Katniss has taught me how to fire an arrow, I'm not the best but it'll have to do. I show techniques on how to throw the axe just right, and she tells me the story of another ex-competitor, Johanna Mason. Apparently she was more than proficient with an axe. She was famous for her wicked ability to kill.
During lunch, Lacey, Emmet, and Carly came up to us, and asked us to train with them, but we both denied them. We've agreed to only work together during trainings and we have our alliance formed. Destinique is not in it though, I told her it would be better for her to be with District 1. She easily agreed. I told her I was really sorry, but Katniss wanted to go in alone, and it was the only way I could've gone with her.
In the second round of training after lunch, Katniss tells me that we should watch our opponents. Just to study.
Destinique has now shown that she isn't just the luckiest person to play the games. She has shown that she can really throw the boomerang. Landon is sword fighting with an assistant and he's just as good as me, probably better. Katniss points out Carly, who sits alone in the knot-tying station. Just sitting there. Weaving the same knot, undoing it, then starting over. Lacey told me about Carly's flashbacks. They always put here back in her original games, where she watched her best friend get killed by the pick axe Carly threw in the wrong direction. Lacey says that Carly's hard exterior is so she can keep people out.
"She can be in our alliance," Katniss says watching Carly. "I'll tell her. We can have one more, your choice." I look around and see Destinique trying so hard. Her new team members seem to really enjoy having her around, and she loves the attention. Can I really take that away from her?
"I'll ask Destinique today, but if she says no, I'll want Emmet to be part of this." We both look over to him, and he seems to be surrounded by many of the female tributes in the wrestling station.
"Another Finnick, huh?" She says distantly. "I'll accept."
Later that day at dinner, I asked Destinique if she wanted to be part of my alliance with Carly and Katniss. "I would, but I've already dedicated myself to District 1. Maybe if I lose them in the arena or they don't turn out to be a good team."
"If you say so." It looks like I'm going to be in an alliance with Emmet, Carly, and Katniss. Four against 44. I'm not sure our alliance will make it far, we'll break soon in.
The next day while I waited to be called in for my private session, I located Emmet sitting with Milly and the rest of his District. I pulled him aside and I asked him. "So Emmet do you want to join me and Katniss in an alliance?"
"I'm I the only one besides you two?" He asked looking back to Milly.
"No, Carly is also part of it."
"I would, but if I do, I have to bring Milly with me." Milly is tough and smart. Plus, like me, she received tons of gifts from sponsors in her games. She could help us, but I have to talk to Katniss about. I think she might accept it if we both start thinking strategically.
I go up to Katniss who sits next to an angry-faced Carly. "Katniss, I asked Emmet, but he said he wouldn't join unless we let Milly joins us."
"No," she says without thinking about it.
"But Katniss, I think that having her around could help us,"
"No."
"Katniss, I'll have to agree with Adonis. Milly is a really good player. Haven't you seen her toss the assistant around like a rag doll," Carly lightens up at the thought of Milly being with us.
"She can also help us get more sponsors. At least just think about it. Emmet, Milly, Carly, you, and I. We can get far in this game together."
We keep trying to convince her until finally she agrees to let her into the group. I hug her so tightly that I can't feel myself breathe. My name is announced and before I tell Emmet and Milly there in. I go into the gymnasium for my private session with the Gamemakers.
I walk in and all is quiet except for the Gamemakers scribbling something down on their papers. I stand in front of them, and wait for all of there attention to be on me. "You may begin," says the head Gamemaker almost sounding impatient.
"Oh, yes, I was just waiting for everyone's eyes and ears to be on me." I begin. I walk over to the swords and pick up one. "This sword is sharp. I mean it has to be in order to be good, to survive. Just like people. We have to be sharp in order to keep our lives. Especially the other 47 tributes and I. You can all sit here with no threat to your lives, right?"
Some of them nod. "Or so you think," I can hear the clank of glasses being put down. "I was told of the last Quarter Quell. How all the victors, tributes, all got together and made a stand against the Capital. If I remember correctly, they were successful. And the Gamemakers that year were all tortured and killed for their stupidity. I guess you can say that they weren't sharp." I can feel the air in the atmosphere tense up.
"I'd hate to see that happen again. But who's to say what'll happen. I mean I'm the one going into the Arena. And in the Arena. There is a lot of things that cannot be censored." I look over to the head Gamemaker. "If something big happened like it did last time, I feel like you'd get the worst of it. Don't get me wrong, you'd all get something bad, but you. You would regret ever sending me into the arena."
I start walking to the elevator. "I would like a sword, bow and arrows, a pick axe, and some maces to be in the cornucopia. Plus fill a couple of packs with some goodies for me, and make sure they're placed near Katniss Everdeen and Carly Rodgers from District 12, Milly and Emmet Green from District 5, and me. If that doesn't happen...then...may the odds be ever in your favor." I walk into the elevator and go up to my floor. I think I'll be having an advantage in these games.