"Yeah. You know how sometimes people who have money get to take gladiators out and have a good time? That's what gets to happen to us. If you want to know what happens when you refuse that, ask Joanna, a former mentor. Just...be careful. You're older than me. In this case, lack of puberty is my friend."

She grinned. "Oh, they sort of know that, but we do have kids that sort of are scrappy, but not willing to kill unless they have to. You know, noble. They're good kids, actually. Clementine. Sandy. Ellie. Max will fuck you up though."

She paused. "I have things in my Arena I feel guilty about, sure. I knew I was going to coming in. But killing people as fucked as me is the price I had to pay to become a mentor. I had to make myself distinct."