Kyle Rush, 18

District 8 Male

The Capitol was amazing, but I missed Nana more than I expected to. Not just her cooking, but her gentle voice and goofy laugh. I even missed her floral perfume, which I used to complain about to my friends. I felt silly, but I also felt inspired to fight even harder to get home to her.

It was our first morning of training and Jersey was nowhere to be found. Our escort Cleo was arguing with someone on the phone on the other side of the lounge while Zander looked on helplessly.

"Do you think she's okay?" I asked my mentor. "There's something weird about her."

"I'm sure she's fine," Zander said. "She's probably exploring. But there's no way she could leave the building, so she's safe."

Cleo shouted one more obscenity into the phone and then stalked over to us. Her body was flashing from the diamonds she wore all over and it only added to her intimidating aura.

"Apparently Cecelia snuck Jersey off to a psychiatry appointment!" she huffed. "I can't believe she'd keep us waiting like this! I always had a bad feeling about her…"

"Well, at least we know where she is!" Zander said cheerfully. Cleo glared at him before turning to me.

"Alright, into the elevator," she said, making a shooing gesture with her hands. "You're going to be late if you don't hurry and I won't have both of my tributes be troublemakers."

She hurried me in and practically punched the button that would take me to the training gym. As the doors slid shut, Zander flashed me a thumbs up.

The training room made our gym back home look like a dump. There were workout machines and weights, as well racks for every kind of weapon imaginable and mats for sparring hand-to-hand. Booths with rope, leaves, wires, and a dozen other survival equipment were each manned by a colorful Capitolite. A set of double doors led to a room with a pool, a track, a climbing wall, and an agility course.

A dark-skinned woman with sleek black hair blew a whistle and we all turned to her. She introduced herself as Atala, the Head Trainer, and went over the rules of the Training Center. And as soon as she set us free, I went up to Christopher, the blonde boy from District 1.

"Hey there," I said, flashing my most winning smile. "I noticed you're a man short this year. Any interest in using these guns?" I flexed my biceps and smirked.

He looked me over and grinned.

"I like what I see but you've got to impress more than just me," he said. "Hey, Blue! District 8 has some muscle and wants to show us what he's got!"

The boy from 2 came over to us with his arms crossed. He also looked me up and down, but I wasn't worried. I was the strongest guy in the district and I didn't have anything handed to me like these preppy boys did.

"Why don't you show us what you've got?" Blue suggested. He led Christopher and I over to the hand-to-hand station.

"If you win the fight, you're in." I smirked.

"Easy," I told him. The trainer beckoned me forward and got into a fighting stance, which I copied. I'd never actually fought someone before, but I was strong. It couldn't be all that difficult.

When the trainer came at me I swung a punch at his head. He ducked it easily and slammed into my chest, taking us both down. I let out a huff as I hit the mat but brought up my hand to strike again. He used his arm to knock my fist aside and then pinned my arms with his knees. I squirmed as he rained fake blows down on my face. He was only tapping lightly, but I understood. I tried to sit up and he released me, letting me sit and turn to look at Blue and Christopher.

Christopher had a smug grin on his face but Blue's expression was cold.

"Impressive," he snarled. "I've never seen someone lose so quickly." Christopher giggled and I scrambled to my feet.

"I bet I can lift twice what you can!" I bragged. Blue shook his head.

"No. You're out." He turned and stalked away.

"Hey, don't feel bad," Christopher said. "You're cute when you pout!"

I started to retort but he jogged off after Blue. I groaned in annoyance and looked back at the trainer. I wanted to ask him for some pointers, but the thought made my cheeks flush. I shouldn't need his help. I was the best of the best.

Cypher "CT" Torres, 15

District 3 Male

I still wasn't sure about allying with Louise. She asked as soon as we got on the train and I was too overwhelmed to respond properly, so I just nodded. But Beetee seemed relieved and I was admittedly a bit scared of Louise, so our alliance was official.

She had a reputation at school as a troublemaker and I was a model student. But someone who could make traps and trick others, like Louise said she could, would probably be a valuable ally.

Louise took charge the moment Head Trainer Atala released us. She marched us over to the traps station and began to strategize.

"So, I was thinking that I would focus on defensive stuff and you can take care of survival and weapons," she said. I swallowed nervously.

"I don't want to learn any weapons," I murmured.

"Why?" Louise demanded. I fiddled with my fingers and tried not to cry.

"I don't want to kill anyone." My voice came out as a pathetic squeak and Louise rolled her eyes.

"Fine. Whatever. Just focus on survival skills then. But this is the Hunger Games. Get ready to woman up and fight."

She tossed her ponytail and turned her back on me.

I tried to push her words to the back of my mind. Whatever happened in the arena was out of my reach. Right now, I had to focus on what I could control, and that was the survival skills I chose to learn.

Several tributes were already at the edible plants station and I didn't feel ready to engage with anyone else. So I went over to the woman at the insects booth.

"Hi," I said as she looked up from a magazine."

"Oh! Hi there! Do you want to learn about bugs?"

"Yeah," I told her, scanning the numerous terrariums scattered across the table.

"That's great!" she gushed. "People usually don't care about bugs but they're a great source of protein!"

She spent the next hour teaching me about where to find insects, how to tell if they were poisonous, and how to consume them safely. It was interesting but it was also very gross, and I was actually relieved when another tribute came over. But to my surprise, he greeted me and not the instructor.

It was the large boy from 10.

"Hi," he said. "I'm Robert. You're Cypher, right?"

"Yeah, but I prefer CT," I said quietly. Robert grinned

"Got it. I was hoping I could ask you some questions about District 3."

"Why?" I asked. "I mean, I don't mind it, but why?"

"Math was kind of my thing back in District 10," he said. "And sometimes I worked on databases for district management. But our tech is pretty old and I always wondered what it was like to have the newest and best stuff."

"I didn't do a lot of computer work," I told him honestly. "But my dad is an inventor and so was I. A lot of our work went directly to helping the Capitol."

"That's pretty cool," Robert said. He was still smiling and I was starting to feel more at ease. There was something about his presence that was comforting.

We were quiet for a few moments and then he turned to me again.

"Would you want to be allies?" he asked. "I'm strong too, since I'm big."

"I'd like that," I said. "But I'm already allied with my district partner Louise."

"Do you think she'll let me tag along?" Robert asked.

"I hope so."

Harold Wilde, 18

District 4 Male

I missed Helen so much it hurt. I knew I had to stay focused and train but my heart just wasn't in it. The thought of being Reaped had rarely crossed my mind and it didn't feel entirely real. Only the absence of Helen and my crewmates helped me remain grounded.

If I won, I could give Helen everything. I could stop living in fear of my father because I would be the one with power. I could live in a real house and start a family. I could be a kind, loving father. But twenty-three other kids would have to die first.

I didn't know if I could kill someone. I didn't want to, but if it came down to me or them, I wasn't sure if I could do it. I just kept imagining a little kid like Ivan or Diesel flopping at the end of my spear like a fish.

And I also had to worry about who wanted to kill me. I was used to looking over my shoulder and living my life in fear, as messed up as that was. But my life was never on the line. I suspected the Careers would be my biggest threat, since I was a Reaped tribute from District 4 and one of the oldest tributes. But the boy from 11 was clearly a bully who had the skills to back up his taunts, and the boy from 9 was great with a crossbow. The girl seemed strong too, and the tributes from 7 could almost always use axes. But even the tributes who seemed weak could be a threat. That was how Johanna Mason won last year.

Just the thought of so many threats made me start to pant. My head felt foggy and my chest tightened. I recognized the oncoming panic attack and retreated to the bathroom, where I splashed water on my face and took slow, deep breaths.

Once my body calmed down and my breathing returned to normal, I looked at myself in the mirror. I couldn't panic. I had to be brave.

I thought back to the advice Finnick gave me on the train. He told me to hone my existing skills but to avoid standing out. Ideally I would be solidly in the middle of the pack.

Finnick also suggested I take on a few allies, but I was less sure about that. I didn't know any of the other tributes, so there was no way I could trust them.

The boys from 7 and 10 did seem kind though. The boy from 10 was hanging out with the 3s and making the nervous boy smile. But I didn't like the girl from 3. She was too conniving.

The boy from 7 also had an ally I didn't like. Tea was constantly whining and she was very clingy with Paul. I was worried she would drag us down.

But it was only the first day. I didn't have to have an ally yet. I could watch the others and learn about them, and make the most informed choice when the time came.

Mississippi "Missy" Daniels, 18

District 4 Female

As frustrating as it was to admit, even to myself, Mira's doubts were still on my mind. And the more I thought about it, the less I liked my own plan. I always stood out at home, and I still would here. But now, it could be for my skills, or my strategy, or even my personality. It didn't have to be because of my looks. And the thought of positive attention was more appealing than I initially realized.

But if I wasn't going to be the weak one, someone else had to be. The Careers always turned on each other and I wasn't going to get backstabbed. Anahira already seemed to be less intense than a typical Career. But she and Vignette were bonding over their art, which probably meant they had their own little alliance set up already.

Blue and Christopher were paired up too. Christopher's carefree nature balanced Blue's seriousness and he was just goofy enough to not piss off the boy from 2. And naturally, Blue would be leading the Career Pack, which meant he had even more power.

I had to stand out, be liked, and not be seen as a primary threat…

Christopher and Blue's interaction with the boy from 8 earlier had got me thinking. Kyle clearly wasn't fit to join us, but having a strong outlier in our alliance would be the perfect safety plan. I also suspected Vignette and Anahira would agree, so I followed them out of the cafeteria after lunch.

"So, what are your training plans for the rest of the day?" I asked them.

"I was going to throw some spears," Anahira said with a shy smile. "They're the closest thing to a taiaha the Training Center has."

"A what?" I asked, cocking my head.

"A taiaha," she repeated. "It's a traditional Māori weapon. It's similar to a spear but better for melee fights."

"Neat," I said. Vignette nodded in agreement.

"What about you?" Anahira asked.

"I was going to scope out some of the outliers," I said. "I think we'd be stronger with an additional person and it would allow us to keep an eye on a big competitor. But what do you think?" I wanted to make them believe it was our idea, not just mine.

"I agree," Vignette said thoughtfully. "There's always power in knowing your enemy, and in turning a weakness into a strength."

"I think it's a good idea too," Anahira said. "But we should choose carefully. Blue is a little bit… testy."

"I had my eye on 9," I said, nodding toward Annoa. She was sparring at the hand-to-hand station and doing well. Vignette nodded.

"She seems strong," she agreed.

"What about the girl from 12?" Anahira proposed. We both looked at her in surprise.

"Seriously? The rumors are that she's Covey and that's going to make her a huge Gamemaker target."

"Maybe…" Anahira said sheepishly. "I just think she has good energy."

"I like her too," Vignette said suddenly. "She's brave, and she will have a lot of attention from sponsors."

I weighed the two girls in my head. Annoa would be a solid, reliable ally who would follow along and silently help out. Robin Violet would put on a show. Selfishly, that was what I needed.

"Alright," I said. "Let's go talk to her."

Annoa Cornflower, 17

District 9 Female

In District 9, you had to work hard. We were a small district with very few opportunities. If you were rich, you worked to stay rich. If you were poor, you worked to put food on the table and a roof over your head. Even someone like me, who admittedly had everything handed to her, worked. My talents came easy to me but I still put effort into perfecting what I did. Whether it be painting or karate or yoga, I gave it my all. I knew my work ethic would be a valuable asset in the Hunger Games.

And there were things I had to work on. Plants that would help keep me alive were completely foreign to me. I didn't know how to find or purify water either. But basic survival skills aside, I was likely more prepared than almost any other tribute, aside from the Careers.

My strategy for the three days of training was to work on survival skills as well as analyze my competitors. I didn't plan to take on any allies but my mentor Oberon said to keep an open mind. He stepped up to mentor me after my district partner Vikram insisted on being mentored by Dakota.

I knew that Vikram was going to be one of my biggest threats. It was considered bad form to kill your district partner, but Vikram said he wanted to be remembered. Killing your district partner would secure your name in Hunger Games history. Oberon knew it all too well.

Vikram also used a crossbow, which was a weapon I had no defense against. I could skillfully use a katana and I was a powerful martial artist. But ranged weapons could be my downfall.

So far, it only looked like Vikram and Vignette used ranged weapons. The girl from 1 spent enough time at the archery station to frighten the outliers. Anahira was practicing with a spear, but she wasn't throwing it, and her spear of choice looked too heavy to fly far.

Those two girls, along with Missy, were looking at me earlier. If they asked me to ally with them, I'd turn them down, but it would paint a target on my back. But they didn't approach me, leaving me to work on my snares.

The instructor was teaching me how to snare small animals, like rabbits. I couldn't eat my competitors, but meat could keep me going for a lot longer than plants alone could. Tomorrow I would dedicate time to more elaborate traps; ones that could ensnare a fellow tribute. But for today I would lay low and keep my eyes open.

Jersey Madras, 16

District 8 Female

My head was reeling as I stood alone in the fancy Capitol elevator, shooting down toward the Training Center. I knew what the voices were. Cecelia took me to a special Capitol doctor and she understood. She said I had schizophrenia, which meant my brain wasn't always interpreting reality accurately. It didn't make me a mean or bad person. It was a mental disorder, just like depression or anxiety.

The doctor said there wasn't any treatment that would work in such a short amount of time, but that was okay. I felt like I could understand myself for the first time. I didn't know a lot yet, but I could learn because I had the tools.

Cecelia seemed happy too. The voices weren't as overwhelming with her, but Cleo's was awful. Luckily, Cecelia dealt with my furious escort while I went to the Training Center for the last few hours of the day.

When the elevator door opened a tall man with pink hair rushed over.

"You're extremely late! What happened?"

He was nearly yelling and it made me flinch.

"I saw a doctor today," I told him quietly. His expression softened.

"Oh, alright," he said. "But send us a message next time!"

"Okay," I mumbled. He patted my head condescendingly and then gestured for me to go explore the room.

I didn't want to. I wanted to be upstairs in my room, reading the pamphlet on mental disorders the doctor gave me. Cecelia also said she would try to find something online written by other schizophrenic people. I was curious about how it was for others. But first I had to train.

My strategy for the Games was simply to hide. I'd pick an advantageous spot and blend into the background. If I had to move, I'd use it as an opportunity to gather more supplies.

I started at the station with all the tools for water purification. The instructor told me about finding water and then all the different ways to make it safe to drink. I logged each one away in my head, focusing on them one at a time so I wouldn't forget.

I had a good memory and I liked to learn. I could remember dates and facts and math equations easily. It was people that were difficult. I never knew what to predict. The slope of a line wouldn't change if I was here or in District 8. The temperature at which water froze would be the same. But how the other tributes acted was a result of our current situation.

And now I knew that my interpretation of that wasn't always reliable.

Now you know! Jersey has schizophrenia! If you looked at the blog you'd already to know, but shh! It's better to put it in a chapter. Also, my apologies if I'm not describing or portraying schizophrenia in an accurate or respectful way. I am not schizophrenic and I don't know anyone who is, but I did some research and I think I did okay. Her reaction to the diagnosis is based off of how I felt when I got my autism diagnosis, so again, it might not be completely true to life. If you have any feedback or advice about my portrayal of this disorder, please share!

I will also say that I've been a bit dissatisfied with my writing lately. I still want to write but my brain is a jerk and so I'm not writing as often. So updates might be a little slower and/or POVs will be a tad shorter. The POVs in this chapter definitely got smaller and smaller as I wrote, but I do feel like I included everything I wanted to.

Alright, enough rambling! As always, please leave a review and let me know what you thought of this chapter! If you haven't reviewed in a while, please pipe up and either leave a short review or PM me. I just want to know who's still reading because I do take that into account when I choose placements. It's not the only factor, but I'd rather kill an inactive submitter's tribute than one from someone who I know is reading.

QUESTIONS

1) Is Kyle going to get past his ego or will it be his downfall?

2) Did CT choose the right allies?

3) Will Harold ally with someone? If so, who?

4) What do you think of Missy's plan and mindset?

5) Who will Annoa's biggest threats be?

6) How will Jersey do in the arena?

7) Who do you want to hear from next?

ALLIANCES

The Careers: Vignette, Christopher, Anahira, Blue, Missy, Robin Violet

The Mathematicians: Louise, CT, Robert

Tea Party: Tea, Paul

Loners: Harold, Dahlia, Ivan, Adera, Diesel, Jersey, Kyle, Annoa, Vikram, Edam, Clementine, Logan, Dustin

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

- Fiona