Note: if you like this fic, you may want to check out this music video. It's of a different (movie), but it, and the movie it is from, was part of the inspiration for my fic. (?) watch?v=FDJSAWc9nR8
Oh crap. I am trying my hardest to remain calm, but inside I feel completely messed up. almost hysterical. My eyes dart around the room. All the other tributes up to my district, including my district partner- Juniper- have had been showing off what they can do in the past hour. The careers were deadly as I expected. Among them, I saw a girl rip a dummy to pieces with only a fish hook; a boy who could throw a sword with accuracy from an enormous distance, and another, who had immense skills with a katana.
All the other tributes have skills too. good skills, useful skills. Except maybe the girl from 3. She just stood there, stock still. unblinking. But eventually I realized that was her skill. It will probably keep her alive for a while, but she has no chance of winning. Neither have I.
A whisper breaks out around the room, and I realize its my 'turn'. By waiting, I have only drawn attention to myself. I am not like the others. I can't do anything. Even though I come from district 7, where even old ladies are experts at axe wielding, I have to be the one guy who specializes in plant identification. I can't exactly showcase that. I berate myself silently for not training somehow. Stupid. Stupid... I feel metal in my hand. That career tribute from 1 gave me his katana, and as I stare at it, he smirks with amusement. I glare at him with defiance. I am not going to be your kill, matey.
The others are beginning to giggle now. I need to prove myself somehow... Show that I'm not just dead meat. I grip the katana, and concentrate. everything goes black.
When i wake up again, the dummy is in ribbons on the ground. My own hand is not in a much better state. A puddle of blood spreads on the floor, and I feel my eyes well up. I don't want to be a failure... I promised. I told him I'd be back.
My hand is seriously starting to hurt. Well done, Drayden. You've just about halved your (already bleak) survival chances.
"I don't suppose anyone has a bandage?"
For a moment, I think katana boy is about to make a remark, but the girl next to him elbows him in the ribs. The room falls silent. Well, almost. Some of the careers are laughing, clutching their sides, wiggling their legs in the air type laughing. In 16 years, I have never been more ashamed.
I may have imagined it, but I swear as I turned to leave, the girl from 3 shot me a sympathetic look. I ignored her and carried on walking.
