Chapter 8
all goes to Suzanne Collins- everything is hers
Time to shine, Interviews
The next day passes fast, our training is limited. I observe the others that will be a challenge. Cato knows swords and hand to hand combat. Rue knows how to use a slingshot and is very quick. Thresh is so strong and tall, he has knowledge and use of some weirdly shaped staff thing. Gale of course, is the snare and knot master, where as Foxface, girl from district 5, is the most intelligent person I've seen.
Or know, if you can think of knowing these people before you kill them. I shudder at the thought, being a piece in their games, yet I have no choice. Since I already showed them my spears, and knots, and even beat Foxface in the herb and plant test, I feel the need to hide something.
I'm the best at the bow, and I itch at Glimmer from district 1 doing horribly at aiming, or anything. I know that I can show them everything, but I will show the gamemakers.
I might have a chance then. Maybe. Peeta and I have talked quietly about what to do, after, I tell him that I love him. He beams brighter than the sun at that point. I grin back, because he's that only one to make me happy while this is going on.
I try not to think about Prim. My sweet, innocent sister. I refuse to, always.
I will die for her, win for her, win for Peeta. I just don't know how.
When we are called in front of the gamemakers, it is individual. 12 goes last. I go last, like always. It seems to be routine here, 12 going last. We lonely give them coal, so what does it matter?
Gale pats me on the back as he goes in.
Later, Catnip. The doors close with an emptiness.
I wait ten minutes before my name is called with a mechanical chirp.
Katniss Everdeen.
I stand and walk in. The first thing that I notice is that the game makers are mostly drunk, with Sencea Crane entertaining them with a apple pig.
When I announce myself, they laugh. It makes me angry. I take the bow, load and arrow, and shoot it at the human target standing. A bulls eye! They don't seem to care, but I keep going. Taking a spear, to another target. A perfect shot. Throw soe knives, all hit there mark. yet nothing, they don't pay attention.
I then snap. They think that a pig is so important? I load and arrow, take careful aim, and shoot.
The arrow goes through the apple and The pigs mouth, and sticks to the wall. This moment is priceless, complete shock, one falls into the punch bowl, mostly shrieks and gapes of mouths. I use my trademark scowl.
"Thanks for the consideration!" I growl. I then throw the bow behind me, and leave.
Effie criticizes me for manners, and how they'll harm me. They already will, when the interviews come. They will harm Peeta in the process, yet I'm too angry at those shallow and evil people right now.
Cinna notices me fuming by the time the interviews come. I'm in a fire red dresswith jewel fire designs all over. I look stunning, and I would be happier if he wasn't a pyromaniac. I remember Haymitch's two thumbs up
Great job sweetheart! As much as I hate that nickname, it amuses the others. I scowled. As we waited for the training scores from Ceasar, I held Peeta's hand. He isn't doing well over this, I know. It's not like the apple stunt did anything to help. I wonder it'd someone can get a zero. I groan as Cato and Clove both get tens, Fox face gets a five, and Rue a seven. Thresh gets a nine, which is surprising.
When it comes to 12, I'm shaking. Gale lets out a whoop of joy when he achives a nine. Well done! I croak. I'm so terrified.
Ceasar then says my name, then a picture of me comes on screen.
He gasps and says, 12!
twelve!
Me, Katniss Everdeen, gets a 12 in training. The room goes ballistic, Haymitch sloppy grin makes me day, almost. Peeta pulls me in for a long kiss, and then before I know it, he has me off my feet into my room.
I smile, remembering last night.
Cinna says, just be yourself.
I realize that Cinna knows how to relax me. The wait isn't long until I'm up, and I grin at Gale. He's in a suit with red flames and hugs me back.
As Ceasar calls for my enterance, I play the game the Capitol wants me to.
It's for Prim and Peeta, because I threw an arrow at the gamemakers.
