Back to Normal: The 35th Hunger Games

Chapter 16

Elyssa Adverteese POV

I knew the Games were going to be terrifying- so terrifying that I couldn't really imagine it yet- but the Capitol was cool. The machinery and gadgets were so advanced I would have thought they were magic if I wasn't from Three. I could visualize all the intricate wires and programs behind it all and I itched to get behind the scenes and play with it. Of course, they probably had safeguards in place so a rogue Tribute didn't burn down the Capitol.

"Hey, you wanna see something really cool?"

It was one of the other Tributes, the boy from Eleven. He was holding up a coin.

"Yeah... pretty cool coin," I said. He popped in it his mouth and I cringed in surprise and disgust. Then he reared back his head and spat a column of fire into the air. When it reached the ceiling a siren rang out and sprinklers doused the entire room in water. We both bolted and hid in the elevator.

"That was so cool! You got more tricks like that?" I asked. Olivier took a bow.

"I got a million," he said.

"I can't do that, but I have a few tricks of my own," I said. "If you bring the magic, I'll bring the technology."

Logan Quinn POV

The Capitol was even worse than the Games. All these fake, bloated peacocks drowning in their riches while my friends and I fought for every scrap. My friends...

I wondered what they were doing back home. I knew Kev could take over and keep things together without me, but I missed them already. They were my family. They were more than family. I'd been to death's door and back with them. If I had to die, it should be with them, not because of a decades old grudge over people I never knew.

I stayed by myself during lunch. I was revolted by how easy food came in the Capitol. Maybe that was why they were so stupid. They really didn't know anything else. I was wary when another boy sat next to me.

"You're Logan, right? I'm Krunk," he said. He offered his hand and I shook it out of grudging politeness.

"You want something?" I asked.

"People like us don't win the Games alone. Not with the Careers. With your history, you've gotta be tough. I also knew that you were open to an alliance, since you had one before you even came. Interested?" he asked. It did make sense, and he seemed sharp.

"Why you?" I asked. He shrugged.

"I'm a decent guy. I can swing a pickaxe and I know about people," Krunk said. There was something about him, like he was smarter than he wanted to let on. It wasn't my old gang, but it was a start.

Tariq Bluegrass POV

"Excuse me. I couldn't help but overhear. Are you looking for any more members? Three heads are better than two," I said after Krunk and Logan joined up. Krunk looked me over like a scientist in a lab, and Logan acted like I was about to steal his food.

"Why you want in?" Krunk asked.

Because I don't want to be alone, I thought. "Because I like people," I said. I stumbled over the words, but they waited for me.

"What can you offer?" Logan asked.

"I'm planning to learn how to use a sickle, but mostly I can offer loyalty," I said. I paused to gather the words and get my tongue in place.

"Unlike the Careers, I know some things are more important than life, like loyalty. I'd rather die than leave my allies," I said. Krunk narrowed his eyes.

"I bet everyone says that, but we could use more numbers. You think so?" he asked Logan.

"Yeah, I guess," he said. As soon as I had allies the Games didn't seem so I'd noticed Olivier partnering with some girl. They were next on my list. Five was better than three.

Anise Haeffle POV

I looked over the children in the cafeteria, pausing whenever I saw a young girls from Five and Seven were gentle-looking, but they weren't that much younger than me. It didn't take long for me to settle on the little girl from Nine. She was sitting by herself, still holding her stuffed deer.

"Can I sit with you?" I asked. I set my tray down on her table.

"Yeah!" she said. She scooted aside, even though there was plenty of room.

"So, you like the Capitol?" I asked. Alice smiled.

"It's really cool here. My room is so big and I have a water bed!" she said.

"Awesome! What are you going to do when the Games start?" I asked. Her face fell and I hated how scared she had to look.

"I guess I'll run away," she said. "I don't really have much of a chance, do I?" She pressed her deer to her chest.

"I'm sorry. I hate it too. Would it be okay if I stayed with you for a while? We could keep an eye on each other," I said. She brightened up again.

"You want to be my ally? Yeah! Maybe then one of us will win," she said. Yeah, maybe one of us will win, I thought. Not me, but maybe one of us.

Bambi Kirkland POV

"Is there a library here?" I asked Fluvius. Back in Ten, we had a ragged shack with maybe fifty tattered books people donated. I'd read them all, like most of us.

"A library? What is this, last century?" Fluvius asked with a wrinkled nose. "You can find anything you want right there," he said, pointing to one of the flat computers everyone around here had.

"It's not the same," I persisted. I loved holding a real, solid book. I guess I shouldn't have expected Capitolites to like reading. Fluvius held his chin thoughtfully.

"There might be on on the ground floor, where they keep the civic stuff," he said. I took the glass elevator down so I could see the city go by. They didn't need to make the floor glass, though. It made me sick to my stomach.

Partway down the elevator stopped and the doors opened. Another Tribute got in, and when she saw me she smiled.

"Hey! I haven't seen you much. I'm Velvet," she said.

"I'm Bambi," I said.

"I never heard of a boy named Bambi," she said. She giggled, but I wasn't offended. Honestly, I was used to it.

"So where you going?" she asked.

"The library," I said. She c****d her head.

"The library? How boring is that? I'm going to see if they have a pool," she said.

"That's nice," I said politely. The elevator dinged again and stopped.

"Oh, that's my floor. Hey, before I go, are you looking for allies? You're pretty quiet. We can probably sneak under the rader," she said. I wasn't sure why I agreed. Maybe I just didn't want to die alone.

"Sure," I said. She flashed a huge smile.

"Great!" she said, and then she was gone. What just happened?

Lanie Mather POV

I couldn't put it off any longer. I was nervous about going up to other Tributes and asking about alliances. If they said no, they'd know I was soft enough to consider joining up with someone, and I was afraid that if I ended up alone the others would come after me. I tried to put on a brave face as I inched closer to the table where Hax was sitting. He was just so big. I hoped he was nicer than he looked. He didn't say anything when I sat down. He probably didn't even notice me. I nervously picked at my food while I gathered my courage.

"So, uh... you looking for allies?" I asked. Hax looked around and saw that I was talking to him. He pulled his head back and widened his eyes curiously.

"What, like with you?" he asked. Suddenly I felt even smaller than before.

"Yeah..." I said. Maybe this was a bad idea.

"I'm sure you're nice and all, but you're so small. How would that help me?" Hax asked. "I mean, that's selfish, but it's true."

"My plan was to make an alliance for one day only. We'll look out for each other in the Bloodbath so we can get supplies without the Careers killing us. Then we split up," I said. Hax seemed interested.

"That's a good idea. I was planning to go into the Bloodbath anyway to grab some stuff, and then we'd both be safer. You're on," he said. I was so surprised and relieved I almost fell off my chair. Nobody would attack Hax unless they had to.

"I think one more person would be good too. Could you ask River if she wants to join?" I asked.

"Sure, good idea. I've seen her practicing with knives," Hax said. I stayed at his table while I waited. It looked like the Bloodbath was taken care of. All I had left to worry about was the rest of the Games.