Ela Dobric, 15

District 3 Citizen

Best Friend of Robyn Seiwald

I spun my bracelet around and around on my wrist, doing my best to ignore the chaos of my household. My older sister was trying to convince the littles to take a bath and they were protesting loudly. But I wanted to watch the interviews. Robyn would be onscreen soon.

"Shut it!" I yelled over my shoulder. Jakob began to cry and I rolled my eyes. "Just give me ten minutes of peace. Please!"

"Ela…" Fionna said in a warning tone, but I flipped my middle finger up at her. She grumbled something under her breath but began to herd the triplets toward their bedroom.

In all the fuss I'd missed the opening sequence, but it didn't matter much. I was here to see Robyn and to assess her competitors. My best friend was a capable gal, but she would be up against people who spent their lives training for the Hunger Games. To say I was worried would be an understatement.

Caesar Flickerman was just finishing up his usual spiel as I tuned in. This year his suit was a frosty blue color that actually looked decent with his bright hair. He had a massive smile stretched across his altered face and was just standing from his armchair.

"Thank you for the wonderful welcome," he said. "But we're here to meet our true stars: the tributes of the 66th Hunger Games! And first we have Becky Sloan."

The crowd roared with cheers as Becky came onstage. Her pink hair was curled on one side of her head and her sleeveless fluffy ball gown faded from black to white. The skirt was flecked with gold and her makeup and jewelry shimmered in the same color.

"Hello Caesar," Becky said as she shook the man's hand. They both took a seat and Becky folded her hands in her lap.

"Hello to you too," Caesar said. "Thank you for joining us tonight. Now, you were a volunteer. What drove you to that decision?"

"My parents," Becky said. She was smiling but her body seemed tense. "They're avid fans of the Games and dreamed of their daughter being a victor. I am going to fulfill their wishes."

"How brave," Caesar replied. "Do you feel prepared for the arena?"

"Oh, absolutely. I'm a fierce fighter and I can handle anything. I'd say my victory is inevitable."

The audience erupted with excited cries as Becky tossed her head and admired her nails.

"Wow. I'm glad to hear you're so confident," Caesar said. "Well, I wish we had more time, but that's all we have for now." He stood up and so did Becky. She blew a kiss to the crowd as Caesar announced her name again and she left the stage to wild cheers.

Aurelius, the slim boy from District 1, took the stage next. His suit was a deep blue color that made his baby blue eyes stand out and he had a charming smile on his face. He too was welcomed with thunderous applause.

"So Aurelius," Caesar said as they sat down. "You scored an impressive 10 in training. Could you tell us about how you achieved that?"

"Oh Caesar, you know I'm not allowed to," he said with a light laugh. "But I will say that I know my way around a knife."

"Well, we'll all be on the edge of our seats to see if you get one," Caesar said. "But tell us, what is District 1 like? Do you have anyone waiting for you back at home?"

"I do," Aurelius said. "My parents, my best friends, and my boyfriend Ambrose. We're all very close and we love to enjoy the luxury our district provides."

"That sounds wonderful," Caesar said. "Unfortunately we have to say goodbye now, but we're excited to see how tomorrow goes!"

"I am too!" Aurelius laughed as he waved to the crowd.

In my opinion, Artemis was the scariest tribute so far. She was a hulking girl with crazy muscles and an intimidating expression. She was wearing a tight, sleeveless slate gray dress that showed off her bulging biceps. Her makeup was minimalistic, and her whole outfit successfully portrayed her raw power.

"Hello Artemis!" Caesar said, holding out his hand for a handshake. Artemis just nodded to him and sat down without being invited.

"Good evening," she said politely.

"You chose to volunteer two years early," Caesar commented. "Why is that?"

"I was chosen to volunteer early," Artemis said. "My trainers are thoroughly confident in me and my skills."

"And what skills are you referring to?"

"Killing."

Her tone was flat but it somehow added to her menacing presence. It was clear that Artemis would kill anyone and everyone who stood in her way. I shuddered, silently hoping that Robyn wouldn't end up on the wrong side of her weapon.

Artemis's district partner Donquixote seemed much more personable. He was wearing a silver suit that sparkled under the stage lights. The jacket was unbuttoned to show off a silky black dress shirt and he wasn't wearing a tie.

"Caesar!" Donquixote said when he approached the host. He held out his hand and the two men shared a firm handshake. "It's great to meet you."

"It's wonderful to meet you as well," Caesar said. "What were your motivations for volunteering?"

"I'm here to show my strength," Donquixote replied. "I'm the best of the best and it's the job of the strong to rule the weak. I'll destroy that arena and cement myself as the guy on top."

"How ambitious!" Caesar said, but he was barely audible over the screaming audience. "We wish you the best of luck."

"I don't need luck," Donquixote said menacingly. "I have raw talent."

"I have one more question before we say goodbye," Caesar said. "You scored an 11 in training and are tied for the second-highest score with Artemis. How are you feeling about that?"

"Artemis has some skill, but I'm superior. As to how that pipsqueak from 11 got such a high score? I can only assume it was out of pity."

And now it was Robyn's turn. I held my breath as she took the stage in a flowing, gothic black dress with long lace sleeves. A silver crown sparkled in her hair and the moon necklace I "borrowed" for her was prominently displayed. My heart began to pound as I remembered securing that clasp. Her smile was breathtaking.

But now she looked serious and composed. She greeted Caesar politely and tossed her hair before sitting down.

"Robyn; you got quite an impressive score in training. A 7! How did you accomplish that?" Caesar asked.

"I'm capable of the unexpected," Robyn said. "I have practice thinking on my toes and I can strike quickly and quietly."

"And how did you learn these skills?" Caesar asked as the audience cooed in interest.

"Let's just say I'm used to danger," she said. I smiled as the audience whispered in awe. She had them eating out of her hand.

"Well unfortunately, our time is almost up," Caesar said. "But I do have one last question. Where did that lovely necklace come from? I noticed you wore it to the reaping too."

"It was a gift from my best friend," Robyn said. A faint smile crossed her face and she looked directly into the camera. I felt as if she were looking right at me.

After a polite goodbye, Caesar welcomed Robyn's district partner to the stage. His name was Kairos Nakamura and I knew his parents owned some big tech company. Rumor had it that he was a rebel and his reaping was rigged, but there was no way to know for sure.

He was dressed in a red suit that matched the ruby in his earring. The shiny fabric was hemmed with silver which contrasted well with his black dress shirt and tie. He looked very put-together. Even his shoes were polished to perfection.

Kairos shook Caesar's hand and waved to the audience as he sat down. They cheered loudly for him.

"Welcome Kairos," Caesar said. "You scored an 8 in training. What talents of yours warranted that score?"

"I'm good with my hands," Kairos said. He had a confident smile on his face and was leaning forward, completely engaged in the conversation. "And I'm quite knowledgeable about technology. My parents own a large corporation and I've picked up plenty of tricks."

"And do you think these tricks will help you in the arena?"

"Oh, absolutely. I know my allies and I will do well."

"You have allies?" Caesar asked. "Care to share who they are?"

"I think I'll keep you guessing," Kairos teased. "But I can assure you that you'll see them soon."

The crowd called out wild guesses as Kairos winked before exiting the stage. I could tell he would be a favorite with the crowd, but I hoped Robyn would stay out of his way. They both seemed quite clever and could have similar strategies.

Crash Derosches was the next tribute to be welcomed to the stage. Xey were a hulking teen with a bald head and white eyebrows. Xeir makeup was bold and intimidating but xeir outfit seemed to be a simple tuxedo in a cyan color.

But as xey walked onstage xey let out a powerful roar and ripped the sleeves right off. The audience went wild, cheering and chanting xeir name while xey pumped xeir fists in the air.

Xey greeted Caesar warmly before taking a seat across from him.

"Hello Crash," Caesar said. "That's quite a name you've got."

"Yes," Crash said. "I chose it myself when I came out. I think it suits me, don't you?"

"Definitely," Caesar said, though he was barely audible over the roaring crowd. "When did you come out?"

"When I was twelve," Crash said. "I always knew who I was and I am very lucky to have a family who supports me. I miss them, but I'm ready to crush it in the arena."

"I'm sure they miss you too," Caesar said. "And we're all very excited to see your talents in the arena. Aren't we?" The crowd erupted again at that and Crash flexed a few times as xey left the stage. The audience was in a frenzy by the time xey were gone.

Lotus Amarin, the other tribute from 4, was called to the stage next. Zey were wearing a flowing silk robe in the same cyan color as Crash's suit and had zeir hair up in an elegant bun.

"Caesar," zey said politely as zey shook his hand. "Thank you for hosting us tonight."

"It's my pleasure," Caesar said, helping Lotus into zeir seat. "So, we saw at the reaping that you and Crash are quite close. How long have you two been friends?"

"We've known each other since we were in Grade 1," Lotus said. "And we've been close since Grade 5. Crash was the first person I came out to."

"It's lovely that you can support each other during this process," Caesar said. Lotus nodded.

"Crash is more like family to me than my parents are. They never supported me for who I was. I believe it is our duty to our loved ones to accept them as they are, not to tear them down."

"I couldn't agree more," Caesar said. "Please, put your hands together for Lotus Amarin!"

"Ela!" my mom shrieked from the other room. "Turn that noise off right now. The boys are trying to sleep!"

"Fine!" I yelled back. I switched the television off and flopped down on the lumpy couch. At least I was able to watch Robyn's interview. I missed my friend more than anything in the world. And now all I could do was hope she could make it home.

Holly Zookeeper, 14

District 6 Citizen

Sister of Leona and Jay Zookeeper

Being back home was so strange. After spending a year in the old subway system under District 6, with only a strange boy named Flynn to keep me company, I felt completely out of my element.

When we went exploring and the tunnels collapsed behind us, I thought we were done for. I was scared and alone and ready for death. I could imagine that's how Leona and Jay felt now. At least they had each other…

Mom's hands shook as she gripped her mug of chamomile tea. Dad was leaning back in his armchair, his worn face creased with worry. Only Dove seemed happy. She was lying on her stomach and flipping through picture books. She was too young to comprehend what was happening. I felt that my parents should tell her that Leona and Jay weren't coming back, but they were foolishly holding out hope. Mom kept reminding me that Dakota Grangerford, a girl in a wheelchair, won a little over ten years ago. She believed there was a chance Leona or Jay would come home.

The perfume commercial that was playing came to an end and we all directed our attention back to the screen. A brief burst of the anthem played before the cameras focused on Caesar, who was welcoming Anastasia Willows to the stage.

Anastasia was a short girl with lots of piercings in both ears. She was wearing a black suit and wickedly sharp heels and had an indifferent air about her. She shook Caesar's hand before sniffing primly as she sat down.

"Hello Anastasia," Caesar greeted. She nodded in return, a slight and smug smile on her face. "You look lovely tonight."

"Thank you," she said. "I had a bit of a… disagreement with my stylist, but I was confident I'd look better in a suit. And it's important to take charge of your own destiny."

"Indeed," Caesar agreed. "How do you plan to take charge in the arena?"

"I'm going to fight my hardest and tear my other competitors apart, literally and metaphorically."

"Ooh, how intriguing," Caesar cooed as the audience cheered. "And do you have any allies to work with in the arena?"

"No, I'm going in alone. I don't need anyone else dragging me down."

Whoops and cheers followed Anastasia as she left the stage. Caesar clapped politely as well before welcoming Isaac Foster. The boy was dressed in a midnight-blue suit and walked with confidence. He shook Caesar's hand warmly before he sat.

"Welcome Isaac," the master of ceremonies said. "Tell me, how are you feeling about tomorrow?"

"I'll admit that I'm nervous," Isaac said calmly. "But I'm confident in my abilities and I have a strong drive and desire to win."

"What is driving you to achieve victory?"

"My mother, and my ex-girlfriend Skylar. I lost my mom when I was 7 and I want to honor her. And Skylar was a tribute in last years' Games. I want to succeed where she could not."

"That's a very noble goal," Caesar complimented. "And we wish you the best of luck."

"Thank you."

"And how does the Capitol compare to District 5?" Caesar asked. "You're a long way from home."

"It's a lot cooler here," Isaac said with a laugh. "District 5 is desert through and through." The audience laughed with him but quieted down as his face grew more serious.

"But the Capitol also provides opportunities. I want to make a name for myself; to be known for something big. Winning the Hunger Games gives me the chance to achieve that."

I nodded approvingly as Isaac left the stage. He seemed like he had a good head on his shoulders and he catered well to the audience. If Leona and Jay had allies, I hoped it was someone like him.

And now it was Leona's turn. Dad pulled Dove onto his lap and gave her a hug. She whimpered in worry but was otherwise quiet. A silent tear ran down Mom's cheek before she could wipe it away.

Leona came onstage wearing a bright yellow dress covered in tassels. A yellow feather boa was draped around her neck and her wild hair was pushed back with a golden headband. She looked quite nice, but she also looked furious.

"Leona!" Caesar said, reaching forward to hug her. She stood stiffly as the older man wrapped his arms around her and he had to pull back awkwardly. She sat down almost immediately and Caesar timidly followed suit.

"So Leona," Caesar began. "I have to start with the question we're all asking: did you volunteer to protect your brother?"

"Yes," Leona growled. "As long as I'm alive, I will not let anything bad happen to him."

"Very sweet," Caesar said as the crowd cooed. Leona sneered. "And you scored a 5 in training, which is quite impressive for a tribute your age. How–"

"I'm a fighter," she interrupted. "If anyone messes with us, I'll break their nose. I'm not afraid of anything and I'll stop at nothing to keep Jay safe."

"That's my girl," Mom whispered as Leona walked off the stage. I smiled a little. Leona was brash and hard to get along with, but it seemed like she'd made a good impression. If she had good sponsors, she and Jay might just make it past the first few days.

And now it was Jay's turn. He was also wearing a boa but his was the same color as a bluejay's feathers. His suit was a light blue-gray color and he was still allowed to have his cane. When he reached Caesar, the older man helped him into his chair.

"Hello Jay," Caesar said. I could hear sympathy and a hint of pity in his tone and I could imagine Leona grumbling backstage.

"Hello Caesar," Jay replied. "It's very nice to meet you."

"Likewise," the master of ceremonies said. "If it's alright, I'd like to address the elephant in the room."

"My blindness?" Jay said. "Go ahead."

"Yes, well… it may put you at a disadvantage. How do you plan to work around that?"

"It will definitely put me at a disadvantage," he said. "But I've been blind my entire life. I'm used to walking a different path. All I can do is try my best."

"That's all anyone can do," Caesar agreed. "And earlier, Kairos mentioned we'd see his allies soon, and emphasized the word 'see'. Pardon me for the wild guess, but are you allied with him?"

"Yes," Jay said. "Leona and I thought it was beneficial to work with another tribute and Kairos is great company."

"Well, we wish all three of you the best of luck," Caesar said. He helped Jay stand and guided him off the stage.

My shoulders relaxed as Jay disappeared behind the curtain. Seeing him so strong when I knew he could be dead in less than a day was heartbreaking. Somehow, pretending he was already gone was easier.

Mom went to switch off the television but Dad shook his head.

"We should see the rest of the competition," he said. Mom gently placed down the remote.

"You can," she said. "I'm going to put Dove to bed." She picked my little sister off of Dad's lap and hurried out of the room. Dad and I exchanged a sad look before turning back to the screen.

Aspen Hayes, the girl from 7, was already sitting with Caesar. Her dress was a pretty green color with golden sparkles in the fluffy tulle skirt. Her necklace and bracelets were also gold, as were her strappy heels.

"Aspen!" Caesar gushed. "You look absolutely lovely. Green definitely suits you."

"Thank you Caesar!" she exclaimed. "It's my second favorite color, after pink."

"I'm sure you look beautiful in both," the host said as the audience shouted in agreement. Aspen's cheeks flushed.

"Thank you so much. Everyone here has been so kind and supportive. I feel like a princess."

"You look like one as well," Caesar said. "Now, you scored a 6 in training, which is very good. How did you achieve this?"

"I'm not supposed to tell, right?" Aspen said with a giggle. "I don't want to get you into trouble."

"Yes, you're right," Caesar said with a dramatic sigh. "But can you tell us what District 7 is like?"

"Oh yes," Aspen breathed. "It's absolutely beautiful. The trees go on for miles and there are rivers and wild deer and fresh snow in the winter. My uncle owns a tree farm and sometimes we go walking together. It's my favorite thing to do with him."

"Is your uncle your only family?"

"Yes," Aspen said. "I lost my mom when I was little and Uncle Silas took me in. He's a very strong and kind man and I respect him a lot."

"That's so sweet," Caesar said as the crowd let out a collective "aww". Aspen smiled shyly.

"I want to go home to him very badly."

"I'm sure you do," Caesar said, putting a hand on her shoulder comfortingly.

Birch Paquin, the boy who scored a 0 in training, came onstage next. He was wearing a dull red suit jacket and pants over a black dress shirt and tie. He looked angry and sullen and completely ignored Caesar when the man offered a handshake.

"So Birch," Caesar began. "What is your strategy for the arena?" But Birch just sat in silence, his arms folded across his chest. Caesar looked around awkwardly and was about to ask another question when Birch's eyes widened and he leapt from his seat.

Tears pooled in his eyes and began to track down his cheeks as he pointed one quivering finger at someone in the audience.

"You!" he yelled, his voice dripping with sadness and rage. The cameras panned to a blonde man with golden eyes in a crisp green suit. He looked calm and composed even in the face of Birch's anger.

"Vermeer Versailles! You forced us out of our homes! You killed my people! You let a Peacekeeper put a bullet through my father's head! All for a hotel. You deserve to die!" Birch lunged forward but Caesar caught his arm.

"Calm down," he said. But Birch twisted away, still screaming and crying. Peacekeepers rushed the stage to restrain the wild boy, forcing his arms behind his back and forcing him offstage. Caesar cleared his throat and straightened his jacket.

"Don't worry folks," he said, summoning a false smile. "All district neighborhood evictions are completely legal. Now, let's hear a word from some of our sponsors, and then we'll move on to the lovely Taffeta Katz of District 8!"

A commercial started to play but my dad leaned forward and shut everything off. We sat in silence for a moment or two before he stood up abruptly and marched out of the room. I stared at my reflection in the black television screen before scurrying after him. It didn't matter which district you were from. You were never safe.

Rhonna Giedroyc, 14

District 12 Citizen

Sister of Arawn Giedroyc

I closed the front door as quietly as I could as I slipped inside. The wooden walls of our house were creaking in the wind outside and rain pounded loudly on the metal roof. My mom was curled up on the couch, a quilt draped over her shoulders and wrapped around her frail body. Her face was sunken and I could see her trembling.

"Mama, I'm home," I whispered, slipping off my rubber boots.

"Hello dear," she said, her sad eyes turning my way. "How was work?"

"Alright," I replied. "Is the power holding?"

It had been storming wildly the past few days and we'd gone without power for most of today. Not that it mattered. Power in District 12 was only consistently on during the Hunger Games. We were used to the darkness. But by the sound of the television, we had electricity again.

Mom's nod was disrupted by a hacking cough. I winced and ran to get her a glass of water. She drank it greedily before gesturing to the table.

"I made dinner," she said. "Something special, to… celebrate."

"Thank you mama," I said, giving her shoulder a squeeze.

A slice of thick tesserae bread drizzled in oil was sitting on a plate. Sliced tomatoes and a bit of goat cheese sat on top. I carried the plate over to the lumpy sofa to sit with mama and watch the rest of the interviews. Arawn would go last but I wouldn't dare to miss it.

Luckily, it was the turn of the girl from 8. Taffeta, her name was. She strutted onstage in a tight golden dress and flashy silver jewelry. Her heels were ridiculously high and for a moment I wondered how she could walk in them. But she moved with ease and held out a hand for Caesar to kiss.

When they sat down, Taffeta folded her legs, showing off her smooth thighs. I could practically see the men in the audience slavering. She tossed her caramel hair over her shoulder and batted her eyelashes at them.

"Welcome Taffeta," Caesar said. "We're all so happy you're here."

"I'm happy to be here!" she said brightly. "I've always dreamed of coming to the Capitol."

"Well, we love making dreams come true," Caesar said. "What has been your favorite part so far?"

"The people," she answered. "Everyone is so lovely." Then she turned to the audience. "Your support means the world to me and I can't wait to get to know you all more… intimately."

I felt my jaw drop. Did this girl not know what she was doing to herself?

"Poor thing," I heard my mama mutter under her breath.

"Now tell me," Caesar continued. "Are you going into the arena alone or are you part of an alliance?"

"I'm allied with the strongest tributes in the arena," Taffeta boasted. "We're unstoppable."

"Well, we're all very excited to see what you have in store for us, but we're unfortunately out of time."

"Oh…" Taffeta said, looking disappointed. "Well, we'll just have to continue our chat when I win!" She blew a kiss to the crowd before leaving the stage, her hips swaying.

The next tribute was the soft-looking boy from 8. He was wearing a peachy-pink dress with puffy sleeves and beautiful white flowers patterned on the skirt.

"Hello Calceus," Caesar said warmly. "I love your dress."

"Thank you, but please, call me Calponia. When I'm onstage I prefer to identify as female."

"Oh, of course!" Caesar said. "My apologies."

"It's alright," Calponia replied. "I only came out as genderfluid very recently. Not many people knew before now."

"Well, it's very brave of you to share that identity here, and we're all happy to support you." Caesar said.

"Thank you. Now, if it's alright, I'd like to sing a song I wrote."

After getting affirmation from Caesar, Calponia stood up and began to sing in a soft yet powerful voice.

Here comes a wave meant to wash me away

A tide that is taking me under

Swallowing sand, left with nothing to say

My voice drowned out in the thunder

But I won't cry

And I won't start to crumble

Whenever they try

To shut me or cut me down

I won't be silenced

You can't keep my quiet

Won't tremble when you try it

All I know is I won't go speechless

She drew in a deep breath when she finished and the audience erupted with cheers. Chants of her name began to pick up and Calponia's cheeks flushed. She thanked everyone warmly before exiting the stage.

"Her voice was beautiful," I whispered. Mama nodded in agreement and Caesar Flickerman welcomed Mackenzie Pricker to the stage.

Mackenzie's dress was long and flowy, and colored a beautiful golden shade. The neckline was high and the gauzy skirt had a long slit. It floated elegantly around her as she sat down beside Caesar.

"Mackenzie, my dear," Caesar said. "You look stunning."

"Thank you Caesar. But please, call me Mac. We're all friends here."

"Mac it is," he said with a laugh. "So tell me; you are in a very unique situation. You and your husband are competing in the Games together. How did this come to be?"

"Well, when I reaped, Brady volunteered," Mac said. "I wasn't expecting him to. But we are partners in everything we do. If I'm going to die, I want to die with him by my side."

A collective 'aww' came up from the audience as Caesar brushed away a fake tear.

"How sweet," he said. "You two must really love each other."

"He's all I have," Mac explained. "For years, I was alone and lost. But with Brady, my life had purpose. We mean the world to each other."

As Mac left the stage, Brady came on. He swept Mac into a deep, romantic kiss that made the audience go wild. Mama put a hand on her chest and I felt tears prickle at the corners of my eyes. This was so unfair!

After Brady released Mac, he came to join Caesar. The two men shook hands firmly before sitting down. Brady's suit was a paler gold than Mac's dress, but it still matched quite well. A faint cream-color wheat motif was patterned on the fabric.

"Brady, was Mac the reason you decided to volunteer?" Caesar asked.

"Of course," the young man replied. "My life has no meaning without her. If she's going into the arena, so am I."

"And what are your plans for the arena?"

"We'll take things in stride and stay by each others' sides, no matter what. Mess with Mac, and you're dead."

Brady too earned lots of applause. I could see why he and Mac would be Capitol favorites. The sadder the tribute's story, the more likely they were to be beloved. All I could hope was that they liked Arawn.

'Only three more districts' I told myself as Brielle Hyland walked out. She was dressed in a sleek, midnight-blue gown with long sleeves and a high neckline. It shimmered as if it were covered in twinkling stars and silver threads were embroidered into the sleeves. A slim silver belt decorated her waist and her dark brown hair hung in curled wisps around her face.

She nodded politely to Caesar, who complimented her dress as she sat down. After thanking him, she folded her hands in her lap and waited for him to begin.

"Hello Brielle," Caesar said. "Your score of 8 is quite admirable. Do you think the talents you showed the Gamemakers will help you in the arena?"

"I do," Brielle said. Her voice was soft but her back was straight and her shoulders squared. She looked ready for anything.

"I've worked hard my whole life and I know the skills I've picked up from home will benefit me."

"What sort of skills are you referring to?" Caesar asked. But Brielle shook her head.

"I can't share," she said. "That would spoil the surprise."

Andy Waywell, Brielle district partner, was much less interesting than she was. He was wearing a plain black suit that only served to highlight his plain brown hair and plain brown eyes.

"I've always been fascinated by the human body," he said when Caesar asked what his hobbies back home were. "It's so adaptive, and yet follows such strict scientific rules. Do you think all the body modifications you guys get alters your insides? Does a Capitolite skeleton look different to a district citizen's skeleton? Are our brains different? Wouldn't it be so cool to find out?"

It was clear that Caesar didn't know how to respond and Andy's interview did not end on a high note.

"And now, please welcome Freya Thatcher!" Caesar announced as the little girl came out onstage. Her dress was sleeveless and had a fluffy white tulle skirt. The bodice was a light sky-blue color and she had white ballet flats on her feet. Her hair was pinned back on the sides by shiny silver clips.

"Freya!" Caesar cried when she reached him. "Our highest scorer of this year's tributes! Tell me, how did you achieve such a feat?"

"I–I'm not sure," she stammered. Her dark eyes were wide and she had to take a stabilizing breath before continuing. "I just did what I thought would impress the Gamemakers, and apparently it did."

"Most certainly," Caesar said with a laugh. "You have a plan for the Games already?"

"Yes," Freya replied. "I have an ally and we are going to look out for each other. But it's okay if we die. I'm not afraid of death… I'm actually very curious about it."

"So you don't want to win," Caesar asked.

"No, I do. I've just seen a lot of death and find the process very interesting. I work in a nursing home, you see. When our patients pass on, I like to be there. I want to comfort them as they move to the next stage of their journey."

As Freya spoke, she seemed to open up more and more. I could tell the audience didn't know what to make of her, but I found that I liked her. She reminded me a bit of Arawn, with his interest in and acceptance of death and the place beyond it. Was Arawn the ally she mentioned?

Saigon Kane made for an intimidating figure in their dark silver suit. Their hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail and they had a small amount of makeup on to accentuate their eyes and cheekbones.

"I'm ready to go," they said when Caesar asked how they were feeling. "It'll be tough, but I'm confident and prepared. I'm going to fight like hell and make it home." Then they smiled at the cheers that followed their statement.

"And who are you fighting to make it home too?" Caesar asked.

"My parents, and my siblings. My little sister is going to get into a heck of a lot of trouble without me to keep an eye on her." The crowd laughed at that and Caesar joined in too. Saigon's smile widened. They made a good impression on the audience and they knew it.

It was finally District 12's turn. Marjoram, the girl who was reaped, was my age, but I'd only known her from our younger years at school. And she didn't attend school anymore.

Her dress was very pretty; gold with jewel-toned accents. And her dark hair was up in an elegant bun. But her hands were shaking and her eyes were wide with fear. Her voice trembled when she greeted Caesar.

"Hello Marjoram," Caesar said. "How are you feeling about tomorrow?"

"Nervous," she said in a squeaky voice. Then she blushed and cleared her throat before speaking again.

"I'm a little nervous, but I have a strong ally. And I am going to fight very hard to get back home."

"I'm sure you will," Caesar said. "Now, who are you allied with?"

"Brielle," Marjoram stammered. "She's very strong and I trust her to keep us safe."

"Well, it sounds like you'll make a good pair," Caesar said. Marjoram nodded awkwardly and practically sprinted off the stage when her time was up.

And now it was Arawn's turn. Mama reached over and I took her hand, stroking the back of it with my thumb. We both gasped as our boy walked onstage.

Arawn's suit was simple, like the boy's from 10, but it shimmered faintly when he moved. His expression was stony and morose, as it always was, and he greeted Caesar in a quiet voice.

"Hello Arawn," Caesar said. "Thank you for joining us tonight, and thank you for your patience. I'm sure it must be a long wait."

"It's fine," Arawn said. "Everyone needs their turn to shine. Mine just happens to be last."

"Well, you certainly shine in that suit!" Caesar gushed. Arawn thanked him without smiling.

"So Arawn, do you feel prepared for tomorrow?"

"Yes and no," my brother said. "I know what to expect but one can never fully prepare for their imminent death."

No one in the audience spoke. Even Caesar seemed to be at a loss for words. But Arawn sat tall, completely unbothered.

After clearing his throat to end the awkward silence, Caesar dove into his next question.

"Who is waiting for you back home?" he asked.

"My mom and my sister," Arawn said. "Mama is an amazing parent and has been very sick. I hope to win so I can pay for her treatments. And my sister Rhonna is lovely too. She's very smart and hardworking and I want to give her the future she deserves."

I couldn't stop my tears and Mama was sobbing beside me. I slumped down on her shoulder and we held each other tightly as Arawn's interview ended. Caesar thanked the audience for attending and began to wish the tributes luck, but I tuned it out. Arawn would need more than luck if he was going to come home to us. And he was coming home to us.

Hi everybody! Here are the interviews - my longest chapter to date. I thought of splitting it up but with three POVs it would have been a little awkward to do. So I just went for it! Hopefully it isn't too annoying to read. I also decided to change the format for the Final Hours chapter so the poll ended up not being necessary. Sorry about that!

I also have two stories I would like to shout out. Bridge To Nowhere by 66samvr and In Plain Sight by Kkstar47. Both of them are great authors who need more tribute submissions!

Questions

1) Whose interview was your favorite?

2) Has your opinions on certain tributes changed since they were first introduced?

3) If your tribute could get one item from the Cornucopia, what would it be?

4) Who would you save from the bloodbath? (besides your own tribute)

Have a nice day, be kind to each other, and never stop reading!

- Fiona