Hunger Games: All-Stars

Chapter 20

Haber Dasher POV

Girls have done very well the last few Games. This must keep going on. Obviously I was the clear leader. I resolved to gather all the girls together and unite them against the boys. We would center our attacks on one boy at a time and eliminate them neatly. I started with District One and worked from there.

"I'm gathering the girls for an alliance," I said to Chantal.

"Good for you," she said.

"I can count on your support then?" I asked.

"What, me? You think I'd join your group?" she asked. She almost seemed insulted.

"Of course. You're a girl," I said. Chantal looked at where some of the other Careers were gathered and then back at me. She smiled like a crocodile, obviously thinking about what havoc we could wreak on them.

"Of course. I am a girl, after all."

Chantal Ivingin POV

That girl has guts. She does not have brains, though. At first I was about to tell her what she could do with her alliance, but then I had a thought. She was obviously completely sincere. She thought that just because I was a girl, I would be loyal for life. Me, I didn't care whether my enemies were male or female. I just wanted to live. If she wanted to let me into her group and show me her back, that was fine with me. As soon as the bell rang I'd mow down her ragtag bunch like so many blades of grass. The other Careers might laugh, but any eliminated enemy is a good enemy.

Once I was done with the loser squad I could move back to the Careers if it would help. Otherwise, maybe Haber would manage to get a few useful allies. If they were good enough I'd keep them around a while. I could fight alone, but I could also work with someone else. That was one of the keys to winning: flexibility. You had to be ready for anything, even a crazy girl and her half-brained plans.

Bree Maeberry POV

I didn't think anyone would want to ally with me. I had no skills outside of pickpocketing and I wasn't much of a threat. When Haber approached me in the training room, I had no idea what to expect.

"Girls have to stick together, right?" she asked.

"Yeah, I guess," I said.

"Those boys think they're stronger and smarter than us. They think they can pick us all off and waltz right to victory. I got different ideas. I'm starting an alliance it's girls only. We have to show them who's boss. Are you in?" she asked. I didn't know about all that stuff about boys, but I needed any help I could get. I could put up with Haber if it meant protection.

"Yeah, girls rule," I said. I slapped her hand and she cheered.

What have I gotten myself into?

Hadley Kinneth POV

Somehow I fell into the weird alliance. It was better than nothing... maybe. I sat around a table with a handful of other girls I barely knew and wondered how we all fit together.

"Hey guys? Uh, ladies? I need to ask you something," I said.

"What is it?" Bree asked.

"In my last Games, I had an ally named Skyler. She was my friend, and I was crushed when she died." Emotion crept into my voice and Heidi patted my back.

"Anyway, I told her if I won I'd help her family. Of course I died instead. Now I have another chance, but I don't know what will happen. If I don't make it, and one of you does, would you take care of them for me?"

"Of course we will. You're one of us," Haber said. If nothing else, that girl was consistent.

"She was from Five. None of us are, but you might see her family during the Victory Tour," I said.

"Don't worry. Between all of us, we have her covered," Valerie said. It wasn't the same as having Skyler back, but I felt like part of a sisterhood. It felt permanent and sacred, like it would last beyond the Games and all but maybe one of us. We'd keep my promise yet.

Valerie Fallow POV

Aspen wasn't here anymore. I was on my own. I was just a gossipy diva from Twelve. What did I have to offer an alliance?

As it turned out, I had one thing: my gender. Clearly that was all Haber needed, and as soon as I glanced her way she swooped in like a vulture. That's how I came to be part of quite an eclectic group.

There was Chantal, the Career and the obvious threat. I wouldn't have asked her if I was Haber, but that was more logic than our leader was capable of. Bree was probably the first of us to die, and that was a pity. Alayza and Hadley seemed like they were either huge threats or empty promises. I didn't know about Heidi. She seemed so innocent, but maybe there was something more there.

Then there was me. Where did I fit in? I wasn't as strong as Chantal or as slight as Bree. I thought I could take Alayza and Haber, but maybe that was wishful thinking. It was such a mixed bag I didn't know what to think. More likely than not the weaker members would go in the Bloodbath and maybe what was left would make more sense.

Alayza Mont POV

Haber thought she was the boss around here. I'd let her keep thinking it. She didn't have my brains or my style. After she was gone, and that would probably be pretty quick, I'd take over and do it right. Bree and Valerie would be easy to eliminate. The only one I really had to watch out for was Hadley. She lasted a long time in her Games. With her sympathy ploy the others wouldn't dream of betraying her, but I saw right through her.

This time, I'd hang back at the Bloodbath. Let Haber charge in and be the glorious leader. Let her bring back the supplies or be more helpful and die. Let the boys sort themselves out. As for this alliance, I had it in the bag.

Heidi Garrett POV

I had intended to go it alone like I did last time. Haber's alliance certainly didn't seem appealing or strategic. It did have one upside, though. The single most dangerous part of the Games was the Bloodbath. The forced proximity to the Careers and the randomness of the placement meant anyone could go. If I could get through that, the rest of the Games would only get easier. Having a good chunk of the other Tributes watching my back gave me a significant advantage. After that, I wouldn't stay long. I couldn't stand Haber a second longer than I needed to.

That girl never let up. Boys were evil. Men were pigs. Did she think there was any problem in the world that wasn't caused by a man? I thought we got over this stuff decades ago. She was like some horrible reverse throwback to the times when women weren't treated equally. It was bad either way and it was honestly starting to offend me. If I didn't win, I hoped a boy did. Let Haber roll over in her grave.

Emmalie Bluebell POV

Right away I felt like Bree would become my closest ally. We were both young and both pretty harmless. Some of the others, like Heidi and Chantal, were just plain intimidating. I felt like I was the weak link surrounded by stronger players. It made me feel secure to know so many other girls were watching out for me at the Bloodbath. Without them, it would end up the same way it did last time. Maybe this way I had a chance.

Still, the question remained. What about when the Bloodbath was over? What about if the others died? How long would it take before they realized I was holding them back, or at the very least that they couldn't win if I was still around? Chantal had to know it already. Maybe she was planning to attack in the chaos of the Bloodbath. Maybe she would slit my throat in the night and "scare away" the "attacker". Even with my allies, my chances were dismal, but alone I had no chance. This was the best I could hope for.

Emmaline Blythe POV

Right away I knew there was going to be trouble. Well, I knew there was going to be two troubles. First was Haber and her "men are evil" nonsense. More importantly, it was that the alliance held on

the training room.

"What?" Emmalie and I both asked at once.

"Sorry, I meant Emmaline," Hadley said more loudly. Emmalie smiled self-consciously.

"What?" I asked again.

"Do you think I should learn some stuff about electronics, or will the Arena most likely be primitive?" she asked.

"It's always good to be prepared. This time I think I'll learn some more survival stuff," I said.

"All right. Thanks," she said. Our alliance was diverse enough that there was one of us at almost every station. Myrtle was working on learning how to use a hatchet, and I noticed Dominique at the sword station. She wasn't in our alliance, though Haber no doubt considered her a compatriot. Together we had all the bases covered. The third trouble was, I didn't think we would be together long.

Miller Thresher POV

I was swinging a sword around and looking awesome when one of those chicks from that chick alliance sauntered up to me. Obviously she was impressed by my mad skills.

"Hi, I'm Haber," she said. "Normally I don't let boys into my alliance, but you seem so skilled it would be crazy not to ask you. Want some allies?"

Want some groupies is more like it, I thought. An alliance of nothing but girls? I'd be the prime stud in the stable. Of course I wanted in.

"You are going to need someone to protect you. With me around, you'll be safe as can be," I said. Haber smiled so sweetly it was obvious she wanted me. When she left she was even laughing. That girl was crazy about me, and there was plenty of me for all of them.

I done forgot Emmaline and Miller. Here they are at last. Next up is Kestrel with the noobs.