OK, this is my longest and hopefully my best chapter. Personal thanks to Liana111, Jack, and fireonice1292 for the great reviews. All right, here goes.

I walk towards the training room. The careers have already made an alliance. I see the biggest career walk up to me along with two girls. "Hi I'm Cato, and this is Clove." He says pointing to the girl on his left. "This is Glimmer." Pointing to the girl on his right. "When the games start it's best to be in an alliance, why don't you go with us?" I take the scene in. Careers kill for fun, I can't kill. No doubt they just want me to help kill off the weaker tributes. That, and so they know when to stick a knife in my back. That's when it hits me, they're afraid of me, I realize. Otherwise, they wouldn't be offering this to someone from district eleven.

I can't kill, and if I join them I'll be killed. "No, I'm going solo." I say.

His face immediately twists into a sneer, "Fine, do what you want, but know that you've just made three enemies before the games even start." I start to think that I might have been wrong. They might not fear me after all. I look on with dread as he walks away with Clove and Glimmer.

I go to a station for sword handling. I fight the person there to practice with. He's good, but I'm better. Sword fighting is all about blocking and then striking. When you or your opponent is outmatched they start to just block. That is what he was doing. Then with a quick move, I hit the hilt of his sword and twist hard knocking the sword out of his grasp. Or so I thought. He went with my sword strike and then flicked the tip of his sword into my stomach. If I was not wearing armor I would have been killed. He shows me how to do this move and tells me that he invented it and that no one knew of it. I'm aware of Rue watching me along with Cato. He's watching to learn how to kill me; Rue's watching to know who the tribute she's with really is. For the first time ever, the safest thing for a tribute to do is not train.

Tomorrow morning I see Rue as soon as I go out of my room. She looks troubled. "Thresh, once we get into the arena, will you try to kill me?"

I'm shocked by her question, "No Rue, I won't be hunting you if that's what you're asking."

She looks relieved. "Thanks, it's just since we're going to be next to each other when the games start, and you're faster than me you could run me down and kill me easily."

I debate whether I should tell her my secret. Something about those eyes makes me trust her, "Rue, I don't think I can kill anyone." However, under my breath I mutter anymore.

She looks very happy, "I don't think I can either."

Lightning briefs me on how to get a high score. "Listen Thresh, you're big, you have strength, you need to show the game makers your strength. However, what you really need to do is show them how well you can use a sword." I listen to every word taking it in, knowing that this score could mean the difference between life and death.

It's now time for the moment that decides the number of sponsors I get. I walk into the room and see the game makers immediately perk up when they see me. I can tell they're calculating my strength. I immediately walk over to the heaviest weight. It's at least 250 pounds but I lift it easily and throw it a good twenty feet it lands and almost puts a hole in the floor. The game makers are impressed. Next, I show them what I can do with a sword. Finally, I throw a knife and stick in solidly about six inches from the target. Then they dismiss me.

Tomorrow night the scores start coming up. First Glimmer gets a seven. She won't be that dangerous. I'm starting to think it might be OK that she, Cato, and Clove are my enemies. Then Cato and Clove each score tens. Then all of a sudden district eleven pops up. Rue scores a seven. I'm happy for her. Then my name comes up, I'm suddenly very scared. Then the score pops up, a ten! I jump up in the air and land with a loud bang. Then the district twelve tributes come up. I'm expecting sixes for them. However, the boy pulls an eight. I think his name is Peter? Pete? Peeta! That's it! Then the girl comes up. She volunteered for her sister. Somehow, someway, she pulls an eleven. I think my mouth actually dropped open.

I look to Rue who smiles, "She looks like someone you can trust." She says.

I agree completely with her, but you never know. "Remember Rue though, she might just be putting on an act."

"I know, but she volunteered for her sister right? She\ has to be nice."

Rue's too nice, she hasn't been through what I've been through, she hasn't had to fight for her life. "Rue, she volunteered for her sister which means she's going to try very hard to get back to her. If killing you is what it takes she won't hesitate." This silences Rue. I feel bad. I decide to cheer her up, this promise might just kill me though, "Rue, if I see or hear you in trouble during the games I'll save you."

Her eyes immediately sparkle. "Thank you, it's nice to know I've got someone on my side." She smiles and I think of what would happen if she knew what I'd had to do that one dark November day.

The games start tomorrow. My plan is to run for the cornucopia, get a sword and get out of there fast. My biggest worry is that there will be only bow and arrows. If that happens I'll be in big trouble. I finally go to sleep. I wake up the next morning knowing that it might be my last. In what seems like no time I'm in the arena listening for the horn. I look around; I see a very nice sword about fifty yards away from me, that's the sword I have to get. To the north is a grain field, that's where I'm going straight after I get the sword. Maybe I'll be lucky and there will be a cave there too. I peek a glance at the other tributes. First, I look at Rue, she smiles at me. Then, I spare a glance at Katniss and she's looking hard at Peeta. Finally, I look at Cato. He is staring right at me. He's gunning for me, I can tell. Where is the horn? It's not sounding. Right when I start to think there's been an error and it's not going to sound, I hear it. BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!

Game on.

All right, the next chapter is going to be the actual Hunger Games (obviously). I promise to have it up by next Saturday, hopefully sooner. Thanks for the reviews everyone it means a lot. Keep the reviews up, show the love.