The Panem family sat in front of their television late at night, feeling dread, boredom, and disgust. They didn't want to be watching the tribute interviews. They didn't need to learn anything more about the people that were going to be dead in less than two weeks.
It was just another thing, these interviews, that added to the horror of the entire concept of the Hunger Games.
Theatrical trumpets played through the speakers, and then a celebratory theme song blared out of the screen that signaled excitement and significance. The lights flashed over a stage and the camera zoomed in on the widely grinning face of Caesar Flickerman, who still looked as young as he had when he began hosting the Games.
He was wearing dark forest green this year. His pinned hair was, of course, dark green, and his suit was a metallic green that gleamed under the lights. He stood up and raised his arms victoriously. The crowd of the Capitol screamed loudly for the host and he laughed triumphantly.
He stood on an elevated stage with two simple seats. He waved to the crowd enthusiastically, shouting into his microphone, "Welcome all . . . To the hundredth annual Hunger Games!"
The crowd only cheered louder as he took bows.
"In just a few minutes we'll get to meet the tributes! And hold onto your seats, ladies and gentlemen, because this year . . . We've got a crazy pool of them! Let me hear your excitement!"
The family stared blankly at the screen, unimpressed.
"Without further ado, your first tribute, from the wizarding world district . . . Bellatrix Lestrange!"
A pale woman with a bush of black crazy hair falling around her head and an even crazier grin walked onto the stage like she owned it, waving at the crowd and laughing with as much charisma as Caesar -- which is really saying something.
Caesar shook the tribute's hand and they both took a seat.
"So, Bellatrix, the Games are a very new concept for you. What do you think of them?" Caesar asked.
"Oh, I am very excited, Caesar. I can't wait to play with the tributes!" She spoke in a babyish voice, and at the end of her answer her psychotic grin grew even wider.
"Well that's very exciting for all of us to hear, am I right, everybody?" Caesar turned to the crowd and yelled, "Huh? Huh?!"
"And you have to tell me how your training went. Did you learn anything new . . .?"
Bellatrix shook her head, a small laugh falling from her lips. "No, everything I need comes with a wand, so can we make sure to have one of those in the arena, eh?"
Caesar laughed. "I'll see what we can do. Ladies and gentlemen, the first tribute, Bellatrix Lestrange!"
Bellatrix took Caesar's hand, stood with him, and all of their hands were raised as high as possible. Her eyes were wide orbs and her mouth was frozen open in a loud cackle as the crowd went crazy for her.
The next tribute to walk out was a huge boy with tan skin and a sharp jaw. He was wearing an all-black tuxedo and looked very charming. He shook Caesar's hand with strength.
"Let's give Jacob Black a hand, shall we?" Caesar started off, and Jacob nodded solemnly, turning the corners of his lips up a fraction.
"So tell me, Jake . . . I can call you Jake, right?" Jacob nodded and Caesar continued, "Do you miss home at all?"
"Of course I miss home. I had to leave my soulmate there. To come here and probably die."
Caesar frowned. "A soulmate?"
"Her name was Reneesme. She . . . When I met her, she became my life. My reason. I became a part of her. All I wanted was to be able to protect her, and live with her . . . But I'm not with her . . ." Jacob put his face into his hands, clearly overcome with emotion.
"How did she react to you leaving?" Caesar carefully asked.
"Well, of course she was devastated, as was I. If I hadn't been absolutely forced to come here, I wouldn't have come. Just . . . Every second away from her I feel like I'm physically being split in half. Every single part of me feels as if I should be with her. But I'm not. I'm here. And I need all the help I can get from the citizens of the Capitol so I can get back to her."
The crowd, for once, had fallen quiet. Caesar stared into Jacob's watery eyes with a look of importance.
"Well, I'm sure we will all be rooting for your return to her." After a few short seconds, he turned to the crowd and called, "Let's give it up for Jacob Black, folks!"
The crowd was on their feet, stomping and screaming as Jacob wiped his cheek while walking off the stage. Everyone was dying for the in-love hunk -- the dim Capitol citizens were falling for Jacob's plea for sponsors disguised as desperation.
The next tribute was one of the demi-gods, Annabeth Chase. She walked onto the stage in a shimmering gray dress.
"Hello, Annabeth, you look absolutely stunning tonight!" Caesar complimented when they sat down.
"Thank you, Caesar. I'm dressed like this in respect to my mother, Athena. She is the goddess of wisdom, and a lot of other things. But most importantly, wisdom." Annabeth replied.
"Wow! Did any of her powers get passed down to you?" Caesar questioned, leaning forward in interest.
"Of course. I have a knack for strategy and figuring out problems. It's essentially what I do for fun -- that, and fight monsters back home." Annabeth answered as if it were no big deal.
"Wha -- fight monsters? You?! But look at the size of you, you're simply petite!" Caesar grinned at the crazy idea.
Annabeth shrugged. "They're Greek monsters, and they love coming to find me."
"So if you happen to fight monsters all the time, then . . . What happened with your score of six during private training, if you don't mind me asking?" Caesar cringed tensely. But Annabeth was prepared.
"When you fight with a knife like I do, it's not as impressive to just stab a bunch of dummies. But I promise you, you would be surprised at the beasts I've fought in my time. Plus, I am very good at war strategy, which I couldn't display in the session. All of these other tributes are characterized by their physical power, but when it comes down to it, brains will always defeat brawn. Always." Annabeth defended herself. Caesar nodded, impressed.
"Alright, give it up for Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena!"
Much time passed, and most of the tributes seemed to have some attractive angle that would grab all of the viewers' attention and make them seem like they had a strong shot at winning the Games. But after all, there is only one winner.
Chewbacca from Star Wars didn't even have to speak much. He just picked Caesar up a few times and cried out at the crowd, shaking his fists. He instantly won over the heart -- or fear, whichever it may have been -- of Panem.
Finally, there was only one tribute left in the interview process.
"Our last tribute is a tribute from the Star Wars district! Give it up for Ben Solo, otherwise known as Kylo Ren!"
An intimidating and dark man walked out onto the crowd, not waving or smiling as the other tributes had been.
Caesar graciously shook his hand and then the two sat.
"So, Ben --"
"I go by Kylo Ren." Kylo immediately interrupted. Caesar held his hands up to his chest in mock surrender.
"That's totally fine, this is about you! Kylo Ren, tell me . . . What is your home life like?" Caesar asked.
"At home, I am the sole ruler -- well, supreme leader -- of an authoritarian governing force called the First Order. I have armies obeying my every word and legions of people fearing my reign. I hope to have the same effect in the arena." Kylo described with a sullen lush.
"Interesting, we seem to have a powerhouse -- in our house! And tell me, do you have any skills you think will be an important part of your Game play?"
Kylo raised his eyebrows and leaned back comfortably in his chair. "Special skills . . . I have powers none of the other ridiculous tributes, with their magic wands and their ability to turn into an animal and their ridiculous outfits, could fathom. I have the ultimate power in this Games. I intend on giving you all a show while I ease my way to victory."
Caesar rasied his eyebrows in surprise at Kylo's confidence. "You seem very confident. Are there any tributes that you are particularly afraid of?"
Kylo scoffed. "Do I seem to be the type to get intimidated by others and their theatrics?"
"We'll take that as a no, then! Let's hear how excited you are to see Kylo Ren in action!"
The final tribute and Caesar solemnly raised their hands in triumph before the crowd, which was entirely riled up in excitement. No one had seen a tribute that evil before.
As Kylo Ren walked off the stage, Caesar wrapped the show up by making the audience scream and laugh a few more times. Finally, the television screen went black.
It was nearly time.
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