The Writer Games | Once In A Lifetime & World Edition

Welcome: Greyson Stone

He picked up the  cigarette, lit it, then put it down before sighing and taking hold of it  again. Greyson decided this wasn't fair.

It wasn't a possibility  anymore, it was a cold, hard fact. His brother was in the Hunger Games..  his brother was now his enemy. Greyson had watched his interview with  wide eyes; he had watched as Samuel strode out onto the stage as  confident and as carefree as ever. His questions were answered cooly and  calmly; his flirting with Helvetic was swuave and the way he played the  audience was enough to make anyone feel inadequite.

Maybe, Greyson reasoned, Samuel doesn't know I'm against him yet.

Suddenly a hand was  placed on his shoulder and Greyson turned to see who it was. "You're up  next kid," said one of the stage workers. "Oh and uh, you might wanna  put that out;" he gestured to the cigarette, "stuff like that doesn't go  down well here."

Greyson mumbled a reply  and stubbed out the smoke on his dressing table before taking a long  look at his reflection and grimacing. He didn't like how they'd gelled  his hair back, he liked it messy, and he didn't like how they'd covered  up his burn mark with makeup - that's what made him who he was. At least  he had his black overalls on...he wouldn't let them change that.

Someone knocked on his  door, and he knew this would be his walk out onto stage. So, in a final  act of defiance, he ran his hands through his hair and scrubbed his neck  until his mark peered through.

The same guy who told  him to put out the smoke returned and lead him down a long hallway until  he was amrched up some stairs and placed just right of the stage. From  here Greyson could see Helvetica... he wasn't sure if he could force  himself to flirt with her, he'd probably just sound meak in comparison  to his brother.

"Let's give a nice warm welcome for our District 2 male tribute, Greyson Stone!"

The crowd gave a clap  but he could already hear the whispers; they were putting two and two  together, hadn't they just seen a Stone? Regardless, Greyson centered  himself and walked out into the spotlight.

Helvetica gestured to  the seat opposite her with a smile before turning to the crowd. "My  doesn't he look like his brother everyone?" The crowd cheered in  response, "I think we have our two hearthrobs of the games," she said,  winking at me. He gave an awkward wave to the audience and a moment  later Helevtica began the interview. "So, Greyson how does it feel to be  the male tribute for District 2?"

"Surprising," he lied, "it wasn't something I expected."

She chuckled but Greyson could feel the intent behind her eyes, "and I suppose you didn't expect to be against another Stone?"

The crowd had gone  quiet, listening carefully to what he was saying; after all Samuel had  just made them all fall in love with him. "I didn't," he admitted, "but  the Games is all about adapting and that's one thing I'm good at."

"Is that your strategy then? To adapt?"

Greyson smiled. "I'll do whatever it takes."

"To win?" she asked,  leaning forward in her chair. "Are you saying you'll do whatever it  takes to win? Or at least get as far as you can, is that what you're  saying?"

This got a cheer from  the crowd, it was nothing compared to Samuels reception, but it was a  cheer and that was always better than a boo. Helvetica however wasn't  convinced. "What makes you so sure?" she said, "what makes you a better  contender than anyone else and why do you want to be the victor?"

"It's really not a  matter of why I want to be the victor," he said with a shrug, "it's a  matter of how I get there and it's because I can ask myself questions  like that, that'll I have an advantage over everyone else."

Helvetica's eyes glinted with something cruel. "Even over your brother?"

He swallowed down the lump in his throat that appeared when she mentioned Sam and forced a smile. "Yes, even over my brother."

She ran a finger over her chin. "Interesting," she said, "so is it fair to say that your brother is your biggest threat?"

Yes, he thought, but  didn't say out loud. "Of course not. My biggest threats are by far the  other players. I know Samuel, I know how he works, so if anything I  would say he's the least of my worries."

"Well," said Helevetica,  extending her hand out to him, "it has been lovely to meet you but the  show must go on! And next up we have District 2 female, Sharpe Hammer!"

Greyson shook her hand  and gave a final smile to the onlookers before dissapearing off stage.  He felt unnerved and worried that everything he'd said out there sounded  immature and bitter.. but Greyson knew that there was nothing he could  do to change that now.

He just had to hope the odds were in his favour