Culling

Part I • Chapter XII

Once testing is done then rankings are released to the public, popularity polls are collected, sponsors seriously start choosing their tributes and the live interview takes place. I've been told that only the top three ranking tributes from each district will have speaking roles for the live interview.

Apparently, having one of the top three positions is a huge deal, because the interviews are the only televised globalized appearance of the tributes outside of the short introduction spot we had already done. Karen was quick to emphasize that being chosen for the live interviews is a matter of life or death in terms of sponsorship and support.

Not that this made any difference to me, I knew my chances of survival. Even President Hendricks' shady promise of saving my life, and promoting me to be an official employee, if I became his personal spy against Mr Blackbourne did nothing to brighten my outlook. 

After all, I wasn't going to betray the men who had taken me in as one of their own. I'd rather die first.

Mr Blackbourne was actually amused when I told him about President Hendricks' demand. He told me to play along with it for now, and to feed the President information for him. 

That I could do. 

Dr Green and Kota had been with me when I had informed Mr Blackbourne of the situation and nobody seemed worried that President Hendricks seemed to have a personal vendetta against Mr Blackbourne. If they weren't worried, I wouldn't worry.

Although, between President Hendricks and Chet, I was starting to wonder why it seemed that so many high ranking people were feeling threatened by Mr Blackbourne's activities. He seemed perfectly perfect to me. I wondered what kind of person Mr Blackbourne was outside of being a tribute, and what his position in the Capital really entailed.

After debriefing, I was told to catch up on some rest while the rest of the group had their own activities planned for the afternoon. Mr Blackbourne mentioned that if I wanted to bathe or anything else to just mention it to whoever was around, and that they would think of a solution. I wanted to ask about what the solution could be, but I was so tired and worn out from the events of the day that I didn't even care at the moment. I just crawled in my bunk and fell right to sleep.

Which brought us to now, waking up with only North, Silas, Nathan and Gabriel for company. At my question the four of them jumped up and Gabriel reached a hand over to me. "Yes! We have a plan!"

☜♡☞

"It's all clear!" Nathan came back out out into the hallway, Gabriel following behind. "I'm not sure how long the other group will be out so I think you should go and get washed up first." The two of them had been checking out the shared restroom to make sure that we were really the only ones currently in the area.

I shuffled from foot to foot, I was nervous that they would quickly tire of this plan. It seemed like a lot of hassle. "You guys don't mind?"

Gabriel burst into laughter. "Mind? Sitting in what equates to a hot tub with a crazy beautiful girl? No. I think we'll hate it. It'll be the most boring damn time of our lives."

"You need to get cleaner than just a simple wash in the sink will provide." Nathan pointed out. He acted like this wasn't the most embarrassing situation in the world. 

Maybe it wasn't for them actually. 

He continued. "Once you clean off as best you can in the sink, then put on your suit and call us. We'll come in and we can all have a party in the tub."

A party.

"Why can't I just jump in the tub for like two minutes and get out while you watch the door?" It seemed logical enough.