Author Games - When In Rome

Interview - Phaedra Wolfgang

I shall start my account of my path to becoming victor off with a fact:

I was surrounded by morons.

They waited nervously behind me and they waited for me anxiously on the stage before me. I was surrounded, there was no escape. It was terrible. I’m pretty sure the worst part of all was that I was pretending to be one- the scariest part being that I was pretty darn good at it.

I glanced up at the screen in the top corner of the room that displayed Ruby Shimmer making the normal announcements before the interview. I wished that the stupid woman would just cut to the chase instead of blabbering on about pointlessness. I nearly crossed my arms in front of me irritably but I restrained myself. Thats not in my character, I am a dumb blonde for now. I’ll be dumb until the time is right, I thought sheerly pissed. It would all be worth it when I was victor though, I promised myself.

I turned around biting my lip and twirling a lock of hair on my finger. Directly behind me was Tyberius, my district partner sat slightly slouched against the wall. I started a second as he spoke arrogantly with Eden the male from two who watched him nodding his head slightly. There was a gentleness to Eden.The arena was not for stuffed animals like himself, it would tear him apart until there was nothing left of him but a few balls of fluff.

I let out a ditzy giggle, “Hi guys.” I said with a flirty smile. Oh God, I hated this. All I wanted to do was make them cry. Tyber’s face was tilted upwards toward me, a small smirk playing across his lips as if he thought he was the sexiest thing in the entire country- which he was not. Eden smiled at me politely though it was clear he was a tad uncomfortable, he clearly picked up instantly on Tyber’s interest in me. Eden didn’t really have anywhere to go though, his district partner was quite possibly rabid and the district three kids formed a buffer between us and the other half of our pack. He was very observant, I noted, I’d have to keep my guard up with him.

“Hey gorgeous.” Tyber said, a dreamy look in his eyes.

I have a name, man-bitch, I thought irritably. I hated Tyber. He was loud and disruptive when I was trying to learn in the career academy, like he was trying to convince all the girls he was a bad boy. He was not, he was so fake he put Ruby Shimmer to shame.

However due to the fact he was from my district he knew I was mildly evil and a total mastermind- not the imbecile I was  pretending to be…. I knew I should be nice to him so he didn’t ruin everything  before I got the chance to brutally murder him in the arena.

I forced my mouth to widen as I looked from side to side, “Who’s gorgeous?” I cooed dumbly, is that your pet-name for your dick?  I added bitchily in my head.  

He smiled and leaned closer to me, his mouth starting to form the word ‘you’ but I realized something. I was dumb. I could get away with pretty much anything and not be held accountable. I slapped him before he could even say it. “Ew! Cooties!” I screamed, ducking around him to hug Eden.

Eden stiffened, his face flushed red as he looked down at me like a deer in headlights. I smiled, I loved when boys did that. I looked over at Tyber who was staring at Eden with an expression of sheer loathing on his face, a large red handprint was forming on his cheek. I realized this was the perfect opportunity to create some lasting tension between the career pack, if Eden and Tyber rivaled the pack would be forced to choose sides. A pack divided could not stand very long, which was better for me, they’d be here long enough to kill most of the tributes and then they’d destroy themselves. I resisted the  urge to throw back my head and laugh maniacally, I couldn’t because I had to be the diplomat everyone liked. “Eden! Don’t let Tyber contaminate me! I don’t think he washes his hands after he goes to the bathroom!” I said like I was a needy, annoying bitch.