Chapter 4: Training.
When I go to the dining hall, everyone is already seated. Luke says, "You're late. Hurry up, training begins in fifteen minutes." I get a mug of some sweet-smelling brown liquid, grab a bowl of porridge, some fruit and wolf it all down in three minutes even if the hot drink scalds the insides of my cheeks. Well, whatever, it's nice.
Mags tells us "During training, try a little bit of everything and spot potential allies. Learn to handle a sword. Practice tying nooses. Memorise the edible plants and the ones with medicinal properties.. Stay away from the activity you're best at." We nod.
A cold feeling spreads through my body. It's time to train for the Games. I realise I've been acting like a weakling the minute I was reaped. I'm a Career, for Snow's damn sake! I'm supposed to own these games, not fear them. Time to get real. The second the Games begin, my survival is the number one thing on my priorities list. Besides, I don't even know these people and I never will. In the arena, everyone is my enemy. And what do you do to your enemies? Destroy them. And, that is exactly what I will do. Though I am crossing my fingers Annette's life will not end in my hands. Chances are, someone will get her first.
When we arrive at the Training Centre, which is just below the District 1 floor, a tall and bronzed lady called Atala instructs us that we may do whatever we want on our own and says that trainers will be available to assist us should we need their help. After the briefing, we disperse to do our own business. I head to the Edible Plants Station, taking a brief look at the plants, I realise a fair number of them can be found in District 4. There are many others, however which I do not recognise. After spending some time there, I can memorise almost every plant on the list. Katniss, blue and tube-like.Can be found in ponds. Excellent source of starch. Cuneberry,maroon in colour with a whitish flesh.Not to be confused with Nightlock,deadly poisonous and has a blood red interior…
I make a beeline for the camouflage station where the girl from District 3 is colouring her arm so it looks like tree bark. Impressive. Taking some mud from a bowl, I swirl it on my arm and add a few dull-coloured greens and silver to make it look like the bottom of a river. The girl raises her eyebrows and says "That really does look like the bottom of a river. Do you spend most of time in District 4 fishing?" "Yeah, my family and I get up early each morning to catch some fish and sell them to the people in town and give the rest to the Capitol. They say the fish from District 4 is divine but those are our mediocore catches." I say with a wink. Might as well use my looks for something. "I'm Electra, Electra Luminisco, you're Finnick, the mer-king from the Opening Ceremony?" "Nice meeting you Electra, by the way, nice camouflaging." I say, as I head towards the weapons area, where most of the other Careers have moved on to the knot-tying station, flashing Electra a winning smile that makes her blush.
I take up some sword-fighting lessons from Anglo, the instructor and by the end of his lesson, I can parry and deflect his strikes like a professional. Anglo is slightly miffed that I could possibly beat his legendary skills but glad that he taught me well. I see the boy from District 12 watching me closely. I think he's trying to copy me but with little success. His scrawny arms struggle to hold even the tiniest dagger and he keeps squinting out of his good eye. My heart fills with pity and I want to help him but I remember my resolve. No.He is supposed to be your enemy.You do not help him.Besides,it would be better to die than live any longer in this pathetic state.
By the time lunch comes around, I am in a much more cheerful mood than breakfast. I feel much more prepared. I've got people tripping over themselves to sponsor me, I've got the experience with the weapons, I know the edible plants. The crown is mine to take. Of course, I've still got competition. Like the District 12 girl. I saw her at the weapons station. She can't possibly have any experience with them, coming from that poor district but she seems pretty good with a spear. I shovel down a huge helping fried rice with fish and ask Annette, "So how was training?" "It was alright. I learned to throw knives and practised first-aid." Luke addresses us, "See anyone you might want to ally with?" I reply, "The girl from District 3, Electra, seems a good person to ally with." Mags says, "Yes, that girl will be a great help to whoever she allies with. But you might want to ally with the other Careers first. Then when we send you a sign, you turn on them, disappear and ally with Electra, if she's still alive by then." Annette muses, "Well, that redheaded boy from 5 looks valuable. After we abandon the Careers, I'll go find him. His name is Drake Farrol." Luke grins, "Good strategy. I have a feeling we'll have a new victor to add to District 4's collection."
After lunch we train and train. I do some first-aid, practise my knot tying and try archery, which I'm hopeless at. The trainer, Lisabeth, sighs as I once again, miss the target completely. I better touch up on this area, I don't want the weapons in the Cornucopia to be all bows and arrows- that would be the end of me! I see the District 12 girl-I'll call her Gray from now on- watching me from a distance with a small smile on her face. Oh no.She's discovered my weakness!And she's probably good at archery. I can't let this small weakness be the key to my demise, oh no. Fuelled with a desire to show Gray what a Career is made of, I pull back the bow, fix my eyes on the target and release the arrow. It doesn't hit the bull's eye but hits somewhere near it. Eh, close enough. I grin in satisfaction but Gray just rolls her eyes, comes over to the station, grabs a free bow and splits my arrow with hers. A bull's eye follows. A dummy gets hit between the eyes. She puts down the bow, smiles at me sarcastically, and stalks off to find another station. Ugh. Outshone by a District 12 tribute. How shameful. But I remember Mags's words "Never underestimate tributes from poorer districts." Yes. Definitely. She is one to take down. The boy from District 1 has noticed her as well. He is glaring at her. Probably jealous, like I am. Gray may have the talent but she is not wise, showing off like that. I'll make sure that if there's a bow and arrow, I'll have it.
Training ends around six in the evening, exhausted and sweaty, I drag myself into the shower, more aware of the buttons labelled with the functions. I hit a button that says "Summer Sea" and the smell of salt surrounds me as I am gently soaked in warm seawater. It rejuvenates me instantly but I am reminded of home. How is Vicky doing without me? How's the fishing business? Are Mother and Father worried about me? More worried about the business I should think. They trained me well enough.
(Flashback)
"Fin, you pull back the damn arrow, choose your target, then shoot!" Father snaps at me, clearly exasperated. I nod, and shoot again, missing the target, for the six hundredth time in a row. My fingers are already numb. "Ugh! Can't get this right can you? Fine, let's move on to something easier. Try fencing. Here's your sword."
(Flashback ends)
Well, maybe their training might pay off.
Dinner is a short, but fancy affair, again. Luke tells us what's going to happen for the next few days, "For tomorrow and day after that, you train some more. Then, you will have private sessions with us and Lucia on how to behave during your interview. This is interview will let the audience know about your personality, so try and play a favourable angle. Rest while you can." Oh no. A private session with that despicable Lucia Twill? As I had back to my room, I catch Lucia staring at me. She blows me kiss, bats her 2-inch eyelashes and skips back to her room on those insane 8-inch heels.
