Music pounded in my ears, a crowd roared, hundreds of cameras clicked in unison drowning my ears. I was on a stage. My long brown hair had been combed and my skin had been washed; I wore a suit of an unknown color (with my luck it was probably pink) that fit me uncomfortably snugly, the stiff hems biting into my skin, but hey, I wasn’t about to complain.

I know what you are thinking; no I did not win. On a good note I was out of the arena. Trust me after pulling myself from the death hole when I woke up from the gas and having Maisy tell me their were hovercrafts waiting for us I got excited. Yeah, Maisy had been right next to me but I thought maybe there had been a tie or something. In retrospect I think my mind was getting desperate for good news.

Heres what I had gathered from the silent whispers of my stylists; I was being interviewed with a family member as some type of screwed up halftime show. I had also gathered that as a even more screwed up twist the capital would be voting for the tributes they wanted to go back to the arena. If being in the hands of Maisy had scared me in the arena being in the hands of the capital scared me even more. I had to be interesting…. I had to get voted through this or this interview might very well be the last thing I ever did.

I had to have a peacekeeper help me onto the stage. My hands were sweating, I knew that I was by far the most nervous person here. I wasn’t completely sure but judging by the hushed chatter of the other tributes I’d caught wind of while I was waiting the ‘twist’ wasn’t common knowledge. I’d been in high pressure situations before, I told myself, this time was no different.

The peacekeeper had awkwardly helped me find my seat. I tried not to be embarrassed at having to have the extra help but I felt my cheeks flush as I still had managed to almost miss the seat.  I assumed the interviewer was the same mildly stupid, multi-colored man who had interviewed us the first time around. From what I recall he was an old timer who had merely been invited back to interview one final time because this years game was all about reminiscing the past or whatever. I tried to remember his name, Fabrizio Fairfax I think.

Of course If I’d heard right than a family member sat here too. Where? I had no idea. I hoped to God it wasn’t my brother Draven, but I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. If it was my mother or father I think they would have jumped up to hug me, right?

“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Ransom Maddox from District 10!” The old man’s cackly voice rang out, I resisted the urge to cover my ears. His voice was way worse than I remembered. “With him we have our honorary guest, and Ransom’s older brother, Draven Maddox.” And there it was. I was so screwed. The crowd erupted into more applause and I sigh. I could just imagine Draven with his neat cut brown hair sitting across from me with his ankle balanced on his other knee, his green eyes boring into me disapprovingly. For the first time ever, I was suddenly very glad I couldn’t see.

Finally the clapping died down, “Now these games have been a thrill ride, but we obviously can’t cover everything so I will start with you, Draven. What was it like watching your brother in the games and realizing that he was one of the more ruthless tributes- even going as far as to plot murdering his ally?” Fabrizio asked, his voice moped with fake concern.

My teeth clenched and my muscles went ridged, how had they known about that? I hadn’t told a soul that I’d been plotting to kill Maisy. Had I muttered in my sleep? Then again they could drug me and get inside my head to control what I see, I wondered if they knew what I was thinking? Either way, now Maisy who was probably watching the interview knew. This was going to be fun to sort out.

Draven responded before my mind could ramble any further. “I wasn’t surprised. You have to keep in mind that Ransom let his family think he was dead for what? Like 5 years? And he left them to go start gallivanting around the underworld trying to get rich.” So he was still just as pissed with me as he was at the reaping. Wonderful.

“Draven, you guys were starving! You couldn’t afford to feed me, so yeah, I did take off. I don’t regret it either, maybe telling you guys I was dead wasn’t the best course of action but at the time I thought it would cause you guys the least hurt. Besides I was able to make a lot more money in my gig than working like I would have been if I’d stayed with you guys.” I snapped before I even realized I was angry. It just gushed from my throat like a stampede. I wanted to fight with him, I had done what was best why couldn’t he see that?

“You guys don’t have the best relationship I take it.” Fabrizio clicked his tongue. I’d nearly forgotten he was there… I wanted to slap him and tell him to shut up because I was about to give my brother a piece of my mind. I took a deep breath trying to calm down.

Whatever the hell Draven thought could be dealt with later. Right now I had to focus on convincing the capital that I should move forward. “So Ransom, what was it like realizing you were blind?  That must have been terrifying to realize that you couldn’t see in the middle of a fight to the death. And ironically here you are relying on Maisy, the girl you were plotting to murder, to be your eyes.”

Think, think, think Ransom! This is your opportunity to get them interested, I mentally yelled at myself. Lying is your specialty, this should be easy, the capital is composed of morons. “Yes, it was terrifying at first.” And that was when the lie of all lies I’ve ever told popped into my head. “It’s not as much as a disability as you would think either. I think when I hit my head it opened another part of my brain.” I forced a tremor into my voice. “I- I think I can see the future.” I said as if my ‘new power’ terrified me.

I felt the tension in the room thicken, barely anyone breathed. “Excuse me, Ransom? Could you repeat that? I don’t think we heard you correctly.” Fabrizio said uncomfortably and full of scepticism. Had I underestimated their intelligence? Crap.

I took a deep breath knowing I was too far into the lie now to turn around. “You heard me correctly. I can see the future. I don’t blame you, I didn’t believe it at first either. It comes in spurts and-” I closed my eyes and contorted my face as if I was in pain, my hands flying up to my forehead, then I released it and sat up a dazed expression coming across my face. “In approximately 7 seconds Draven is going to fall off his chair.” I breathed trying not to look nervous. Please help me, please, please, please help me, Draven. Draven hated me, but we were still brothers, that had to count for something.

“He’s crazy! He’s just lying like he always does.” Draven sharp voice cut, I felt my heart sink. I mentally started swearing, now I really wanted to slap someone. “Seriously why shoul-” Draven’s rant was cut off by a sharp cry and the clatter of an overturned chair. I stopped- had he just fallen off his chair? The crowd roared in astonishment, the loud hum of a million conversations broke out. I had to resist the urge to grin.

“Please everyone calm down!” Fabrizio cried trying to be heard over the chaos that had broken out. If they thought this was chaos they hadn't seen anything yet.

I let out a sigh, “Please listen to me people of the capital.” I stood up shakily trying to get their attention. It worked. “I have to warn you. My visions aren’t all as simple as someone falling off a chair. The other night I had a vision of the capital in ruins.” The audience fell into dead silence again. “Someday the capital will fall to rebels who will kill everyone in their path, no one will survive. I don’t know when this day will come, but I do know for a fact I won’t be alive to see it.” I sigh looking at my feet dramatically. “Whether that be a few days if I die in the arena or eighty years if I win, who knows?”

The crowd erupted into panicked chatter just as the timer that signified the end of my interview went off. “L-lets have a hand for Ransom Maddox!” Fabrizio cried, his voice weak, he was clearly shaken. I don’t think anyone heard him.

Someone grabbed my arm and led me off the stage, the roars of the crowd faded behind us. “I want you to-” It was Draven.

I flung my arms around him and laughed in relief, “Thank you so much! I owe you one!” He shoved me backwards, I nearly fell over. And so our happy reunion was over, he still hated me. Crap.

“I didn’t do it for you. If you win that money will help our family, so don’t screw this up.” He hissed, his voice laden in irritation. With that I heard him turn on his heel and storm away without waiting for a response. I let out a long depressed sigh as his footsteps faded into the distance leaving me alone. Yeah, being me just kept sucking more and more.

Ransom dies after this.