It's the second day of training. As usual, the Careers are in a group. Intimidating and showing off to the other tributes as they train. Occasionally, Virgil will come up and compliment my appearance. Imagine an alarm clock that keeps beeping even after you shut the damned thing off. It gets annoying after a while, but I can't afford to waste my time about that. I have more important issues to take care off. My 'skill' at throwing spears.
I become more aggravated as I watch the spears land on the ground. Just shy of the target. Yesterday, I was at least hitting the target. Now my performance is pathetic. I bet the Gamemakers are enjoying me miserably fail at throwing spears. If I could, I would chuck one at them. But then I would most definitely get killed in the arena. They have ways of controlling the arena, and they would most likely find a way to kill me off by 'natural causes'. I then feel someone starting to wrap their arms around me. My body begins to fill with frustration as I drop the spear on the ground, wanting to turn around and strike my fist against their face. "I swear. If you keep doing that, I'll…" I cut off after I turn around and notice that it wasn't Virgil. It's Satin.
She gives me a grin. "You'll do what?"
"Thought you were Virgil…" I say as I look down to think for a bit before my gaze returns to Satin with a confused expression. "Wait, why were you trying to wrap your arms around me?" I ask. It's like I'm in a place for insane people. What were those called again? Insane asylums?
She laughs a bit as she stands next to me. "I just had to. I noticed Virgil trying to hit on you and I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to mess with you." She pauses for a moment, placing a finger on her lips as if she's thinking about something. "I also came for another reason."
What reason would she have to talk to me? First Virgil, and now Satin. What are they planning? Curious, I ask her what that reason was. Thinking that it would be some bullshit excuse to mock me.
"Well, we have been watching you as you train."
"And now you guys are stalkers. Good to know," I respond, slowly backing up.
"Just hear me out," she says, lifting her hand up as if to motion me to stop. "What you did yesterday with the throwing knives was surprising. I would have never thought you'd be able to hit the target, especially when you're not looking at it. Also with you volunteering to take some kid's place. Knowing of the dangers you're going to face. You are quite an interesting person. Someone who shouldn't be reckoned with."
I let her words flow into my head as I try to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Someone who shouldn't be reckoned with. "So, you're considering me a threat?"
She chuckles a bit, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Right now, you're nowhere near a threat. A bunny is more intimidating than you," she says, removing her hand and brushes some hair out of her face. Her chest puffs out as she takes a deep breath. "However, that can all change once you're in the arena. Once you're exposed to the threats around you, you just might become one yourself."
"What are you trying to get at?"
"After a brief discussion with my fellow tributes, especially Virgil, we would like to offer you a spot in our pact."
An invitation to join the Careers? It's rare when a tribute that isn't from 1, 2, and 4 becomes a part of the pact. Who would want to join them anyways? The other districts see it as a taboo. There isn't a single non-Career tribute that joins the pact who becomes the victor. Mostly because they're the first target when the only living tributes in the arena are the Careers.
"You actually want me to join?" I ask her, seeing if she was being serious about it.
"Well, Virgil wants you to join. He's fallen head-over-heels for you that the last thing he'd want to do is make you his next target. Non-stop begging us to let you join. 'You should invite Grant to join our alliance! God, he's such a cutie! Maybe if we were in the same district, we could be together!' Ugh, it's so annoying. I just want to rupture my eardrums so I don't have to listen to him," she says as she places her hand over her face. The hand moves as she continues to speak, "So we decided to observe you, and you may actually become useful."
I don't blame Satin for being annoyed with him. If I heard Jade talk about someone she found attractive here, I'd probably burst my eardrums as well. "So you want me to join so Virgil can shut up about it?"
A laugh leaves her mouth. "That's part of the reason, trust me," she states as she starts to walk away. For a brief moment, she turns around. "You don't have to join. It's just something to think about."
I watch as she walks away. There are now two things running through my mind. The invitation. Virgil falling for me. Why? We barely spoke a word to one another. I now know I'm in an asylum. Or purgatory. Either option would definitely explain it. But they're not true. I must have hit my head on something.
The day goes on and before I know it, it is over. I have better accuracy at throwing spears and knives. Instead of missing the target, I'm now able to hit it. Even if it's not on the bull's eye. I start to think if I should even join the Careers. I don't want to be around them. But accepting their invitation would mean I have a better chance of wiping them out. Infiltrate them from the inside out. Of course, they'll grow cautions over time, but I'll think of ways to convince them I'm on their side. That is if I even accept their invitation.
On the third day, we are to assess our skills to the Gamemakers in a private session. All of the tributes are gathered at the tables. Eating lunch as they anxiously wait to impress the Gamemakers. This is a big chance of gaining sponsor by getting a high score.
The first person to be called is Silk, from District 1. They call in the tributes in order from district. Male first. Silk starts the first private session. Brielle finishes the last private session.
I'm sitting in a small group that now contains Jade, Brielle, and Redmond. Over the past couple days, Jade and I have been acquainted with the District 12 tributes. If anyone, Jade will most likely ally herself with District 12. I, on the other hand, am still considering whether or not to join the Careers. My district will most likely despise me. But they don't know my intentions. And they won't, unless I stay alive.
"So, what did Satin want from you?" Brielle asks me.
How should I answer? If I tell them she asked me to join the Career pact, they'll get pissed off. I know it. I would too. I don't want to lie to them, but I just don't know how well they'd take it. It's not like I accepted, but they'll assume I will.
"She was just criticizing my skill at throwing spears. That and also how a bunny is more intimidating than I am," I reply, hoping they would buy it. They do. After all, I'm not lying about that.
Brielle shakes her head. "Man, I can't stand them. Always acting like they're superior over us. I mean, yeah. They win almost every year. But not every single year."
"That and she seems like the spoiled type," Redmond joins in the conversation as he places a spoonful of stew into his mouth. He swallows the stew and continues to speak. "Oh, look at me. I'm little miss spoiled bitch who gets whatever I want. I'm the best at everything. My papa told me," he imitates Satin.
We laugh a little bit. Almost every tribute from District 1 shows a sign of being spoiled at some point in their life. They are from the district of luxurious goods after all.
"You know she can hear you, right?" Jade says as we look over to Satin, who's glaring at Redmond.
"I don't care. She can listen all she wants," he replies.
My attention is now shifted towards Virgil, who's looking over at me with a soft smile. Oh god. It's like being ten all over again where the only signs of love is gazing over at your crush. I turn around and continue to eat my food, trying to forget about him.
"Hey, Grant. Why is Virgil looking at you like that?" Brielle asks.
"Just ignore him," I reply, knowing why he's doing so. It's a bit creepy. Having someone stare at me as I'm trying to eat. It makes me a bit uncomfortable.
My name is now called. I stand up, pushing my tray in front of me. Here goes nothing. I have to admit. I'm a bit nervous. What if I screw up and they give me a low score? I'll most definitely not get sponsors if that's the case. With a deep breath, I start to walk towards the door.
"Good luck," Jade tells me. She receives my response of 'you too.'
The gym is now empty. I glance around to find any axes and targets. There they are, over by the Gamemakers. I look up at them as I grab my axe. The targets are now arranged in a circle, each at least 50 feet away from me.
The Gamemakers are chatting amongst themselves. Did they not see me enter? Watching the tributes perform must be boring, but they should be paying attention. They're only halfway done with the sessions.
I clear my throat and state my name. "Grant Moore. From District 7."
They turn their head to me. Their faces have an unimpressed look on them. A couple of them focus their attention on me while the others barely pay any attention to me. It's like being here is pointless.
I haven't even started and they're looking at me like that. I have to act fast. My first axe hits the target spot on. One after another, the axes fly through the room. Hitting the bull's eye. I'm finally down to my last axe. But there are no more targets. This must have gotten their attention now. I look up and sigh. Most of them aren't even looking at my direction. I only see a few of them nodding, but the rest of them haven't noticed me. Even the head Gamemaker. Above me hangs a crystal chandelier. The light reflects from the crystals as I get an idea. If they're not going to notice me, I'll have to make them look. I take several steps back as I launch my axe towards the chandelier. The axe hits the tip of it, causing it to lose balance. The chandelier then comes crashing to the ground, ending with the pops of light bulbs. "Shit… I wasn't expect that to happen," I mutter to myself. I was just trying to rustle the chandelier, hoping the noise of the crystals smacking into each other would force them to look at me. Well, they are now.
"You may go now, Grant," the Head Gamemaker says, nodding as he bids me farewell. He doesn't look impressed at all. Those emotionless eyes stare at me as I walk out, heading back to my floor.
