Chapter 6: Training
I stared at the view of the Capitol from the roof of the Tribute's Base. It was around dawn and I was waiting for that special moment to look at the sun rising in the horizon. Last night's experience got me in a horrible mood when I woke up this morning, but just looking at the sun always made me feel at peace, all thanks to my grandfather. While I was growing up, there were times where I would feel mad, depressed, and mostly insecure because I could not earn the same kind of love my mother had for my sister, Caroline. Grandpa would always notice this, so when I was eight, he would wake me up in the morning just to take me to the roof of our house and admire the sun while it is rising.
"Clove."
I woke up to the sound of my grandfather's voice when he gently shook me.
"What is it, Grandpa?" I asked sleepily.
"Come with me," he said. "I have something I want to show you."
We both entered his bedroom to go out onto the balcony. Grandpa always reserved this special room in the house because he says when he first moved here with grandma, before my dad was born of course, she was the first to show him the beauty of the sun. I never understood why it was so important to him, but I had a feeling he would tell me soon. We both went up the small steps that had access to the roof. I was surprised to find that there was a wooden bench facing eastward viewing District 2. We both sat down and waited in silence.
"Grandpa," I yawned. "Why are we up here? The sun is not even out yet."
"Just wait, sweetheart. I brought this for you and I to keep ourselves warm while we wait." He brought out a blanket and wrapped it around both of our shoulders.
"Clove, I know it must be hard on you," he started. "You try your best to get your mom's attention, and your father is no better either. I know you would give anything to at least have a moment where they can just look at you…to really look at you the way I look at you. You're strong. And you will grow up to be such a fine woman who is beautiful in her own way."
He looks at me with such caring and loving eyes. They're filled with such warmth that it suddenly made me realize that nobody but him, had looked at me that way.
"Grandpa," I breathed. "You really do care."
"Of course, I do!" He chuckles while he picked up a stray strand of my hair and tucked it behind my ear. "That's why I wanted to show you something that is going to happen in exactly thirty seconds."
"Why is it so important for you to show me?"
"Because what I am about to show you, will change how you view yourself."
He suddenly stood up and went behind me to cover my eyes. I was very confused at first, but when he slowly parts his fingers, my eyes squinted and I could make out a bright orange color that was ascending into the skyline. The feeling of watching the sun rising made me feel warm. It's beautiful. It absolutely took my breath away.
"Wow."
"Clove, what do you see?" Grandpa asked, kneeling down in front of me.
"I see the sun...rising. Like it's waking up to spread happiness to everyone."
"Exactly. Did you know what your grandma said to me when she brought me up here?" I shook my head.
"She said, 'Look. Look at the sun rising. Isn't it beautiful? Doesn't it just take your breath away? People do not give the time to appreciate its beauty and grace. They just think it only gives us light and energy to the world, but what they don't realize is that there are two very different kinds of feeling when watching the sunset and the sunrise. Both are very nice and beautiful in their own way, but when I watch the sunrise I feel that it gives me hope. That my day can have a new start…like you don't know what is going to happen, but you know it's going to be all right.' "
"Grandma said that?" I asked in wonder.
"Yes, from then on, I've always come up here whenever I had a bad day."
"Why…are you showing this to me?"
"Because I'm trying to give you hope in your life. You are growing up now. You're going to face a lot of challenges in your life and you will feel like giving up. I'm telling you to not give up. You may not have your mother or father, but you have me. I'll always be here for you…maybe not all time. But I will be in here." He pointed to my heart.
Watching the sun rise eventually became our thing, believe it or not. The man practically raised me. He taught and showed me more than I could ever imagine about life. I wiped a tear that cascaded down onto my cheek.
"I really miss you, Grandpa. I know you said you will always be in my heart, but it would be nice if you were here with me in person."
I could sense someone was behind me, drawing closer and closer. I was fully prepared to defend myself until…
"Clove, we're about to go to the training center soon."
Finnick. He puts a hand on my shoulder and squeezes it lightly.
"You heard?" I asked without turning back to look at him.
"Yeah…I did."
"He was my best friend, Finn," I sniffed.
"Your grandpa sounds like a great man."
"He was."
"Hey may not be here now, but I am. Come on, let's go. We're going to be late." He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and guided me back to the building.
I entered the building where we will be training for the whole week. I was already in my training outfit and my hair was tied into a ponytail along with little balls of braids on both sides of my head. Seems a little weird, but I guess it's just the Capitol's style. Finn and I were walking ahead when the tributes were trailing behind us.
"You ready for this?" He asked me.
I snorted, "I was born ready."
"Well good. Because this month's Death Games will be the most intense one yet."
"Yeah, it sucks that we don't know what type of environment the arena is. Any advice?"
"Yea…stay alive." His expression suddenly became serious. "Don't ever underestimate on what the Gamemakers could do."
I pursed my lips, knowing that that was no joke. I nodded. "Will do."
He opens the door for me to reveal the training room. It was huge! The other tributes started coming in when Thresh and Foxface were next to us.
"Wow," Thresh said. "You know, if we weren't training for the games I would be having a lot fun with all these weapons." I nodded in agreement.
There were lots of weapons and gadgets that were placed on displays just for us. I feel like I'm in heaven. My eyes instantly focused on the table that had a set of knives. Finn chuckles when he saw me eyeing them. He puts his forearm on my shoulder and leans onto me.
"Your specialty, Clove?"
I smirked at him, "You have no idea, Finn." I shrugged his arm off me and walked on ahead.
We were told to gather around in a circle. There was a woman, whose name is Atala, standing in the center from all of us.
"Welcome back, tributes. I hope you have prepared yourselves well enough for this month's games. Once again, you all are lucky to have made it this far. But before we begin, let me once again explain the rules for our new recruits." She eyed me then looked to my left where Foxface, Thresh, and Wesley were.
"I know the four of you did something terrible to put you in the games. Trust me, they all did." She gestured to the rest of the tributes.
"You all have committed a crime, therefore the result of your punishment is participating in the games. You will be replacing those who died in the arena, which explains why you were chosen. First of all, we hold the Death Games once every month. You will be placed in the arena for three full days where you would have to put your talents and skills into use. You will be fighting genetically engineered animals while trying to survive the severe weather changes or traps the Gamemakers has set out for you. Hunt, forge, and most importantly…survive. Do whatever it takes to stay alive. You must look out for one another in order to do so. Pay attention to what I have to say. And this is a reminder to you all." She looks at the group.
"No fighting with the other tributes, especially when you have the opportunity to kill them in the arena…don't. If you do, you will be faced with the worst kind of punishment than these games, trust me." She made her voice stern to show that she was serious.
There was once a time where tributes actually had to kill each other. It was called the Hunger Games. It lasted for a very long time, but the Capitol got bored because they would have to wait so many days just for one person to die. So they made the Death Games instead, where tributes are being constantly chased and on the run just to survive. As soon as the Death Games came out, it's been the number one most watched show in all of Panem. The system on how they choose their tributes is no longer just teens. A person who is the age of twelve or older, who has a record of crime or committed one, is permitted and will be immediately sent to the Death Games as a replacement for the one who is deceased. Only six boys and girls enter the arena. If a tribute kills another tribute with or without intention they will not be killed, but tortured.
"There could be some conflict that each of you have with one another, but if you want to stay alive you must work together." I noticed some of the tributes rolled their eyes. Sheesh, they can't stand the idea of staying in the same room with each other, but they stand it when their life is constantly put on the line? I mentally shook my head and feel sorry that they don't have enough common sense. I turned my attention back to Atala.
"My advice is do not ignore the survival skills. Any of you could bear a sword or weapon but most of you will die from natural causes. 10% from infection, 20% from dehydration. Exposure can kill you as easily as a knife."
After Atala's instructions, we begin training immediately. It was no surprise that I went straight to the table with my precious knives. I picked up a knife and took the time to admire its beauty. My fingertips traced its sharpness and quality. The way how the light touches the blade makes it much more beautiful. I smiled and picked up at least six knives and took my position in front of the targets. When they lit up I instinctively threw my knife and with no surprise, it hits the bulls-eye. Four others lit up and with each bulls-eye I hit it right on target. One thing about being a knife thrower is that I never missed. Just when I was about to throw my other knife, someone took it behind me. I turned around and was face to face with a boy who had a scar that ran from his eye down to his chin…Wesley. He examines my knife then whistles.
"I'm impressed, babe. But I must say you do quite the work."
I got really annoyed when he called me babe, "Wesley, may I please have my knife back?"
"Hmm, no. Let me give it a whack," he said when he quickly steps in front of me.
"Humph, how rude," I muttered and stepped a few feet away from him.
Wesley squinted his left eye to see if he can aim better than I did. I smirked then crossed my arms. He throws the knife and it bounces off the target. He growls and grabs another knife and throws it ending up with the same result. He picks up another and pulls his arm back, but before he could even throw it, I snatched it away from him.
"I suggest you should try other weapons before you hurt yourself with this one." I waved the knife in front of his face.
"Psh, all I need is some practice, big deal."
"It's not just that. You need practice and patience. Patience is the most important one of all. It tests how well your skill is and it gives you control. And by the looks of it, you don't seem to have any of that considering you made yourself look like an idiot just now."
"Whatever, Clove. You're cute, but don't you dare make fun of me. I am the best tribute here in this room."
I raised an eyebrow, "The best? You haven't even been in the games yet and you're already thinking that you are the best?
"I don't think, babe…I know," He winks at me.
I rolled my eyes at his comment, "Seriously, you have got to be the most conceited guy I have ever met."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"So stuck up," I muttered.
"And good looking."
"Such total jerk."
"With good taste," He eyes me with lusted eyes.
"Not to mention, a perverted pig."
"Oh just admit it, you think I'm irresistible," He takes a step closer to me. I crossed my arms and stand my ground to show that I am not that weak. I gave him my most evil smile when he stopped less than a foot away from me.
"In your dreams, Wesley. We're in the games now. There is no time and place for romance."
"Who says it's for romance?" He takes a lock of my hair then looks at me, "Maybe I just want us to hook up."
I scowled at him and in a nanosecond I grasped onto his hand tightly and twisted it back. He screams in pain, I took the opportunity to kick his ankle so that he ended up on his back with my knife against his throat.
"Listen here, Wesley, I am not here to play games. In fact, I am not even supposed to be here. I just want to survive. So whatever it is you have going in that little dirty mind of yours, keep it to yourself. Whoever you hook up with is none of my business as long as it's not me. And trust me, you do NOT want to mess with me." I got up and walked away leaving Wesley and everybody else stunned. Huh, didn't realize we had an audience.
"Wow," Finn said, "Remind me not to mess with you, Clo. You sure showed him."
"Yea well, he's being such a perverted pain in the butt. He's lucky that I didn't kill him."
"Yea, you do not want to do that. That would be the worst decision you could ever make when you're here. I would tell you, but it's not pretty."
"Maybe another time, I need to focus and train for this whole week. My grandpa would have wanted me to do that."
"And I'll help you with that. Let's go to Foxface, she's pretty good with choosing edible herbs and plants. And since she's an expert at foraging, it would help a lot in the arena."
What Clove didn't realize is that a certain prince was watching her the whole time and left him breathless when she threw her knives. The beautiful brunette did not even missed one target. Cato enjoyed watching Clove when she admired her knives earlier. He kept that in mind as he continues to study her. When he saw Wesley sneaking up behind her, it took all of his control not to barged in the room and beat up the guy. When he saw him talking with Clove, the young prince did not once, liked the idea of him flirting with her, let alone standing so close. He tightened his fists when Wesley's fingers touched a lock of her hair. But he was amazed when she brought him down in a blink of an eye and with a knife against his throat…that just made him want to get to know Clove more. And nothing is ever going to stop him.
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