Into Thin Air: The Forty-Second Hunger Games

Chapter 8

Sorry these two are shorter. Their forms were short. Shane's submitter actually asked specifically to make sure he wasn't too similar to Floki when he sent him in. I'll be working to make sure I show that their backstories are similar, but their personalities are way different.

Caine Karpos

The Reaping was the dullest day of the year. Whoever got there early had to wait for hours until everyone else finally got counted and got into place. I always came as late as I could, sometimes so late the Peacekeepers shooed me in with stern faces. Then I was stuck fidgeting and squirming until the escort finally arrived, always "fashionably late", and picked a name.

I couldn't take it any longer. I took my bouncy ball out of my pocket and started playing with it. I'd found it in the dust years ago and played with it ever since. I started bouncing it off the ground and back into my hand. It was monotonous, but it was better than doing nothing.

When I saw another boy looking at me, I kicked it up a notch. I bounced it off my foot and then off my knee. I twirled it around my fingers and did some more tricks. I felt a surge of gratification as the boy stared in awe. Another boy poked me from behind and I turned around.

"This is serious," he said as he glared at me. I thumbed my nose at him and put the ball away. It was almost time for the Reaping anyway. Chimera would just pick the names and we could go home. I didn't even care if he picked me. I'd do a good job.

"Caine Karpos!"

I did care if he picked me. All the boisterous good cheer went out of me and I wasn't fidgeting anymore. I was frozen stiff with fear. Two Peacekeepers hauled me onto the stage and I stood like a terrified statue.

I was back to myself by the time my parents came to see me. I squared my shoulders and waved them in like I'd volunteered.

"Don't worry," I told them. "I'll do fine. I definitely won't die. I'm going to win. I won't die."

They didn't have to be so nervous. Mom was wailing like a maniac and Dad looked ready to punch the Peacekeepers. They didn't have anything to be scared of. I was going to win. I'd take out those other twenty-three Tributes like nothing. I could do it. It was nothing. It was no big deal to kill two dozen people. It was going to be easy. It was definitely going to be easy...

Tillia Raven

Oh dear, it's Caine.

Caine was so obnoxious. He was such a show-off, always making a scene just so people would look at him. They should have been looking at me. I was the pretty one. But I didn't need attention from the kind of people that followed Caine around. I had a hot boyfriend who loved me and dozens of friends.

I was never scared during the Reapings. My dad was deputy mayor, so I didn't have to take tesserae. My name was hardly in there. Someone else would get picked, someone poor. And if I did get picked, I'd be fine. I was strong and smart. I could win if I wanted to. I just didn't care to go into the Arena and deal with all that drama.

Come to think of it, I wasn't that sad Caine got picked. I didn't want to see the goober die, but better him than someone else. Chimera turned to the girls' bowl and picked out another slip.

"Hannah Fulton!"

That really was a tragedy. Hannah was the sweetest girl in town. She helped me with my math homework when Mr. Nguyen wasn't explaining things right, and she never had a bad word to say about anyone. I genuinely felt for her when I saw her walking to the stage with her head down and her hands clasped to her stomach. Then my mind started working.

She shouldn't have to go. She's so nice, she doesn't have a chance. She could never kill anyone. We should at least send someone who has a chance. Hey... I have a chance. I could win. I could be the big hero, save Hannah, and bring this home for Nine.

"Do we have any volunteers?" Chimera asked. I waited an instant to build suspense.

"I volunteer as Tribute!" I yelled. I swept to the stage and beamed serenely at Hannah, who was weeping with joy and gratitude as she fled. Chimera tried to announce me and I swiped his microphone.

"I'll do my goodbyes now... so goodbye then!" I said.

My dad came to see me, but I shooed him away. There was no love lost between us, and he didn't need to fake it now. They wouldn't let my boyfriend Hugo come see me, so I kept my own company. I'd done a good deed helping out Hannah. I was a good person. I deserved to win, and I was going to.

Caine is short with strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes. He's a little chubby. Tillia is tall and pretty with black curly hair and blue eyes. I forgot to do Eight so I'll have to go back.