Hi, everyone! I'm finally back with this story. In this chapter, you'll find 6 POVs with the first interactions among tributes from different districts. In the next one, I will finally introduce sponsors. By the way, you can still submit them.

Enjoy your reading :)


First day in the Capitol

Cedric Page (12)- District 7 male tribute

The Little Hero

As soon as we set foot in the immense train station of the Capitol, a crowd of colorful people welcomes us. They try to get as close as possible, but some bodyguards help Bella, me, and the rest of the team to get out. Outside the station, two white limousines are waiting for us. They pick up my sister and me, heading to the Remake Center, where we will be prepared for the opening of the Hunger Games. I don't want to be separated from my sister again, but I have no choice.

"Don't worry, you'll see her this evening," says the escort, who's in the limousine with me.

I nod. I must look pretty sad at the moment; that's why he spoke, maybe.

"Oh, cheer up, kid! You're finally in the Capitol, you should be excited! I know it's always hard when siblings get reaped, but you should really try to enjoy this moment," he adds, gesturing in an overacted manner.

He seems a crazy clown and this is a bit creepy, since I'm a bit afraid of clowns… but this is something I'm definitely not going to admit.

I cannot see too much of the city, since the windows are tinted. I hope Bella is fine. I'm looking forward to seeing her. I know I should be stronger, but, when she's with me, I feel more confident. She's always by my side when I need help, especially with my nightmares, and sometimes… sometimes, I think that I don't do enough to reciprocate. Maybe she's too kind to me… I mean, I'm not her real brother, I'm a kind of intruder, and yet she has never been jealous of our parents. The Games could be an opportunity to reciprocate her. If Bella dies, I will never be able to forgive myself.

Once in the Remake Center, I'm left in the hands of my prep team- a group composed of hairdressers and aestheticians- who will make me "decent"- yeah, they used this term- for my stylist. Luckily, they said there isn't too much work to do on me, only one of them doesn't seem to like my hair: "Yes, on the whole, it seems that you know what civilization means, but this hair… it's too ruffled, you should really start to use balm!"

I'd like to say that I haven't got the faintest idea of what "balm" is, but it would be pointless, so I keep quiet. Eventually, when they finish, they leave me alone and completely naked, insisting on the fact that my stylist has to see my body. It's so embarrassing! At some point, the door opens and my stylist enters... but walking backwards!

"Why do you walk like that?" I spontaneously ask.

"I thought you would feel ashamed of being naked in front of a stranger, especially of a woman. Please, wear your robe, so that we can talk in a civil way," she gently replies.

I wear my robe.

"Okay, I'm done," I say eventually.

My stylist turns around. She is a very young woman with long, straight, brown hair with emerald green extensions. Her features are delicate and thin, especially her face; maybe a little bit too thin compared to the considerable amount of her hair, but her figure is on the whole harmonious. She's wearing a sea green shirt with see-through fabric that hangs from its long sleeves and that has a pattern that reminds me of the wings of a butterfly. With her shirt, she has matched tight, green leggings and a pair of simple, white slippers. But what really impresses me are her eyes, green and glowing like those of a cat. I cannot help but think that she's the most beautiful creature I've ever seen.

She introduces herself, putting out her hand with tapering fingers. "Nice to meet you, Cedric, I'm Emeralda Baynes *," she says with a kind smile.

I shyly shake hands with her. "Are your eyes natural? If so, you must be the daughter of a cat!"

She chuckles in response. "The daughter of a cat?"

"Yeah, and of a fairy," I add.

"Well, you've got a vivid imagination, Cedric," she comments, amused.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No, on the contrary, it is a very good thing. If you sound spontaneous as you do, winning the crowd will be easier. You know, it's not just your appearance that matters, but also your behaviour. Here in the Capitol we pay attention to every detail," she explains.

"So, you're here to teach me how to behave as well."

"Well, I can advise you. But the most important thing is that I want you to feel at ease… I mean, as far as possible. If you'd like to say something, or if there's something you don't like, please let me know. You'll always have a friend in me."

"You're very kind."

In response, she takes my hand and I blush. "I'm an only child, Cedric, I don't know what having a sibling means, but I can imagine how you feel now… I mean, being forced into the Games with your own sister... it must be awful. That's something they should really forbid. Anyway, I'll do my best to make your sojourn in the Capitol as pleasant as possible," she says with a sad smile.

She sounds sincere. Evidently, not all the Capitolites are insensitive like our escort.

I'd like to cry, but I manage to hold back my tears. No use crying now. Besides, I don't want to look weak. A knight should always look strong, otherwise his enemies would overpower him… and there is certainly someone who can overpower me among my fellow tributes, but I don't want them to underestimate me. Just because I'm one of the youngest, it doesn't mean that I cannot be dangerous, right?

"But now let's leave sadness aside! We have some work to do! The chariot parade is a very important moment, because sponsors will see you for the first time. A good impression is everything tonight! As for the costume, there's not much to say about the tendency of District 7: just tree-like costumes! Absolutely unimaginative, don't you think? No, we'll do something different this year! Yeah, Seven has two siblings and this will certainly attract sponsors, but you have to compete with Careers, and there are also two victors' children this year. It won't be easy. Therefore, if we want to leave a mark, we have to show them something special," says Emeralda at some point, while pacing back and forth.

"I don't know. Seven means lumber, so trees and leaves. Fall leaves are wonderful," I offer.

She stops, watching me right in the eye. "Could be an idea. And what if the leaves changed?"

I look at her, puzzled.

She smiles. "Fall is just one of the four seasons."

When the costume is finally finished, I can see what she means by that: Bella and I are both wearing a knee-long robe completely covered by fake leaves, which can change their colour according to the season- green, yellow, orange, red, and brown. This process is gradual and uniform- from top to bottom, and then from bottom to top. In addition, we're both wearing a wreath round our heads and sandals on our feet. On the whole, we look like woodland spirits.

…...

Excelsa Serafin (18)- District 1 female tribute

The Ambitious

I take a lift along with Kyle. We have to descend to the ground floor, where we'll find our chariot. The parade is basically a symbolic trip to the City Circle, it represents our entry into the Capitol as tributes. For me? Just a waste of time. You don't need to look nice in the arena. Anyway, Kyle and I are descending silently, our bodies perfectly upright and stiff as if we were peacekeepers… well, except for the way we're dressed. Our skin has been completely covered by gold powder, including our face. Our hair has been styled by using a glittering gel to shape it in what should look like sunbeams. To complete our look, we're wearing a sort of tight, golden armor, which is light and permits a certain freedom of movement, though.

At some point, I look at Kyle. I cannot help but notice how much the gold powder brings out his wonderful, violet eyes.

"Hey, if you keep staring at me like that, you'll make me blush," he says with a kind smile.

I immediately look away, embarrassed. "I… I was just thinking that our stylists did a great job," I lie.

"Maybe you don't see why they should display us as hunting trophies," he offers.

"It makes no sense. In the end, the most important thing is the arena; there we will really have to prove ourselves."

He sighs in response.

In the meantime, we have arrived on the ground floor. It is a broad open space, where the thirteen chariots have already been linen up. Ours is to the front, right behind the huge door that, once opened, will give us to the crowd. There is movement here, with people hurrying up to finish the decorations of the chariots. Avoxes, I suppose. The tributes from Two approach Kyle and me, followed immediately by the girl from Four. Our allies… it is customary that Careers meet before the parade to confirm the alliance.

"Hi, guys!" says the girl from Four, winking at Kyle, who ignores her, though.

"Your district partner is not with you?" I ask her, annoyed by her amused attitude.

She doesn't seem to take it seriously.

She shrugs. "Thalas wants us to work as a team, so he will join us sooner or later. I don't really agree with this strategy; for me, Oliver is too young and untrained to be a Career. But we could accept him nonetheless, and, when he becomes useless, get rid of him."

"Fine with me," replies the girl from Two- Scarlett, if I don't mistake- with a smirk.

There's something chilling in her smirk, I'd better be wary of her.

When our allies are gone, my stylist- Edgar Drak- comes over to urge us to mount the chariot, because the parade is about to begin.

"As you know, you're the first. I want you to shine tonight!" he says.

"We won't go unnoticed with all this golden powder and glitter," comments Kyle with a slight smile.

He seems a bit uneasy. Well, I can understand him. I'm not used to great crowds neither and especially not to moving around in such garments. I cannot see myself now, but by judging from the way Kyle looks, I can say that we're more similar to gold statues than to human beings.

"Actually, I thought your style was a bit darker," I say, addressing Edgar.

Maybe this will release the tension. With his white hair dyed red at the edges, white eyes, eye patch, studded, black clothes, and silver gun booties, my stylist appears like a weird combination of gothic and pirate-like style.

"I would normally agree with you, dear. But you represent District 1, you have to be radiant! The crowd out there will see you as little suns ready to rise!" he rebuts.

I don't like parading, but I have to admit that the sun imagery has a certain power. After all, if I want to stand out, I need to start somewhere. I could compare my journey in the Games to a solar cycle… a solar cycle without setting, of course.

…...

Rhonda Hope (12)- District 5 female tribute

The Orphan

Cliff and I are wearing the same costume: a sky blue leotard that covers our body from the shoulders to the feet and with white bolts designed all over it. Bolts mean electricity, what District 5 produces. At least, our costume makes sense. There are cases in which I cannot really understand the work of Capitolite stylists… like last year… Amanda's costume looked like a tangle of wires. Ours may be not one of the most impressing costumes, but I can see something worse around me, like those of the tributes from Twelve, who are dressed as dusty miners as usual. Besides, I like my costume, it makes me feel a little better. I couldn't sleep last night, so Amanda kept company with me in order to soothe me. A part of myself still believes that all of this is just a terrible nightmare and that I will eventually wake up, safe in District 5.

As soon as I see Amanda, I hug her. I haven't seen her the whole day.

"Oh, dearie, still a bit sad?" she asks me.

"I want to go home," I whisper.

She breaks the embrace and ducks to watch me right in the eye. "Me too, Rhonda, but we both know it's not possible, right? You have to stay strong. The parade is the easiest part, you just need to smile. Please, do it for me. And don't cry, I don't want to see any tears. What would Capitolites think, if they saw you like that?"

I nod. That's precisely what I told her before the Reaping, when she informed me that she had adopted me. Now, it seems like it's been ages, and yet it happened only yesterday. At some point, Amanda takes my pearl bracelet out of her pocket and gives it to me.

"My stylist told me that I couldn't wear it," I say.

"He'll never know," she replies with a wink. "It's your district token, Rhonda, you have the right to wear it. Now, mount the chariot. The parade will be over before you even realize it, believe me," she adds, smiling.

I mount the chariot along with Cliff, who has the same resigned expression he had at the Reaping. I haven't spoken to him yet, not even on the train. Actually, expect for the Remake Center where I was with my prep team, I've spent all my time with Amanda. This could be a good moment to have a conversation.

"Ready for the parade?" I ask him.

He watches me. Clearly, he didn't expect me to speak. "Whether I'm ready or not, I'm obliged to parade, so let's say that I'm ready," he points out with a bitter smile on his lips.

"Amanda told me that we just need to smile. The crowd seems to be interested only in how we look and not in what we feel."

"Yeah, Amanda tells you many things…"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Oh, please, you may be only twelve, but I don't think you're that naïve! You play the victim, but you know that having one of our mentors as a friend will advantage you in the arena! But don't worry, I won't bear a grudge for that, I'm used to injustices," he replies, looking away from me.

Our conversation is suddenly interrupted by a buzzer that signals the beginning of the parade. The huge door to the front opens, accompanied by the roaring of the crowd out there, which can be heard even from where we stand. As our chariot starts moving along, my heart is beating faster and faster. I look at Cliff with the corner of my eye: his body is stiff, his face a mix of fear and unease. I try to take his hand to buck him up, but he rejects my help. Maybe he's right about me being advantaged, but it's not my fault if I knew Amanda before the Games! Besides, once in the arena, she will be able to help me only from afar, which might not be enough for me to survive. And then there's also Leroy… I mean, we have two mentors, he won't be left to himself, will he? He cannot expect Amanda to ignore me just because he thinks that our friendship advantages me, right?

Okay, having to do with Cliff gonna be difficult…

…...

Maya Seeds (12)- District 11 female tribute

The Blossom

The emotions that I'm feeling at the moment are almost impossible to describe, but I can try. I've never felt so thrilled before, not even when I passed the test to get into the private school. I'm also a bit afraid of the crowd, since I'm not used to seeing so many people around me… well, I cannot really see people now, what I see is more like a colourful patchwork which is roaring like a beast, and I feel so little and insignificant before it.

At some point, Tobias puts his hand on my shoulder. I look at him.

"Why don't we show them something?" he offers, getting closer to me so that I can hear him.

"What?" I ask him, curious.

"Let's play with food!"

"What?" I repeat, puzzled.

"My stylist told me that people like having a souvenir of the parade. She explained to me that souvenirs are objects that remind you of something you did or of a place you saw. Our costumes look like food, we could throw some pieces to them."

He's right about our costumes. I'm dressed like a bunch of black grapes, which are made of spheres that cover my body from my shoulders to my knees, and I've got a black leotard underneath. I'm wearing also a wreath of grape leaves. On the other hand, Tobias is wearing a cap that looks like a plate with a pyramid of fake apples glued on it. His body is wrapped in a sort of yellow towel with other apples that hang from it. I don't think our stylists will be happy, if we destroy their works, but Tobias has already started to throw apples to the crowd on his side. At some point, he offers one to me and I pretend to bite it. It's fun, after all, so I decide to imitate him, and I start to pick the "grapes" to throw them away. The crowd seems to be enjoying it, by the way: someone is laughing noisily, others are jumping to try to catch the pieces we're throwing to them. Eventually, when there's nothing left to throw, Tobias puts his arm around my shoulder and I do it as well. This wins the crowd. Cheers arise like a powerful wave from the spectators.

"They liked it," says Tobias with a wide smile.

"Apparently yes," I reply, panting.

I'm so thrilled that I'm out of breath.

"We're a great team, Maya, don't you think?" he goes on.

"Sure… but I don't think our stylists will agree on what we did with our costumes. We're in real trouble," I point out, but I'm more amused than worried.

"It doesn't matter as long as it helps our team, because we're a team, aren't we?"

…...

Alexa Steel (17)- District 6 female tribute

The Peacekeeper

The horses- ours are grey- that are drawing our chariot which is decorated to look like an old locomotive are so well trained that no one needs to drive the chariot. I must admit that I'm impressed. The Capitol has not disappointed my expectations so far. Yeah, the Remake Center was a torture, but it was worth it. They even complimented me, because I didn't wail. Well, I'm used to worse things. If my prep team got the same peacekeeper training I get, they wouldn't wail due to a stupid scrub neither. Craig Donovan is a good man in the end, but the discipline he imposes is stern. This will advantage me in the arena, though; I know how to fight, I know how to survive even in harsh conditions… and I'm very likely to find myself in such conditions there. In any case, all I have to do tonight is making a good impression, the rest will follow.

Eventually, we reach the City Circle- the main square of the Capitol. There, all the chariots will spread out in a semicircle. From the balcony of his mansion, President Smith will welcome us… like I care. I'm more interested in my fellow tributes. I start examining them, while the last chariots are joining us in the square. Twenty-five of them will have to die in order for me to win- a sacrifice that is worth making… when I win, I'll have a better life, out of the filthy slums of District 6 forever. The bare though makes me smile. Anyway, the Careers are certainly the most dangerous among my fellow tributes, I'd better stay as far away as possible from them… but this doesn't mean that I have to keep a low profile; actually, if I want to get sponsors, I must show them that I'm not as hopeless as they may think. It's a calculated risk, in the end. As for the other tributes, they don't seem to pose a particular threat at the moment, but it's also true that I cannot except to judge them right now, when they're all dressed up for the parade. We have three days of training, I've got plenty of time to understand who they are and find possible allies. To be sincere, I don't think I'm made for teamwork, but you never know, an ally might be useful in this case. I'm definitely not going to ally with my district partner, since he's too weak, but maybe I can find a proper ally… the boys from Nine and Ten look strong enough, maybe… ah, we'll see during training!

At some point, something catches my eye: the couple from District 11. Their costumes are completely torn to pieces… is that what their stylists wanted or…? Well, from the amused smiles on their faces, I can tell that they destroyed their costumes on their own initiative. Where do they think they are? This is not a game! Well, it is called "Hunger Games", but it's not a game, that's for sure! I wonder what they think to get from this act. They're just ridiculous, not that they will stand a real chance once in the arena, so who cares?

When all the chariots are finally in position, President Smith makes his appearance, accompanied by the cheers of the crowd. From the screens scattered across the square, I can see that he doesn't look like the other flamboyant Capitolites I've met so far. He has short, grizzled hair and sideburns, deep, blue eyes, and has neither beard nor moustache. He's wearing a simple, black man's suit.

"Welcome, everyone, welcome to the 99th annual Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favour! Yes, the odds are important, but we're here also to acknowledge the courage of our tributes, who will certainly make their families proud…"

Tsk, count on it! My family will certainly be proud of me, when they see me kill one of your brave tributes! How could they not?

"… we are proud of them, after all. They're representing their districts in the Games, and we truly hope that the arena will give Panem a worthy victor, the one who deserves the most to be rewarded…"

What does he mean by "worthy"?

"… so, happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour!"

The crowd erupts into cheers and President Smith goes back into his mansion. But his words have been stuck in my head, and they won't disappear as he just did. He spoke of a "worthy victor"… don't know why, but the adjective "worthy" disturbs me. What does it mean in concrete terms? Strong? Loyal? Career? It is true that there weren't any Career victors in recent years, but this doesn't mean that one of them should win this year just because of that. It would be unfair. No, it won't happen, it cannot happen… but what do I have to do to be a "worthy victor"? To be sincere, I had never considered the Games as an opportunity before the Reaping; I used to think that becoming a peacekeeper would be enough to have a better life, but I see it otherwise now. Whatever President Smith thinks, I'm going to win the 99th Hunger Games.

…...

Christine "Christie" Harsh (14)- District 13 female tribute

The Protester

When the parade is over, we're led to the Training Center, where we're staying for five days. It was rebuilt after the rebellion, so that they could add a floor to house the tributes of District 13.

"Oh, you'll love your apartment! You should know that every floor of the new center is designed to reflect the district's main industry- in your case, nuclear power- like your costumes!" chirps the escort, as we're taking the lift to the last floor.

"Costumes" is a big word to describe what Owen and I are wearing: a sort of wrap made of glowing, green slime. It represents nuclear waste. Some slime was smeared also on our hair, but the worst part of all is that our naked bodies are partially visible under the slime. In addition, the "costume" is itchy. I had to stiffen all my muscles in order to counter the impulse of scratching during the whole parade. I can imagine how ridiculous I looked; I can only hope that Carol didn't find me ugly. I'm looking forward to having a shower! I want to scratch all this shit off my skin!

When the doors of the lift open again, the first impression on the apartment is not that good. Uh, its colours are definitely too bright! It's like being inside a Rubik cube, except for the fact that the only colours here are black and orange. The apartment is completely- and by "completely" I mean floor, ceiling, and walls- covered by polished, square tiles with the symbol of radioactivity on each- black on orange and vice versa. Definitely of bad taste.

The escort crosses the hall, telling us where to find our rooms, but neither me nor Owen follow her. We're still on the threshold, looking around.

"Well, whoever designed this place has never been to Thirteen. I mean… have you ever seen such bright colours before?" comments Owen at some point.

"No," I admit.

District 13 is essentially a grey place.

"The only touch of colour was that wonderful mural on the Justice Building," he goes on.

"Thank you," I immediately reply… but then I realize that no one should know that it was my doing, so I bite my lip.

Too late. Owen is already watching me with great interest. "It was you?" he asks me in awe.

That's so embarrassing! I mean… Owen Coin is interested in my work, the same Owen Coin who's the grandson of Alma Coin! He's a sort of legend in District 13. Those who still hate the Capitol and would like to rebel again see him as a possible leader, the heir of President Coin… well, they saw him as such; he's a tribute now, and the Capitol won't let him win the Hunger Games, not with such a family name. This realization is accompanied by a deep sense of injustice. He's innocent! He wasn't even born when the rebellion took place! But the Capitol doesn't care, right? Well, we are all innocent under closer inspection… except for the Careers; since they have been training all their lives to kill people in the arena, they cannot be seen as innocent.

"Christine?"

I look up.

"It was really you?" he insists.

"It's not important," I say.

"It is important, instead. If it was you, I must compliment you on your courage. Our district seemed reborn thanks to that mural."

I stare at him. He's not afraid of speaking his mind, even if it's against the Capitol. Well, I wouldn't neither, if I knew that I would die for sure. But I still have a chance. I must win for Carol. I cannot compromise myself, yet I feel guilty. Owen is exposing himself, after all. What should I do?

"We shouldn't think of that mural now, we should think of a strategy for the Games," I say, trying to dismiss the subject.

Oh, how much I hate myself at the moment!

"If that's what you want to speak of…"

That said, he sighs and goes sit on a coach. He looks so disappointed that I cannot handle it anymore.

"Okay, okay, it was me. I just wanted to show them that their pretense that everything is alright doesn't fool anyone," I say, joining him on the couch.

He smiles in response. "Courage… that's something our district seems to have forgotten. But not you, Christine, you have a rebellious spirit and I like it. Indeed, this suggests me an idea," he says, tapping his hand on my back.

"What idea?" I ask him, curious.

"We could form an alliance- me, you, and someone else," he offers.

"Who would ally with us?"

"We'll find someone. Actually, I watched the Reapings on the train, and I think that we could ask the girl from Nine, Rebecca Field."

"Why her?"

"Her family name was well known among rebels," he explains.

"So, you'd like to form a sort of rebel alliance, wouldn't you?"

"Why not?" he replies with a shrug.

"And what about the boy from Nine?"

"We could ask him too."


So, the tributes have arrived in the Capitol and paraded before its citizens. What is/are your favourite chariot outfit(s)? I will assign 10 points to every district you name (10 points per tribute).

Submitters can assign points to: Excelsa (D1F), Rhonda (D5F), Alexa (D6F), Cedric (D7M), Maya (D11F), Christine (D13F)

As in the previous chapter, there are some questions related to the POVs in this chapter that you're free to answer:

Excelsa: do you think that her ambition to stand out will help her in the Games?

Rhonda: will she be more advantaged than Cliff in the arena?

Alexa: do you agree on her strategy?

Cedric: what do you think of his attitude?

Maya: should she really ally with Tobias?

Christine: what do you think of the rebel alliance?

Thank you a lot for reading :)


*Emeralda is the daughter of Oberon Baynes, a Gamemaker. See Divine Punishment chapter 3 (Nepotism)