Child's Play: The Forty-Third Hunger Games

Chapter 18

Azure Doyle

"All right, who's ready to train?" I asked. I pumped my fist in the air and Blake jumped back at the movement. She shielded her face with one hand.

"You okay?" Icarus asked. She put her hand down and her cheeks reddened.

"I just got startled," she said.

"Sure, no problem," I said. "We're Careers. We're always on guard." I made no more of it and got back to getting introduced, but I knew what was going on. I'd seen it too many times in my life. Someone who assumed a casual gesture was an attack had reason to assume. Someone had given Blake reason to be jumpy. It wasn't just timid people who could be victims, though outsiders wanted to think that.

Disgusting, I thought. The way some people treat other people.

Pray Jager

"Oh my goodness, she's so cute!" Shui said when he saw the baby in my arms. Ava said I shouldn't be mentoring and she convinced me to let her do most of the work. I just wanted to see the new crop. They were lucky they weren't seventeen years younger. Or in Shui's case, he wasn't really lucky at all. Something was fishy about Two having its first Reaped Tribute since... me.

"Can I hold her?" Shui asked, holding out his arms.

"Shouldn't you be throwing spears or something?" I asked. His eyes let me know he wasn't as stupid as I thought.

"Come on, we both know I'm not coming back. I want to enjoy what I have left," he said. I let him hold her.

Crag Steiner

"They won't let Shui be in the Career pack," Ember said disconsolately. She was trying to be a good Career, but I could see how much it bothered her.

"They're right. He's not one of you," I said. She looked at me with horror for just an instant before it became resignation.

"I'll do everything I can for him. Take care of yourself," I said.

"Don't you even care?" she asked. It hurt more than anything that happened to me in the Arena.

"I didn't want this to happen. I have to cut the losses," I said. She was mad at me when she left, and I was happy for it. I wanted her to be mad at me and not sad about what was going to happen to Shui. I felt everything, even though I told her I didn't. I had to watch my son's ghost walk around and know I only had a week left before he vanished forever. He was my baby. I never wanted to stop holding him.

Acee Hal

I had an artist and a street kid. Not to disparage their lifestyles, but they weren't conducive to victory. But there was one thing I was known for, and that was working with what I had.

"So you're an artist," I said to Lisette.

"Yep," she said. "I think I should stay hidden in the Arena. I'm not very strong."

"Good idea. Work on camouflage and stealth. If you practice with a weapon, pick a blade. They're the easiest to learn. How about you?" I asked Randy.

"I prefer stealth as well," he said.

"Excellent. You two should work together. Lisette can show you about painting, and you can show her stealth. You don't have to ally, just train together when you can," I advised. They were a strange pair. Maybe between the two of them we had a Victor.

Shane Donegal

Steve was a murderer. I could tell right away. Not just a Career or a killer. He came into this to murder people. He had that look in his eyes I'd seen too often among the Academy students.

"What's it like to kill a guy? Is it a rush?" he asked.

"It's awful. It's the worst thing I ever did. Thanks for reminding me of it," I said.

"You didn't mind doing it more than once," Steve said.

"I thought it was worth doing. Maybe I was wrong. She had as much right to life as I did," I said. I'd hoped I would have a kindred spirit in my first student, someone I could warn about what it really was to fight in the Arena. But Steve wasn't interested. He curled his lip.

"You're just like the others. You're not worth my time," he said. He turned to go.

"I do have one thing I can tell you," I said, and he turned back. "Make sure to attack as many people as possible in the Bloodbath. Try to fight two at once, preferably Careers. That should be twice as fun."

Careen Ellis

Alex looked like she wasn't sure whether to kill me or kiss me.

"You going to kill me or kiss me?" I asked.

"What were you doing killing all those girls? You only killed one boy," Alex said.

"I didn't care what was between their legs. I just wanted to be last," I said.

"You should have killed them first. They deserve it," she said.

"You got something against men? They can be jerks, but so can we. They're a bit important for the continuation of the race," I said.

"Maybe someday they won't be," she said dreamily.

"I hope not. I like the current method," I said. "You gonna be a Career or are you just going to gather all the girls and make friendship bracelets?"

Sky Levings

Tullia came into the room and I quickly looked at the edge of her face. My eye had gone straight to her arm, but I didn't want to show it. It looked awful, but it didn't disgust me. I was just sad it had happened to her, doubly so because of the Arena. I felt old guilt come bubbling back up when I thought of other people with burns caused by me. I set about starting things positively.

"I can already tell you're a survivor. Let's get you ready to survive this," I said. She looked hesitantly hopeful.

"You think I can do it?" she asked.

"It's plain there's nothing you can't get through," I said. "This is just one more thing. After that, it's all riches and fame."

Erwin Jackson

"Let's get this started. I hear you're the nicest mentor. That should be good, since I'm the coolest Tribute," Scott said, straight to my wickedly tattooed face. For a moment, silence reigned as I pondered the absolute lunacy and audacity of it all. Then I let out a quiet wheeze of laughter.

"I think I'm out of anger this year. You live... for now," I said.

"I'd be pretty embarrassed if I died before I got to the Arena," he said.

"I'm not sure it would be a tragedy," I said. Then it was his turn to wheeze laugh.

Toby Cash

Volvo was one of us. I recognized the pockmarked arms and the sunken eyes. I usually did my best to stay clean at least a few days, not that I could help anyone win, but this time I didn't have to. I took a vial from my pocket and offered it to him.

"It's okay. I know what it's like," I said.

"No thanks. I've been clean a while," he said. He looked at the vial as thirstily as ever. Once it has you, it never lets go.

"Good. Stay that way. Please," I said.

Sequoia Wilson

Oh great, another Pepper.

Maple was a handful. She came in with folded arms, folded eyebrows, and a bad case of attitude.

"How'd you get dragged into this?" she asked.

"Same way you did. Just not as grumpily," I said. Meanwhile Splinter sat meekly in his seat and formulated his plans.

"So tell me," I said. "Do you see many Tributes like you win?" Maple realized she couldn't scowl any deeper and gave in.

"No," she admitted.

"Know who wins? Tributes like him," I said, indicating Splinter.

"What, me?" he asked.

"Yes, you. The ones that keep their heads down and stay alive. Which won't be easy if everyone in the Capitol hates you," I said. It was probably too late to save Maple. Splinter might not be a lost cause.

Tillo Peters

Brenna sat crying for about five minutes, and I was about to let her cry alone. But then she sniffed, dried her eyes, and sat up.

"All right, I'm done," she said.

"What, you give up?" I asked. It wouldn't have surprised me.

"No, I'm done crying. I just had to get it all out. Now I'm ready to start fighting again," she said. I'd hoped for another lost cause so I could tell myself it wasn't my fault, but she wasn't going to let me off so easily.

"Any particular way you want to go about it?" I asked. She considered the question.

"I think I can't really make a specific strategy until I see the Arena, because it could be anything, you know? I should learn skills that would help me in any Arena," she said. She was stronger and smarter than I gave her credit for.

"That's actually a good idea. In that case, you should focus on basic survival skills and work on one weapon. Something practical, not the weird things Careers use to show off," I said. I was starting to get excited about it. I hadn't been excited in years.

Rhoda Hamilton

"You're not from Nine," Hosanna said accusingly. She had a neutral sort of face, but I could tell she didn't like me. I couldn't imagine why someone from the outer Districts wouldn't like a Career.

"If you had a winner, you wouldn't need me," I said. "I'm here to give you the kick in the pants you need. What about you? You hate my guts too?" I asked Keison.

"I just hope you can help us," he said.

"That's more like it. I like you," I said. There were no more comments from the peanut gallery, so I got on explaining some ideas. Keison listened quietly and Hosanna was even quieter. I'd been afraid (and maybe excited) that the Nines would be scared of me, but they were taking it pretty well. After all, I was on their side, as weird as it was. I should have been rooting for One, but I liked my pair. And I wasn't sure I wanted people like me to win anymore.

Bambi Kirkland

Orlando greeted me before I had a chance to sit down.

"There's my favorite guy!" he said.

"Why?" I asked, too confused to elaborate.

"Because you're alive, and it reminds me I can be alive too," he said.

"Oh, I see. Pleased to meet you, too," I said. I shook his hand and then he shook Labyrinth's paw. Orlando flipped one of his ears inside out, then turned it back teasingly.

"No, this suits you better," he said. It was true. Labyrinth was a very stately dog. He shoved his nose into Orlando's hand.

"Doggonit," Orlando said as he wiped his wet hand on his pants. "Sorry, boy. That one was pretty ruff."

"Are you going to be like this the whole time?" I asked.

"No, usually I tell better jokes," he said.

Calvary Warsaw

I would have thought getting Reaped would dampen someone's spirits. Not Mati. She told a million truly terrible jokes, which Rose thought were hilarious, which meant Mati told more. I didn't mind dumb jokes. Sometimes it was funny to laugh at the idea they could possibly be funny. And I felt mean spoiling her last few days of fun, so I gave her advice between hilarious one-liners.

"We get candy?" Mati said in between bits of wisdom. She picked up one of the multicolored sweets on the table.

"Yeah, it's free. Go crazy," I said, thinking too late that might not be a good idea with her. But I needn't have worried. She only ate fifteen candies and three cookies. What a terrible influence for Rose.

Frankie Wilson

Barron looked surprised when he walked in. I couldn't tell why, since I hadn't done anything strange. He kept looking at me weird as I tried to give advice. Curiosity wasn't exactly an emotion, so I interrupted myself.

"Did I do something abnormal?" I asked. He looked even more surprised.

"No, why?" he asked.

"You keep staring at me like I'm a fish," I said. He evaded my gaze.

"No, it's something you didn't do. Most people look at me weird, because... well, it's obvious," he said.

"Oh, because you're an albino," I said. I'd noticed it, of course. I just thought pale skin was nothing to freak out over.

"I thought you didn't notice, so I thought you were blind or something," he said.

"No, it's just not anything worth commenting on," I said. He smiled.

"I've never heard that before. Usually I hear the comments," he said.

"You're safe with me," I said.

Nubu Sanders

Zaley and Atro couldn't have been much more different. Atro was casually picking at his nails while Zaley looked around the car with unbridled wonder.

"Is there anything I can help you two with?" I asked.

"I think I got this," Atro said. He got up from the table to go to his compartment.

"Oh, okay. Uh, tell me if you need anything," I said. I tried not to be judgemental. Emotions ran high after a Reaping. He was probably trying to hide his. And even if he was a jerk, that was no reason to throw him to the wolves.

"I was thinking I should find an ally. I'm not really that strong," Zaley said.

"That's good. It's hard to be alone in the Games," I said, thinking back to my last few days in the Arena. It had been pitch black all day long, and it was cold as winter. I'd felt like a ghost before the Games ended. It started to feel like I wasn't even there if I couldn't see anyone else.

"Can you help me find some nice allies? I know none of us are angels here, but I want someone who won't be nasty all the time," she said.

"I'll do what I can," I said.

I had to do both mentors for Four since Careen hardly got any time before Shane won. Then I thought I had enough doubles now to go ahead and have both POVs whenever I had two reader-submitted Victors for a District. Sometimes the single mentors covered both Tributes, but some, like Scarlett, didn't get any time and will be remembered in upcoming chapters.