The Tribute and the Victor

Chapter 11

On the way down to the stage, Caleb started quizzing me on what to say during the interview. "So remember what I told you" he says as we twist and turn round the long corridors. "Clever,cute and Cunning" I said automatically. He looked at me and laughed. "What?" I said with a huge grin across my face."Nothing" he smiled. Just before we went through the doors to the tribute waiting area he spun me round to face him. "Don't be nervous. I'll be there in the crowd. Your not alone. Besides Caesar will help you along if you get stuck" he pulled me close to his chest and kissed the top of my head. "Good luck" he whispered. "I'll need it" I laughed nervously. When I walked through the doors I saw all the tributes in their gowns and suits. All the girls looked beautiful, and the boys looked dashing. 'What a waist of children' I thought to myself. 'By this time tomorrow, half of them will probably be dead already' Axe was late, as usual. Apparently he didn't like his suit. This didn't surprise me. "Wow...you look amazing Darcy" Calix said as he came walking up to me. "You don't look too bad yourself" I winked. But I wasn't just joking around, he did look good in his dark blue shining suit. "Aha, thanks" he said as he looked down at the floor and put his hands in his pockets. "It's nearly your turn" he said as he pointed over at the tv screen that was showing Caesar interviewing the boy from district 6. "Oh gosh, I didn't realise how late I was" I mumbled. "Axe isn't even here yet!" I exclaimed. "I wasn't really expecting him to be, to be honest" Calix muttered. Just then, two burly men came up to me and informed me that it was time for my interview. I suddenly felt a rush of panic dart through my body. The moment I stepped up on stage I could see him. His gleaming white teeth, his muscle stretching smile, his crimson coloured hair. Caesar Flickerman. I remained silent as he welcomed me up on stage and introduced my to the audience. "So Darcy, tell me. Are you prepared for the games" I stuttered a little before I could eventually get any words out. "W..well..at first I guess I had no idea what I was in for, but As soon as I met the other tributes I finally realised what I was up against. But yes I am very prepared and I'm going to fight until the bitter end" I said courageously. "So...what about your strategy for the games? Or can't you tell me? Any allies? Or how about your weapon of choice?" He asked curiously. At first I wasn't sure how to answer the question without giving anything away, but then I remembered what Caleb said... be cunning and clever. "Now that's a secret. Wouldn't want to be giving my plan away now would I?" I said cunningly and gave the audience an exaggerated wink. The audience were loving it, they all roared with laughter as I kept my cute, cunning and clever theme up. And just when i thought I had won the audience over, Caesar brought up something that no one was expecting. "So Darcy, there have been a lot of rumours going around about you in the capitol" he said giving me a dramatic stern look. I swallowed an extremely dry swallow, totally dreading whatever he might say next. "Oh really" I said dryly. "Yes..about you and your mentor?" He said as he raised his crimson dyed eyebrows. I nearly chocked on my own dry spit. But before I could say anything else to deny what he was about to ask. There on the huge screen was a photo of me and Caleb, arms wrapped round each other and gazing into one another's eyes...