The Boy From District Three

by CaptainIncredible

All he wanted to be was an engineer. Now all he wants do to is die well. The boy who the kids laughed at during the reaping is motivated to not go quietly into the night. Prepared and motivated by his mentors who have designs of their own, he's determined to flip the games this year. Survival is not the goal, dying right is.

2. Chapter 1: I Killed Him

I killed him. It was cold, it was calculated and it was awful. The only thing that separates me from the Careers, I didn't enjoy it. I needed the pack and he had it. I was not about to make a friend and share it. Instead I ran him down and killed him for it. My first kill… may I be forgiven for what I have done. Part of me wants to be sick.

I know it is not a time to think about morality at a moment like this. I immediately begin to scan the woods around me for any signs of peers approaching. I am armed, motivated, trained and all too aware of what is at stake if I let my guard down. Everyone who ran from the bloodbath is fatigued and not thinking clearly. The last thing I need is for someone to stumble upon me and have to fight. Fighting now becomes a gamble that I do not want to take.

As I force myself to recover my breath from the pursuit, I quickly assess the tasks I need to accomplish in the next sixty seconds. Security for my present position, secure his pack, take his jacket, take his shoe laces, cut a leg of his pants off, and pay my respects. After that, I need to get ready to hunt. Preparation, speed and surprise will be needed to pull off my plan and time is running out. Not quite the way I wanted to start the Games, but this is the next best thing to hope for. I control very little, but have what I need to turn the tide and shift the balance of power. The hours spent with my mentor have made the decision making process easier. The clouded mental process to make decision under stress has been made more effective since I have already though through the first few moves. Getting what I needed at the start has put many of the contingencies to rest and I can focus on the main objective, taking to the fight to the Careers.

Just as my breath comes back to me and calm sets in, I am ready to move again. One more task awaits me. This will set me apart from the Careers and help keep some semblance of my humanity in a vicious and unforgiving world. I will treat all my opponents with respect in life and death and this is how I will do it.