The Capitol Games

Chapter 4

The scores are being announced. I try to relax the best I can, but this will mean almost everything. If I get a bad score, then I won't get sponsors. I want to survive. I want to show them that I'm tougher than I look.

"Sam Rellier. 9."

Wow. He did pretty good. Makes me nervous to see my score.

Random name, random name, random name. So far, Sam's score is the highest. Maybe I have a chance...

"Scarlett Snow. 10."

A ten. I got a ten. That's one of the the highest scores possible. Oh my goodness.

I could live!

The rest of the time before the interviews flies by again. I try to make conversation with some of the other tributes, but they just use monosyllabic words and turn away. I don't blame them.

I guess that rules out allies. Oh well, I can do well enough on my own.

I'm brought to the stage by Darla. A tall, smiling man greets me, happy to get some information from the granddaughter of evil.

"And this is Scarlett Rosalina Snow! Yes, everyone, you heard right. The granddaughter of the infamous Coriolanus Snow, the tyrant who last ruled 40 years ago!" He turns to me. "So, what do you think of your dress during the tribute parade? It was quite pretty, but there's obviously some symbolism behind it."

I clear my throat. Time to be honest. "Well, it's obvious, isn't it? My stylist wanted to associate me the most with my ancestry rather than who I am as a person." Take that, Districts, I thought. I was actually really proud of myself for that.

The interviewer, I think his name is Filial, nods. "Well. Interesting view. So what is it like, knowing your the granddaughter of Snow?"

I grit my teeth. I did see this coming, all the questions being about my grandfather or my ancestry or me being related to my grandfather.

"Well, I never knew him, thanks to the people who helped him get trampled and choked to death on his own blood."

Oh snap. Filial? The interviewer raises his eyebrows. "Ah. We have ourselves a sassy one here." He winks at the audience. The buzzer goes off. "Well, thank you very much. I appreciate you... telling us your feelings," Filial says, and I get off the stage as fast as I can.

Well, great. Now I will probably not get any spomsors. Everyone's seen the true me: sassy, defendant and touchy about my grandfather. No one wants to sponsor someone like that.

A naughty voice arises in my mimd again. But it is better for you to die, right? Everyone hates you. Everyone fears you, so you get the worst of life. Isn't everyone better off without worrying about Snow's descendants?

I tried to crush that thought. If I have to die, I reassure myself, which I will, I want to die being famous, partly as Snow's granddaughter, partly as a rebel.

The goody-two-shoes inside me smashes that thought too. No rebelling. What can a small girl like you do against the Districts, even with your Capitol on your side?

"Hey... Scarlett."

I spin around when I hear my name. "Who called my name?"

I see Sam in front of me, awkwardly waving. "Hi! Um... I just wanted to congratulate you... on your score."

I blink. Once, twice. "Um... thanks?"

Sam grins again, then walks off. I see him meet up with some friends, who slap him on the back and smile. A fluttery feeling of hope arises in my chest, but it falls when I remember that no one would like me. It was probably jist a dare.

I eat dinner, and settle into bed for the night.

A few hours later

"She's definitely asleep."

"Come on, let's do it before she wakes up. This surprise will be perfect."

I'm half awake. I can vaguely make out people's voices above me.

Before I can process the information, however, a pair of hands clamps over my mouth.