Piper Papillon’s POV:

‘’ Hello Panem and welcome back to our final instalment of the tribute interviews! Please give it up for our final six tributes, the tributes from Districts Ten, Eleven and Twelve!’’ I scream as the six teenagers make their way across the stage.

The crowd cheer loudly and chant the names of their favourite tributes as they toss flowers. Unlike the earlier interview with the careers, none of the tributes bow or blow kisses to the crowd – they simply take their seats.

‘’ OK then tributes! I have lots of questions for you, so I will begin with Pious Carrington. The first question for you is, what was your opinion of the way your District’s escort chose the male tribute?’’

‘’ I thought it was ridiculous, that poor child didn’t deserve that trauma.’’ He begins. ‘’ It was horrible to have him up there like that.’’

‘’ Well if the escort hadn’t played that game, the first name drawn would have had to enter the arena, and that would have been David.’’ I explain.

‘’ Dalton.’’ He corrects. ‘’ Well he ended up being shot onstage anyway so he died anyway.’’

‘’ Well aren’t you glad you were voted in? If not, that would have been you shot dead.’’ I question.

‘’ Well sometimes I think that being shot dad then and there would have been better than this, it would have been quicker.’’ He says. ‘’ What happened to our escort anyway, was he put to death killing that poor boy?’’

‘’ Well no, however he won’t be the escort anywhere again because-‘’ I begin but he cuts me off.

‘’ Whatever. I don’t want to hear it. Parents were murdered at this year’s Reapings for crying and screaming when their children’s names were called out, yet an escort forced the District to vote for who they wanted to send to their deaths...out of two children!?’’

‘’ I understand-‘’ I begin, but I am interrupted again.

‘’ You don’t understand though, that’s the thing. You don’t know what it’s like for us, you’ve probably never even been to a District. You don’t know how hard life is.’’ He says, angry at first but as he continues, his anger turns to sadness.

‘’ Let’s change subject, who would you like to be paired with, if you had the choice?’’ I ask.

‘’ I don’t know, someone that can fight, but someone that’s not cruel.’’ He answers.

‘’ So who wouldn’t you like to be paired with?’’ I question.

‘’ Ravina, Brutis, someone like that.’’ He explains.

‘’ I see. OK then, the next question I have here is for Adaline Trunkette. Tell us Adaline, have you got any experience with weapons? What is your weapon of choice?’’ I ask.

‘’ Well no, not really. But I want to try use a dagger during the training sessions so I can defend myself.’’ She replies.

‘’ What skills have you got that will help you survive?’’ I ask.

‘’ I’m very good at climbing and I’m kinda fast too.’’ She responds.

‘’ So you like climbing trees then?’’ I ask.

‘’ Yeah, but there’s not a lot in District Ten. I do like to climb walls though.’’ She explains.

‘’ I look forward to seeing that in the arena!’’ I say and the crowd cheers.

‘’ Now Adaline, we have a lot of questions here for you regarding Rhiannon Fray, your uncle. Have you watched the tapes of his Games?’’ I ask.

‘’ No. My mum doesn’t want me to. She always watches it, but I’m not allowed in the room, even when I hear her crying. She tells me not to come in. It’s sad.’’ She explains and the crowd awes at her.

‘’ Well I have a clip here for you, of the Games Rhiannon fought in. I don’t think your mother will mind now that you’re entering.’’ I say and press play.

The clip begins, it shows a small island – this is footage from the third of three qualifying Games before the Ultimate Games where the arena was mostly water. There is a group of tributes on the island, Rhiannon among them and a Capitol hunter is fighting them. As part of that year special attractions, three Capitol citizens got the chance to enter the arena and fight the tributes.

Rhiannon’s stomach was slashed while fighting by the hunter; he died by the hand of an adult, not even a tribute! The clip ends with the other tributes killing the hunter.

‘’ What do you make of that Adaline?’’ I ask.

‘’ He was killed by an adult?’’ She gasps. ‘’ A Capitol citizen killed my uncle when he was a child?’’

‘’ Yes. It was part of the Games that year, that three Capitol citizens got to enter the arena with weapons and hunt the tributes. Rhiannon wasn’t the only one, two other tributes – Fleur and Flint – were taken out by a hunter with a crossbow.’’

‘’ That’s horrible.’’ Says Adaline, and begins to cry.

I hand her a pink tissue with flowery patterns sewn into it and move on while she recovers.

‘’ The next question I have here is for Gauze Weaver. What is your weapon of choice?’’ I ask.

‘’ It’s actually the crossbow strangely enough. Although I don’t have any experience at all, I just hope to learn during training.’’ He explains.

‘’ Well I hate to tell you, but I myself have tried quite a few weapons in my day and the crossbow isn’t something you’d pick up in three days, so good luck with that.’’ I smile. ‘’ Next question, do you have a girlfriend? With those looks, I’m sure you have!’’

‘’ I did have, I actually proposed to her too.’’ He explains and the crowd screams loudly, tossing flowers at him.

‘’ Ooh! Where did you get a ring?’’ I ask with interest.

‘’ Off an old woman back home. It was beautiful.’’ He explains.

‘’ So you’re hoping to be wed after the Games, should you win?’’ I question.

‘’ Unfortunately not, she said no.’’ He explains, and wipes his eyes – holding back tears perhaps.

‘’ What?! Why would someone say no to you? You’re gorgeous!’’ I gasp.

‘’ She was seeing someone else.’’ He explains.

‘’ She cheated on you?’’ I question, my jaw hanging low in shock.

‘’ Yup.’’ He replies glumly.

‘’ What did you do with the ring?’’ I ask.

‘’ I still have it, it’s in my hotel room.’’ He explains and the crowd awes again sympathetically.

‘’ Oh, that’s sad. Well, if you do win the Games, you’ll have women all over wanting to marry you. Make that bitch the best thing you never had!’’ I say encouragingly.

‘’ Thanks Piper.’’ He smiles. ‘’ I’ll try.’’

‘’ OK, the next question I have here is for Blossom Abernathy. Do you think you can win the Games, as your grandfather’s brother Haymitch did seventy five years ago?’’ I ask.

‘’ I don’t know. I’m only twelve; he was older than me when he went in. Anything could happen I suppose.’’ She says honestly.

‘’ Who do you want to be paired with?’’ I ask.

‘’ I dunno, someone like G that is nice. He’d protect me well.’’ She says and Gauze smiles over the flattery.

‘’ Thanks Blossom.’’ He laughs. ‘’ We’d be a kickass team!’’

‘’ We would.’’ She smiles back.

‘’ I have another question for you Blossom, what is your weapon of choice?’’ I question.

‘’ I don’t have one, that’s why I need someone like G to protect me.’’ She explains.

‘’ OK then, we’ll move on. I have a question here for Alistair Balentine, why were you running from District Twelve? I mean, what did you hope to find, there are no other Districts past Twelve?’’ I question.

‘’ It’s not that we wanted to find something; we just wanted to go somewhere where we couldn’t be found. We wanted a new life together.’’ He explains and the crowd awes.

‘’ Are you two in love?’’ I ask and I can almost see the whole crowd leaning slightly forwards in anticipation.

The two look at each other for a moment, then smile.

‘’ Yes.’’ They say together, then Alistair takes over again. ‘’ But we are afraid that we are going to be separated for the Games. We really don’t want that. I’d rather die with her in the bloodbath than have to watch her go with someone else, knowing that we can’t both survive together.’’

‘’ That is so cute.’’ I say as the crowd makes awing sounds and tosses flowers towards the two. ‘’ Do you hope to get married someday?’’

‘’ Maybe. But right now we have to think about the Games and surviving together.’’ He explains.

‘’ What is your weapon of choice Alistair?’’ I ask.

‘’ The bow.’’ He says.

‘’ Ooh, that’s interesting. There’s only one other bow woman in this year’s Games, Echo Sparks from Four. From what I heard about your escape attempt, you’re very skilled with that thing.’’ I smile.

‘’ I’m alright I guess.’’ He says.

‘’ He’s more than alright, he’s just being modest! He’s amazing. He never misses his target.’’ Interrupts Arianna.

‘’ Well you should see Arianna with throwing knives, she’s a natural.’’ Says Alistair.

‘’ Intriguing! I can’t wait to see you two in action for the Games! I have a question here for you Arianna, what would be your ideal arena?’’

‘’ I think I speak for both myself and Alistair when I say we want an arena with lots of open space. Both of us use long ranged weapons, so the less obstacles to obstruct our vision and shots the better.’’ She explains.

‘’ I see. What would be the worst arena that could come up for you?’’ I question.

‘’ I really didn’t like last year’s arena. The desert was too hot and there wasn’t enough water. I don’t think the Capitol will use an arena like that though because of the amount of tributes that died from dehydration. They love action.’’ She continues.

‘’ I have another one here for you. Who would you like to be paired with if you weren’t paired with Alistair?’’

‘’ Nobody. I couldn’t bare it to be with anyone else.’’ She answers.

As she finishes talking, the bell rings signalling that time is up.

‘’ I guess that’s all we have time for. Please give it up one more time for our six tributes from Districts Ten, Eleven and Twelve! We wish you all the best of luck in the Games!’’ I scream.

As the tributes and I walk off the stage, the crowd screams and tosses flowers towards us. I follow them off the stage, however when they turn right, I turn left and head towards my dressing room.

Thankfully, it is empty however a love heart shaped box of chocolates has been left on my table in front of the mirror. It is pink with a lovely red ribbon tied around it. I reluctantly open it and find a message inside.

Piper,

Have these as a small token of my love for you. I didn’t know your favourite, so I just got strawberry truffles. I am going away on a trip for two days, but when I get back I will take you to see our new house. It isn’t as big as the mansion, but it is a lot more like home. If we were to live in the mansion, we’d never get time alone because the place is full of servants and Avoxs. We’ll have the condo to ourselves. See you then.

All my love, Tiberius.

I glance down at the letter and a shiver runs up my spine.

‘’ Oh God help me.’’ I say and take a chocolate from the box. ‘’ Not bad.’’