the ruler [THE HUNGER GAMES]¹

Two.

WITHIN the hour we are on the train and speeding out of District Two. For at least one of these two tributes, the reaping was the last time they'd ever see our home. Being a mentor now, my work will not stop until Clove makes it out of the arena; dead or alive. Career mentors take their jobs very seriously compared to the outer districts, and of course, I will do everything I can to ensure Clove's survival. I may not agree with the games and the thought of reliving my very fresh trauma is not the most welcome, but she's just another victim of the system at the end of the day. Just like I was.

Jacinth's tribute is a stocky eighteen year old called Cato. Blonde, tall, cocky, I would've been all over him in my academy days. Now it's difficult to not see him as someone younger than me, even though he's not. I've felt much older than my sixteen years since being dragged on a tour of the country to professionally meet the mayors and citizens of districts that were once homes to the kids I helped murder.

"Alright," Jacinth claps his hands together once and sits opposite our tributes at the table. I'm sat next to him, letting him take the lead. My time with Clove will come in the Capitol, so for now I let him begin the process of getting our tributes actually ready for the games, "Cato and Clove. Tell us what you're good at."

There is no point in hiding their abilities from one another since they will be allying in the arena anyway. "Knife throwing," Clove says, leant back in her seat with her arm crossed and that same smug expression she wore at the reaping.

"It's probably a good job you've got Fawn as your mentor then. I don't think there's anyone in Two better than her with knives," Jacinth compliments my skills, causing a violent blush to spread across my cheeks. Again, the imposter syndrome seeps into my bones and makes me forget that I am just as worthy of being here as him.

"We'll see," Clove responds coolly. She's eyeing me up, possibly taking note of my nerves, so I sit straight and lift my chin.

"and you Cato?" Jacinth turns to him. He's smiling like this whole situation is a summer holiday to the Capitol.

"Swords mostly, but I'm good with my hands too," he is looking at me as he says it. The way his lips turn up give me the creeps and I look away, pretending like the decoration on the train is the most interesting thing possible.

"Alright. We can work with that," Jacinth orders the avox working this train car to turn on the large TV hanging on the end wall. I remember this moment last year, rewatching the reapings of all my competitors. How terrified I was watching over half of them being older and bigger than me, how upsetting it was to see a twelve year old from Ten walk up to the stage. Malachi, my district partner, had killed her within a minute of the games starting. This is where I will get to analyse the field for the first time as a mentor who will be trying to get sponsors for Clove.

District One, and our longtime allies, brings a beautiful blonde girl named Glimmer and a sour-faced skinny kid named Marvel. Both volunteer for their spot in the Games. Then, it shows our district, cutting out the majority of the shouting from the girl who was supposed to volunteer. I see myself on the side of the stage and internally cringe at how awkward I look. The other memorable districts are Four, with whom only the girl named Marina looks promising. Five, a red haired girl who looks strangely similar to a fox. District ten has a boy with a limp. Eleven's male tribute, Thresh, could give Cato a good fight in terms of stature. Next to him stands the softest looking twelve year old named Rue, who's less than half his size.