The 8th Writer Games & The Reader Games & Writer Games: The Deadly Decade

Interview: Lavinia Heavensbee

The Deadly Decade: Interview With Brielle

Lavinia Heavensbee (Capitol)

I swish my tongue around  my mouth, still not used to the feel of it. The Capitol rebuilt it;  apparently they didn't want an Avox victor. Either way, I can speak  again, and all that matters to me. I've had to give up on the rebellion,  as my father had warned me the Capitol wouldn't hesitate to cut my  tongue back out if they didn't like what I said or did. It is simply a  new way to keep me under control.

I peek behind me,  catching a glimpse of Drako and Becka. The two of them seem like  morphling addicts; their thin shaking frames are holding each other for  dear life. However, I know that they aren't. The Capitol had treated  them even worse than me. Those two had been through hell, and just the  fact that they are still alive shows how strong they were.

I focus back to the  stage, where Angel was finishing her interview. She looks so innocent,  so angelic that it is difficult to see her kill anybody. Then again, we  are all victors; we'd all killed people, or we wouldn't be there today.  "And now, our final Capitol tribute!" Brielle calls, her sugary voice  making me want to connect my fist with her face.

I walk over to Brielle,  my short red dress shimmering in all the Capitol's lights. I quickly sit  down, wanting to get this interview over with. "Hello Brielle," I say,  before pausing, a giant smile on my face. "Sorry, I guess I'm just not  used to the sound of my voice."

Brielle giggles. "I bet that takes some getting used to. Has your life changed in any other way?"

It has completely  changed, I think to myself. I gave up on the rebellion because you  threatened to take my voice away. My father now thinks I'm a  disappointment because I can't help his cause anymore. Most of my  friends are now superficial and only like me for my status as a victor.  "No, not really." I reply, putting a kind smile on my face. "It feels a  little weird, knowing that I've killed people. But other than that,  everything is rather similar."

"I can see how that  could feel weird." She laughed, and I give a genuine smile for once;  maybe if I give Brielle a chance, I'll see she isn't that bad. "So, are  you excited for the Decade?"

Of course I'm not  excited, this is just another chance to die, only this time I will  probably have to face more than one person at a time, and everyone there  will be stronger than last time. Yet this isn't what Brielle wants to  hear. She is currently giving me an impatient look, and I can read the  message in her face: Hurry up, every second you take is going to make it  look like you are hesitating. "Yes, I'm sure it will be even more  interesting now that we're all good competitors." I reply.

"Good." I can tell  Brielle appreciates that the past few interviews have been going her  way, unlike with Drako and Becka. "And why do you want to win?"

"Because I 'd rather not  lose?" I guess, which earns a few laughs from the audience. "I mean,  you're asking why I want to live, I think everyone wants that."

"I think you have a point." Brielle comments, before moving on to her next question. "Who do you think is your biggest threat?"

"That's a hard  question." I reply, completely honest for once. "We're all victors, any  of us could kill anybody. But I'd have to say Becka; she may not look  like much, but she has a lot of talent."

Brielle shoots me a  glare, and I instantly see where my mistake is; I made it look like I'm  supporting the rebel tribute. "And the last question... What will make  you lose?"

I can tell this is a  punishment question; I've lost her favour, and this is my chance to save  myself. I'm about to answer what she wants, when a part of me simply  snaps."You don't ask that type of question! I know I'm supposed to be  acting exactly how you want me to, to calm the rebellion, but I can't do  it! I won't be a lapdog to your wants, that would make me no better  than Raven!"

The buzzer rings, and I  storm offstage. When I arrive , there are twi big men waiting for me;  Capitol guards. They grab me and chloroform me, as I feel my grip on  reality slowly fade away.

The last concrete thought I think before fainting is "There goes my tongue."