The 73rd Annual Hunger Games

Chapter 9- To the Arena

A sad, hushed silence fell over the audience. I would normally smile, but I have to remain serious for this, though. It's all on the line.

Caesar had a pained expression on his face. "I'm sorry."

"I am too." I said. I turned around and walked back to my seat. I sat for a few moments, until the buzzer for my time for the interview went off. Another small victory. You're not supposed to sit down until the buzzer goes off.

It was Kyle's turn. I didn't listen though. All it was was ferocious words mumbled into a microphone. He was going for the "tough" angle.

Then, it was the girl from District 5's turn. I didn't really listen. She was trying to seem fierce, but she didn't play the angle well with her baby face.

Then, it was Cyrus's turn. He got up there, and weaved an enormous tapestry of an interview, throwing in parts of his childhood, happy moments, sad moments, and laced a pinch of defiance into each of them. He had Caesar laughing one moment, then pitying him the next. I felt like I truly knew him. Then, Caesar asked him about our alliance.

"So, you've found an ally, or so I hear. Who is it?" Caesar asks genuinely.

"I've got an ally all right. Her name is Caspia Thetis." He smiled triumphantly.

Caesar smiled back at me. "Good choice. She'd clearly be my choice."

"Yep. We figured that we had something in common when the toughest tributes in the arena vowed to kill us." Cyrus laughed. He turned back to the tough-looking tribute that threatened us. He saluted to him, and the Carreer saluted back while laughing.

"Any last words for the Capitol?" Caesar asked Cyrus.

"Of course. Panem, Capitol, Tributes," Cyrus said. "This isn't the last you'll be seeing of me."

The Capitol exploded into applause, and Cyrus high-fived me before taking his seat.

~~~---~~~

The rest of the interview was a blur, and befor I knew it, I was on the roof of the Training Center, but supposed to be sleeping. I sighed and stared at the Capitol streets, maybe my last beautiful sight. I hadn't even bothered to change out of my dress, I just washed the makeup off, and braid my hair back.

I won't lie- I was deathly afraid. I knew I would die, yet I was happy that I got this far. Who would've thought- poor DIstrict 4 girl on the highest point in the Capitol, wearing the finest clothes of the Capitol, and willing to exchange it all in a heartbeat. I heard a knock to my right. Cyrus was there. I walked over and opened the hatch so we could talk.

"Thought I'd find you up here." He said. I shrugged. "What's our strategy gonna be?" He asked.

"Not to die," I said. I remembered something that Finnick had said, "And to get away from the cornucopia as fast as humanly possible. To stay away from the Careers, and to wait for tthe right weapons. Don't ever try to retrieve it from the cornucopia unless it's right in front of you."

"Seems fair enough. And if you or I die, make sure to kill the person that killed us." Cyrus said.

"Good idea." I looked out to the skyline and fiddled with my shark tooth necklace. No, it's not a myth. It survived through it all so far. Well, what can I say? It's a durable necklace.

"You have a district token too?" He asked. "Here's mine." He showed me a ring on his finger in the shape of a lightning bolt.

"Can I try it on?" I asked. He handed the ring to me and I put it on. It fit on my index finger, but was too big for the rest. "Where'd you get it?" I asked.