Jaded ||| Johanna Mason

twenty-four

Interviews went as expected for the districts from which the tributes had come. Precious spoke with a smile and a certain flutter about her. Jade guessed their strategy was beauty instead of brutality. It could work but she'd need brawn to actually win the game.

Another quick escape later and Jade was certain she could keep Johanna at a distance for the rest of the games. She spoke with Domitia about making the same deal with Johanna they had the year before and she agreed to tell Priscilla what to do.

That meant Johanna's tribute would die the first day and she'd be gone from the viewing station. If Jade could hide there for the rest of the games, she would be safe to leave when it was over.

Her plan had a chance to be foiled, however, since some of the others noticed the odd behaviour. Blight noticed it in his own Victor and Finnick found it strange not to see the two together. They'd made common cause but had hardly spoken a word to one another.

There had been no gossip about a spat between them. And gossip travelled fast between victors. Strange. Finnick always had a keen eye.

Still, that wasn't at the forefront of anybody's mind on the morning of the games. Like they'd done many times before, the victors gathered at their respective stations to await the beginning of the games.

Jade stole Aries' chair and used it to spin herself in a circle. She usually went to eat after the tributes were off and she was sure he'd take it back. A privilege as a victor older than him.

She only stopped spinning when the screens around the room all flashed to light at the same moment. The talking ceased immediately as the victors analyzed the arena for the year.

There wasn't much to go off of from the aerial view of the cornucopia. It looked to be a meadow of some sort but Jade knew there was bound to be a twist. Gamemakers couldn't leave it dull: that would hurt the viewership ratings.

The room grew tense when the tributes were raised onto their platforms. Competitive spirits ignited. Ones that would last the duration of the game and dull once a winner had been crowned.

Victors learned long ago not to hold grudges. Not unless a tribute won in some heinous way. But even then it could be excused; they all knew what it was like to do anything to survive. Perhaps only needlessly cruel tactics. Cheating was also a way to become an outcast.

Precious was lifted into the arena and became the little killer she'd been trained to be. Scanning her surroundings and taking stock of where her district partner and allies were standing.

She also looked for Johanna's tribute. A thin thirteen-year-old who was sobbing on her pedestal. Poor girl. It would be over for her in sixty seconds.

Jade sat back in her chair and stared at the screens that showed all of the tributes. She vaguely wondered what their families were thinking and how hard they were praying.

One of those children was going home. Such a strange thing to know.

The countdown passed quickly. An array of reactions from the tributes preparing to fight for their lives. Most were fearful, a select few were confident, and a handful were already utterly defeated.

As soon as the number above the cornucopia reached zero, the tributes were off. Jade watched carefully as Priya, that was her name, jump off of her pedestal and make for one at the opposite end of the arena.