Before the 10th Hunger Games

Holly Coleman - 5th Hunger Games Victor
District 7 - Age 24

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Holly hated the noise her cane made as she walked down the street. Some people who walked by her stopped for a second to see their home District's only Victor, but moved on.

"The Second Quartet is about to begin!" A loud television across the street shouted. "The Rebel Games is about to begin. All those who deserve it will get what's coming to them."

She clicked her tongue. So, this year is going to be about rounding up the rebels and making a further example of them. Considering what happened in the 7th Hunger Games, Holly thought the Capitol would be extra cruel this year.

Thank whatever higher power she wasn't in it. Her parents were rebels, and she shivered at the high possibility of her being reaped if was born 5 years later. She would have ended up there. She does not care about rebelling, and she had to repeat that a lot to the Roseforge brothers.

For Holly personally, she can barely recall her own time in the Games. It was over quickly (for which she was thankful for), but honestly, she was just ducking and going through the motions. She killed three kids, but came out.

Shame she got shot from one of those kid's girlfriends of all things. Dam the Capitol for making her do that tour.

She's walking with a limp now, but she got enough money for a lifetime if she was unfrivolous.

"Holly," her boyfriend Oaklynn was next to her. He worried about this time of year around her. "Maybe they'll hate the kids this year enough that they won't force you to mentor."

"Probably."

The Capitol would prefer that, she bets. But really, Oaklynn doesn't know that Victor's do have a choice concerning dealing with their tributes. Funny thing about mentorship is that while your along for the ride, you don't actually have to mentor or help your tributes at all.

One can just stay in their room the whole time the Hunger Games happened. Holly knows that wuss Xavier from Three did that last year. Looking back, Holly is somewhat surprised that more Victor's aren't more fucked up. Fjord is grim. Arabella is intense. Rosa is just kinda bitchy. Gunther and Finn is pleasant to talk to. Holly didn't talk much with the remaining Victor's.

They decided to walk about the main town of District Seven. Seeing large tree's in the distance, more squirrels than they can count, and other couples. Holly was leaning on Oaklynn and his arm around her.

Holly and Oaklynn passes an orphanage on the way, and Holly felt something deep.

"Hey, Oak. How do you feel about adoption?"

Both of them were orphans, so they knew their plight. The two stuck together after her entire family died.

"I'm down for it. But... maybe later on, you know."

"Yeah, fair nuff."

She sees her future. Oaklynn and her married. They'll have two kids, she decided. One kid would end up lonely, three would be too much. Two kids would be perfect.

Other than that, Holly will just enjoy the rest of her life.

The Hunger Games doesn't ain't her entire life, and really, she doesn't think this year will allow any freedom's to the Victors.

Maybe she'll do golf in the Capitol or some shit. Rich people do that, right? Holly is technically rich.

Paula Beltramo - 6th Hunger Games Victor
District 7 - Age 20

"Mom. Dad. We should start a restaurant."

Her parent's groaned.

Funny that she wants to do something now. She lived a good four years practically doing nothing. Her parents did nothing for the past four years too. To be fair, they did work hard for pretty much all their lives in the mines.

The Beltramo earned their lazy days. Paula got the money and a large house from winning a death game, and she's owed some downtime.

But she found out people can get bored from doing nothing. Lying on a hammock, watching T.V all day and playing family games can only do so much.

Now, she wants to start a business. No easy matter, but Paula's down for it.

The same cannot be said of her parents.

Her Dad said in a displeased manner, "Little Paula, why on earth do you want to do this?"

"I mean, I used to work a waitress," she started. "Well, that was an incredibly tedious job, but we got free food sometimes from that place. The thing is, I just want to do something. Mom knows some recipes, right?"

"I guess... do people like scrambled eggs for dinner?"

Wow, this family really let themselves go.

"Maybe we can do something simple. This doesn't have to be some fancy restaurant. A coffee place would do. Donuts and smoothies too. Other treats. A little thing to do."

"What would we call it?" Mom asked.

"The Coco House!" Paula smiled.

The two were silent at that. Everyone knew that Paula killed someone with a coconut.

"Is that... okay with you?" Dad asked.

"Yup," Paula nodded. She got off pretty good from the Hunger Games. Just lazing around a tropical island. It was pretty relaxing all things considered. "I think that promoting my Victor title would gain lots of traction, so we as well."

After some consideration, everyone decided to call landowners and businessmen. Paula got news coverage on her again for starting a business. One news article even says, "Paula's Hibernation Ends?" which Paula found hilarious.

Oh yeah, she forgot about there was a mean old Hunger Games today. District Two's escort had to knock on Paula's door and reprimand her for that.

Finn Kevara - 7th Hunger Games Victor
District 4 - Age 17.

Volunteered at the age of 14. Won the Hunger Games.

To Finn, he wasn't very impressed with it since all those rebel tributes started all that nonsense. Leaving with only him and his District partner, Marnie, alive. Marnie was a pretty cool gal, and sometimes, he wished she won instead of him.

For his family, he got enough money for them. They started a boating business. His parents are making boats for everyone, Capitolites included.

For his District, he and Arabella started Token Academy. Opening an official career system that the Capitol allowed them to have. Kids can come over, train, and volunteer to a death game.

Finn doesn't want anything more to do with it. The more Finn thought about it, the more it scared him what he did. Arabella was a woman she found on the beach, one who asked for people to volunteer for the Games. Some thought her impressive as she was a Victor. More thought she was insane.

No, Arabella is just dedicated and she made up her mind that this is the best way to help out the District.

Maybe it is. Her training helped Finn. A young boy who desperately wanted to help his family. And he won. He helped them. Or maybe the failed rebellion helped Finn win. Would Finn survive if his year went the ordinary way?

He'll never know.

Any case, Arabella is the one in charge of Token Academy (named after Marnie, Finn thought she deserves to be remembered). She was more dedicated to this career stuff than he was.

He's still young. He wants to do things. With his Victor status and money, he can do pretty interesting things. The Capitol has a lot of neat little things for thrill-seekers like him. District Four Waves can only do so much.

He left his large house and he saw a familiar face outside.

"Hey, Finn!" Monica Tamon waved at him.

Arabella's sister was alright in Finn's book, but he's more than a little worried that she's too into Arabella's career system.

"Hey Mon. Yeah, I'm just going to surf again. Maybe hang out with my friends afterward. You want something?"

"I just wanted walk and talk with you. Is that fine?"

Finn, of course, agreed. There's no harm with talking with friends. Talk they did, about relationships and stuff about District Four. Finn recalls that she and him kissed in a party a year ago, but both of them were rather drunk. The two cleared out it out, and there is nothing between them. They remained friends. A relief for Finn cause he really doesn't want to face a mad Arabella seeking retribution.

He's been trained by Arabella. He knows how scary that gal can be.

"Shame about this year," Monica mentioned.

"Why's that?"

"Cause I wanted to volunteer this year."

Finn frowned. "You were serious?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, hell. Why would you want that?" Finn asked seriously.

"Why not?" Monica responded, glaring at his tone. "I can win it. I'm just as good, if not better than you are when it comes to fighting."

"Because that doesn't matter."

Monica didn't respond to that, just kept her glare.

"So your reason for volunteering is because you're a good fighter."

"No," Monica denied. "It's to bring honor to District Four. So that the Capitol can trust us."

Wow, she's really been eating her sister's pie.

Goddam Arabella.

"That's not a good reason. District Four already has the Capitol's trust. Between Arabella constantly nagging on about loyalty and my Hunger Games where Marnie and I kept out of that shitshow of a rebellion, Capitol rewards District Four pretty often."

"We can still show it more. We can still have volunteers to help out the tributes." Monica replied.

"Sure, but not you," Finn said. Monica was offended by that, Finn better explain. "You have a long life ahead of you, Mon. The Hunger Games isn't about skill, else we would be winning more. The Hunger Games is unpredictable, and you'd need more luck than skill to win it. Let people who are more desperate to volunteer get in, but you don't need to."

"You entered the Hunger Games cause you thought it was going to be fun!"

Yeah, he was a dumbass kid. But he wasn't that dumb if that was his only reason.

"I also did it to help out my family. I told you that, right? Do you need to help your family in debt? Do you need money or a better house?"

Monica didn't respond. Of course she doesn't need money. Monica has Arabella as a sister. Victor's are stinking rich.

"Just... just think about it. Please, I'd hate to worry about you."

Monica sighed, "Fine."

That's all Finn can ask for. But he's sure that now Monica sees that she doesn't have to die.

Xavier Belensky - 8th Hunger Games Victor
District 3 - Age 21

He was not welcomed in the grocery store. The clerk called him a murderer.

Coming back from the Hunger Games really made him an infamous figure.

He wished he wasn't.

Sometimes he wishes Nina (his District partner who he killed) took his place instead. Or better yet, have someone other than Nina as his District partner. Nina's family was a wealthy one and they wanted vengeance for Xavier killing her. They dragged his name in the mud, and his house has graffitied.

He doesn't blame Nina's family for their hatred.

They can't hurt the Capitol, so they Xavier's the only one they could blame and hate openly.

It's not as if he doesn't deserve it.

He can't really go anyway without getting a person giving him a dark glance.

Xavier had no one but himself.

"Yo man, you holding up," Georgie says next to him.

Well, maybe not entirely true. He got his fellow friends from the orphanage he used to go to.

Xavier knows that his fellow Victors, Holly and Rosa are also orphans. In his case, he left his parents and never came back to them. He heard his parents wanted to see him (but he got the Peacekeepers to drag them away bloody). He never wants to see them again for their treatment of him (the constant abuse and starvation). Sadly, this only gave more fuel for Nina's family to tell people Xavier uses his money to abuse his parents.

Which - honestly, these guys.

"I'm not doing so hot," he answered his friend. Xavier got a backpack in his hand and gave him it. "Take this."

Georgie raised an eyebrow, and went to open the gift.

"What is - holy crap!"

He found loads of money in it.

"That's for the orphanage," Xavier said to his baffled friend. "I'll bring more later."

"What the hell, Xavier? More for later? The Capitol won't give you any more cash, you know that?"

"I do. I'm selling my house."

"Your mansion."

"My mansion, yeah. It's not as if I need a big house, I'll just live in a cabin far away from most people."

He can't live in central District Three anymore, he needed to leave. Doesn't mean he can't do anything before he goes. Xavier decided to help out the other kids like him, and perhaps some other charities. He has a lot of money, but that might only last him a few years at the rate he's donating it.

"Just come over sometime, alright."

The sad Victor nodded and walked away.

Rodna Che - 9th Hunger Games Victor
District 5 - Age 14

The clever girl had friends. The clever girl had people can trust. But what happens when the people you trusted are gone forever? Easy, you pretend they never existed. Not them. Nor the Hunger Games.

Now, she was an adventurer.

She was princess of Narnia!

She's a hero, searching for villains to defeat!

She's a tragic figure, searching for her lost love!

She was-

"Rodna."

She was a Victor. She survived, saw her friends die and killed people...

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

That never happened.

The poor girl from Five wasn't haven't a great time. Her escort also wasn't. Rodna wasn't in the right state of mind.

"Rodna, you have tributes to take care off," said her escort, suffering internally.

"They can take care of themselves!"

Rodna left the train wagon that held the two tributes whose names she doesn't bother to learn.

She prefers to stay in her own world. Better to pretend she was somewhere else rather than face reality at the moment.

AN: I don't know. I like doing these interludes. Anyway, tomorrow comes the 10th Hunger Games. Horror awaits these rebels.