Different Perspectives Chapter 27
Author's Note: I do not own The Hunger Games
Huyen Le Duc, 20. Mentor to the District 3 Tributes in the Hunger Games
This is new, I thought as I saw the Arena the 27th Hunger Games will take place in. Advantage District 8, I wondered as the Arena revealed itself to be a sewing box. Already I prepared myself for the worst. Tonight, both Edwina and Rheneas could be in a wooden box, then again, they may make it through the Bloodbath. It's always the first few days of the Games that are the most dangerous. As the Bloodbath started Edwina and Rheneas fled, both picking up some netting used to fuse fabric together. "That's ironic" I heard Imogen Roosa comment, as Woof Casino got up from his spot. "District 8's out already". Tarpaulin and Esther, the District 8 Tributes, lay dead. Bacchius, Sequin, Scutum and Artemisia were approaching a girl from District 7, Juniper, and Scutum speared her with a pin. Mattias from 5 and Tad from 11 were amongst the dead, while Patric from 12 barely avoided being cut in two. On the screen, Sequin had speared the girl from 12, Tessa, with the pin. Imogen screamed as Scutum cut the boy from District 6's head off with a measuring tape. "Jimmy didn't stand a chance" she muttered. "But Karis is still alive" I saw that the boy from District 7, Michael, lay on the ground, a pin speared in the gut. "Well, Maple and Cress are gone" Eric Vega muttered, getting up from the District 9 console.
The next few days was in a blur, but there have been several deaths. Most of the dead were caused by the Careers; the Final Eight consisted of The Careers, Edwina and Rheneas. Even though the odds are stacked against the District 3 cousins, I am hopeful I can bring home a Victor.
"I hope Rheneas or Edwina return home" The voice of a fifteen-year-old boy said over the television. That's Edward's brother, I recalled my long-dead District Partner. If Rheneas comes out of this alive, and his brother is Reaped, he may end up having to Mentor him. I failed with Nghia.
Several days later, and it's down to three Tributes: Bacchius of District 1, Edwina Thompson of District 3 and her cousin and District Partner Rheneas Rowe. I watched in shock as Bacchius, armed with a needle, stabbed Edwina from behind. Angry at the death of his cousin, Rheneas picked up a large pin. Standing in front of Bacchius, Rheneas glared at the Career, showing no fear at the larger Tribute. For several moments I watched as Bacchius attempted to end Rheneas, feeling prouder of him as he dodged the needle. A scratch to the right arm saw Rheneas transfer the pin to his left arm, and seconds later, I saw blood running down the pin. Turning to the District 1 console, I saw Maxmillian Jaaskelainen take off his headphones before leaving the room. Turning back to the screen, I saw Rheneas head towards the body of his cousin before climbing the ladder. "Nghia, I brought a Tribute home"
Two Years Later...
"Huyen?" I turned to see Rheneas, my friend, Tribute and fellow Mentor, as we sat on the Tribute Train. "I am worried that my brother is going to die, and I'm worried about him." Rheneas confessed, and I shot a look of sympathy at him. At least the pair aren't here, I remembered that Tilda Boateng was going to explore the train, and her older District Partner said he would keep an eye on her.
"Tilda Boateng is gone, but District 3 is still in the race. Hengist McDonald has allied himself with Skarloey Rowe, who if he wins, will be the first Tribute to be successfully Mentored by a sibling." Lucky Flickerman said, as I left the Mentors' Room.
"Could this be over for the District 3 boy? He does look cornered" Lucky said as I watched. As the Careers approached Skarloey I feared that he would be hacked to pieces until a large, burly shape emerged. Hengist! I thought, remembering the District 10 boy who allied himself with the boy from 3. "Run!" Hengist yelled, as Skarloey scrambled off the ground and sprinted into the bushes.
"District 3, are you there?" I asked, hoping for some communication. There was an uneasy silence at the District 3 station, as Rheneas placed his head in his arms as we feared the worst.
"I can hear you, Huyen" A voiced chirped, as the fanfare played out.
As the three of us headed back to District 3, I thought to myself how rebellious Skarloey's actions were, that he used the landmines against the Careers.
36th Hunger Games…
"So, who are you Mentoring?" I heard Victoria Curl, one of the Mentors for District 2, say. Jessica Grimes, the newest Victor, was sitting nearby. "I'm Mentoring Eileen Carrasco. Imogen is Mentoring Isambard Wilson".
"I'm Mentoring Sorine Conroy". I replied as the chariots rolled into view.
As I saw the Hovercraft descend onto the Tribute Building, I knew this was a farewell to Sorine. Next to me, Skarloey whispered to Beetee Latier "If there's a wire, grab it as soon as possible"
Here we go again.
My little Headcanon for District 3 is that it's located in southern California and the LA area, and decades before the Dark Days, many people in the Pacific rim nations migrated to Panem, shortly before Panem closed it's borders. Huyen's grandparents migrated there during this time. By the time Huyen's parents were adults, they were stuck in District 3. Basically, Huyen is the descendant of the last wave of people that settled in Panem prior to The Dark Days. Her story arc is the guilt of being unable to save her younger brother, and trying to prevent a Tribute she Mentors from going through the same thing she went through.