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Attack on the Games: Chpt 8

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Attack on the Games

An Attack on Titan/Hunger Games Crossover

Chapter 8
The Interview



“That’s not possible.”  I hear Hanji murmur in disbelief. And I silently agree. It would be one thing to receive a 12 but I got a 12+. What does that even mean? Did I really impress the judges that much? All I did was what felt natural to me.

“Clearly it is possible, Hanji, or she wouldn’t have gotten it,” Levi retorts. He then looks at me very seriously. “Some people are not going to be happy about this.”

Of course some people aren’t going to be happy about my extremely high score. Most of the other Players aren’t going to be because I beat their score and will probably get more Sponsors. He couldn’t possibly mean anyone else, could he?

“You’ve also just put a giant target on your head,” Levi continues, “some of the other Players are going to try to knock you out first because you will be their biggest threat.”

For a split second, I’m not even sure if I even saw it, but I thought Levi actually looked a little sad. But I figured it must have been my imagination and I nod slowly. As long as they’re after me and not Eren I can accept that.

“Alright!” our escort shouts, clasping hands. “Tomorrow is your last day before…” Hanji starts but then looks a little upset, like a person who can’t bring themselves to say it and just realized that we are about to go fight and probably die in the Games, “before you have to leave,” our escort finally says, trying to sound happy but fails miserably. “So tomorrow you are going to be interviewed but for the remainder of the day you have to meet with your Stylist and decide on an outfit you are to wear tomorrow. The Military Police should be here within the next half hour to escort you.”

And just like Hanji said, they arrived. Eren and I are taken back to our styling room and Ida is already there waiting for us. She looks as beautiful as ever as she smiles at us as we enter and the Military Police leave.


“Congratulations on the scores, you guys,” she says, “that will surely give the interviewer something to talk about. And I’m sure the whole Capitol is talking about your score, Mikasa!” She then starts to circle us, “Now what shall we dress you two in for tomorrow?” She stops in front of Eren and looks closely at him. “You have very beautiful eyes, dear,” she tells him. “You have seen much. So much death, so much hurt. Such trials would have crushed a normal man but your eyes have such fire and life yet.” She smiles sadly at him as she moves to stand in front of me and looks into my eyes. Her forehead creases as she says, “you have seen so much as well. Such darkness dwells within you but you are in control of that darkness.” She places a hand on each of our shoulders, “you two are survivors.”

Her hand then trails along the scarf that I’m wearing and she gently grabs it. “Red looks lovely on you, dear,” she tells me. “Tell me, why are you always wearing this?”

“Eren gave it to me. It’s very special. And he’s the reason I volunteered for the Games,” I admit.

Ida smiles widely at us, “I have an idea.”

***

The last day arrives much too quick and the interviews are about to begin. I’m shaking as Ida is fitting me into my dress because I’ve never been too good at talking in front of large crowds and now I’ll be talking to everyone within the Walls, no less. What do I even say? What if I just freeze and everyone starts laughing at me?

“Calm down, child,” Ida tells me, “you’re shaking so much I might stab you with my needle and then you’ll bleed all over your beautiful dress.”

I calm down a little because the dress is beautiful. It is strapless like the last dress I wore except this one is backless and red. Not a bright red, like fire, but a deep dark red, like blood. And it fades into black the closer it gets to the bottom. My dark hair is too short to do anything exciting to it but Ida manages to pull it up with a couple strands hanging loose that she curled. My makeup matches my dress. Ida calls it a smoky-eye, with dark red on my eyelids and it blends in with the black that’s higher up on my eye. She also puts dark red lipstick on my lips.

When I see myself in the mirror I look older. I am no longer hiding behind my scarf and now I wear a different armor. My eyes look fierce yet guarded and the dress makes my stand up straight so I look proud. This is the look of a survivor. And I know I am strong, stronger than everyone. Levi says that I have made enemies because of my score? Well, let them come. I am not afraid of them and I do not fear death. I will survive this like I survived everything else in my life until it is the moment for me to die and Eren will be the Victor. My shaking stops completely and I am no longer afraid of a silly interview.

“Mikasa, you look beautiful,” Hanji tells me as I enter the area behind the stage. This is where the Players must wait until it’s time for their interview. Everyone from my team is already back here and I catch Levi’s eye, he stares at me for a long time and finally says, “You clean up nice, brat.” By now I’ve gotten used to his straightforward comments and I just roll my eyes at him and I go get in line next to Eren.

Eren’s suit matches the color of his eyes but in certain lights it changes from teal to black and shimmers in the light. There is a screen back here so we can watch the other Players interviews. I must have missed Bertholdt’s interview because Christa is already up there with the Games public announcer, Dot Pixis, who interviews us. He’s an older man with wise, kind eyes. He doesn’t have any hair on the top of his head but has quite a large mustache instead. I didn’t catch what the question was but Christa looks tearfully at the cameras and says, “Yes, I’ve gotten very close with a lot of the other Players. I’d even say we’re almost friends.” She wipes a single tear from her eye, “I only wish the best of luck to my friends as we compete in the Games.” I can hear a round of sad awes go around the crowd and I know that Christa has them sold.

Reiner’s up next and Dot asks him how he plans on winning the Games. Reiner laughs and replies, “I was trained as a warrior so killing just comes naturally to me.” And the audience loves that and they cheer loudly. Looking at Reiner now, he doesn’t look like the menacing monster from when I first saw him or the helpful, friendly guy that I’ve trained with this past week. Now he looks like a terrifying combination which is even more frightening.

They interview Annie and I can’t believe she’s one of the Capitols favorites because she is icy and cold as ever but she has a killer instinct similar to Reiner’s and the crowd loves that about her. Dot asks her how she plans on winning the game. Annie brushes the hair out of her eyes and says in the most casual way, “It’s simple really. I know all of the other Players strengths and weaknesses,” she then looks directly at the cameras, “all of them.”

Marco and Ymir go next and then it’s Jean’s turn. He looks extra cocky as he goes and lounges up on the chair. He really knows how to work the audience as he smiles and waves at them. Dot asks him the same question that he asks everyone, how he is planning on winning the Games against such strong opponents. Jean just smiles and laughs charismatically, “Well you see, Dot, is it alright if I call you Dot?” The audience laughs and Jean continues, “A lot of people think that only brawns can win this Game. But I’ll tell you what a lot of these Players don’t have,” he points to his head, “brains. You have to be smart and think of strategies in order to win these Games, Dot. Without a proper plan you are just running around blind and will probably be killed right away.” Jean may have the audience won over but I can bet that there are a lot of unhappy Players with him for calling them dumb. I may not be the only target now after Jean’s interview.

Next, Dot interviews the girl from Four, Connie, and Sasha. Connie has the crowd laughing the entire time and tells jokes for most of the interview saying that he’s a genius and that gets the crowd laughing extra hard. He doesn’t seem down by his score at all or if he is, he’s very good at hiding it.

It’s finally Eren’s turn and he goes and sits up on the edge of the chair looking a little nervous. But Dot knows how to make you feel comfortable and he pats Eren on the back and asks a few small questions first and Eren relaxes a little. “So Eren,” Dot starts, “you come from a District that’s only had one Victor. The odds are looking rather grim for you. So tell me, how do you plan on winning with the odds so little in your favor?”

I can only pray that Eren won’t go off into one of his rants about how unfair these Games are and how much he hates the Capitol. But Eren just smiles and says, “I have a great Mentor. He has taught me a lot over this past week. And I have a lot of confidence in what he has taught me because I believe he is the greatest Victor to ever win the Games.”

“I suppose you’re right, Eren. Your Mentor must be teaching you a few good tricks because you did score a nine which is rather impressive,” remarks Dot.

I let out a relieved breath when Eren’s interview is over and then it’s my turn. I start up the stairs and I hear Levi call out behind me, “Knock ‘em dead, brat.” And I turn to look back at him and he’s smiling. I frown because Levi has never smiled at me like that before and my stomach starts to feel funny and I get a little light headed. I smile back weakly at him and turn back towards the stage.

What I am not prepared for is all the people and the extremely bright lights that are hot and blinding. It is so loud and I am a little stunned as I take a seat on the chair next to Dot. The audience finally starts to calm down and Dot starts his interview.

“Ah Mikasa, the girl everyone has been dying to know. And might I say, what a gorgeous dress, so very different from the amazing winged dress you wore at the opening ceremony it gave off such a statement but both are brilliantly stunning. You must have a great Stylist,” Dot comments. “Now, Eren seemed rather fond of your guys’ Mentor. Are you as fond of him as Eren is?”

The question takes me aback. I guess I’ve never really considered it. Was I fond of Levi? I don’t know, I suppose he’s been good help to Eren and me. And I admit he was a good Mentor. But he still was an awful and rude person. So I said the only thing that felt right, “As a Mentor, yes. He knows what he’s doing and he has been very helpful.”

“But as a person he’s terrible, right?” Dot laughs, “I’m sure many people will agree with us on that. Now, onto the questions that everyone’s wanted to hear! First off, you scored a twelve-plus which is an incredible accomplishment! How did you do it?”

I remember what Annie said about our secrecy being our biggest strength so I say, “I guess you just have to wait and see in the Games.”

Dot laughs, “I love it! You volunteered to be in the Games. I’m sure everyone is dying to know what drove you to do such a thing. Did you want all the glory that came with winning?”

I’m silent and I don’t know how to respond. Do I tell the truth? Or do I lie? I look out at the audience and I see Ida sitting in the front row. She nods at me and I know my answer. “I didn’t volunteer for the fame or the glory that the Games had to offer. I didn’t even volunteer thinking about winning. I only volunteered because I wanted to protect Eren.”

The whole crowd is silent. And very solemnly Dot comments, “So you don’t even plan on surviving. You just want to make sure Eren wins.” I nod. “That is the bravest thing I have ever heard. And I’m sure all of our hearts go out to you.”

And that was it. The interviews were over and the lights dim and the audience start to exit. Dot places a hand on my shoulder has he gets up to leave. And then I’m ushered out as well and taken back to my styling room to get undressed. Eren’s already there with Ida and she runs up to hug me.

“You did so well, Mikasa,” she cries. “I knew once they all heard your story they would love you.”

I nod and agree but I still feel like a zombie from my own words. The Games feel so real now after I finally announced to everyone my only intentions. We are all going to die after tonight and only the Victor will be the last one standing. It’s so close now and it’s finally to really starting to sink in for me. But I am prepared to die protecting Eren.

Eren is led to the boy’s side and it takes my styling team forever to get all the pins out of my hair and all the makeup off my face. They finally take me out of my dress and back into my old clothes. And Eren and I are led back to our room.

It’s already late and everyone goes back to their own bedrooms to sleep. I only hope that I am able to sleep before tomorrow since I am going to need all my strength. But I doubt my nightmares of fires and giant monsters will let me.
finally another chapter!! sorry for the long wait you guys! i have been crazy busy!! but hopefully it was worth the wait!! only a couple more chapters until the arena.. then it gets sad.. so enjoy the happy moments while you can!! 

if you have any comments or questions just let me know and ill be happy to clear up any questions you have! 



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