CHAPTER SIX.

INTERVIEWS.

THE PRIVATE TRAINING SESSION IS SOMETHING SHE HAS NEVER BEEN CONFIDENT WITH. Having the Game Makers standing up there watching her makes her feel uneasy. Now as she stands in the room before them with her throwing knives in her hands, she can feel their stares. Many of them had been around when she went in their the first time but there were some distinct changes. Plutarch Heavensbee being the main one.

"Miss Hadley, you have three minutes to show your chosen skill," Plutarch speaks to the small blonde who nods her head.

She walks over to the target and throws the knives effortlessly, the blade embedding itself into the centre of each of them. It's nothing they haven't seen before, they would've seen it the year before with Clove. It doesn't bother her though, the lower the score, the better for her. She throws a few more and then looks up at them waiting to be dismissed.

When Plutarch nods, she turns and walks out, leaving them to themselves. The other tributes watch her as she walks by, Finnick giving her a small wink and Reed a smile. She doesn't even spare the District Twelve victors a glance, her conversation with Haymitch still present in her mind.

Later that evening, she sits on the couch with Brutus and Enobaria as they await the results from the private training. She isn't surprised at Cashmere and Gloss' high scores no is she surprised when she receives a nine herself. She didn't expect anything more in reality. They watch as they go on, a small smile coming onto her face when Reed gets a ten. However she cannot help but laugh when both Katniss and Peeta receive twelves. After witnessing how bad he was when it came to throwing knives, she's surprised he got that high. 

"I hate these stupid interviews," Emori grumbles as she looks at herself in the mirror. Her stylist was a nice woman by the name of Flora — she had been her stylist in her first games as well and by the sounds of it, her brother's last year. The way she speaks highly of the boy and his strong nature makes her smile slightly.

"I know but it is a necessity. Tonight, it's all about making the audience remember their love for you. Enobaria will speak to you about your strategy going into it," Flora comments with a soft smile whilst she fixes the blonde's hair.

"Do I need a strategy? They know I'm not a weak little girl," Emori responds with a frown, her hands smoothing out the deep blue material of her dress. It is a gorgeous colour, one which her and her family had around the home.

"Perhaps they can be convinced otherwise once again," Flora speaks as Enobaria walks into the room. 

The older victor looks at the girl and gives her a nod, Flora takes that as the signal to leave the room so that they can chat.

"I believe the way to gain sponsors this games is through sympathy. Everybody knows about your brother, perhaps it's best to use it to your advantage. The vulnerable teenage girl who lost her brother," Enobaria explains and Emori looks to the ground.

"I don't wish to give them the satisfaction of knowing that I'm not okay," Emori says to her mentor who seemingly nods in understanding.

"Yes but it's the best way. There is no doubt Caesar will question you about him anyway so twist it to make it work for you,"

Finally giving in, the blonde nods her head and sighs. Enobaria leaves her to her lonesome just as they get the call to go to the backstage area. Her hands gently grasp the material of her dress so she can lift it slightly and avoid tripping on her way over – that would be embarrassing. She walks by the other people who give her small smiles but her eyes light up when she sees her favourite victor in a black suit with his long hair braided.

"Reed!" She calls and the boy looks up, a large smile appearing on his face.

"Well look at that, Emori wearing a dress? Never thought I'd see that again," He teases as he envelopes her in a tight hug. "You look beautiful," he adds and she blushes slightly.

"You look pretty good yourself," She responds and he winks.

The two of them move into their respective places in the line and Emori watches on as District One seemingly fly through their interviews with fake smiles and sad stories about how they're sad one of them has to die — the audience seems sympathetic but whether they actually are or not is a completely different story.

"Ladies and gentlemen, our next tribute comes from District Two. Please welcome the winner of the 72nd Hunger Games, Emori Hadley!" Caesar Flickerman calls and the crowd erupts into cheers as the blonde takes a deep breath before stepping out onto the stage. She puts on a dazzling smile as she walks over to the host, the man giving her a small hug before inviting her to sit down.

"My, it's only been a few years since we saw you up here for your first games. How are you feeling?" Caesar asks.

"It's a little overwhelming, I wasn't expecting to be back," Emori responds truthfully, her eyes straying over to the thousands of people in the crowd who are watching her intently.

"Yes. Whilst we may have not seen you for a few years, we certainly saw somebody close to you,"

Here we go.

"Your brother Cato was a tribute just last year and he made it to the final three which is a marvellous accomplishment," Caesar speaks but she can tell his tone is a lot softer than usual. The crowd claps as if him being the last one to die was truly some achievement, how long he survived only prolonged her suffering. She went days thinking that he'd win and he didn't.

"It took two people and a pack of mutts to take him down, Caesar," Is all she replies with and he nods his head. She can feel her eyes getting watery but she takes a deep breath, desperate to keep them at bay.

"I understand it must be hard for you to be back here after what has happened. Most people only saw the vicious side of the boy from two, can you tell us what he was really like?"

No I don't want to tell you about him. You people ruined him, killed him.

"He was a wonderful person who only wished to make others proud," She responds and the crowd awws in response which does nothing but make her slightly angry. They weren't sympathetic when they cheered on his murder the year prior.

"And what is it like for you to be here with Katniss and Peeta who were in fact responsible for the death of Cato?"

The questions are truly starting to get to her. She should have known that ninety five percent of the things asked would be about the previous years games rather than what she had been doing at home or how she was feeling.

"It's hard Caesar but it's also a way to avenge him," Emori says but her tone of voice is awfully quiet, Reed watches on from backstage with a small frown on his face. He, and most likely everybody else, can see the intrusive nature of the questions and how they're effecting her but of course the Capitol doesn't care.

"You look to avenge the death of your brother?" The interviewer asks again for clarification.

"Yes," Emori responds with only a single word and Caesar seems to get the message that it's time to move on.

"Well we must talk of your outfit! The dress is absolutely stunning and must have taken your stylist a long time,"

"Yes, Flora loves these sort of dresses. This blue was my mother's favourite colour so she made it that way. She makes beautiful clothing," Emori smiles softly and Caesar looks a little happier that she's participating in the interview more.

"And what is your opinion on these Games? It must be hard to have to compete against all your fellow victors, some which I'm sure you've become close to," Caesar asks and Emori's smile seems to fade.

"It's an unfortunate situation. I have made friends who I will lose or they will lose me, it is hard. I only have a few true close friends but it will still be hard to see so many familiar faces go," Emori comments and Caesar nods as if he's understanding.

"Yes and we will be sad to see so many of you go," Caesar responds and the timer goes off.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Emori Hadley, District two!" Caesar says loudly as the girl gets up and gives the crowd one last smile as a formality.

She walks up to where Cashmere and Gloss are standing, both silently watching as everybody else is interviewed. Emori stands there, occasionally fidgeting as the interviews pass by. Brutus is now standing to her left and Gloss to her right, both of them stone faced as they await the night to be over. She watches as Reed steps onto the stage with his contagious smile, one that she truly finds comfort with. The tributes from eleven follow and then it's Katniss.

The entire time the girl is on stage, Emori cannot help but glare down at her. She knows that the cameras have probably caught her reaction but she doesn't mind. The previous year's victor babbles on about her sister and her relationship with Peeta — much of the same things she had said the year earlier. When Peeta steps on stage, Emori finds herself a little more interested, she wouldn't admit it but he'd grown on her a little. He has almost childlike innocence at times.

"If it weren't for the baby," Peeta says at the end and Emori's breath hitches slightly, her gaze moving to Katniss who looks just as shocked as everybody else. The crowd begins to get loud at the revelation, seemingly horrified at the fact a pregnant woman would have to compete in the games.

Peeta moves to stand beside Katniss and Emori jumps when she feels Gloss' hand grab hers. She goes to pull away when Brutus grabs her other, all of them lifting their hands up in the air as an act of solidarity. None of the victors want this, none of them deserve this.

The protests begin in the crowd, loud yelling and screams of cancelling the Games. They don't want to lose their victors, the people who had defied death once. The screams continue as the lights shut out, leaving the group in utter darkness. It seems as if this has started something.

And in all honesty, it scares her.

Made by @/caradunes