him.
"Really! Arm hair huh?"
"I feel naked without it Caesar! Like one of those hairless cats!"
"Tell me more about home, Luca. What's it like there, who do you have waiting for you?"
Hebe stiffened, remembering Finnick's expression at her mention of family. She didn't know why he had had such a reaction, but figured there must be a reason. She prayed Luca followed their mentors' advice and kept it vague.
"Well I love the sea, me and my parents go sailing all the time. And I have loads of friends at school that I go to the beach with."
"And what of what Hebe said in her interview? About her bringing you home?"
"Me and Hebe are a team, you know? I'm glad she's the one I'm in the games with. And she's right, it's gonna be one of us two coming out as the victor." Luca gave the crowd a sad yet determined look. Hebe could imagine the Capitol people wiping away tears at his expression.
Caesar let out a fake sniffle, "Isn't that just so sweet folks? And you do have a point, after all you did achieve such an incredible score in individual training. And I have information that it's the highest score someone of your age has ever achieved! How do you feel about that?"
"You're not trying to trick me into talking about the assessment, are you Caesar?" Luca asked, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.
The crowd laughed loudly, Luca joining them, shaking his head at Caesar's offended expression.
"I'm just joking with you Caesar! I'm surprised that I did so well, but then again I have such great mentors, so how could I not do well?"
"Yes of course, how is our Finnick as a mentor?" At the mention of his name there was an enormous mass of screams from the crowd, shrieks and cries. Hebe couldn't help but roll her eyes, envisaging Finnick's smug grin at all the attention.
"He's definitely got some interesting strategies Caesar." The alarm cut him off.
"Well I look forward to seeing them in practice in the games. Luca Merritt!" The crowd clapped and cheered and Luca exited, smiling and waving joyfully.
Hebe made her way towards where she knew he would leave the stage.
"Good fucking job." She said, enveloping the younger boy in a warm hug, laughing and patting him on the head.
"I really wasn't expecting him to ask about Finnick." The boy murmured as the two walked to the back of the corridor, further away from the screens, but still in earshot.
"Me neither. I think you handled it well enough though. And we definitely worked the brother and sister angle."
Luca nodded, turning his eyes back to the screen.
They watched as the other districts were interviewed, although it seemed none had gotten such a large applause as Luca and Hebe.
The two from district 7 were almost silent during their interview, looking as utterly miserable as they always did and the girl from 9 tripped on the stairs flying flat on her face.
Niamh did well, she was charming and funny and had a high training score to back it up. Dean was also very funny, telling Caesar that he was sure he could guess what colour his hair was dyed this year by the smell.
And then it was all over, they were dragged out by their escorts, pushed past hordes of paparazzi and shoved into a car. Hebe's feet ached from having to wear heels for so long, tossing them off as soon as she reached the apartment.
Finnick and Mags then burst through the door, wide grins on their faces and congratulations on their lips.
"You two were great," Mags said, reaching her arms around the two tributes to hug them.
"Yeah you were really good, I'm just intrigued to know what my so-called 'interesting strategies are?" Finnick asked incredulously.
Hebe chuckled quietly, Luca looking bashful, "Well what else was I supposed to say! I didn't think he'd talk about you…"
"Honestly Finnick, always stealing the spotlight. So juvenile." Hebe cut in shaking her head in faux disappointment.
Finnick tried to scowl at her, but his face broke into a grin instead.
"You were both truly very charming. And poised!" Ambrosia simpered, clearly proud of how well the two had taken on her etiquette lessons. She began walking to the table, the rest following her to dinner
"Yeah not like that girl from 9." Luca said, Hebe and Finnick sniggering beside him.
"Poor girl." Mags said, frowning and taking her seat at the table.
They leapt into dinner, Hebe holding back slightly, not wanting to be sick before they had to go to the arena. There was a blanket of silence over them all, a foggy tension filling the room at the knowledge that tomorrow would be the last time they would all eat together. It may be the last meal Hebe would ever eat. Even Ambrosia didn't have an obnoxious story to fill the void.
They all excused themselves, Luca choosing to go to bed early.
"I'll see you tomorrow ok? Make sure you get some sleep." Hebe said, hugging the younger boy. She could see the fear in his eyes just like she had at the reaping and was reminded yet again just how small he was. He was only a kid.
She let him go to bed, wandering out to the balcony just like she always did. Finnick was there, back to her, golden hair shining in the moonlight. She hated to admit it, but he was undeniably beautiful. Then he turned to her, smirking.
"Hey Cross. Enjoying the view?"
She just scoffed, rolling her eyes at him.
"You really are mean to me, you know that? Most people would kill for the opportunity to even meet me."
"Poor misguided souls."
"Ouch. And to think I was going to take you up to the roof but I guess you don't want to…"
"I mean, I guess I could refrain from being mean for a bit. Maybe 20 minutes?" She grinned at him slyly.
Then he was grabbing her hand and leading her off the balcony, dragging her out of the apartment and into the corridor, she laughed at him, his eyes light with childish amusement. He pressed the button that said 'roof' and the elevator sped upwards. Clearly it got faster the farther you had to go, because they were nearly knocked off their feet, stumbling and giggling.
Then the doors opened, revealing a small rooftop garden and sculpture of the capitol seal. The garden was well kept, but artificial, like everything else in the capitol. It was filled with unnaturally white roses with large sharp thorns. They were caged in by almost invisible wire fences. They reminded Hebe of her own situation, altered roses in an arena, thorns sharp, ready to attack. Then there was the capitol seal looking over them watching their every move. Like animals in a zoo.
Hebe walked past the garden, stepping towards the railing, looking out over the bright twinkling lights of the Capitol, the buildings rising up to touch the sky. They looked like glinting blades reaching upwards, stabbing through the heavens. It took her breath away, in awe of how high they were. All the people below seemed like ants, insects even, and she was the giant that could squash them all with one stomp of her foot.
"Nice isn't it."
"Yeah. It's definitely nice," Hebe responded quietly, not able to take her eyes off the city below.
"I snuck up here the night before my games. I've come up here every year since. I'm normally on my own though." Finnick laughed almost bashfully, reaching up and scratching his nose. He looked strangely youthful, and Hebe was taken aback at the sudden change in demeanour. She preferred him like this.
"Were you scared?" Hebe asked, immediately regretting it. She knew it was a stupid question. For once he didn't make fun of her, instead just letting out an amused snort.
"I'm not a total robot, you know. I was 14. I was shitting bricks. But I came up here in the middle of the night, and just looked out at the city. And I knew it couldn't be the last glimpse I got of the world. So I won."
"How do you do it?"
"What, win?"
"No. Watch us die every year?" Hebe's voice went slightly hoarse at the end.
"I don't really. Watch I mean. I… I try not to get attached. I try to help them, but forget them as soon as they're gone. I don't normally get my hopes up though."
Hebe laughed bitterly, it was reassuring to know that her mentor didn't really believe she could win. He noticed and was quick to brush away her concerns.
"Not this year though. I think you have a better chance than anyone I've ever mentored. Mags too."
"Yeah but what if I do make it back. That means Luca doesn't. I would have to leave him in that- that arena. I don't know if I can." She looked downwards, tears welling in her eyes at the thought of her district partner not making it.
"You have to forget about it. It's the only way you'll survive. You have to forget about humanity, who you were going in and focus on who needs to come out." Finnick reached over to brush her necklace, fingers skirting over the ring that hung on the chain.
"What's this?" He asked and Hebe looked up at him, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand to remove any trace of tears.
"It's my fathers wedding ring. He died a year and a half ago and my mum wore it around her neck ever since. Then, the morning of the games, she gave it to me as a token."
Her voice broke slightly, remembering her mother at home, imagining her mental state,
"I have to get back to her. Otherwise, she won't make it. Even with Annie helping her she won't be able to work. She won't even be able to eat" Finnick met her eyes, a look of genuine sorrow crossing his face, watching Hebe shudder at the memory of the time after her fathers death.
"Annie?"
"My best friend. More like my sister. She's looking after my mum while I'm gone, making sure she's ok. She's going to volunteer next year."
"You guys will be back to back winners then?"
Hebe chuckled lightly, "I guess we will be."
The two of them stood silently for what felt like an age, staring out at the city that had inflicted this pain on them.
Hebe woke up the next morning having slept surprisingly well despite her current situation. She showered, washing her hair and body for what may be the last time for several weeks. At least she would be nicely shaven going in, right?
She changed into the black tracksuit bottoms and t-shirt she found neatly folded on the chair in her room, tugging on the dark trainers that came with it.
She wandered out into the hallway to find Mags and Luca, the young boy dressed in the same clothes as her.
"Hey Mags." She reached out and wrapped her arms around her mentor, the older woman stroking her tribute's hair.
"It's ok. We'll meet again." Mags whispered, smiling warmly.
Ambrosia then appeared from her room, wearing a frilly black ensemble and the same pearly white wig.
"Isn't it a bit too early to be in mourning Ambrosia?" Hebe asked, walking forward to hug her escort.
They broke apart, Ambrosia giving the younger girl two kisses on the cheeks in the same way she'd seen people in the Capitol greet each other.
"You'll be going down to meet the hovercraft soon, Mags will take Luca and Finnick will take Hebe. When he finally gets up."
As if on cue, Finnick emerged, hair even more tousled than usual, dark rings under his eyes.
"Speak of the devil." Luca muttered, Finnick coming towards him and mimicking the same embraces that had gone around the group like an infectious disease. He whispered some sort of encouragement to the boy, Luca's eyes hardening in determination.
"Hovercraft time then?" Finnick asked, starting out of the apartment and the rest of them following him to the elevator for what may be the last time.
They flew up the glass shaft to the top floor, and Hebe was reminded of last night. The peace of that moment was gone, and she was left with the games.
They stepped out and were blasted with jets of hot air from the hovercrafts, almost blowing them off their feet and sending them flying off the roof like a leaf on the breeze.
"You guys will get on the hovercraft, they'll give you a tracker. It won't hurt. We'll meet you on the other side and take you to your stylists." Finnick had to shout above the whirring of engines, Luca and Hebe nodding despite not hearing much of what he said. The two tributes then boarded the hovercraft flanked by peacekeepers, poking and prodding them like cattle.
Taking their seats next to each other, they looked around at the other tributes, all pale and nervous, apart from the careers who were practically buzzing with excitement. Hebe wanted to puke at the sight of the smug faces, turning away from them and looking out the window. She noticed how comfortable the seats she was in were, and that thought also made her sick. It was unreasonably luxurious for what it was, a method of transport to cart children off to their untimely deaths. Yet again the Capitol managed to surprise and disgust her at every turn.
Hebe was snapped out of her thoughts by a peacekeeper talking to her. Their thick white helmet muffled their voice but it sounded like a woman, who seemed rather agitated. Eventually she realised she was demanding that she hold out her arm. Hebe flushed slightly, embarrassed by her daydreaming, and presented her arm for the woman. She took a large syringe and plunged the needle into her arm, a small probe making its way under her skin. It flashed in her arm, before sinking further in and out of sight.
Then they took off, the whirr of the engines ramping up until it was a steady buzz, her seat vibrating slightly as they were propelled into the air. She barely noticed the city flying by until they were landing again, their seatbelts ripped off and herded through dark tunnels and into a waiting room.
There sat mentors and escorts, ready to say their last goodbyes and take them to be launched into the arena.
Finnick caught her eye, beckoning her over and taking her down one of the many adjoining corridors that spread like a rabbit warren. Probably so tributes couldn't escape. Before she went down the hall, she nodded at Luca one last time, a gesture that meant more than she could have possibly vocalised to him. It was a nod that promised not only her allyship, but her protection.
Then she was following Finnick, walking for what may have been miles or mere metres, silence stretching between them as they moved. Then he suddenly stopped, halting outside of a small metal door. He turned to her, a neutral expression on his face, yet his eyes held an innate sense of sadness. Hebe just grinned, walking forward and embracing him.
Finnick sighed, but none of the tension ebbed from his body. They released each other and he brought a hand up, pushing a lock of her hair behind her ear, and murmuring,
"You can win. You just have to believe it."
She nodded at him, determination filling her gaze.
"I'll be waiting for you sweetheart."
And then he was walking away, disappearing down the corridor and out of sight. She felt something lurch within her as he became lost in the darkness, like her last safety blanket had been ripped away from her and she was left with the reality of the games. But she had no time to dwell on feelings. She had to push forward.
Hebe turned back to the metal door. It had a large 4 engraved on it, and she felt a wave of relief that Finnick had managed to bring her to the right place. She steeled herself and opened the door, anxious to see what lay inside.
She sighed in relief as she caught sight of Tigris, her striking tattoos and large statement wig a source of comfort in the face of her possible death. She rushed forward, the older woman nearly being knocked over by the force of Hebe's hug.
"I'm so glad you're here."
"Trust me dear, I wouldn't miss this for the world."
Tigris then let go, turning and holding up a silvery suit that seemed almost too similar to the ones she was forced to wear during training.
"Not exactly glamorous is it." Hebe remarked, taking note of Tigris's derivative expression toward the garment.
Hebe shed her clothes and pulled on the tight garment as Tigris lay out her predictions about the arena.
"It's very light so expect some humidity, but it's also waterproof; I'd guess some kind of swamp or marshland. It also covers all of your bare skin so it's possible that they've put in some sort of mosquito or insect, so try not to leave yourself exposed. Your shoes are thick, and they have studs on the bottom. Those aren't just for grip."
She finished changing and Tigris began tying her hair, plaiting it and placing it into a thick bun. She then tucked Hebe's token beneath her suit, stepping back to admire the girl.
"I don't think I've ever been prouder of a tribute than you. I look forward to making your dress for when you are crowned."
Claudius Templesmith's voice interrupted their warm moment, booming through the room and saying, "Thirty seconds to launch."
Tigris sighed and stepped back, leading the girl to a circular pedestal. Hebe eyed it warily, but Tigris nodded, motioning for her to step onto it.
"Twenty seconds to launch."
Glass then rose up from the base of the pedestal, enclosing Hebe in it. There was no turning back now. Tigris gave her a wistful expression and then the girl was rising, rising up the tube, up into the arena. She smiled once more at Tigris before she disappeared out of sight, and she was yet again on her own.
She was only alone for around 3 seconds before she was thrust up into the arena, blinking, her eyes trying to adjust to the bright light of the sun that shone down on her. Her heart began beating out of her chest, she could see the cornucopia, such a shiny silver that it almost blinded her. Above it were red numbers that were ticking down rapidly from 100. Hebe frantically scanned the arena, looking for a sign of either Niamh or Luca. She couldn't see either of them anywhere.
Then she noticed the weapons, a pair of small throwing axes right in the mouth of the cornucopia. Scattered around it was a multitude of backpacks, slowly decreasing in size and most likely value. Hebe also realised the ground was muddy, and would be difficult to run on. She groaned internally, nothing could ever be easy could it? Around her were trees rising up from the mulch, twisted and warped like they were long dead.
Hebe was snapped out of her thoughts by a loud explosion echoing through her and she looked down to see Dean's lifeless eyes staring up at her, just as clouded as they always were. His head was detached from his body which was blown to bits, pieces of limbs strewn around his pedestal. Hebe felt bile rise in her throat at the sight, but pushed it down, concentrating on the ticking numbers above the cornucopia.
10, 9, 8
She prepared herself, pushing her body into a lunge, ready to leap off the pedestal and sprint towards the cornucopia.
7,6,5
Glancing around, she saw that the two tributes directly adjacent to her were the girl from 5 and the boy from 12. The careers were further away.
4,3,2,1
Then the boom of cannon, and she was off, feet squelching in the mud, arms pumping at her sides. She was lucky for all the days running along the sandy beaches of 4, as this wasn't much different, all she had to do was keep her steps light and she wouldn't sink. Other tributes weren't having such an easy time, they all struggled to move. Hebe felt a thrill of excitement at her advantage, and she soon reached the mouth of the cornucopia.
She went straight for the axes, grabbing them and holding them firmly in her hands. She took a bow and quiver of arrows for Luca, slinging them over the shoulder along with the largest backpack she could see. Then she left, narrowly missing Icarus from 2 as he lumbered in covered in mud from a fall.
She made her way around the back of the cornucopia, spotting her young district partner struggling to wade through a ditch. His back was to her so he couldn't see the older girl, but Niamh was next to him, holding her own backpack, trying to help pull his foot free. Hebe began running over and was about to call out to them when she saw the girl from 9 creeping up on Niamh and grabbing her, tackling her to the ground. She was holding a large sword, and a cold chill ran down Hebe's sign at the sight.
She quickened her pace as Niamh escaped the girl's grip, shuffling along the floor, no available weapon to defend herself with. Hebe then raised her arm, holding the axe up before letting it fly, watching as it lodged itself in the back of the girl's neck. Niamh's eyes widened in alarm as her attacker fell backwards, twitching. Hebe rushed forward, hauling Luca out of the mud and retrieving her axe.
"Hey, Niamh, we need to go. Get her sword."
Niamh sprung into action, roused from her stunned state by her ally's voice. Hebe handed Luca the bow and quiver and he took it from her gratefully, following the two girls out of the clearing and into the treeline.
The 69th hunger games has begun.