Chapter 3: Underdog
I need to know how Hevius won the Games!
That was the only thing that I could think about the first day of training. At the start we all split up and most of the group went to train in hand-to-hand combat. Looking around, I decided to work on trap making whose teacher was an old, slender woman. Upon approaching the table she rose up in excitement, greeted me with a nod and motioned me towards a table where various string and other gadgets were set out. I guess she was thrilled to have someone to teach.
Her hands begun to work like magic and before I knew it, she had a trap set up before I could even think about asking any questions. She looked at the dumbfounded look on my face and gave out a shrill little laugh. She began pointing at different materials and motioning me to do this or put it there.
"You don't speak much, do you ma'am?" I was curious to know why she was so quiet.
She responded by pointing at her throat and then sliding her finger down her esophagus vertically. She then slid her thumb over her neck horizontally and I got the picture.
"It's not that you won't talk, it's that you can't talk, can you?"
She gave me a toothless grin and we proceeded with the lesson. By the end of a few hours, I was able to set up a very basic trap to capture small critters. I sigh in relief as the woman, whose name I found out was Katia from when she wrote it on a paper, examines the trap, and gives me a toothy grin and a thumb up.
"Finally!"
I can't help but belt out in joy after spending nearly half the day on one of the most basic traps. Katia gives another wheezy laugh and I grab her hands and begin to spin her around in circles. I failed to realize that we we're now the center of attention and everyone had stopped what they were doing to stare at the odd couple dancing merely together. I stopped just in time to hear Hevius' roar.
"Schenious!"
Crap.
"What in god's name are you doing?"
He begins his trek towards the trap station, pure anger resonating from his face, and I can't help but look around as people begin to point and laugh. My face reddens in embarrassment and I look down to ground. Hevius steps in front of me and his towering figure cast a shadow over me. He squats down next to my ear and I could feel his hot breath going down to my ear drum.
"Everyone is watching you Schenious," he whispers. "And hate to break it to you, but no one see's you as any type of competition. Save your victory dance for when and if you win."
A tear begins forming in my eye but I bite the inner part of my cheek and compile myself.
They cannot see me cry.
"You may not know or think about it, but I was not too far from your age when I won my first games."
I look up in amazement.
That means he's still very young.
"So how-" I start but he covers my mouth with his one of his bear paws.
"If you really want to know how to get out of this alive, meet me here at lights-out and all your questions will be answered."
His eyes seem to lighten a bit. Continuing, he adds, "I was the underdog in my games and I won. You're clearly that here. So I'm rooting for you, kid. Don't let me down."
He rises and I it feels like a giant weight have been lifted off my shoulders. Now to find out how to get out my room after lights-out.
*This was a shorter chapter but not to worry, the next chapter will be longer. Also, sorry about the late chapter, work and life has been kind of wacky these last few days but regularly updated chapters every week from now on is a promise! ALSO, feel free to review my stories. Creative criticism is greatly appreciated!
*P.S Tell me which you would prefer: Longer or shorter chapters?*