All-Stars: Non-Careers

Chapter 17

Vextrix Webb

Everything was different. First, Hoban wasn't here. We'd always been together. I didn't even feel like me without him. It was the best thing for him- he wouldn't have wanted to fight again and this way they can't hurt him. But I still missed him. I was selfish, just like when I left him.

My mentor was different too. Pepper and Orchard were so overwhelmed they could harly help me. It was hard, but I found the courage to ask one of the Careers lurking in the training room. Estrella jumped at the chance. She said Peridot was "hogging" Pandora. I knew my best chance of winning was to train with the best, but it was still different.

Finally, my alliance was different. I went straight to Kerry, since I trusted him and he was a chance to have something stay the same. But we needed more, and it was up to us to find out who of the strange, unfamiliar Tributes we wanted to throw in our lives with.

I had a few ideas. The first boy intrigued me because I'd never seen someone else who seemed so much like me. The second was out of selfishness, something I seemed very good at. I wanted him because he was cute.

Castiel Wickham

Obviously God forgave me for killing myself. Otherwise he wouldn't have let them bring me back. And my memories of death were almost nonexistent, but I didn't remember any fire or brimstone. When Jonah visited Hell, he remembered it.

There were a few Tributes I remembered from last time. I saw Jay getting a few boys together, but he didn't ask me. I didn't mind, since they were a lot more boisterous than I was. I hoped he did well. I'd be praying for him. It seemed weird to pray for my opponent to win and to pray that other boys died so he lived, but it wasn't exactly like that. Prayer wasn't a magic spell that granted wishes. It was more complicated than that.

I recognized Vextrix when she came to talk to me. All through training, I'd noticed she was never scared or angry. She seemed flat like me. I'd been hoping she'd be interested in an alliance. I'd always felt like I was a failure for not loving people like I should. She wouldn't judge me if she couldn't do it either. And if she felt the same way I did, I could tell her it wasn't her fault. I believed it wasn't her fault. I just couldn't seem to give myself the same mercy.

Zetan Thompson

This was a Resurrection Games, but I didn't remember dying. I didn't remember fighting or ever getting Reaped. I felt out of place, like an impostor. Sometimes faint images flashed in my head and the Games building seemed familiar, but it was hard to pin down. It was scary enough being here. It was worse to think I'd done it before and failed.

Something seemed familiar about two of the other Tributes. I knew from the lists that they'd been in my Games. Neither of them spoke to me, though. One of the boys joined a different alliance. The other boy stayed by himself and always looked angry. He made me nervous, and I wondered why I'd ever been close to him.

I joined right away when Vextrix told me about her alliance. I felt adrift and lost without even my memories of last time. I wanted to be with someone in case I lost more. I noticed she was nervous and shaky when she asked. I didn't remember last time, but apparently this time around, chicks dug me.

Kerry Samosa

I didn't know why Vextrix asked me to ally with her again. Last time it was Hoban's idea. Vextrix tolerated me, but she never really liked me. I said yes, though. She was strong and capable, and after last time, I had to admit I could use the help.

But then, I had high hopes for this time. There were no Careers to trap me. If no one was hunting me, I had a much better chance. I hoped the Arena was something hilly again, but I knew there wasn't much chance. I'd blown my shot at being in my element. I'd have to adapt. But still, there might be something high in there.

Dying gave me a good idea. I was already good at climbing. What I was bad at was falling. That didn't seem like much of a skill, but it was actually was possible to learn. If I'd landed right, I might not have broken myself all to pieces. Back in shows forever ago, and maybe still in the Capitol, people used to dive into pools from way up high. If they knew how to do it, they could fall from stories and stories up and be fine. I felt like a clown as I practiced, but better a live clown than a dead lion.