The 53rd Hunger Games- Two Words

16. Analysing

There is another screen in our room, and all eyes swivel to it. Gladius smiles and walk across the stage at a slow pace.

“Great to see you, Gladius,” Caesar says.

“It’s great to be here,” Gladius says.

They exchange small talk about the Capitol, and I hang on to every word. I’m hoping for him to let a piece of information slip. He might be from my district, but it doesn’t mean that he won’t come after me if we’re the last two left.

Unfortunately, he doesn’t reveal anything useful. His interview is conducted smoothly. He’s in control, but isn’t cocky. He makes the crowd laugh and applaud. I won’t be surprised if he’s already won himself sponsors.

Gladius divulges as little as possible about what his life was like back home. Is he convinced the Capitol shouldn’t know about the life they’ve ripped away from us? Or is it that the memory is too painful to face?

I fiddle with the woven bracelets on my wrist. They still haven’t come off; my prep team find them ‘quaint’. I find them painful. Every time I look at them I’m reminded of the life I could have lead. I’ll never be able to live the life I had before I volunteered. Even though I’ve managed to earn a nine, the odds aren’t in my favour. There are plenty of tributes that are stronger and bigger than I am. There are plenty that wouldn’t feel so much as a twinge of regret.

If I made it home, I’d be marred. Not only physically, but I’d have seen unforgettable sights. Victors have nightmares, are never able to feel a sense or safety. After being in the arena, the horrors are hard to forget.

“Your score in training was impressive. How do you feel about it?” Caesar asks.

Gladius shrugs. “I’ve done all I can do. It’s a decent score, and we’ll see what I do in the arena.”

Caesar smiles. “I’m sure you’ll do your best in the arena, whatever form it may take. Good luck, Gladius Lapworth, from all of us in the Capitol and the districts!”

The crowd applauds as Gladius come to join us. In the brief quiet when Caesar comments on the interview just past and introduces the next tribute, Hadrian tries to talk to me again.

“I’ve been meaning to tell you about the head Gamemaker,” Hadrian says, talking quickly. “She’s young; only twenty six. Her name is Saraya, and she’s the one with long black hair and dark eyes.”

The woman Hadrian describe immediately clicks with a face; the Gamemaker who told me to begin at my individual session.

“My mentor told me she used to pay regular visits to District Four.”

This I understand. Plenty of rich Capitol women visit the Career districts to meet some of the victors. If Hadrian wins, I have no doubt that District Four will become immensely popular.

Gladius comes up behind me as the female tribute from Nine receives a round of applause.

“The Capitol seems to like the tributes from Eight this year,” Gladius says. What surprises me is his tone; it doesn’t suggest anything slightly sinister. Why was he so distant before? He’s no longer intent on ignoring me, for whatever reason.

The rest of the interviews are nothing special. But when the girl from Twelve steps up on stage, I realise exactly how close to the arena I am. It’s almost eleven o’clock, which means that the Games are less than twelve hours away.

There are all sorts of threats in the arena. But the biggest is the tributes.

After the interviews, Tule and Wade find us.