D7f.Luja Interview

My stomach growled as I chucked another one of the stupid little puzzle pieces against the dull wall. Had to give them props, for a foodless prison this could have been a whole lot worse. I have not seen my brother or in a matter of fact, anyone since we were in the train. Just me, these four walls and my thoughts. What luck was it that both me and Kaiden landed ourselves in this morbid spectacle death. How much longer till we could finally get this whole goddamn thing over with?

The door to my prison cell opened and I whipped my head around throwing the puzzle piece in my hand flying towards a peacekeeper. Smack in his right eye. I shrugged throwing my hands up to shoulder height and tilting my head with a sarcastic smile plastered to my face. ”Sorry, I’m not pleasant company when hungry”. Not a word from the two peacekeepers, instead they grabbed me each by one arm and shuffled me out to what looks like a studio.

Just great.

I hardly was able to hear the presenter call my name when it was my time to take the stage. I did not want to go on at all. Don’t get me wrong, I am not above a little fighting or drawing blood or anything, but if I were to commit murder it would be under my own terms, in private, no one else’s business. The peacekeepers shove me onto the stage and I almost trip over my feet due to the force. How rude of them. I turn around to face them one last time pulling a grimace and flipping them off with both hands. Fuck them, fuck this.

I sink myself down in the soft chair and fold my arms. It takes every bit of willpower I have to not slouch. Never slouch. Mama would very disappointed in me if I made myself physically unpresentable. She probably would not have much of my attitude either, oh well, she wasn’t exactly here to police my behavior at the moment.

Don’t let the light faze you, Luja. It’s hard not to squint with the light so bright. I try to make direct eye contact with the audience as I give them a smirk and slight wave with my right hand before folding my arms back up again and turn to face Harlan as he asks his first question.

”Now, I’d like to start by addressing the elephant in the room: The situation with your brother. Are you afraid of what is coming? Do you plan on protecting eachother?”.

I let out a laugh as I stare at the ground and ever so slightly shake my head. I stare back up at Harlan and pause for a moment before speaking. ”The thing is, when you put a girl in a room with no food for a while. She does a lot of thinking, a lot of contemplation”. I spell it out for him as if he was a little child. ”If one of us is making it out of here alive, which one of us will, the other has to die. It’s inevitable really. It’s the way the games work, right? Besides, it’s not like we are all that close, different priorities in life. None of it our choice. I just hope that when one of us goes, we go out with a fight. He is our mother’s child as well; it’ll be somewhere in his DNA.”.

I hoped me and Kaiden would have had more time, maybe work out our differences, bond again. It does not seem like that will be happening anymore and I just have to accept it. If I want to survive, he is going to have to die.

”Interesting. I’m seeing in your file that you have been having some…behavioral problems lately in school. Why do you think that is?”.

I raise my eyebrows and roll my eyes as I let out a deep breath. Behavioral issues, that is what they are calling it, cute. ”School is a waste of my time. Of most people’s time. The majority of district 7 is gonna be chopping wood for a living. No need for education for that. I have to entertain myself somehow there, you understand.” my voice as blunt as a hammer. I did not have to explain myself to anyone. None of this was their business. I was fine before the reaped me from my home and made me answer their stupid question in preparation for death battle.

”What about your parents? Your file mentions your father and his illness.”.
Easy question. Logical answer. Did he really need to ask me this? ”Well Harlan dear, that is why one of us has to make it out of here alive. My mom can’t run our business and take care of my dad at once. She relied on us to make sure we were okay. Dad was more of Kaiden’s thing, you should ask him about dad. ”, bitterness echoes in my words. I could not answer the question if I wanted to. I don’t see dad much; we don’t spend much time together. It was sore topic.

”Pardon my forwardness, but I wonder: are you willing to do anything it takes to survive?”.

”Have you listened to anything I just said? Yes. I am willing to do anything it takes to survive. My family needs me to survive.” I did not skip a beat. My dark eyes stared directly into his. Held it for moments after I was done speaking. Not an ounce of fear was seen in my face, just anger. I was fueled by anger at this point.

”Any parting words?”.

I stand up. I can hear the peacekeepers shuffle forwards. I take a few steps closer to Harlan, not breaking eye contact, not once. ”I cannot wait to see you in hell.” Pause. ”Goodnight, hope I was of some entertainment.” I storm off stage as the audience claps faintly in the background.