A Tale of Two
C1 THE TRAINING CENTRE
The knife embedded into the dummies throat producing a stain of fake blood that expanded down its chest. I stood back admiring my collection of blood stained figures. Everyone in training had stopped in awe of my triumph. I'm the best district 2 has to offer, well despite Occasus Ensis but he's 18 and twice my size. I'm only 16 yet I am the fastest, best knife thrower, climber and archer in the district. My only competition is Occasus he's 6"3 whereas I'm only 5"4 but what I lack in physical strength and size I make up for with my speed and accuracy to never miss a hit.
I turn back to my trainer, Robus Lignum, the district 7 victor from the 9th Hunger Games who moved to district 2 to work as a trainer, for the careers. He gives me a nod of approval I smirk in reply. I turn to face Syreni, my only friend and family but instead I meet Occasus' mahogany hazel eyes. I bite my lip which is transformed into an innocent smile when he winks at me. Focus Veneno! Focus! I tuck an n orphaned strand of my elegant straight blonde hair behind my ear, flicking my high ponytail down the back of my flattering training uniform. The taunt fabric hugs me lovingly. I find myself lost looking at Occasus, I need his protective arms to encase me. He prepares to throw a spear but catches me looking at him and the spear skewers a light fitting, disabling the lights in the training centre. We are plunged into darkness. Luckily Robus has access to the emergency lighting; a green fog of soft lighting fills the hall.
His friend, Pisces, I think punches him on the arm, his muscle refusing to give way to Pisces's fist. He points over at me then presents Occasus with a rude gesture to which Occasus punches him in the nose causing blood to flow from his flared nostrils. I see Occasus curse Pisces under his breath and move along to pick up another spear. The normal bright artificial lighting springs into life again, startling me.
I begin to walk over to have a go at spear throwing, I've never been too good, and maybe he could teach me! A warm feeling begins to pump through my veins. Adrenaline surges through my bones, rattling my tendons. I am inconveniently interrupted by my best friend, Syreni Hasta. Syreni and I have known each other for all our lives, although she is younger than me we tell each other everything...and I mean everything! I live with her because my mother was killed when I was only 2 as she was a rebel leader, and I don't even know who my father is. We could be sisters, twins, same skin, same height, same hair but my eyes are grey and hers are the colour of the deep ocean. Syreni's family were originally from district 4 but they moved to district 2 to aid my mother during the rebellion, her mother was a rebel leader too. Except she could live as an avox, her tongue has been mutilated by the Capitol. Although I feel the pain she felt as she lost her closet friend, my mother, I could never forgive her for letting the Capitol take her life. I will always despise her for letting my mother die, even though it was never her fault.
Syreni grabs me by my shoulders and shakes me so hard I drop the knife I was cradling. "Wake up from lover boy bitch!" she insists. I give her an incoherent look to which she gives me a supposedly harmless slap around the face. "We should go out...to the lake...y'anno...have fun on last day before reaping."
"Yeah, yeah in a minute." I shrug off her suggestion and continue over to spear throwing, clawing at my saw cheek.