content warning for swearing in Clementine's POV

Anahira Wero, 18

District 2 Female

I sat with my hands folded on my lap, doing my best not to stare at the extravagant train car. I didn't want to look like an idiot who'd never seen fancy furniture before. My family wasn't as well-off as most families in 2, but we weren't poor.

Blue was sitting silently next to me with a scowl on his face. His fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. I almost asked him if he was alright, but I realized it was a stupid question. He clearly wasn't.

"Are you two hungry?" Vivi Garcia asked. She'd been fixing her makeup in the corner but now she was looking at us.

"No, I'm fine," I said. "Thank you for asking though." Vivi smiled.

"Of course! I'm here to take care of you."

"We don't need a babysitter," Blue snapped. Vivi frowned.

"Okay," she said sadly. "But I'm here if you need me."

"Thank you," I said quickly. "That's really nice of you."

Blue looked like he was going to snap again but the door to the train car opened, cutting him off. Rourke O'Malley came in with a smile on his face. Mozu Striker followed behind him. Rourke walked over to us and set a large, scarred hand on Blue's shoulder.

"That's enough arguing," he said. "We have work to do."

"Will we be trained together or separately?" I asked.

"Separately," Blue said. "We're allies, but I'm not giving away my secrets."

"That's fair," Mozu said. "Anahira, why don't you come with me?"

I got up and followed her through several train cars to the very back of the train. A curved window spanned the entire train car and there was a plush window seat beneath it. Mozu sat down and I sat beside her.

"I was happy to see the Academy chose you," she said.

"Really?" I asked. "Everyone else seemed upset." Mozu held up her hand and began to count with her fingers.

"You're creative. That means you'll come up with ideas that others won't. You have a unique weapon, so you'll be harder to beat in a fight because your opponents are unfamiliar with your fighting style. You might be considered an underdog, which means you'll have sponsors and might be overlooked as a big threat. And, as bad as it sounds, you're part of a cultural and racial minority. The Capitol finds that interesting."

"That's a lot of reasons," I stammered, unsure of what else to say. Mozu smiled.

"I wasn't confident either," she said. "And I still struggle sometimes. But we're fighters and we have what it takes to win."

Mississippi "Missy" Daniels, 18

District 4 Female

I didn't know what to make of Harold. District 4 was a small district and I thought I knew almost everyone my age. But I'd never seen him before. He was Reaped, which was expected, but he handled it well.

Cassius and Finnick were on the other side of the train car, their heads together as they whispered. I couldn't hear what they were discussing and I didn't really care. I was just waiting for Mira.

When she walked in, my eyes snapped to her. She was an unexpected Victor of an unconventional Games. The Career Pack was almost entirely killed in the bloodbath, leaving an injured Mira and one of her allies to stagger off into the jungle. But she proved to be a fierce fighter and was known for her comeback.

She came over to us and then glanced at Harold.

"I'm assuming you'd like to be coached separately?" she asked me.

"Yes."

"Good. Come with me."

I followed her into another train car with a large, plush gray sofa and armchairs. I sat in one of the chairs and looked at her.

"I already have a plan," I told her. "I'm going to hide my true skills and act weak. And when the time comes, I'll kill the rest of them."

"It sounds like you have it all figured out then," Mira said. The corner of her mouth twitched slightly and I narrowed my eyes.

"Are you mocking me?"

"No," she said. "I know you've dealt with plenty of that and I'm not here to add to it. You volunteered to prove yourself though, and stabbing your allies in the back might not be the best way to do that."

"Why not?" My tone was harsh, but I was genuinely curious.

"Some people like the drama, but some people think it's cowardly," she explained.

"Some people think it's cowardly to be carried away from the bloodbath by your ally," I retorted. Mira's eyes narrowed.

"Alright. We'll do it your way," she said. "If you want to appear weak, aim for an 8 or a 9 in your private session. Work on some survival skills and don't show the extent of your weaponry skills. And don't draw a lot of attention to yourself."

"I will," I told her. "I'm not planning to lose."

Tea Reed, 16

District 7 Female

I didn't have any tears left by the time the Peacekeepers hauled me onto the train. I knew my eyes were red and puffy and salt clung to my lashes. I sniffled miserably and flopped down on a low bench under the window.

As I wallowed in self-pity, Paul was looking around in awe. The train car was decorated in shades of pale gray and creamy white and everything looked soft and expensive. There was a table against the back wall that was piled high with desserts.

Paul hesitantly picked up a chocolate chip cookie and I felt my stomach grumble. My fits took a lot of energy. So I walked over to the table and selected a thin cookie with jam in the middle.

It was crunchy and sweet, and I loved it. I ate two more before moving on to the brownies.

"It's crazy that they eat like this everyday," Paul suddenly said. His voice was barely above a whisper, but I flinched as if he'd shouted it. The warm, moist brownie turned to lead in my mouth and I swallowed hard. Then the tears came again.

"I'm sorry!" Paul gasped as I started to sob. He put a hand on my shoulder. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"Everyone wants me to die!" I wailed. "The mayor rigged my Reaping and my aunt doesn't love me." I sank to the floor and buried my face in my hands. Paul knelt down beside me.

"I don't want you to die," he said. I looked up at him and wiped some of my tears away. "I don't want anyone to die," he continued. I examined him for a moment. I never paid much attention to him before, but Paul was clearly very brave, since he volunteered for his friend. And back at home, he never made fun of me like the other kids did when I cried or threw a tantrum. Also, he was strong and he worked in the lumber yards, which meant he could use an axe.

"Maybe we can be allies?" I said. "Then we can protect each other."

"Okay," Paul said. He held out his hand and I shook it. Then I smiled a little.

"What is it?" Paul asked.

"I have a friend now," I told him. Then he smiled too.

Edam Cabrales, 17

District 10 Female

As soon as the doors of the train shut behind me, I was off. I sprinted through two corridors until I found a door with '10F' written on it. I yanked it open and then slammed it as hard as I could. The room was fancy and frilly and pink and I couldn't stand it. I grabbed a pillow and threw it across the room with a violent scream.

I began to tear apart the room, screaming and cursing as I did so. Stupid! I was so stupid! I had everything, and I threw it away on a reckless mistake. I was going to die because my childhood softness came back for one single second.

Eventually my throat grew raw and I ran out of things to throw. I flopped down on the messy bed, panting hard. Then I raised my left arm up and looked at my wrist. I wasn't expecting Myzithra to visit me to say goodbye, but she did. She hugged me, told me she loved me, and put an old, worn friendship bracelet in my hand. I'd made it before our parents were executed and I had no idea she still had it. Now it was my token.

Someone knocked on my door but I didn't respond. I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. A mentor's advice could only go so far and I'd have time to talk to Darcia later. But when my visitor came in anyway, it was Seraphina.

She was holding a glass of ice water in one hand and a steaming mug in the other. She set both on the bedside table and then sat on the bed.

"It was brave of you to volunteer for your sister," she said.

"It was stupid," I told her. "I haven't seen Myzithra in years. She betrayed me."

"Betrayed you? How?"

"Never mind," I mumbled. "It doesn't matter now."

"Well, it does," Seraphina responded. "If you volunteered for her, you clearly still love her. And if you win, you can repair your relationship. You can be a family again."

It almost sounded like there was pain in Seraphina's voice. I sat up and looked at her. Almost every inch of her arms and neck were covered in watercolor tattoos, but underneath there were scars. It looked like they were from burns.

"If I win," I finally said. "That's a big 'if'."

"Yes," Seraphina agreed. "But you shouldn't give up. I'm going to help you."

I almost wanted to scoff, but I didn't. Seraphina genuinely seemed like she wanted to help.

"Okay. How am I supposed to win then?"

"Play to your strengths," she said, as if it was that simple. "And make people like you."

She stood up and handed me the mug. I took it gingerly and looked inside. It was filled with something that looked creamy and smelled like chocolate.

"What is it?"

"Hot chocolate," Seraphina said. "My mom always made it for me when I was stressed. Try it."

I did, and it was the most heavenly thing I'd ever tasted. It was sweet and rich and smooth and I immediately took another large sip.

"You know what? I think volunteering was a good idea," I said. Then we both laughed.

Clementine Matson, 17

District 11 Female

I didn't know my district partner, but I didn't like him. He was still muttering about how he'd kill every last tribute in the arena, and then go for Abigail. He'd already yelled at her when she asked if we were hungry.

It was a sign of immaturity and lack of tact to show one's emotions so plainly. I slipped up when I attacked Oliver at the Reaping, but that cretin deserved it. I knew he had something to do with my name being drawn. His smug little smile said it all. But I wasn't going to let him win. If I came home a Victor I'd be more powerful than anyone in District 11.

Logan was drumming his fingers on the table and the noise was starting to get to me.

"Would you stop that?" I asked sternly.

"No. I'll do whatever I want, so back off bitch." I narrowed my eyes.

"You're going to regret that," I snarled.

"What are you going to do? Kill me with your freaky fake nails?"

I wanted nothing more than to maul him, but instead I turned my nose up and looked away.

"I'll be civil for now," I told him. "But in the arena? You're the first one I'm coming for."

"Ooh, I'm super scared," he said. "When the time comes, you're going to wish—"

"Alright, that's enough!" someone snapped. We both jumped as Saigon stalked into the room. They were scowling as they sat down across from us at the table. Seeder came to sit down as well. She smiled at me and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

"If one of you lays a finger on the other, you're going to regret it," Saigon said. Their dark eyes flashed angrily as they stared both of us down.

"Don't worry," I said. "I have no desire to interact with a poor, pathetic bully."

Logan stood up, his chair screeching loudly. He lunged for me but then Abigail was there. Quicker than I thought possible, she caught his arm and twisted it behind him, holding him in place.

"You are going to sit down and obey your mentors," she told him. "Or I snap your arm."

I saw Logan gulp. He nodded, and Abigail released him.

"Good," she said. "Now, I suggest Saigon and Logan have a little talk in the seating car, and us ladies will discuss things here."

As Saigon led Logan away, I turned to Abigail.

"You're pretty badass," I told her. She smirked.

"I try."

Robin Violet Clade, 17

District 12 Female

I nervously combed my fingers through my hair as I waited for Echo. As part of my preparation to volunteer, I'd watched reruns of many past Hunger Games, including Echo's and Haymitch's. Echo was a stealthy fighter who attacked from behind and killed her opponents with one strike. She was a killer I wasn't sure I could be.

But when she joined me on the plush green sofa she just looked like a normal old lady, except for the twinkle in her eye. She looked like she knew something I didn't.

"So, the last of the Covey, huh?" she said. I jerked back in surprise.

"How did you know?"

"I've been around for a long time," she said with a laugh. "I knew quite a few Covey members. My first girlfriend was Covey."

"Oh." I wasn't sure what else to say.

"You handled being Reaped very well," Echo continued.

"I was actually planning to volunteer next year," I told her. Echo's eyebrows raised.

"Why?"

"Like you said, I'm the last of the Covey. I have to keep us alive somehow, and that means singing on the biggest stage in Panem."

"That's an ambitious goal," Echo said. "The Covey aren't a welcome subject in the Capitol."

"I figured. But I can be pretty persuasive."

Echo laughed again.

"I'm sure you can. So, what was your plan? I'm sure you had one, if you were going to volunteer."

"I've trained on my own," I told her. "I'm no Career, but I think I'm good enough to catch their attention. I want to join them, if possible."

I expected my mentor to critique me, but she just nodded.

"If you have the Capitol on your side, you're going to get a lot of sponsors," she said. "The Careers might target you, but they also might want you on their side. And since the boy from 4 was Reaped, I'm willing to bet they have a job opening."

"Okay," I said. "So, I act appealing at the parade. I get the crowd to like me. Then I show off in training?"

"Yes," Echo said. "It's risky, but I think it'll pay off. I can also talk to the Career mentors. If I can convince them you're an asset to the alliance, they can pass along the message to their mentees. And I know Rourke and Elegance are both very open to outliers joining the Career Pack."

I nodded. Echo's confidence was bolstering my own. Being Reaped was unexpected and it would have been nice to have an extra year of training, but I had a strategy and I had skills. With Echo behind me, I really felt like I stood a chance. I could win the Games and keep the Covey alive.

Sorry - I'm updating fast again. I'm not in school so I have way too much time on my hands. So, here is the next Passage chapter! The tributes met their mentors and Logan got his butt kicked by his escort. Fun Fact: Abigail was the hand-to-hand instructor in the Training Center before becoming an escort. She's going to keep Logan in his place, which I'm sure Sparky She-Demon will be happy to hear.

The next two updates will probably be fast too because the next chapter has only 2 POVs and the one after is the parade, which I wrote a while ago. I'm sorry for bombarding you with chapters. I'm just really excited about this story. As always, reviews are really appreciated, so please leave one if you can.

QUESTIONS

1) Will Missy's strategy work?

2) Should Paul have allied with Tea?

3) If Logan and Clementine do end up fighting, who do you think would win?

4) Will the Careers accept Robin Violet as an ally?

5) Are their mentor/escort right that Anahira and Edam should be more confident in their skills?

6) Should my next SYOT be a partial or a full story? (I'm fine with either - I'm just curious what you all would prefer)

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

- Fiona