Chapter 7

Before dinner, we were allowed to relax and unwind. I removed any sort of fakery from my body andchanged into a simple plain white top and blue trousers. I thought it was a good idea to see the tributes and how they were reaped. I asked Effie for a video and she gave me one. I ended up having dinner in my room and whilst eating, I watched the districts from 1 to 12, and making notes on any potential threats during the Games. I immediately put down all the tributes from 1, 2 and 4, also noticing the boy who was glaring at us, he was from District 2 and he jumped at the chance to volunteer. The girl from District 5, who resembled a fox to the last detail, she would most likely be sly and tricky. Both tributes from 11. The boy from 11 was just as built as an ox like the boy from 2, yet what threw me off guard was his partner, what looked like to be 12 year old girl, yet she showed no emotion on her face, she didn't even looked scared. But she could be hiding something deadly like I am so she went down too. Also I put Burnet down too, knowing that she will want me just as dead as the boy from District 2.

"Tyson. Can you come here?" Effie called. I put down my notepad and pen and left my room. It looked like dinner had finished and Effie, Haymitch and Burnet were sitting on the couch

"Good you're here" Haymitch pointed at a seat for me. I sat down.

"Tomorrow, you start training. My advice is don't show what you can really do until you have your private session with the Gamemakers" Haymitch said

"What?" I was completely stunned. I always thought that the Gamemakers assessed you after the 4 days of training "What private session" Burnet started laughing but Effie answered

"The Gamemakers are going to assess how you are during training and your private session. So try to put on the best performance that you can. The private session is where they will give you a score up to 12 so save your best talent for that" she said. Burnet stopped laughing

"I don't care about some private session. I'm gonna make myself known, I am not going to be waiting in the dark" and with that, she stormed out of the room. Haymitch rolled his eyes and Effie sighed

"Well, kid. Don't show the Gamemakers what you can really do until your private session. Until then, learn different things. Use a sword, make knots, learn how to make fires, know what is poisonous and what isn't" said Haymitch. But since my dad had taught me most of the things that I needed to know then I wouldn't need to go, but I didn't tell Effie and Haymitch this. Effie shrieked when she looked at the clock and was quickly ushering me to bed, telling me that tomorrow is a 'big, big day". I quickly soon fell asleep.

The bright Capitol sun woke me from sleep as Effie was shaking me awake.

"Up, up, up. A big, big day. You start training. I want you up and dressed in 10 minutes" she said, walking out of the room. I slowly got up out of bed and headed for the shower. I got a quick shower and saw something was laid out for me to wear. A plain black top and red stripes on going down the short sleeves and a pair of black pants with black shoes and socks. I noticed the number 12 was also imprinted on both sides of the sleeves. I got dressed and walked into the living room. Effie, Haymitch and Burnet were already up and eating breakfast, I walked over and made myself know.

"Good, you're awake. Sit" Haymitch said. I took a seat next to Burnet, who this time wasn't stuffing her face but taking more time. I found a good stack of pancakes, dripping in what looked like to be syrup and fruit and started to eat. I spotted a cup filled with what Effie said was hot chocolate, I took a sip and it was delicious. Whilst we ate, Haymitch spoke

"I am under the impression that you still want to be coached separately" he asked. Both Burnet and I nodded our heads.

"Fine, since Burnet you don't want anything to do with Tyson, I have no idea what you're good at, if you are good at something. I can only say what I told you last night. Learn how to throw something, how to tie a decent knot. Anything" added Haymitch.

Once we had finished eating and it was nearing 10, Effie took us down to the Training Centre, this meant taking a lift all the way down and a little underground. We got out and when we found the Training Centre, I noticed we were the last to arrive. I accepted the hug from Effie and Burnet immediately turned it down and walked off. I received a few arrogant smiles from District 1 and 2. Effie got back into the lift and I walked and found a little place for myself away from the arrogant smiles and Burnet. We were in a room with various stations, some teaching survival, others teaching combat. There was a room above with about 15 (as far as I counted) men inside, I instantly put them under the category of Gamemakers. This was peachy, they can see me being pathetic, and I can see myself getting a 1 at this rate.

A woman who introduced her herself as Atala started to explain the rules

"You may move around freely to any of the stations as you please. There will be trainers at all the different training spots. There is to be no fighting with other tributes during training. All the fighting will be done in the arena." I zoned out so I could get a proper look at who I might go up against. All the tributes from Districts 1 and 2 were taller, more heavily built and healthier than I was. Back in District 12, we call them Careers, as they train for the Hungers Games their entire lives and they volunteer whenever they think their ready. In their district, winning the Hunger Games is a huge honour, not like in District 12. They radiate cockiness and brutality. Yet despite they might be able to handle weapons with ease, I have a weapon of my own. However, some of the tributes you can see their bones and will clearly be no match for the Careers. Since me and my father have been putting food on the table for the past 2 years, I do have a couple more pounds than the others. I snapped back to reality as Atala had finished and was letting us go. The Careers immeadtily went to the weapons and grabbed the nastiest looking one they could find and using it like it was nothing. Burnet went and joined them. She noticed them glaring at her, obviously us winning the crowd over at the tribute parade was still sour in their mouths. However, she picked up a sword and with one powerful swing, took a dummy's head clean off. She then threw it and impaled another dummy straight through the heart. I walked over to the knot tying stand so they didn't know I was eavesdropping

"That was impressive" a harsh voice said "How do you fancy joining our group?" I deliberately turned around yet still worked on tying knots, so I could see who asked the question. It was the boy from District 2.

"Glad to" Burnet smiled for the first time ever, showing slightly crooked teeth.

"Are you sure this is a good idea, Cato?" asked the girl from District 1

"Sure. She just showed that she will be useful" Cato replied

I couldn't believe that Burnet was joining the Careers. Careers are normally from Districts 1, 2 and occasionally 4, not 12. They then walked over to the boy from District 11 who was sitting in a corner, on his own. I overheard the little girl from his district call him Thresh.

"Hey, you're strong. How about joining us?" asked Cato

"No." answered Thresh in a deep voice

"Are you sure? This is a one chance offer" the boy from District 1 persisted

"Yes." was the reply

"Leave him, let it be on his head" the girl from District 2 said. I was so immersed on eavesdropping that I forgot about tying knots. I quickly resumed, smiling at the fact that they didn't expect Thresh to say no, making it more satisfying. I think that I should start to show how 'weak' I was.

I walked over to the knife throwing and picked up one of them

"Can you throw knifes?" the trainer asked. The truth is, I could. Once, I was so close from striking my father in the throat and since then I haven't touched a single weapon so I was slightly rusty. But, I shook my head and tried to throw one, it clattered harmlessly against the dummy. I heard laughing and turned around. The Careers were smirking at me, knowing that despite the tribute parade, I was weak in their eyes. That is exactly what I want them to think, I try to throw more knives and each are either missing its mark or clattering off the dummy. The trainer tries to help me improve and I was getting ticked off at the Career's snickering so I purposely thrown a knife at the dummy, striking it straight in the head. The Careers are still smirking at me, obviously thinking it as beginner's luck. I move away, to the plant station. I cleaned the end test without blinking an eye, thankful for my father's training in teaching me on what plants are poisonous or not.

Soon enough we were all called for lunch, we all we directed into a room and there were tables and chairs to sit on and what looked like a 5 course banquet laid out on 3 tables. The Careers were the first to attack the buffet and found a table to sit on and made menacing looks to tell everyone that no-one is allowed on their table. But I waited in line patiently behind the girl from District 5. I helped myself to a large portion of sandwiches, fruit and juice. I sat on my own table, I was soon joined by the girl from District 11

"Can I sit down?" she asked. I was surprised on how quiet and shy she sounded, but I nodded my head and she sat down and quietly ate her lunch

"So you're from District 11? Agriculture, right" I asked, she nodded her head slowly and continued eating. I tried to engage her in conversation but with little success. She just wanted to keep herself to herself. Soon after, we went back in the training room. I went back over to the knot tying station. I was quickly joined by the girl from 11. I quickly start to tie knots with flawless results. She tried to do some but it was clear that she wasn't as good as me.

"The knot goes through the loop not around it" I said

"What" she asked

"The knot goes through the loop, not around it" I abandoned mine and showed her the proper way

"Thank you" she smiled at me. I heard a few sneering sounds, looking around to notice that the Careers were looking at me and the girl from 11. Well, if they can make allies, then why can't I?

"I'm Tyson. Tyson Galloway" I held out my hand. She accepted it.

"Rue" was the answer. Rue was a little yellow flower that I usually see in the meadow in the summertime, it seemed to fit this girl perfectly. She quickly bustled off.

"You may leave if you like" the trainer said. I had forgotten about tying knots and was more focused on Rue. I left and went to archery where the girl from District 1 was. She was clearly an amateur when it came to a bow and arrow, the only time she makes contact with a target is in the arm. I forget archery and walk away. Thankfully, Atala stepped in the room.

"The first day of training is complete. You may leave" she spoke loudly for everyone to hear. Everyone left in silence, and all took different elevators, unfortunately I was in one with Burnet. I broke the silence quickly

"You seemed to be getting well acquainted with the Careers" I said

"What's it to you, pipsqueak? I am a member of the Careers now and the person I'm hunting for first is you" she snapped. The doors opened to reveal Haymitch and Effie

"By the sounds of your voices and the looks on your faces. The first day wasn't good" said Haymitch

"You bet it was. It seems that Burnet likes to hang around the Careers" I answered.

"You joined the Careers?" Effie shrieked

"So what? It's got nothing to do with any of you. I do things my way" Burnet stormed off and we received the sound of a slammed door at the end of the room

"I wouldn't mind if she did get killed" Haymitch murmured under his breath, Effie threw his a filthy look and stared at me

"What have you been up to, Tyson" she wondered

"Been following Haymitch's orders and I think I might of got an ally" I said

"Who?" they asked

"Rue, from District 11" Haymitch rolled his eyes, but Effie seemed delighted

"Well done. Now you have a better chance of winning." She hugged me

"About a 1% more chance of winning" said Haymitch

"I'd rather have 1% chance than have no chance at all" I snapped at Haymitch. I walked off to my room and pulled off my sweaty training suit. I got in the shower and cleaned myself off all the sweat and grime from today's training. I got dressed and I didn't want to speak to either Burnet or Haymitch so I had dinner in my room again. I took in what had happened today. The Careers think I'm weak and made a possible ally.

Thanks for reading. To recap, the first day of training begins and Burnet gets into the Career pack and the boy who was glaring at Tyson at the parade, named Cato, asks Thresh from District 11, if he would like to join the Career pack, which Thresh refused and to Tyson's amuesment.

Thanks for reading. I hope that you liked it and you keep reading

-Writer1698