Survivor: The Forty-Seventh Hunger Games

Chapter 15

PLEASE HELP I need a Three boy. I'll make a Bloodbath if I don't get one soon since I really want to get started, but I don't want to take a spot someone wants.

Blake Armani, D1 Mentor

Unlike the outliers, the Career mentors already knew their Tributes before they went to the Capitol. I'd observed Ruby in her training and was consulted when it looked like they might be selected. These days, most chosen volunteers had recommendations from a Victor. For Ruby it was Peridot and for Charming it was Hyden. We also had the easiest jobs, since our Tributes already knew what to do. The only things I could add were, unfortunately, things that had to be lived.

Ava Hanson, D2 Mentor

From killer to babysitter. Pray hadn't stopped swearing and kicking things since Manny broke in and took out a volunteer she'd had high hopes for. She refused to be in the same room with him, leaving me to tend to our Tributes until they were separated. Enobaria insisted on being able to see the "big volunteers" and kept me posted, as she held my hand, on all the tips she was going to give them.

"I don't like Careers," Manny informed me when I sat down. Enobaria furrowed her brow at him.

"It wasn't my first choice either," Abrexa said. She avoided my gaze as Manny looked at her incredulously.

Lucky me.

Acee Hal, D3 Mentor

"Sweet appendage, cyborg," I said when I saw Sparkil's arm. To anyone but a Three, it would have sounded sarcastic, but she took it as I meant it.

"I got it after a car squashed me," she said.

"You opted for the normal settings?" I asked as I poked at the articulations.

"Capitol wouldn't let us upgrade. Guess they didn't want me throwing trucks around," she said.

"I was kind of hoping I'd get one of these after my Games. Unfortunately I didn't get mutilated," I said. "I thought about doing it cosmetically, but got this weird feeling I'd feel guilty about the part I cut off."

"Sometimes it still aches," she said, which did nothing to quiet my buried fears about getting haunted by my own body.

Shane Donegal, D4 Mentor

"Why so eager? You couldn't wait a few years to die?" I asked.

"I'm kind of poor. I was hoping to get rich so I could buy stuff," Reefe said.

"It must be something pretty important to risk death over," I said. Reefe smiled sheepishly.

"Tell the truth, I'm not really a fighter. I'm kind of... a musician," he said.

"You risked your life to buy a guitar?" I asked. "Why didn't you ask me? I would have bought you a dozen guitars! I would have bought you an orchestra if it meant you wouldn't die!"

Careen Ellis, D4 Mentor

I had to pick my words carefully. If the Capitol thought I had insider information, I'd be in big trouble. I especially didn't want them to think I had more than I did, since we only had the vaguest rumors.

"I suppose you know things might be different this year," I said.

"Yeah, what's with that?" she asked.

"We don't know, really. It's all conjecture. We think there might be some sort of teamwork element- maybe sister Districts or something. All I can suggest now is that you be open to allies outside the Careers. It can't hurt to be careful," I said.

Erwin Jackson, D5 Mentor

Cain wasn't going to win. His token was a drawing from a little kid. That meant he had a good heart. That meant he wouldn't win. It was another year when I was better off not getting attached. By now, I knew exactly which years my Tributes were lost causes. Even when they weren't, they never won. I wasn't getting invested in another child when I knew what the end would be.

Sky Levings, D5 Mentor

I wished I was more like Sammy. She was a live wire. Even though she'd been Reaped, she wasn't letting it get her down. She ran all around the train car, looking out the windows and poking at everything that wasn't nailed down. It wasn't like she was too young or dumb to understand, either. She was just so enthusiastic about what was in front of her that the future wasn't important yet. They always say to live every day like it's your last, and Sammy was way ahead of them.

Toby Cash, D6 Mentor

The girl didn't seem to like me very much. She looked at me, asked me something, asked again, then squinted and got up from the table. The boy, on the other hand, was having a great time. He was bouncing all over the car like a wrecking ball. It was good most things were nailed down.

Paul Olson, D7 Mentor

I'd gotten a few jokesters over the years. Oakley came to mind immediately, as well as some Tributes my fellow Victors had told me about. Soleil said Careen told her there might be some sort of social aspect this time around, so Camellia might have a better chance. Sherman seemed... nice. Not particularly strong, not really weak, just in the middle. Almost forgettable, which had worked out well for me.

Tillo Peters, D8 Mentor

"You don't have to worry about me," Angora said. "It's my fault if I die."

She didn't seem suicidal, so I wasn't sure what she was going on about. "I wouldn't say your fault," I said.

"I just don't want you to be sad if I die," she said. She was about to die and she was worried about me. It must be something to have that big a heart.

"Don't worry about me either," Cross said. "It's not a big deal if I die." He could see I was contemplating whether he needed a suicide guard, so he added, "I'll go... you know, somewhere."

Apparently, this was going to be a worry-free year. Unfortunately, I wasn't that heartless.

Nassor Doyle, D9 Mentor

It had to be Hannah. My first year mentoring, and I got Hannah Dandelion. I knew her, of course. We all knew her. I was there when Sara was Reaped. I saw Hannah trying to hold her sister back and screaming for someone to volunteer. We were all there when she died.

Demetrius could take care of himself. He was stronger than I was. He was about as strong as Attila. If he died, I knew I wouldn't blame myself as much as if Hannah died. After it was over, I'd go back home to Nine. Home to where here parents were. It would be up to me to explain how I let the worst thing in the world happen a second time.

Bambi Kirkland, D10 Mentor

"Are things really that much better in the Capitol?" Gael asked.

"It's everything you expect and more. At least in wealth," I said. Bailey was petting Labyrinth, who alternated between mugging for more attention and looking back at me to make sure I didn't need help.

"They really have it all?" he asked.

"Pretty much," I said.

"Do they all have horses?" Bailey asked.

"Not all of them," I said.

"Then they're not that rich," Bailey said.

Frankie Disney, D11 Mentor

There was something wrong with that Parker boy. He kept to himself at a table on the far end of the car, shoveling in food and snarling when I got too close.

"So... you know him?" I asked Rahina.

"He's sort of the village weirdo," she said.

"No kidding," I said. "How about you?"

She looked at me with a wide-eyed stare. "They call me the Devil's child."

"Are you?"

Nubu Sanders, D12 Mentor

Aliara and Nash were on two ends of the spectrum. Aliara had her head against the table and was wailing about never seeing her girlfriend again, while Nash was looking backwards over the chair and out the window, turning back every now and then to remark on our progress.

"We're almost at the border!" he said. "Yeah! Now we're in Eleven! I've never seen another District before. I suppose you've seen all of them. Which is the coolest?" He didn't pause so I could answer, instead electing to ask more questions. I awkwardly patted Aliara's back and waited for a lull.