Alyssa of Nine (Reimagining the Hunger Games)

Chapter Nine: Interviews with Caesar

At first, everyone else in the room is deadly quiet, so that if a pin dropped you could hear it. And then, they all begin to congratulate me. "Alyssa! Well done, an eleven is practically unheard of in the whole history of the Games. The first tribute to score an eleven was old Mags herself. Of course, she was just a young girl then, but she won it. I see it as a good sign." Thelonius says. "That Alyssa of Nine shall prosper!"

I don't think I would call it true prosperity personally, since the Hunger Games can twist and warp you and turn you into a different version of yourself that you should pray never to become. The damage it causes can last a lifetime, even if you survive it. Like Haymitch, even various other victors from other districts, who have even turned to drugs like morphling just to numb out the pain because their personal demons are many. And Annie Cresta who won just four years ago, they say she went off the deep end near the end of her Games, and she had never been right since. Why do they keep insisting the victors win anyway? Nobody ever wins the Games.

Jeremy is the only one who doesn't congratulate me, and isn't the least bit happy that I had gotten a higher score than him and even all of the Careers. The Careers are probably all livid now. They'll be hunting me in the arena for sure. For now, I make a brave attempt to push all my worries aside. "This calls for a celebration." Noah says, for once in cheerful spirits. "Let's all sit in at the table, the food is all here." Waiting for us on the table, are different breads, cheeses, and grapes to begin with, and there are also mountains of hot grain with rich and flavorful tomato meat sauce, minted lamb, spicy beef and chicken that had been slow roasted for hours on a spit and sliced thinly, roasted tiny potatoes that come served with a creamy, thick white garlic sauce to eat with them, and even delicious, buttery tails of lobster. Which by the way is quite possibly among the best things I have ever eaten in my life.

For dessert are noodle cakes sticky with honey and garnished with chopped nuts, and a stunningly beautiful cake with edible gold decoration and white chocolate buttercream for frosting, the cake sponge itself is layered with marzipan and it is lemon-and-brandy flavoured. To think, once I'm in the arena it will be back to rough living and scratching and scraping in any way I can to survive, assuming I will be the lone survivor. I decide I might as well enjoy it all while I can. And I hope that by the interview tommorow night, I will have moved the audience and any potential sponsors alike.

***

The next evening we are each lined up in order according to our district number, and I am wearing a light and silky sleeveless white dress with golden stilettos that match the golden sash and the gold glimmer of my eyeshadow. Jeremy is dressed in a black shirt, black pants, and a burgundy colored blazer with golden stripes. All of the other girls also have very glamorous dresses to wear as well. We have all once again been made to look pretty so the Capitol can feast their eyes before the real fun for them, and the slaughter for us begins. Disgusting.

Taffeta is the very first tribute to be called out onto the interview stage. She is of course, angelic but sassy, and much of the audience seems captivated. Roland plays up the uber-charming heartthrob from District One card. Emerald is dripping with sarcasm and her own well-learned brand of sharp-tongued humour when she takes the stage, and Adonis proudly boasts that he's vicious, mean, and he's a killing machine that will give the Capitol and the rest of Panem a guaranteed 'hell of a show' in that arena. Typical Careers.

The District Three tributes aren't particularly memorable in comparison unfortunately, and just can't hold a candle to the Careers. Marina from District Four tells everyone that she is a fast learner when it comes to survival skills, that she may not look like much, but that she shouldn't be underestimated.

"I wouldn't underestimate you in a million years." Caesar says to her. "And neither will any of you right?" He loudly asks the audience, which cheers and applauds. "I thought not! They love you! They adore you! See that Marina?"