-Part Four –Be Prepared-
"This looks like fun…" Denmark said, walking into the training center with another Tribute behind him.
"Like, anything but fun when you get into the arena." Feliks, Denmark's mentor, said. Feliks had won the Hunger Games the previous year and was another surprising victor.
"I was being sarcastic. Now, what should I go to first?" Denmark replied, scanning the large room and locating any interesting stations.
"You should totally go anywhere you want. I mean, I, like, don't know what you're good at. Learn stuff you, like, don't know."
"…Thanks for the advice."
"Yeah." Feliks said, wandering off.
Denmark figured he should practice something that wasn't about fishing. He began walking to the knife throwing station, which was empty. As he walked over there, Alfred brushed by him and whispered, "Ludwig said to act like we all hate each other, okay?"
Denmark looked back at Alfred in surprise and then nodded.
Denmark approached the knife station. The instructor looked like he was on the verge of sleeping, and while holding several knives. A cat slept at his feet from where stood leaning against a wall. "Grab a knife."
The voice surprised Denmark but he obeyed and grabbed the closest knife he could reach.
The instructor yawned and then walked over. "Don't pick a random knife. Obviously, things will be different in the games. But, if there's a choice, pick one your comfortable with."
Denmark nodded and then asked, "And how would I know what is a good knife?"
"Certain obvious qualities. Sharpness, length, the hilt, the type." The instructor explained.
"Yeah, but it's just a knife. Does the handle really make a difference?" Denmark asked, looking over the knives on the table.
"The hilt." The instructor corrected while selecting a relatively long knife. "You are going to be throwing knives. That's what this station is for. So, it matters."
Over the next three days leading up to the Hunger Games, the tributes trained thoroughly and continued to show no signs of an alliance. Now it was the final day before the arena. Panem was already anticipating the blood that the tributes hoped would never come.
But before the interviews, the Tributes would have to show off their skills to the Gamemakers.
Ludwig stood next to the door for the meeting room. He had an idea for what he was going to do but he wasn't sure if it would work.
"So, what are you doing?" Gilbert asked Ludwig, leaning against the wall. He had a bandage around his wrist from an accident in the training center.
"For the Gamemakers? Something with knives." Ludwig replied, looking up from the floor and staring at the door.
"I have an awesome aim so I'll shoot something with a…crossbow. Yeah, that sounds good." Gilbert explained, grinning.
Ludwig nodded.
"Ludwig..." The voice paused. "Do you have a last name?"
Ludwig looked up and the person standing a few feet away from him. "Does it matter?"
"I guess not." The person shrugged. "Anyway, go in."
Ludwig nodded and opened the door. When he entered the room, the Gamemakers looked up in surprise and stopped talking.
"Welcome, Tribute One." One of them greeted him.
Ludwig nodded in response and grabbed two knives from the table of weapons. He studied them for a moment and turned to the dummy he was supposed to attack.
Ludwig ran over to the dummy and dragged the blade of the knife against the dummy's throat. Blood sprayed out from the torn cloth. He skidded to a stop and turned around. He threw the remaining knife towards the rope holding the dummy up. The knife cut the rope and the dummy fell to the ground limply.
Ludwig turned back to the Gamemakers.
"Impressive." One of them commented, keeping the same expression. Ludwig nodded and turned around. He walked away, pressing the heel of his boot against the dummy's throat to snap the fake neck as he left.
"Gilbert Beilschimidt." The person standing near the door said as Ludwig exited, fake blood on his face.
"Looks like you had fun." Gilbert said, as he walked past him to enter the room.
Ludwig nodded.
"Welcome, Tribute Two." A Gamemaker said from behind the glass panel that separated them from Gilbert.
"Yeah." He replied, grabbing a bow from the table. He looked over the table and decided on two knives and a single arrow. He positioned himself several meters away from and dummy. He slid the arrow onto the string of the bow and pulled it back.
The arrow hit the dummy perfectly in the middle of its blank face. Then, he took one of the knives and cut a notch into the end of the other knife.
Gilbert grinned and slid the notch of the slim knife onto the bow. He wasn't sure if this would work or not but he had another plan if it didn't.
To Gilbert's surprise, when he released the string, the knife was able to penetrate the dummy's skin and stab its heart. Blood spilled out of the wound.
"Interesting idea, Tribute." A Gamemaker commented, not showing any emotion.
Gilbert grabbed his other knife and threw it behind him. He heard it hit the glass and there was a dull cracking sound. He smiled and left the room.
"Alfred Jones." The person said when Gilbert came out, a confident look on his face.
"Hell yeah." Alfred said, walking into the room.
"Welcome, Tribute Three." A Gamemaker announced.
Alfred ignored him and grabbed some rope, about a yard of it. He walked up behind the dummy silently and then threw the rope around its neck. He grabbed the other end and pulled it tightly.
Alfred heard a snap. First, the neck broke, and then the rope holding the dummy tore. Alfred fell back, the dummy on top of him. Not what he intended to do, but it added more awesome.
He threw the dummy off him and left the room, continuing to ignore the Gamemakers.
"Nikolai Oxenstierna." The person said as Alfred ran out of the room happily.
"It's Nikolaj." Denmark muttered, entering the room as the old dummy was being dragged away.
"Welcome, Tribute Four."
"Hi." Denmark responded, grabbing a knife and some fishing wire. Having some experience with the wire, he had selected some that was very strong. He tied the wire to the knife and walked over to the dummy. He stood a few yards away from it.
Denmark wrapped some of the wire around his hand. He then threw the knife at the target randomly.
The knife hit the dummy in the shoulder. Denmark pulled back on the wire and knife dislodged itself and came flying back. He caught it and threw the knife back at the dummy. This time, the knife hit its chest. Denmark grinned and let go of the wire. He walked out of the room.
"Antonio Carriedo."
"Ah, I know." He said, walking into the room.
"Welcome, Tribute Five." A Gamemaker said, sounding bored.
Antonio nodded and looked at the table. He didn't have many skills, but from what he learned at the Training Center, he was good at shooting guns. He spotted a sniper rifle and grabbed it. It already had ammo, so he didn't have to figure out how to load it.
Antonio kneeled down on the floor where he was and rested the gun on his knee. He looked through the scope and aimed the dot at the dummy's head. He pulled the trigger.
It was a perfect shot. "Ah, I'm a good sniper." Antonio said to himself as he stood up and put the gun back on the table.
"Good." A Gamemaker said.
"Better than you." Antonio replied and left the room.
"Arthur Kir.."
"I know, it's my turn." Arthur said, waiting for Antonio to pass before he walked in.
"Welcome, Tribute Six."
"Hmm…" Arthur stared at the table of weaponry. He hadn't decided on what he was going to do, so he just grabbed sword, ignoring the type.
He swung it a few times, testing it. After figuring it was good, Arthur ran up to the dummy and cut off one of its arms. Another slice through the air and a leg fell off. He raised the sword and hit its neck. He stopped the sword at the bone.
Arthur pulled the sword back to his side and looked at the dummy. It looked dead enough. He threw the sword behind him blindly and walked to the door.
The person who was supposed to be calling their names was looking away, watching something. Matthew sighed and walked into the room.
"Welcome, Tribute…Seven." A Gamemaker said after a pause.
Matthew nodded and looked at the table. He decided on an axe, three daggers, and a grenade.
He walked away from the dummy, about 20-30 feet. He set his weapons on the ground and then grabbed the axe. Matthew took and step back and then tossed the axe towards the dummy. It lodged into the dummy's shoulder. Matthew grabbed the daggers and threw all of them at the target. All three of them hit the dummy's chest. Matthew grabbed the grenade and pulled the pin. He tossed the pin at the Gamemakers and paused, cooking the grenade. Then, he tossed it. The grenade exploded right as it hit the poor dummy.
Matthew smiled and walked out of the room.
Francis noticed that the person wasn't going to call his name either. He shrugged and walked into the room. Some workers were still cleaning up the mess.
"Welcome, Tribute Eight."
"Hello." Francis greeted, grabbing a paint brush from the table. He carefully dipped it in red paint and walked over to where the Gamemakers were.
Francis began to paint a heart on the window.
"What are you doing?" One of the Gamemakers asked, watching Francis curiously.
"Painting." Francis replied and stepped away. "I don't believe that people should be violent. Love is much better."
Francis smiled and then walked away.
Francis walked out of the smiling. Yao looked at him. He hadn't been in there for too long. Yao shrugged and then walked in. A worker was cleaning the Gamemakers window.
"Welcome, Tribute Nine."
Yao nodded. He walked over to the dummy, ignoring the weapons. He positioned himself in front of the dummy and paused. He looked behind him to make sure the Gamemakers were watching. They were.
Yao took a step back and then swung his leg at the dummy's face. He jumped back and then sprung forward to hit it a few times in the chest. He kicked the dummy again, breaking a few of its fake ribs. He then jumped forward again and swung his forearm at the dummy's throat.
The neck snapped.
Yao stepped back and looked at it. "That was certainly easy, aru."
Kiku walked in after Yao left. He ignored whatever the Gamemakers were saying to him as he carefully selected the swords he wanted. He found two that met his standards and walked over the dummy.
Kiku ran up to it and swung both of the swords at its torso. He ran past it and then turned around, using one of the swords for support. He threw one of the swords and it pierced the dummy's back.
Kiku ran past the dummy again and held out the sword. It cut through its neck easily. He stopped running and bowed to the Gamemakers. Behind him, the dummy laid in various pieces on the floor in a puddle of red.
Kiku glanced at it and smiled as he left the room.
Ivan walked into the room, grinning in anticipation. Some workers were rushing to clean up the mess.
"Welcome, Tribute Eleven." A Gamemaker said, looking up for a moment.
"Hello!" Ivan greeted cheerfully as he glanced at the table. He grabbed a few knives off the table. He didn't really have an amazing display planned, but it would have to do.
Ivan took the knives and stood at the middle of the room. He proceeded to throw the knives, each one striking the dummy in the neck. He turned around to see the Gamemakers. They, however, weren't paying attention.
"That's not fair…" Ivan whispered, looking at them. He sighed and looked at the door. Then at the display of weapons.
Ivan grinned as he grabbed a section of pipe off the table. He wasn't sure why it was available there, but he didn't care. He walked over to the glass quietly.
Still, when he stood in front of them, the Gamemakers continued talking to each other, ignoring Ivan. He tapped on the glass with the pipe. They ignored him.
"How unfortunate…" Ivan said.
He swung the pipe forcefully at the glass. It created a large crack. Ivan swung again and the glass shattered. Small bits of it hit his face but he ignored it and stepped into the room.
Ivan swung the pipe at the person closest to him. The Gamemaker let out a small scream of pain before slumping lifelessly onto the table.
"You really shouldn't ignore me." Ivan said happily to the surviving Gamemakers who were backing away from him.
Ivan smiled and left the room.
Lovino stared at Ivan when he walked out of the room. He was splattered with blood and was carrying at blood covered pipe.
"What the hell did you do?" Lovino asked.
Ivan paused. "Go see."
Lovino walked into the room and saw the broken window. Some workers looked like they were carrying something out of the room. Then he noticed an empty seat where the Gamemakers were.
"Ah…welcome, Tribute Twelve." One of the Gamemakers said carefully.
Lovino looked at the table of weapons. He looked back at the Gamemakers and shook his head.
"I'm not doing anything for you bastards."