bodies bodies bodies {day 1-5 reaction}

A disaster.

That was a summary of the Bloodbath, one word for an event that had failed to live up to its daunting name. With a number of tributes dangling from life by a silk thread and limping away from the enormous tree with targets painted on their backs, Venus expected to hear their cannons within seconds. Instead, everyone scattered like frightened mice, leaving a mediocre cluster of tributes to claim the tree’s treasures. It had left a bitter taste in his mouth, and made both of the twins shift nervously in their seats.

It was unacceptable.

Last year’s Bloodbath had also ended in disappointment. A singular corpse was not enough to satisfy the qualifications for an actual blood bath, yet that had been the permanent outcome. Somehow the statistics had managed to sink to an even more pitiful low. When his phone buzzed in his pocket, he expected a message from President Snow himself. He knew exactly what it would say.

Fix it.

If Venus was anything, he was a problem-solver. Now, on the dusk of day five and his own birthday, he was still in the process of trying to fix whatever could be tampered with in order to satisfy his boss. While tributes were asleep in their moss beds or gazing at a canvas of stars, Venus was sitting in his white-painted office, staring at half-completed tribute reports. Most of them were a work in progress.


District One: Scout Fray

There was an entire chamber of his heart dedicated to hating her. As soon as she stepped one cocky foot into the training center and murdered a helpless Avox in front of them, Venus vowed to end her. Popular career or not, he wanted his own personal justice. His blood boiled at the thought of her little relationship with Celia Mortuus – a love affair between two psychopathic, life-wasting women. In his arena? The relationship between Hettie and Insanis had been intolerable enough despite the Capitol’s interest. The two of them alive made him restless.

Fortunately, the four of them ended up clashing in the swamps earlier today. They were so hell-bent on killing one another that his bark-skinned warrior couldn’t seize the chance to crush them between its branches. It made for a pathetic excuse of a mutt monster, but the outcome helped him forget about it. Scout Fray was slain by a superior career, one with a hotter and brighter attitude like the blood-dyed flames atop of her head. Moments later, she had been snuffed out as well at the hands of Celia Mortuus. Insanis, too, had been laid to rest beside them.

Only one problematic girl remained.

District One: Quadrys Lexig

He had supposedly been a worthy contender. With the third highest training score strapped to his belt, a long reign was expected of him. Yet the power behind his name and his actions as a volunteer crumbled to ashes on the second day. A strike for Celia Mortuus, and a disappointing loss for a career district. It irked him to witness such potential gone to waste, especially when his own ally decided to choose a Twelve girl over everybody else. As touching as it might be for a career and the lowest district to mingle, it was only sickening in this case. Scout and Celia belonged on that makeshift pyre, burning with Quadrys’ body.

His tongue clicked. Quadrys had deserved better.

That day, Venus had promised himself to crush all of them.

District Two: Astrid Shaw

There was an odd air about her, whether anybody knew about her condition or not. She shouted at mutations and clutched a rock to her chest, believing it to be an egg instead of earth. She was not the average District Two tribute. She was not a career, not impressive, not assertive or outspoken enough to convince her audience that she was worth rooting for, yet it didn’t quite leave him feeling the need to kill her. She had supporters, of course, but he couldn’t pinpoint why. Did people like peculiar?

He nodded. That had to be the reason.

The problem was, he wouldn’t know how to feel about her victory. She wasn’t a career, and she wasn’t memorable for anything other than childish behavior. However, he also anticipated a change. Her behavior couldn’t remain stable for much longer, and he hoped that something exciting would rise from it. He was not very fond of the alliance she had chosen, after all. Perhaps she could maim one of them for him.

District Two: Andesite Obsidian

A fan favorite, that one. He was both a career and a young tribute, which many audience members could sympathize with. Venus didn’t have much of an opinion on him. He was neutral until the boy could prove himself worthy or dimwitted. His choice of allies had been curious – two lower district tributes, and Venus couldn’t tell if they were his human shields or not. They had all perished beneath the same fallen tree, which he had planted there on purpose. With a cluster of tributes in the swamp and no bloodbath deaths to satisfy the capitol’s bloodlust, they had to tweak the environment to encourage fighting.

He hadn’t expected the tree to hinder an entire alliance. As soon as wood struck Andy’s bones, Noelia lashed out with her spear and finished the job, ending him before he could truly make an impact on Venus’ conscience. The youth was wasted, but he couldn’t find it within himself to mourn.

District Three: Danny Brooker

Undoubtedly the most impressive tribute alive, Danny was strong and compassionate, willing to kill if it meant surviving another day and protecting her friends. It was everything Venus wanted to see in a human being. Raw emotion, real connections, memorable pain, a gripping backstory, and moments that would sear the back of his brain for life. She was a favorite, and worthy of the crown in his book.

She was also falling apart at the seams.

Three of her friends had died, one in her arms earlier today. Basil had been cursed from the start and he wondered if she had seen that, or simply denied it. Either way, he was gone and so was Eryn. All she had was Ezero, and with the numbers dwindling their partnership wouldn’t last long. For both of their sakes, Venus hoped they were smart enough to split, although a fight would certainly make for a dramatic exit.

District Three: Atticus Manor

He sighed. After he flipped off the Gamemakers during his training session, Venus had labeled him as an idiot and moved on, hoping he would end up as bloodbath fodder. To his dismay, the boy had instead looted the tree, and now he was still alive and kicking. It was all dumb luck. It had to be, right?

Venus chewed on his pen and wondered how he could possibly accept the idea of that kid gracing these halls. He had the potential to win, evidently. His spear ended up in Eryn’s neck, and she was a skilled fighter. Perhaps it was that dumb luck striking again. How long would it last?

District Four: Hettie Cheyne

A girl with an attitude that matched her hair. She was an ideal tribute, but Venus had found himself growing annoyed with her over time. She used Cecilia and Iain as shields and all of them knew it, so why not fight each other? A few times they had left Venus at the edge of his seat, praying for Hettie to execute her threats and kill Iain. It never happened. Instead, Iain escaped her empty wrath after Cecilia’s death. Another lost opportunity.

She then proceeded to have intercourse with her district partner in the middle of the arena. It made him grimace – killers reduced to pointless lovers in the dead of night. It was a waste of time and he was not the least bit interested in their affairs. What he wanted was to see them doing what they were supposed to be doing, and luckily Hettie granted his wishes today. Her demise arrived soon after. Venus wouldn’t miss her.

District Four: Kite Tide

Another curious one. He was clearly blind, not as self-sufficient as most people would’ve hoped, but he was very capable of killing with ranged weapons. It was admittedly impressive, and Venus enjoyed watching the spectacle. He had managed to jam a spear through Insanis Keeni’s eye with frightening precision. It made his audience wonder whether it was pure luck or enhanced senses. Venus predicted that it was a balanced combination of both.

He had pocketed two kills, both of which had drawn a faint smile across the Gamemaker’s normally-stoic features. Someone had to rid this arena of the wretched name Lemon Cake, and he was grateful that Kite was sane enough to play the game exactly how Venus wanted him to. He was composed about it, always smiling when the days ended. It seemed like a miracle he was alive, but his faith was not misplaced. Perhaps Kite could be the next blind victor. He had the sturdy personality for it.

District Five: Nell Locke

The drug addict. He had taken immense pleasure in watching her body seize under the influence of lightning strikes, which had been activated by Vepar after the Bloodbath came to a close. Those who hadn’t suffered a scratch had to learn that nobody was safe. It was the perfect scenario, Nell shrieking at the sky as a challenge to the Gamemakers. All it took was the pull of a lever to send her into spams upon the ground.

Now she was still breathing, still reigning with steel bones despite her addiction. Withdrawal was supposed to make her weak. Today she had defied the odds and stolen a kill for herself, although Basil was an easy target to begin with. Venus couldn’t determine if she was a good contender or not. Did she really deserve this?

District Five: Sol Shim

He knew for certain that this kid didn’t deserve a heartbeat. Vepar had already notified the family of the servant he killed, and the thought grated his nerves. What was he trying to prove? That he could take an innocent life at any moment? Because he knew that, everyone did. If it was some rebellious act against the Gamemakers, Venus wanted him out of the arena before he had a chance to cheat death.

Cecilia had been immolated by his greedy hands. Amerika had dropped to his feet. Now it was his turn to succumb to the arena’s wrath.

I don’t want you to survive this.

He didn’t always get what he wanted.

District Six: Amerika Eckhart

He was not impressed with this one. After she displayed not a hint of talent in her training session, Venus was not surprised by her lack of success in the arena. She accomplished nothing; she merely existed, bouncing from landscape to landscape like a fox. He had hoped for a reveal, perhaps something to startle the audience into supporting her for whatever reason. No such blessing happened.

It took one District Five tribute to strike her down.

District Six: Insanis Keeni

The infamous name had returned. Of all the surnames, Keeni was the most popular and had gained the most followers in the past decade. He remembered their names; Pyrian and Gypsy the fire twins, Willis the skillful drunk, and Kitty the peculiar child. All of them were cursed, and Insanis was no different.

He was obnoxious in his own way, carrying himself with overbearing confidence. He acted like he owned the landscape when he truly controlled nothing at all. It was the opposite, appearing as if Hettie was the one manipulating strings attached to his limbs. It was all for naught – a spear pierced his skull today, and in a split second’s time he morphed from fake king to authentic corpse. Another Keeni to join their growing graveyard. Venus wouldn’t miss him either.

District Seven: Eryn Sconosciuto

Her death enraged him. The Capitol had it on a loop – the spear skewering her neck, abruptly ending the battle of a formidable warrior. He hadn’t expected this job to ignite such potent feelings within himself, but the loss was evident in the curse he spat in the control room the moment Eryn’s vitals dropped into oblivion. He had anticipated late nights, paperwork, designing, and strategizing, but not this. This felt like defeat, something that had been buried and collecting dust for a long time. Rumors of previous Gamemakers and their tantrums over lost tributes were no longer an alien concept. He could understand.

He sipped the last of his tea and clicked out of her file. He didn’t want to fill in the details of her final moments, not yet. She deserved better than death delivered by a scrawny boy from Three. She was a warrior, and he was a boy running out of borrowed luck.

District Seven: Basil Antola

He was a ticking time bomb after the bloodbath. It was not a matter of if he died, but when. A broken shin was a curse, and although hopeful people could preach about legless tributes winning the Games with miracles, the times had changed. A broken shin was a death sentence for this one, yet Danny had dedicated her time to protecting him no matter how badly he bled. Resources were wasted to keep his heart beating. It was almost painful to watch it all, because Venus knew he was going to die. He was too weak, and it was a damn shame. He was a good kid, genuine like his allies. They were all very much alike in that sense.

He died today, sadly, and the Capitol would never forget his body falling limp in Danny’s arms.

District Eight: Cecilia Brontz

There had been a glimmer of hope in this one. She had a questionable choice in allies, one being a potential shield and the others being the obvious enemy. Their attitudes clashed but nothing came of it, and the closer she bonded with Iain the more Venus suspected a romance blossoming between the two. It was all speculation, of course, but if it was true it was an unwise choice to meddle with a walking corpse. He wasn’t the least bit interested in their relationship, but he was sure the Capitol was.

Unfortunately, they never boarded that train. It crashed when Cecilia was forced to endure what she had dished out days before, body alight like a human torch. The screams were unsettling. He didn’t know why Sol of all people had the touch of a grim reaper, but there was no reason to dwell on the matter. Her ironic death was over, and now the story would end with Iain. He was the sole survivor.

District Eight: Ezero Laffan

The most genuine of tributes, Ezero had a relatable sense of humanity that could register with most of his audience. He was not a warrior, but he was also not an underdog – he was nestled somewhere in the middle, and Venus was appreciative of how engaging he was. His admiration for Delta had been apparent before her gruesome death, and now he had escaped death’s grip in time to tag along with Danny for the rest of their days. He was bleeding out and teetering over the edge between life and death, but there was still a chance for him to thrive.

It would be quite an accomplishment to bring home a new victor. Venus couldn’t remember the last District Eight victor, if there was one at all. They either didn’t exist, or were too old and forgotten to make public appearances. At that age, Venus wouldn’t want to be in the spotlight either.

It was about time a new District won again.

District Nine: Delta Castley

He shook his head every time he thought about it; the flames engulfing her, the shocked silence falling over everyone in the control room, and her vitals lighting up red. It was an unforgettable and frightening moment in the Games. Venus had always been aware of the power of fire, but hadn’t expected to witness it so soon. There was usually at least one immolation per games, but he had hoped Delta would outlast some of the others. She had the second highest training score, after all. He had been eager to see those skills in the arena.

Instead, she had been reduced to ashes and suffering. A crisp, blackened skeleton that Venus couldn’t erase from his memory. It was injustice.

He had to accept it anyway.

District Nine: Timothy Feldon

The skeleton warriors were a proud invention, a fresh idea to startle tributes and audience members alike. The 70th Quell had similar concepts – tribute doppelgangers, a clever twist to confuse and alarm the tributes. He thought it was an ingenious idea to resurrect death, so they had agreed upon the construction of these death-wannabes. They didn’t make sound nor function on anything other than robotic instinct, wielding swords and targeting the closest bodies. He hadn’t meant for such alarming collateral damage. He admired Timothy, even going as far as hoping he would survive until the final eight. That was his mistake, investing such faith. A skeleton removed his head in the blink of an eye. Gasps had bounced across the walls of the control room.

It seemed unfair, but it wasn’t. Tragedies happened. Venus would learn from it.

District Ten: Noelia Tibideux

She reminded him of a snake – not in the venomous or malicious way, but in the manner of her strategies. She was silent and stealthy, striking only when it was absolutely necessary, and she had a deadly touch. It conquered Andesite on the very first day when she decided to side with careers instead of people closer to home. It was a risky decision, and Venus admired it. It worked well enough until she decided to split – another bold decision, yet she had the survival skills to fend for herself. The spitting raptor was no match.

Now she had chained herself to another alliance. Venus found it curious how she bounced from location to location, changing her strategies as each day passed. She knew how to weigh her options and carefully decide which risk to take. Venus didn’t trust that her safety was assured in the presence of Celia Mortuus, but this was a Game where warriors could have their throats speared at any moment.

Nobody was safe, not even a girl as clever as Noelia.

District Ten: Dane Allore

This was perhaps his least favorite death of them all. The highest training score was supposed to withstand everything and exceed expectations. It seemed he was a mutt slayer and not a tribute slayer, which ultimately determined his demise. It was a powerful moment for Danny Brooker to sink her knife into his gut, but Venus didn’t like it. It was another wasted warrior, someone who could’ve surpassed the ones deserving gravestones instead of glory. Part of him felt guilty. The rest of him had learned to accept injustice a long time ago.

District Eleven: Carrita Nessage

They were strict orders; not suggestions, not ideas, not something he could find a loophole in. His job was on the line if District Eleven fought too close to the crown, so they had been given strict orders to make absolutely sure that both of the tributes perished. They didn’t care how or when – although it was preferably sooner. For Carrita, it had been arguably too soon.

Everyone had anticipated her death in the bloodbath, perhaps as a mark for the very first death. She narrowly escaped instead, bleeding from too many wounds to count. Venus was surprised that she had it in her to continue trudging into the swamp. She was a resilient one.

All it took was a fallen tree and Timothy Feldon to demolish her odds. It was a sad moment for a child and her family. He could feel the ache in his chest; she was young and life was unfair, and to make matters worse, Celia Mortuus defiled her body afterward. She harvested her bones for armor, creating a gruesome spectacle for the cameras. The Capitol would probably censor most of it.

District Eleven: Iain Miristioma

The timing of his reaping was suspicious. He figured it was not a coincidence that a second Miristioma was in the Games after District Eleven’s third consecutive victor. Selecting a Rhodes would be too obvious of a threat. This was more discreet, and very unfortunate for Iain and his cousin. He was a kind and humble boy, and not a terrible tribute either despite his pitiful training session. People could relate to his suffering, even when most of the capitol was ignorant. It was a shame he had to die.

Their jobs wouldn’t be the only thing on the line if Eleven brought home a fourth crown. He didn’t know when they planned to intervene if the tributes couldn’t kill him, but it had to be soon.

Yes, he would rather kill an innocent boy to save his own ass. That was the hierarchy, that was how the Capitol functioned. He was not about to piss off the one man who could ruin his family.

Life would go on.

District Twelve: Celia Mortuus

The monstrosity of a girl with a reputation bigger than her ego, Celia was clearly a tribute not to be trifled with. This posed a problem for the twins; she was a popular with the audience, but neither of them wanted her to survive. She was also a lower district tribute. After the Eleven streak, emphasis had been placed on Eleven’s need to die, but what about Twelve? It seemed like an inconvenient time for a lower district to win. Snow probably craved somebody more worthy.

Yet nobody would kill her.

She even managed to snag Scout Fray’s cold heart, and with too much power at her fingertips it was dangerous to keep her alive. Too large of an audience was at her heels, and it looked as if she was a reigning queen sitting upon a throne of bones. Venus was determined to knock her down before a real crown rested on that big head of hers.

District Twelve: Lemon Cake

He wanted to meet his mother and give her a scolding for cursing him with such a name. This label could reduce him to a joke, and therefore paint a target across his chest. Nobody knew if this was the case, but he had died so early that he doubted anyone would care.

How unfortunate.

He closed his computer and sighed. The brief celebration of his birthday was over, his snacks and decorations having been buried in paperwork. He didn’t feel a day older. In fact, their birthday wasn’t much of a birthday when half of the staff had their eyes trained on the screens, wondering which tributes would live or die. There were highs and lows, and the amount of attention he had invested in these tributes left him exhausted. It turned out their birthday, unfortunately, could not be perfect.

But tomorrow was a new day.