CAP - The Pregames Opening Ceremony (all signed up players)

Useless competitions - that's all they are, a waste of time, a waste of skill and a waste of energy. But clearly this type of "competition" is the type my father wants me to be in. To participate in and bring glory to the Kingsley name. Since my mother died, I've had to try and earn enough publicity so we can remain one of the most well-known families in District Two; my father is quite the established businessman and I'm the career of the family. The strong one, the one who has muscles rippled down her arms and legs and across her stomach, the one who puts in one hundred per cent effort into every bit of training, and what do I receive in return? They push me. They tell me to do more, that I should be making the family proud. What little family there is left.

Which is why I am here today. I scan the room to see if there are any major threats. A lot of them look overly confident, ridiculous - like they honestly expect the rest of us to be useless tools. I've been in training since I was little, and I've seeked revenge against everyone who ever wronged me for my whole life. I have determination and skills, and I am not going to under-estimate anyone here. Because I never know if they'll turn out to be worthy opponents; all I know is that I will overcome it.

I don't socialize. I hate talking to other people and having to put on some fake smile and speak in a kind voice when all I want to do is just crush them already. I can imagine my mother placing her gentle hands on my shoulders and telling me to play nice like she did when I was a kid, when I stole crayons and broke dolls and tore apart teddy bears in front of other kids, who would then burst into tears and run to hug their mother's leg. My mother never treated me badly because of it; instead I was scolded and taught to do better. Nowadays, nobody plays nice anymore. It's like a free for all, just like the Games, but a free for all for the right to call themselves a proper Career.

It doesn't make much sense in my mind. I've always seen life as a competition, surpassing others and betraying others to reach the top. I've always had the top focused on my eyesight, always had it as my target to achieve. I suppose this competition is a small step forwards, a small distance upwards on the climb to the peak of strength, when I can finally look down on the rest of the world and proclaim myself as their queen. After all, I've always been a queen. Ever since my father chose my name and told my mother that Calliope Kingsley is a name fit for a queen, and she agreed, even the nurses agreed. Then they took me home and tucked me away in my new room and welcomed me to life the right way. 

Only life was about to do a 360 turn on me and kick me right off balance.

Then again, I've always expected it. Life to turn around, for there to be plot twists, changes, betrayals - not everything can be decided by me. I don't mix well with change, but I have to learn to deal with things like this. I've learned to deal with a lot. I dealt with Mother's death on my own, after Father was too depressed to speak to me. Then I took training into my own hands, as soon as I was granted the opportunity to learn sword-handling skills. By Father. Some call me a daddy's girl, but I call it using others to take your own opportunities into your hands. I used Father so I can learn to fight. I used my family's money to fight better, learn more, practice harder, become stronger. Is there anything wrong with that? I'm not sure if it could be deemed as wrong. I certainly don't see it that way.

The speakers blare up and I breathe out, relaxing as they begin to read out some dull speech. I only tune in when they start explaining about the pregames, the tournament, or competition as they call it, which I am about to participate in. No, I'm not participating - I didn't come here to make friends or have fun, I came here to win, get it over and done with then go home. I don't want anything like friendship or the joy of participating - I only thirst for victory. And victory is what I shall get.

I take a look at the other competitors. Oh, if only the killing aspect of the Games was still in play here. Then I'd have far more fun. I chuckle lightly under my breath, and raise my head. Game on. I turn my back on the rest of them and fold my arms over my stomach, waiting for this ridiculous mingling part of the pregames to be over.

Let me crush them already.