The 53rd Hunger Games- Two Words

29. Breaking Point

In the Capitol...

***

“Can someone cue the headshot for tonight?” Saraya called out from her balcony. She looked at the round table below, which simulated the arena. Four outline tributes left. There was Gladius and Eunia, the District Eight tributes. Neither of them should have made it this far. The Games hadn’t lasted a week yet, and they were already down to the final eight. Saraya couldn’t have the Games end too early. Not when she hadn’t had the chance to show off her mutts.

She looked at the table, watching the circle with IDFEMALE4 on it fade. The screens around the room showed many different parts of the arena, but the only one she was interested in was the Careers. The female tribute from Two, and the males from One and Two stood over the dead girl, whose mane of red hair was wild even in death. Only one District Four tribute was left. What on earth was he doing with Eunia? Saraya had been head Gamemaker for a few years, but had seen almost all of the Games. In all that time, she had never seen a Career tribute and an outline tribute as allies. She’d heard of the boy’s plans, though.

For a moment, something like sympathy crossed her face. Then it disappeared.

“Headshot cued.”

The Careers turning against themselves. It usually didn’t happen until much later, when they were the only tributes left. Saraya planned to make the Games last another week at least, maybe longer if she could separate the tributes and toy with them individually.

She ran her fingers through her black ponytail. She didn’t partake in the Capitol’s bizarre fashions. She was always busy organising the arena, thinking of how to break the tributes.

The small circles with IDMALE4 and IDFEMALE8 weren’t on the move anymore. One of the screens, one that held footage that wasn’t broadcasting to the rest of Panem. One of the screens that held footage only the Gamemakers would see. The girl, Eunia, was in Hadrian’s lap. Crying.

They didn’t have time to waste, that odd duo. The Careers were fully mobile, thanks to a gift from Arabella’s sponsors. Eunia and Hadrian had put a surprising distance between the Careers and themselves, but it wouldn’t be enough if they didn’t keep moving.

“Do you think it hurts?”

Saraya turned, and found she was looking at one of the younger Gamemakers. It was her first year in the control room. Saraya couldn’t remember her name.

“Pardon?” Saraya asked, her voice icy.

The young woman looked at the ground, her light hair falling to frame her pale face. “The girl from Eight...do you think she’s in pain? Her infection looks rather...severe.”

Saraya’s expression was hard as she answered. “She won’t be in pain for much longer. Either her sponsors send her something, or the Careers catch up with her.”

“Oh.”

The young woman went back to her desk, back to controlling the cameras. There were plently like her, asking after a particular tribute. The Careers were obviously the favourites, but the girl from Eight...she was different from the female tributes that usually competed. She was...stronger. Wanted to win.

And there was something else. She’d fallen for Hadrian, the boy from Four. In all her time, Saraya had never seen anything quite like it in the arena. Hadrian, a Career, seemed set on protecting her.

But Saraya had still broken her.

Eunia had still shattered, like all her predecessors. And now that she had come undone, the fun could begin.