A/N: Sorry for being gone so long. Basically, a whole hell of a lot happened over the past couple months and I simply did not have the time to write. I won't bore you with the details. However, now that we're all in quarantine and I'm not working for a couple more weeks, I've got lots of time to keep writing for you all! I hope you enjoy!

Pearlia Beta Poplawski, the Driven Perfectionist

District 4 Female

As Zale and I are eating breakfast the day after the opening ceremonies, our escort enters the room in an overly excited state. She's nearly vibrating with energy.

"The early odds are in!" she trills. "Both Zale and Pearlia are at the very top! The people are definitely rooting for a District Four Victor this year. I've already had several important, not to mention rich, sponsors wanting to pledge themselves to helping the two of you."

I turn to Zale, unable to stop the wide smile that spreads across my lips. This is exactly how we wanted to start the Games. Making a loud statement even before we get into the arena was essential for us to do.

"Make sure to send those sponsors our way," my mentor, Coral, murmurs while drinking a large mug of coffee. "We can help early promotion of the two of you while you're training for the next couple of days. You have your strategy, yes?"

I nod my head. "We're going to do some survival skills as well as practice with our usual weapons," I say. I could have recited the sentence in my sleep. Our plan has been several years in the making, and now we're finally able to put it into action. I won't, can't, falter now. I've done everything right so far, and I will continue to do so. I've set perfection as my standard, and I must maintain it. That's the only way to keep sponsors until the end of the Games, and now that I've seen some of my competition, I know that I'll have to rely on any help that I can get.

Some of my fellow Career tributes, like Jem, don't seem to present much of a threat to me. I feel as though I could defeat Leta as well, when it comes down to it. Though I have no doubt she's a capable and strong warrior, she's over a foot shorter than me. My height is an easy advantage I have over her.

The only one that really worries Zale and I is Nero. He's not just a meat shield; he's got a smart head on his shoulders. That, in combination with how District 2's tributes are usually trained, means that he's going to be tough competition. However, I'm confident that Zale and I together should be able to take care of him.

In fact, as long as Zale's with me, I don't think there's a single competitor that could stand up to us. We've proven that we're strong enough on our own; together we have an unbelievable advantage. I'm going into the arena with someone I can trust, and that's more than any of the others can say.

Of course, there's that one annoying thought that keeps probing at the back of my mind. I know both Zale and I can't win. One of us will be dead in just a few short weeks. But I also know for certain that if it came down to it, I wouldn't be able to take his life myself. In my plan of perfection throughout these Games, this is the only wrench in my plans. Unfortunately, it's a massive wrench, and it could very likely get me killed.

I can't think about this now. I have to focus on what's happening now, and I'll worry about what to do with Zale later. Now, I have to prove to the Gamemakers that I've lived up to my title as the strongest female in District 4.

"You should get ready to go down within the next couple of minutes," Zale's mentor comments as he looks up at the clock on the wall. "You don't want to be late. That won't make a good impression to the Gamemakers, especially…" he trails off, glancing at Coral for a split-second. I can't help but wonder what he was about to say, but I know it's not my place to ask. No doubt it was sensitive information, and I know better than to inquire about that now.

Instead, Zale and I finish our breakfasts and follow our escort down to the training center. As we make our way, I pull my long hair, which is thankfully straight again after the elaborate curls it was forced into last night, into a high ponytail so it won't get in the way. Despite obviously not being in District 4, this is beginning to feel like just another day of training for me. It's familiar and comforting as opposed to all the glitz and unnatural brightness that I've been met with so far in the Capitol.

We're one of the first pairs of tributes to arrive, though a couple of others have made their way down here. Nero and Leta are already waiting anxiously, and Nero raises his hand solemnly while Leta gives us a stiff nod in acknowledgement. I've memorized all the tributes' names and faces, and I see the pair from District 5, Jaxs and Aurora, are here as well. They don't seem to be particularly interested in talking to anyone, and I've already ruled them out as allies. Still, there's something unsettling about their twin grimly determined faces. They are not to be counted out.

Over the next fifteen minutes or so, the rest of the tributes trickle in. The two thirteen-year-old girls are predictably small and one of them can't stop shaking. Jem and Malik, on the other end of the spectrum, are flexing their muscles and smirk at the myriad of less confident tributes. I wholeheartedly hope that either Rye or Scythe agrees to work with us, so we don't have to recruit Malik. I'm already forced to deal with Jem's ego, and I don't think I'd have the patience to put up with Malik's as well. He's not even from a trained District, so he has less reason for his confidence than even Jem.

The lead trainer gives us a few opening words, and reminds us that we're not to spar with the other tributes or do anything that might potentially cause them harm. As she speaks, in a balcony above us, I see the Gamemakers enter. The man in the front, who I can only assume is the lead Gamemaker, is mostly devoid of the usual heavy modifications that are staple in the Capitol. He sits down at the edge of the balcony and watches us with dark, shrewd eyes.

It's odd that I don't know his name. I vaguely recognize him from previous years, but he was only a background figure. This must be his first year as head Gamemaker, which means that the arena is likely to be something crazy this year. He'll obviously want to start his career with a loud bang.

We're given the all clear to begin, and Zale and I make our way over to Nero and Leta. "I'll talk to the District Eleven tributes over the course of the morning," Nero says. "I'll let you know at break how it goes." Zale and I nod, then split off from the other two.

"What do you want to start with first?" I ask him, looking around the room. He mirrors my movements, taking in mostly poor attempts of the other tributes who are obviously handling weapons for the first time. There are, however, a few standouts.

Scythe from District 11 has marched straight over to the weapon for which she's named and even after only a few moments of watching her, it's clear that she's an expert. The trainer is clearly excited by her as well as she effortlessly moves through the first few exercises he gives her. Nero is in line next, no doubt to attempt to recruit her.

The boy from District 5, Jaxs, is setting up a few traps, and he does so with relative ease. That's an interesting skill for someone from District 5, and I immediately know I was right not to count him out.

Malik, however, goes straight to the wrestling mat, and it's obvious he's been in a few brawls before. It explains his ego, at least. However, in my thorough examination of past games, it rarely comes down to fistfights. The Capitolites much prefer to see the tributes hack each other up with weapons rather than wrestling.

"Let's do some survival skills in the morning, and in the afternoons, we'll do weapons training," Zale suggests. I nod my head. It's a solid strategy. Both of us know that the area we might be lacking in is survival. The academies in District 4 touch on some survival training, but weapons training is clearly their priority.

Throughout the morning, the two of us go over basic skills such as recognizing edible berries and plants from poisonous ones, learn how to make some traps for food in the unlikely event we won't be able to rely on the supplies from the Cornucopia, and refining our skills in building fires. As with most things, I refuse to move on from a station until I'm totally confident in my abilities.

By the time a loud, shrill bell rings to announce our lunch hour, Zale and I are just finishing up learning a basic trap. It's not too fancy, but it will be enough to catch us small game in the arena. Tomorrow, we decide to focus on traps that are designed to catch other tributes. Those will be far more complicated, but I'm determined to learn them as well. One can never have too many skills going into the Games.

As we head into the lunchroom, I immediately spot Nero and Jem already sitting down. Rye is with them, but Scythe is nowhere to be seen. I take a spot across from Nero as Zale sits beside me. Within a few minutes, Leta is there as well so I turn to Rye.

"So, you agree to join our alliance?" I ask him. He nods silently. I noticed at the Reaping he wrote his name down instead of saying it aloud, but I can't tell if he actually can't speak or if he's putting on a show. Hopefully, time will tell.

"What about Scythe?" Leta asks. Nero shrugs.

"I asked her if she'd be interested, but she said she'd have to think about it," he says. "I don't think she's a necessity at this point though, not now that we have Rye. Six is a good number for a strong alliance. In any case, I don't think Scythe is going to be joining us." He points to the other table with a fork, and I turn to see Scythe sitting and seemingly enjoying a friendly conversation with the girl from District 10, Phoenix. Sorelle, Jem's district partner, is also sitting with them, though she doesn't seem as engaged in the conversation.

"Well, I agree with Nero," Zale speaks up. "I think this is a strong group and we shouldn't have many problems when we get to the arena. I don't want to talk too much strategy yet though, just in case some of the other tributes are listening in."

Nero nods his head. "That's a smart move," he commends Zale. For the rest of the lunch hour, talk is superficial, but I do get to know more about my fellow tributes. Rye never says a thing, but he'll answer yes or no questions if they're directed at him. Leta seems nice, if guarded, but that's not surprising. I would actually like both her and Nero if not for the circumstances. Jem is as annoying as ever, but he seems to have accepted Nero as the leader and doesn't espouse upon himself too much. If he keeps up this attitude, I think I'll be able to tolerate him.

However, before long, I start to get restless. I can't wait to get my hands on a sword. When the clanging bell rings again, I'm one of the first on my feet. I grab Zale's hand and practically drag him back to the training center. He laughs at my exuberance, but I'm too excited to care that he's teasing me.

"Starting with swords? I don't get to do my specialties yet?" he smirks. I roll my eyes at him, but can't help a smile from playing on my lips.

"We'll get to those later," I promise him as we line up. I select a weapon and glance up at the ever-watchful Gamemakers above before turning to the trainer. It's time for them to see what I can do.

Jaxs Williams, the Quiet Defendant

District 5 Male

I grit my teeth as the knife I throw just misses the mark for the third time in a row. I thought that I might have an edge since I've been throwing my kitchen knives since I was little, but the balance is completely different. All the knives here are balanced at the hilt of the knife instead of the handle being significantly heavier like I'm used to.

"You're throwing them wrong," the trainer says gruffly as he looks over at me. "With throwing knives, you have to counter the rotation of the knife, so it stays on course and still has power when it hits your target." He demonstrates a couple of times before letting me try again. "You've got the strength enough to do it. You just have to know the right technique," he explains as I stare down the target.

I do my best to imitate the trainer by countering the knife rotation and having my arm follow through the entire throw instead of stopping when the knife leaves my hand. I instantly feel the difference, and it shows. The knife hits the target this time. It may not be a bullseye, but it's still a solid throw and far superior than what I was doing before.

"Much better," the trainer nods. "Try a couple more, then I've got to send you packing."

With my last few throws, I improve each time. When I'm ushered away, I feel confident that if I get my hands on a couple knives in the arena, I should have a fighting chance. My mentor and I have decided on a quiet strategy for me. He doesn't want me looking for fights, but he also doesn't want me to hesitate to kill if I come across someone. It's a strategy that has proved well for Victors in the past, especially for Victors from non-Career districts.

I glance around the room, looking for another station to try. It's only the first day, but I feel good about the progress I've made so far. I excelled at the traps they had me try and the trainer was excited about my abilities. I also learned how to start a fire as well as tried my hand at some of the basic survival stations. It's not much compared to the kids that have been training their entire lives for this, but I'm determined to soak up all the information I can. Not trying is the equivalent of signing my own death warrant. And I'm not quite ready to give up yet.

Of course, I've also been sizing up my opponents throughout the day. The Careers and the pair from District 11 are predictably strong, but I knew that just from the Reaping's alone. What I really wanted to know was if there were going to be any surprises. So far, I haven't seen much that would give me a cause for concern.

Of course, there's one exception, and that's my district partner, Aurora. We haven't spoken much, and neither of us harbored any intention of allying with each other simply because we were from the same district. Still, there's something about her that's throwing me off, and I haven't managed to put my finger on it yet.

I've been keeping a close eye on her today, and so far, I haven't seen much that worries me. She's focusing mostly on survival skills, and is only mediocre at best with them. What I've observed has put me at ease, but I won't let my guard down completely. Doing so will get me killed.

As for the others, most of them are underfed and underprepared. The boy from District 6, Malik, is an exception to this as he's excelled in wrestling, but his ego clearly outshines his abilities. From what I gathered, I think he tried to team up with the Careers, but they already recruited the boy from District 11 and told Malik they didn't want anyone else. He was clearly disgruntled by that, and he's been talking to a couple of the other boys. It looks as though he might be forming another alliance.

An alliance is something I want no part of. I decided that very early on. I work best alone, and I always have. Every person going into the arena with me is my enemy, and I don't want to give someone the ability to figure out my weaknesses. My mentor told me that I might get farther with one or two close allies, but I haven't seen anyone here that I could trust not to stab me in the back.

I turn away from the others and take a look at the other stations. There's not much time left in the day, but I could still get something in. I decide to go over to the weights, just for a short workout. My father always insisted on having me work out to keep up appearances, so I'm decently strong. I don't have the bulging muscles like the boys from Districts 2 and 4, but if I get into a fistfight with almost anyone else in the arena, I should be able to win.

As I'm standing in line and waiting for the girl from District 2 to finish up, I'm approached by Malik and two other boys, the ones from Districts 7 and 10. I'm wary, but I don't want to show that to them, so instead I simply incline my head in greeting.

"'Sup," Malik says as he leans against the wall. "So, you don't seem completely useless. Wanna join my alliance to take down the Careers?"

Well, he gets right to the point. I'm not completely shocked he wants me to join him, but I'm not breaking my rule for him. "Sorry, but I don't think that's for me," I tell them, trying to look around to see if the station has opened up yet. However, Malik isn't done trying.

"Come on, you have to know you don't stand a chance by yourself," he scoffs. I raise my eyebrow at him. If this is supposed to make me want to team up with him, it's a terrible tactic. If anything, I'm more turned away than ever. "I'll take you farther than you ever could go on your own. And we can take down the Careers together."

"I said no," I repeat forcefully. Malik stares me down for a moment, but then scowls and turns away.

"You're gonna regret this," he warns. "I'll take you down myself, in the bloodbath. Then you're gonna wish that you'd taken me up on my offer. And I don't offer second chances either, so don't come crawling back to me if you understand that this was a mistake. You're a dead man." With that, he lumbers off with the other two in his tow.

I can't help but to allow myself an eyeroll. I'm not planning on participating in the bloodbath. If there's anything near me, I'll grab it, but the bloodbath is for the Careers. Most of the others who try and get in the middle of it end up dead. If Malik wants to throw himself into the bloodbath, he can be my guest. It'll be less for me to worry about later.

Eventually, I get my turn with the weights, and after that we're told that it's a wrap on the day. The lead trainer gives us a short speech, and I can see Malik shooting me dark looks all throughout. While his behavior is petty, it's also annoying. He's marked me out, and I don't need to go into the arena with someone trying to hunt me down. I'll just have to hope one of the Careers takes care of him in the bloodbath.

At least there's one good thing to come out of all this: I know exactly what Malik's intentions are. I can't say that about anyone else going into the arena with me. My poor people-reading skills are definitely presenting a problem for me. I can't tell which of the Careers is likely to betray the others. I can't tell who has already given up and who is ready to fight to the bitter end. Sure, I can make some educated guesses to these questions, but I'm not confident at all that my answers would be correct.

After the trainer finishes speaking, we're instructed to go back to our floors. A few tributes join me on the elevator, Aurora included. As I glance at her, I'm struck by the fact that I was wrong. Malik isn't the only person in the arena that I'm able to read. Though I haven't spoken much with Aurora since we've been reaped, I've seen the look in her eyes thousands of times before. It's the same look that my father wears whenever he's confronted with a problem. Most of her expression is blank, but her shrewd eyes betray her. She has a plan. Just as I originally suspected of her, she hasn't given up.

But this is as far as I can tell. Her mediocrity in training could be a ploy for the Careers not to count her as a problem, but it might not. She might have a hidden talent that she could be waiting for her private session to show off, or she might even wait until the Games themselves. While I can tell that she has a plan in place, I'm clueless as to what that actual plan might be.

The elevator doors open with a soft ping as they arrive on the fifth floor. Aurora and I disembark together, and her eyes flicker to me for just a moment before she turns back to the front. Already, I can smell the aroma of rich foods that has obviously been prepared for our dinner.

We eat dinner in relative quiet, but when we're nearly finished my mentor Boothe gestures to speak to me in a private room. I push myself away from the table, feeling eyes on my back, but I don't allow myself to look back to see who those eyes belong to.

"So, I got a message from one of the mentors from District Six today. Apparently, his tribute is interested in an alliance with you," Boothe states, getting right to the point. I simply shrug.

"The kid came up to me today in training. I turned him down," I explained. "I said before, I can't trust anyone in the arena enough to ally with them. He wasn't too happy about my answer though, so I wouldn't be surprised if the offer was rescinded."

Boothe scowls at me. "You didn't make any enemy out of him, did you?" he growls. Before I can answer, I guess he can read the truth on my face, because he scoffs wordlessly. "Part of the plan of keeping your head down was to make sure you didn't have anyone targeting you," he reminds me.

"I know. It's not my fault the kid has a serious anger problem," I huff in an attempt to defend myself. Boothe scrubs his face for a moment.

"Fine. If that's true, he'll probably find a few more enemies before you all go in. Just don't do anything to piss off anyone else until then, alright?" he stresses. I nod silently, and Boothe sends me off to bed.

Strangely, my talk with Boothe didn't rattle me too much. Yes, Malik might be my enemy, but so is Aurora, and everyone else stepping foot into the arena with me, even the little thirteen-year-old girls. Other tributes might have machinations and plans, but so do I. I just have to trust in myself and be smart. This, I know I can do. It's more than many of the other tributes have, and it might just be my ticket to winning these Games.

Phoenix "Nix" Grey, the Protective Lover

District 10 Female

It's day two of training, and so far, I've managed to stay fairly quiet. The other tributes are sizing each other up, and I don't want to be seen as a potential threat. So far, I've focused mostly on survival knowledge. District 10 is mostly made up of plains, and it's likely the arena will be terrain I'm not familiar with. Gaining as much knowledge about how to survive is essential for me.

But today, I know I'll have to start focusing on actual weapons training. I know that if I want to win these Games and get back to Felicity and Charlene, I will have to kill. It's the last thing I want to do, but over the past few days, it's a truth that I've grown to accept. I probably won't rack up as many kills as the Careers, but if someone attacks me, I won't go down without a fight.

As I head into the center to begin my training, the girl from District 11, Scythe, sees me from across the room and begins heading in my direction. We were at a few of the same stations yesterday, along with Sorelle from District 1, and Scythe was friendly to both of us. Despite knowing better, I like Scythe a lot. She reminds me a little bit of Charlene, though there's a danger about Scythe that is quite obvious whenever she picks up a weapon. She quickly proved from the first day that she was as skilled as any of the Careers. Sorelle never says much, but I like her as well. When she does speak, she's very smart, though she's also skittish. Yesterday, for example, she taught me very quickly how to build a fire. She's also one of the fastest tributes, which isn't surprising considering her size. She's the tallest tribute here, even taller than the giant boys from Districts 2, 4, and 11, though she's clearly always wanted for food.

"Hey Nix," Scythe greets as she finally reaches me. "What were you going to focus on today?"

"Knives, I think," I murmur. The huge weapons like swords and maces intimidate me. Knives seem like something I might actually be able to get the hang of a little bit in the time we have.

"I'll join you, if that's alright," Scythe says, and I nod my assent. Scythe could probably give me as good, if not better, advice as the trainer running the station. She casually mentioned yesterday that she's been trained in all types of weapons, and though the scythe is her specialty, she's proficient with most everything else.

As we line up for the knife station, Scythe waves Sorelle over to join us. The taller girl hesitates for just a moment, but decides that Scythe is sincere in her friendliness. She steps into line behind me, and then Scythe turns to the both of us.

"So, I know we've kind of danced around the topic, but I'm just going to come out and say it. Do you guys want to be in an alliance?" she asks. "I think both of you are smart and capable, and we'll have a better chance if we go in together."

I bite my lip. She's right; if I join an alliance, my chances of living increase exponentially. I have no chance of getting into the Career alliance, and the only other alliance that seems to be forming (one that my district partner Malinois is part of) seems to be made of only males and is led by that awful boy Malik. This is the only chance I have for an alliance.

And yet… do I really want to do it? I like Scythe and Sorelle, that much is for sure, but entering an alliance will likely only strengthen our friendship which would make it that much harder to kill them in the end. Besides, even though Scythe seems perfectly friendly now, it could very easily just be a façade. She's been trained as a Career so she might have zero qualms about stabbing us in the back when the time is right for her.

"I'll have to think about it," Sorelle whispers, barely audible behind her cat mask. I'm curious as to why she always wears it, but haven't managed the courage yet to ask. Scythe just nods like she was expecting that answer before facing me.

"Umm, I'll have to do that same," I murmur. "But I'll let you know sometime today, okay?"

"Sounds good," Scythe says, as amiable as ever. It's her turn for the station now, and she steps up, leaving me with my thoughts, and throws the knives around with the same skill she exhibits in everything she does. These might not be her favorite weapons, but she wasn't kidding when she said she was able to handle most anything.

If she's sincere about this alliance, she could be one of the most valuable allies to have. My mentor was visibly excited when I told her last night how I'd spent most of the day with Scythe. I'm sure everyone looking for an alliance wanted to recruit her. And yet, she's chosen to cast her lot with me. Strategically, it's not the smartest move. I may be better equipped than some of the other tributes, but I'm sure no one has picked me out as an actual threat. Sorelle is in the same boat as me: far from helpless, but not a likely contender. To me, I see that as an indicator that Scythe might just be playing with us to gain our trust before easily taking us out in the arena.

And if I'm being perfectly honest, I'm much more of a risk than Sorelle. She's at least from a Career district, and while I don't think she's been trained in the traditional sense, District 1 is always popular with sponsors. When I volunteered for Felicity, I shot myself in the foot. I wasn't thinking of anything at the time other than my desperation to save my little sister, but afterwards, it became blatantly obvious that what I did was similar to the Mockingjay. I'd have to be far more spectacular than I actually am if I even want a prayer of getting sponsors. No one would want to risk sponsoring someone who resembles the Mockingjay in any way. I'm a risk, and not one with particularly good odds.

But if Scythe was serious about doing whatever it took to win these Games, it would have made much more sense for her to team up with the Careers, who are much larger threats than Sorelle and I. Scythe wouldn't need to backstab us; she could easily win in a fight with either of us without any trickery involved. And it's not like the Careers wouldn't take her. Just yesterday, I saw the boy from District 2 attempt to get her to join their alliance. That would be the smart thing to do. But she turned them down.

"Nix!" Scythe's voice calls out, breaking me out of my reverie. "You're up," she calls, stepping back from the station. I take her place, and the trainer briefly explains how to use knives. It's a lot to take in, but I try to remember as much as I can.

I don't go for throwing the knives like Scythe did. According to the trainer, knowing how to throw knives is a skill that looks much easier than it actually is and takes practice. More than likely, if I try to throw a knife at an enemy, I'll just end up giving them a free weapon. So melee combat it is for me.

I grab a practice knife, then begin my combat with the trainer. While it's clear that he's going easy on me, it's also obvious that I'm outclassed. He disarms me within a minute before ordering me on my feet to try again. Before I go back in, Scythe steps up.

"You're smaller than he is, so get under his weapon arm," she instructs gently. "That way he won't be able to attack you and you'll have a free shot to his chest and midsection." I glance at her, but can't see any sign in her face that she's trying to trick me. And her advice is practical. Even I can see how it would be helpful.

I face down the trainer and try again with the advice Scythe gave me. It takes me a few tries, but eventually I'm able to use my natural speed to do exactly what she said. And she's right. Once I can get under the trainer, I land what would be a killing blow were we not using fake knives.

"Well done," the trainer commends. "I've got to move on to the next tribute, but you should be fairly well equipped if you can get your hands on a knife in the arena. Just remember not to try anything too fancy. Basics will get you farther than you might expect." I nod again and thank him for his time. I exit the station and go to stand by Scythe as we wait for Sorelle to finish her turn.

"Good job," she whispers to me. "You're quick, so that will also help against some of the bigger tributes. However, you're of fairly average size, so it's likely you'll be finding yourself fighting both bigger and smaller tributes than you. If someone is smaller, keep your arms close to your body. That way, they can'tget under your guard. I'd show you now, but we're not supposed to train with each other."

I blink at her. Though we're fairly close in height, Scythe is a couple inches shorter than me. She's giving me advice on how to take someone like her out. I've always been good at reading people ever since my parents betrayed me, and I'm naturally wary of most people. I can see the slight disgust people often have when they learn of my sexuality. Though obviously Scythe doesn't know of my sexuality, I've seen the same wariness in the eyes of most of the tributes here. They are hostile. They don't trust me.

I see none of that in Scythe's face. I see nothing but honesty and earnestness. And I believe she's not the kind of person to stab me in the back. My decision is made.

"I think we should do that alliance," I tell her. "We'd make a good team, especially if Sorelle decides to join us as well."

She looks surprised, but pleased. "Excellent! I'm honored to go into the Games with a worthy ally," she beams. "And you're better than you think you are. I'll do my best to train you a bit in the arena. If anything happens to me, you'll be able to keep yourself safe."

"I'll join too," a soft voice says from over my shoulder. I whip around to see Sorelle standing there. For being so tall, she has stealth in spades, even when she isn't trying. "I think we have skills that compliment each other, and I think you're nice." Her voice gets ever softer as she speaks, but I can't see her expression thanks to her mask. Though it's hard for me to get a read on people without seeing their face, especially their eyes, I have little doubts that Sorelle is also sincere. I've made friends in the most unlikely of places.

"Then it's settled," Scythe grins. "We'll go into that arena together and tackle whatever the Gamemakers have to throw at us. And we'll prove to everyone that we aren't to be underestimated." She looks around at the stations. "Where to next girls?"

She's enthusiastic, that much is for sure. And while allying with one of the strongest tributes certainly puts a wrench in my plans to remain under the radar, I don't regret my choice. These two will not betray me. And now, I actually have a chance of getting home to Felicity and Charlene. With their faces in my mind, for the first time I feel confident that I will see them again.

Siri Sparks, the Naïve Analyzer

District 3 Female

It's only the second day of training, and already I'm so frustrated. No one will tell me what's going on. The mentors refuse to let me know how the show is going to work, and even here everyone is still playing the part of the Games being real. As such, I don't know what I'm supposed to do when I get to the arena. I don't know how I'm supposed to act to fake my death, and if I ruin their show out of ignorance, I doubt the Capitol would ever let my parents come and join me.

The other tributes aren't very helpful either. I've tried getting to know my district partner Percy, and at first, he seemed really nice. He was shy, and definitely scared, so when no one else was around, I told him that there was nothing to worry about, and he just looked at me like I was crazy. Since then, he hasn't spoken much to me.

It's so frustrating that I just want to scream. I know that I'm probably the only tribute that thinks the Games are fake, but I know I'm right. My parents are brilliant, and they can see through the show. They would never tell me this was the case unless they were absolutely sure. They would never lie to me.

As such, I'm just sitting in the corner of the training center, supposed to be practicing making a fire, but I'm not really paying much attention. It's not like it matters anyway. I'm more interested in learning about the rest of the tributes since I'll probably be spending the rest of my life with most of the them in some corner of the Capitol. So far, a few alliances have started, but I'm not tempted to join any of them. The Careers have made their usual pack, and there seems to be a boy's group, headed by Malik, and a girl's group, headed by Scythe. None of them seem to be people I'd really get along with.

"Mind if we join you?" I hear a soft voice over my shoulder. I turn around to find that the girl from District 8, Bree, is the one who spoke. Her district partner Samuel is next to her. They've been inseparable as long as I've seen them, and I think they knew each other in their district, though I don't know their exact relationship. His volunteering was unusual though, so I would guess they have a pretty strong bond.

"Yeah, sure," I say absentmindedly before going back to watching the others. I hear the sounds of flint sparking and soft voices, but I don't pay them much attention.

After a few minutes, I feel a soft tap on my shoulder. It's Bree again. "Do you need help or something? You haven't moved much," she murmurs.

"Oh, I'm fine," I shrug. "I'm just trying to watch everyone else. I want to learn as much as I can about them since we'll be spending the rest of our lives trying to get along with each other." Bree and Samuel glance at each other before turning back to me.

"What are you talking about? Is that supposed to be sarcasm?" Samuel asks. "We're not trying to get along. Quite the opposite. We're literally all trying to kill each other." I sigh loudly at his words. I'm sick of playing this charade.

"Wanna know a secret?" I say, making sure to lower my voice. I don't want any of the trainers to overhear and report me to the Gamemakers. They look at me in confusion, but lean their heads in. "The Games are a farce," I tell them. Before I can explain, they both get twin incredulous looks on their faces.

"What do you mean?" Bree asks, seeming to be genuinely surprised.

"I don't think anyone actually dies," I go on. Seeing that Samuel is about to interrupt, I quickly move on. "Think about it! The Capitol wants nothing more than to make their own lives better, right? That's why the districts exist in the first place. But there's only so much we can do from the districts. So, they watch us and reap the kids who have skills they can put to use here rather than out in the districts. They just keep up the lie of the Games to entertain the citizens, and keep the districts in line."

Bree swallows as she takes in the information I've given her. "That's… quite a stretch to make," she says delicately. Clearly, she doesn't believe me. I roll my eyes. She, and the rest of the tributes, will learn that I'm right soon enough.

"Have you ever seen a body come back to your district?" I question. "The coffins are always nailed shut and Peacekeepers make sure that they're never opened. There's no proof that it's not all a lie."

"Okay, but there's no proof that it is," Samuel points out. I frown. I guess there isn't much proof of that, but I've always chocked that up to the Capitol not wanting the secret to get out. They have to make things look convincing. There are just too many holes that don't make sense to me.

"My parents have been studying the Games for years on the television," I say. "My father has pointed out how they usually show the gore close up unless it's the bloodbath. Details are too complicated to make out at the bloodbath. In both of these cases, he says that it could easily be an editing trick. If the Capitol has enough resources to make all their muttations, they could easily fake the Games."

Bree and Samuel share another look, and I can tell that while I've piqued their interest, I've by no means convinced them. "So, you're not even trying to prepare?" Bree asks.

I shake my head. "I don't see the need. I doubt the Capitol will choose me as the Victor, so I've accepted that I'll need to fake my death. I just wish they would tell us how already. I don't like waiting in the dark."

"But what happens if you're wrong?" Bree asks nervously. "If the Games are real, you'll be easy pickings for the Careers. Don't you at least want a chance of living if it turns out everything is true?"

"I'm not wrong," I insist stubbornly. Samuel and especially Bree still look concerned, however, so I guess I could placate them a little. "I guess I'll learn to use a weapon though, just in case," I grumble. Bree nods slowly, and then she and Samuel go off to another station. Not seeing much of a point in staying here, I wander around until I'm in line to learn basic knife techniques.

I wish someone here could understand where I'm coming from. My parents can't be the only ones in Panem who've ever figured out the truth. Scythe Johnsyn's mother is a Victor, for crying out loud! She must know… but then why would Scythe have volunteered? Is she hoping that because she's a volunteer, she'll be the chosen Victor this year?

I'm fairly confident that the Victor this year will be one of the volunteers. There was such a high number, particularly in the outer districts, and the Capitol won't be getting many of the children they originally wanted. Maybe that's why they aren't allowed to tell me anything yet. Maybe they don't want the tributes to know anything until they've selected who their Victor is going to be. Yes, that makes sense.

The line moves forward as I'm pondering my thoughts, and eventually I find myself at the front. I stare at the trainer as he's explaining things to me, but I'm only half-listening. By the time I'm allowed to practice, I can tell that my skills are quite poor. The trainer tries to help me as best as he can, and I manage a few moves, but I'm far from a master, or even proficient. But it doesn't matter to me. I won't be chosen as the Victor. I just want the Games to be over already so I can start my new life.

Luckily, after my turn with the knives, the day is almost over, so I don't have to bother pretending to go through another station. Tomorrow, I won't try. I'll go back to watching the others. I don't care what other tributes think of me. Eventually, they'll all be forced to acknowledge that I'm right.

As the head trainer finishes her last speech for the day, I nearly run out of the room. I'm so over the tediousness of the training. I hop into an elevator and am joined by quite a few of the other tributes. I see my district partner Percy, as well as Aurora from District 5. From what I managed to learn of Percy, he's quite skilled in programming, and has an interest in creating video games. Aurora tries to stay quiet, but I can recognize her intellect. Tributes from District 5 usually end up being quite smart, and I don't think she's an exception.

The Capitol would never kill off these people. Their minds are too valuable. Percy, Aurora, and I can all make their lives far better if we live, and that's just the bare minimum. The other tributes, especially the reaped ones, all have some sort of skill that the Capitol covets. Why would people as selfish as the Capitol be willing to throw it all away?

No, the more I think of things, the more convinced I am that I have to be right. I guess I can understand the points of view of the others a little better: I'm telling them not to believe something they've been told their entire lives. It's hard to completely change one's mindset. Besides, many of these tributes have accepted the fact that they're going to die. I doubt they want to get their hopes up if that's the case.

So I will stay quiet. I won't mention what I know to be true to any more tributes, not even the mentors. Until such time as they decide to finally let us in on the secret, I won't mention it. But I will carry my confidence with me the whole way through. They cannot take that away from me.

And when I go to bed that night, I do so with a smile on my face. I only have a few more days of waiting. Then, my new life will begin, and it will be greater than anything I could have ever imagined. I'm sure of it.

A/N: And that's that! I'm really enjoying having the tributes finale interact with each other, and creating the alliances has been a ton of fun. I dearly hope that the next update will be quicker than this one was, because I'm truly having fun writing this. Thank you for your patience, as well as those who've reached out to me to make sure I was alright during my brief hiatus. I hope you all enjoy, and please review!

~TT