I give Bo a small and encouraging smile as she heads up the stairs to the stage, and the crowd roars its approval once she reaches it. Leaving me down here with my fear. I could tell that the interview had started because silence now emanated from the crowd. 3 minutes. I have 3 minutes before I have to face that screaming horde of savages, who in a few weeks, will be baying for my blood. The thought of it is terrifying, all I want to do is run.
But I have to do well now. I have to seem to be smart, funny, charming, I have to seem like a winner. They can't find out that I'm really just a scared little boy. I have to impress them, get some sponsors. Not for me, not for my sake, the glory is unimportant, and sure I want to live, but who in this competition doesn't? That doesn't give me a right to kill them. But I need to get back to my sister.
I raise my hand to my lip to bite my beautifully manicured nails, but catch myself in time to save it. Everything has to be perfect. Instead I hold my breath to help calm myself. 1 minute left.
If I die who will look after little Marina? Certainly not our father. He might have been good before- my token's proof of that- but now, well, my dad isn't so much my dad as a bottle of whiskey with a mouth... and a fist... and no job. He'll hurt her, then she'll starve, and it'll all be my fault for not winning. I can't and won't let that happen. My fist clenches in determination, I will kill for her.
Then the buzzer goes off and I jump up like a jittery rabbit, terrified. As I walk towards the stairs I remove the shakes in my hands with thoughts of Marina, she makes me brave enough to do this. I will win this for her sake, at any cost. With these thoughts I prepare to sell out my beliefs in this interview in return for sponsors