Culling

Part II • Chapter I

Why did I curse myself like this?

Over the last week, I had had a number of conversations with Karen about submitting to an interview before the assessments. She was convinced that the outside world is very interested in me. Apparently the media hadn't been able to find out information about my past. She told me that it would be strategically beneficial to give the public something about myself to hold them over.

As our assigned representative, all interview requests went through her. She informed us that, while many petitions had come in for the others, she was being bombarded with questions about me.

I didn't want to give an interview.

I didn't care that people wanted to know about me. I didn't want to think about the kinds of questions the reporters would ask. About my family, my past, and about why I was even a tribute at all.

The truth was too embarrassing and hurt too much. It was not something that I wanted to share with the world. Somehow the public didn't know yet that my step-mother had sold me, and I counted my blessings in that regard.

The others told me that interviewing was my decision. While some of them already had done an interview, it was not something they were overly concerned over. However, I got the impression that Owen and Victor thought that I should do at least one, while Kota and North were against the idea.

I wasn't sure for their reasons to be for or against the idea. As Owen constantly reminded me, my life wasn't really dependent on the public and sponsorship. I had a feeling that it was about something else not related to the games.

Not that it mattered to me either way, my only goal in life was to stay out of the spotlight as much as possible.

"Miss Sorenson," Ms Johnson repeated. I noticed Victor and Kota walking towards us as well. "President Hendricks has graciously requested your presence for lunch and tea today."

"That's not very much notice." Kota said, frowning. The two of them had reached us and they took up positions slightly in front of Luke, Gabriel and myself. "Outside of that, we have an hour left where she is supposed to be here."

She sighed, closed her eyes and rubbed her fingers over her brow. "Be that as it may be, who are we to question his decisions? Hurry along Miss Sorenson, you may leave training early today."

She opened her eyes and glanced at the four boys with me, before she added as an afterthought. "You can take your friends with you to your rooms, if you want. But you are to meet the President alone. I will meet you in the entrance hall of the tributes dormitory in an hour. Don't be late, I have a full schedule of things to do today."

☜♡☞

"Like we thought, everyone is still at the training hall." Kota exited the bathroom as we waited in the hallway for his approval.

At that moment, Gabriel returned from our room where he had grabbed a change of clothes for the group, as well as something for me to wear in the tub. Gabriel began passing everyone their items while Kota walked over to me and put his arm over my shoulder. "We should be alright."

Luke shuffled from foot to foot and kept looking down the hallway nervously. "I don't like this."

"She has to go," Kota pointed out, he didn't seem too concerned. "Mr Blackbourne said that if she was asked to see President Hendricks, that she was to make an appearance."

He glanced at me for confirmation and I nodded. I didn't like it, but I'd do anything they wanted.

"Do you want to take a bath, or just wash up?" Luke eyed me as he spoke. "You know what to say to him?"