Hunger Games: All-Stars

Chapter 8

Asper Fin POV

"Asper?"

Someone was calling my name. I hadn't heard my name in so long. Was it someone coming to welcome me to whatever came next? I was warm and everything was peaceful. The voice called me again, and I opened my eyes. It wasn't an angel at all. It was a man in a white coat.

"Welcome back," he said.

"What did you call me?" I asked. Was I back in the Capitol? Did everyone else somehow die before I actually went? That wasn't possible.

"We know who you are. Normally such a thing would be capitol treason, of course, but seeing as this Games is all about mercy, President Galba extended a pardon for you. You're famous in the Capitol," the man said.

"What do you mean this Games?" I asked. "Aren't they over?"

"The Games you started are over. Sky won. You've been resurrected to get another chance," the doctor said. Wow, way to drop a bomb on me, I thought. Maybe he could have led up to that instead of blurting it out.

"What about my family?" I asked.

"Honestly, I don't think the President is as strict as most people in the Districts think," the man said. "She's got bigger things to worry about than one family that isn't opposed to her."

"They're all right?" I asked.

"Yes, they're fine," the man said. By that time I was wrapped in a gown and toweling myself off.

"Why'd you pick me?" I asked.

"At first the people wanted you due to your friendly and sweet temperament. When we went to clone you and saw the irregularity in your tissue they really went crazy. Once they found out you were really Asper and what you'd done, there was no turning back. You got more support than almost any of the Tributes we selected," the man said.

"Wait." Panic suddenly flooded into me and I dreaded the answer I might receive. "How long ago was my Games?"

"It was last year. Don't worry," the man said. Thoughts of a family long dead and an alien world dispelled and I returned from terror to mere apprehension. A buzzer went off and the mans stood up.

"Excuse me. I have to check on that," he said, and he left. "I'll be pulling for you, kid." Sounded like most of Panem would. Hopefully that would be enough.

Timber Jones POV

I was floating in water. Water? Oh no. I flailed my arms and tried to grab anything but the wet darkness that could have anything in it. I latched onto something hard and flopped over it. I slid down the wet side and crashed against the ground headfirst, smacking my skull against the ground. Before I could react someone scooped me up.

"Good heavens, what are you trying to do?" a voice asked.

"Crocodiles," I warned him as I pointed at the water. The man toweled me off and tried not to laugh.

"There are definitely not any crocodiles in here," he said. Then he grew serious. "Oh. I understand."

"Sarla and I died, right? This must be heaven. Where is she?" I asked. Heaven was kind of a letdown, and it didn't seem necessary to bring me here in water after how we died.

"This is the Capitol," the main said. "You're going to get another chance to win the Games."

"But I'll just die again. Can't I just go to heaven and get it over with?" I asked.

"Don't you want to try to win?" the man asked.

"There's no way I can win. Look what happened last time," I said.

"Don't give up. Maybe you'll get lucky," the man said.

"Yeah, maybe," I said doubtfully.

"Sarla's back too. Her brother too," the main said.

"Cool! Oh," I said. Daniel probably wouldn't want me getting in their way. Looked like I was on my own.

Myrtle Bloom POV

I felt like a whole knew person when I came back to life. Of course my body was new except the few ounces of tissue they cloned, but I was different on the inside too. Before the Games I was selfish and petty. As I grew closer to my death I became a person who was actually worth saving, and then I died. My story was complete. Why would they bring me back?

I'd been gone a year. That wasn't long enough for my family to heal from the loss, but it was long enough that most other people would have moved on. I had no connections and no ties. It was a new beginning. I could be anyone I chose. I thought of all the things I'd learned and all the things I was ashamed of. How would that change how I played these new Games? Maybe I'd make a real ally, someone I'd actually put myself in danger for.

I didn't want to fight. I wanted to go home and see how my life would be with all my changes. Maybe I wasn't different at all. Maybe when I was back in the Arena I'd snap back and be as selfish as ever. Maybe I never changed and I only thought I did. I always did think highly of myself. I'd have to wait until I met the other Tributes. Their opinions of me would be unbiased. I could see who I really was. I was afraid to find out.

Reiner Ludwig POV

"Tillo won? More power to her." I wasn't surprised at all. Tillo was somewhat of a enigma, but I knew a few things about her. I knew she'd keep pushing with strength I hardly understood, and I knew she had determination that bordered on madness. I was glad I hadn't been with her in the final hours of the Games. Tillo was a good person, but she had lines she couldn't cross. She would have cut my throat to win the Games, and it would have changed her. I was glad she didn't have to.

These Games was going to be one none of us were prepared for. There were more than fifty of us and we all had experience. Would it give the non-Careers a boost? Shogo and Hunter were here too. I wondered if we'd be allies again. I knew I'd trust them. And of course I'd let Lyte back in if he wanted. What kind of person would I be otherwise?

I couldn't bear to ask about Khaleesi. If I won, then I could see what became of her. I wouldn't blame her for moving on, but I needed something to dream about in the Games. Fantasy or not, it would keep me going. I remembered the girl I killed and wondered if Khaleesi could stand the thought of me. I did it so I could come back to her. Had I made it so I never could?

Oakley Woodson POV

"That's messed up."

The doctors explained the situation and I tried to take it all in. Obviously, I died. Then they decided to haul me back to life to be in this crackpot All-Stars Games. I was flattered they thought I was an All-Star, but they still could have asked me before they defiled my corpse and did something out a mad scientist movie.

"You mean to tell me you watched me and fifty other die horribly and your first thought was 'I want to see that again'?"

"You... could put it that way," the doctor said. She looked like she couldn't tell whether to laugh or scold me.

"Y'all crazy."

Seven's a sausage fest. I tried to keep the POVs somewhat even, but some are a little stubby. Once the Districts mix after the Reapings I can have a consistent number of POVs and they should get more even. Also, I left Khaleesi up in the air because Reiner's submitter didn't say whether or not she moved on.

Sorry Oakley's is so short. It was just a perfect vignette.