Here is part one of Training! It consists of only the first day and includes four POVs. I hope you like it.
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District 1: Bliss Honeycutt's POV
I try to stomach the lobster omelet as I am forced to watch the animated conversation surrounding. Training days, these are the three days that I never wanted to go through. Yes, the Games themselves were the worst days of a kid's life, but for me, Training came in close second. It feels like so much pressure, being forced into alliances and told to make friends you will just end up killing off when it comes down to it.
"Remember, recruit the strong ones and try to gain trust of the rest," Cashmere finishes before taking a bite of her own omelet. Marco nods like it makes perfect sense, but I feel myself choking silently on my bite. I try to push the thought of gaining the trust of the little girl from 3 only to kill her. I bet Marco is planning to do the same thing.
"What about 2? Something is off about them this year," Marco comments. Instantly, our two mentors and escort freeze. Despite my refusal to meet Marco's eyes since are break up, we share a confused glance. The mere mention of 2 seems to send our mentors into a state of uneasiness.
"You must keep them close," Cashmere says finally after heaving a sigh. "The farther they are from your trust circle, the worse it will be for you. They are powerful allies, but far more powerful as enemies. Do not set them off or send them away, hear me?"
Both Marco and I nod before our escort speaks up. "It is about time for Training so come on," she says in a cheery fashion. I place my crumpled napkin on the table and get up to follow. Marco is right behind me.
"So what do you think about 2," Marco asks. A tiny spark of anger lights itself in my mind. How can he expect to just talk to me like he did nothing two years ago? I hate the son of a bitch, but he seems to think we are the best of friends again. Not like we ever were to begin with.
"We should just do what our mentor told us to do," I respond in a monotone and briskly walk past him and into the elevator. However, I can't shake the boy and he ends up right beside me in the rather large elevator. Our escort does not enter the elevator, but instead just presses the button and sends us downwards. She must expect we know what to do. Everyone always assumes so much of District 1.
"I want to apologize," Marco announces once the doors of the elevator are completely closed. "What I did two years ago was completely out of line and I have felt guilty about it for all the time we were apart. I want to start fresh." With that, Marco extends his hand to me with a rather sincere look on his face, one I almost believe.
I give him a cold stare and then turn away from him and his hand. I have no intentions of reconnecting with him ever again. I hate doing it, but sometimes I imagine him dying in the arena. It makes me feel gleefully happy. Luckily, I am never the killer.
"Come one Bliss, babe. I said I was sorry. Deep down, I know I am just an asshole who doesn't deserve you, but my heart begs me to try to win you back. I am incomplete with out you." He caught me when he called himself an asshole. I looked and now I feel the frozen part of my heart where I keep any feelings for him unthawing. Why did I look?
"Listen Marco…"
I am interrupted by Marco waving my words away. "No, Bliss. I am afraid I can't take no for an answer. I will die without you in my life. I need you." I feel the passion in his eyes and I just know they are in mine too as much as I try to fight it. And when his lips collide with mine, I don't shy away.
The swish of the elevator doors opening saves me from getting in over my head. I run out of the doors and into the large circle of tributes already listening to the usual Training Rules. I avoid Marco's gaze until the speech is over and then I bolt again. Of course, bolting when you are surrounded by a large group of people is not the best idea.
"Watch where you're going," someone snaps when I crash into them. I don't fall and neither does the person, but I still feel a sharp pain in my right arm. That will leave a large bruise no doubt.
"I'm sorry," I say while fighting back a blush. I look up to see the boy from District 11 looking a bit angry, but seemingly unharmed. Why should he be? I am about half his size if that. Still I rattle off an apology anyway. I can't be making enemies in the first five minutes of Training.
"No harm done I guess," the boy says, sounding a bit less irritated at me. "Just watch where you are going next time. I wouldn't want a pretty girl like you running into trouble in the arena." He doesn't give me another glance and begins to walk away.
"Hey!" I yell at his back, hoping he won't get mad. He turns his head slightly to look back at me. "What's your name? I'm Bliss Honeycutt."
"Well Bliss Honeycutt, I'm Arin Anders."
District 7: Steam Trace's POV
"Is this right?" I ask, well more beg, for the fourth time. The instructor barely even gives me a glance this time. Instead he nods curtly and moves on to the girl from 12. I just shrug my shoulders and desperately try to string the bow again. I don't want to kill anyone, but I need to take precautions. Just enough to hurt someone is my goal.
"I think you are holding it wrong," a voice from behind me suggests. I turn to see the girl from 3 standing being me, smiling sweetly. I don't know why, but the smile reminds me of Jasper. She has a smile like that.
I don't want to, but I shake away the thought of Jasper. I can't be distracted by her if I am going to win to get back to her. Even I can't really wrap my mind around how I will do it, but I am determined to stay optimistic that good times will come for me. It shouldn't be hard for me of all people.
"You know how to shoot a bow and arrow?" I ask the little girl, trying not to sound like I think of it as a joke. However, the girl shakes her head with a laugh.
"Of course not, but the way you are holding it looks funny," she informs me with a smile. "My name is Shiloh by the way. Shiloh McCarthy." The girl extends her hand to me and I drop the bow for a brief second to shake it.
"I'm Steam Trace," I tell Shiloh. I drop her hand and wait for something, but the girl seems to be suddenly lost and thought. "Um, are you okay?"
"I knew a boy named Trace," Shiloh says in a dreary type voice, as she is half trapped in a dream. "Nice boy." Shiloh continues to stare straight at the wall as I try to make sense of why she is acting like this. "I have to go," she says, walking aimlessly towards the other end of the room.
"She is bi-polar and just a bit off," another voice from behind me says. I turn to see Shiloh's brother standing behind me, looking at Shiloh from across the room. "Miles McCarthy in case you didn't know." I shake the boy's hand as well.
"It must be tough, thinking about what will happen in the arena," I say grimly. Miles nods with a now more sober look on his face.
"It is horrifying."
"I'm here you are, about to enter a brutal war where every person is desperate to get back home. There is such little chance," I comment.
"You don't think we can't make it?" Miles asks me, a stormy look suddenly coming to face much like his sister and her dream trance. My first reaction is to back away, almost tripping over my discarded bow on the way.
"No, I am just says everyone has something to live for and it will be hard. I am trying to get back to my fiancé," I tell him, hoping to gain a bit of sympathy. I don't want to start any fights or make any enemies. I just want to get through training with out slicing the tip of my finger off with an arrow.
"I wouldn't count on it. As you said, we are all here to win. I just want to get my baby sister home and I will die doing it. Are you willing to kill a bunch of other kids to get back to your girl? Isn't that a bit selfish?" Miles leaves before I could defend myself, but honestly, I wouldn't know what to say. What he is saying makes perfect sense.
"Pick up that bow kid. It's expensive," the instructor barks and I scramble to pick it up. Still, my mind it spinning with thoughts of what Miles said. What would I do to get back to Jasper? Can it really be categorized as selfish? Is there even such thing as selfish in a game like this where the price is your life?
The mixed morals are mind blowing.
District 4: Kantix Kosmelt's POV
The Career table. It is just right in the middle of everything. It is just a table, nothing special. Yet every single kid who does not belong at said table is avoiding it like the plague. Just our table strikes fear into the hearts of those we have set out to kill. It is enough to make us feel horrible. We don't of course. We are just Careers and that is just our table. The thought of being outside of it is a foreign concept.
I sit down, slamming my tray a bit too hard. A clump of my mashed potatoes lands on the table with a plop. I ignore it, but it does not go unnoticed by Camille who gives me a look of disgust before wiping it away with a napkin. She throws it to the other side of the table, having it land right in front of Bliss. This seems like a normal gesture in the real world. But this isn't the real world and I know Camille did it on purpose. In Careers world, accidental disrespect is an immediate sign of secret scorn.
I let the moment pass since I do not know what to do. I let the rest of the group sit. Ben and Anna are last as I suspected they would be. The pair sits across from Camille and Marco, but refuse to make eye contact. I feel a bit of tension begin to rise, but I try to ignore that too.
Marco is the first to speak among us, relieving some of the awkwardness that had risen with the tension. "Is it just going to be the six of us or are we going to recruit? I have seen a few possible recruits if we are in the market."
A few quick glances are passed around before I speak up. "The boy from 10 looks good. He seems strong and quiet. He will be a good ally." I pray that I made a reasonable argument, but a huff from Camille kills my hope.
"Isn't he like, black?" Camille asks in a slightly disbelieving tone. She acts like I shouldn't have even brought him up as an option, like he is below us. I should have known she of all people would reject the idea of Raze as part of our pack.
"That is so typical," Anna sneers, surprising us all with her loudness. The rest of the cafeteria goes silent, trying to get a peek at Career problems. "Of course you would reject that idea. You're racist. Daddy brought you up really well, didn't he? You would be lucky to have someone like him protecting you. You are lucky in the Careers because if you weren't, you would be totally bloodbath."
Nobody can help it, we all gasp. Being called bloodbath was one of the worst insults in this situation. Bliss and I share a look of almost horror over the scene. I would not have pinned Anna to react so brash over Camille's insolent little comment. It really does show how much Careers hold back their deepest thoughts until their breaking point.
I catch a brief look of Marco and I can almost see the steam coming from his ears. "So do we want him or not," he hisses, bringing down our volume. Camille immediately shakes her head, sticking her nose in the air. I shake my head as well. We don't need to bring unnessacrary drama into this pack. Bliss does not respond along with Ben. Anna gives a brief nod, but it is clear the vote is not in the boy's favor. Well, I don't know if he'd even want it.
"I guess he is not on the team," I say to finish the vote. I want to end what I started. I shouldn't have spoken up in the first place. District 4 is known to be the ones on the sideline, going along with the leaders of 1 and the brutes of 2. Who are we kidding? We don't belong here.
I look down at the table. Even it is mocking me.
District 6: Finn Darrenhall's POV
I manage to get out of the cafeteria last out of everyone. It is just my luck I suppose. Still, I get to watch all the weaker District flock back over to the survival stations while the Careers monopolize the weapons again. It is easily predicted that is how it will go for all three days. A few braver souls of the weaker Districts dare to take on the weapons, but I chose to follow suit with the rest of my people. Not because I am scared of the Careers. I did the weapons before lunch.
The knot station happens to be the least populated area with just the boy from 12 sitting their. I heard rumors about him being crazy, but I decide not to believe them until I know him well enough. I take the seat next to him and listen to the instructor tell me how to tie a simple beginners knot.
The boy from 12 gives me one peculiar looks before just getting up and leaving. I can't conclude he is a nut job from that one exchange, but it is easy to see something is off in his head. I find myself hoping I won't ever find out what that something is. I continue to tie my knot is peace alone and I find it very pleasant.
Over time, I move on to harder knots. Deep down, I think knot tying is a waste of time, but I have nowhere else to go and no one else to buddy up with. Some our sticking with their District partners and I see others forming alliances. I smile a knowing smile to myself when I see boy girl pairings. I wonder who the next Mimi and Storm will be.
Eventually, a girl joins me in knot tying. I surprise myself when I recall her name and District. Katarina Peters from District 5. I don't remember her reaction to being reaped, but I can already tell she is a quiet one. Still, I need at least one friend in this game.
"I'm Finn Darrenhall," I tell her after the instructor is finished giving her the simple knot assignment. Katarina looks me up and down before just nodding and starting her beginning knot. Even when she is just starting, I can see she will be having problems.
The secret is to keep your hands and fingers loose," I tell her with a smile. She looks at me again and does another nod before attempting the knot again with some success. "So, you're the quiet type? I like to think of myself as the quiet kind myself. We might make a good…"
I am about to say team with I feel Katarina nudging my arm. I turn to look at her again and see her shaking her head. When she sees she has my full attention, she covers her hand over her mouth. I furrow my eyebrows a bit in confusion before the conclusions snaps into place.
"Oh, you can't talk. I'm sure that will get you some support. I don't see how you will do the interview since talking is required," I tell her. I almost see a smile on her lips before she turns back to her knot tying. I hate having someone here and not being able to voice my opinions so I decide to continue talking.
"As I was saying before you told me about your thing, I think we will make a good team. I don't know if you have made any promises to anyone or anything, but I am kind of on my own here so if you want to…"
I feel her poking at my arm again and I look at her again to see her smiling for real. Katarina nods at me which I hope means she has accepted my ally request. I smile in response, but I can't help wondering how this will work out if I can't really communicate with her and vice versa. I am usually not the one doing all the talking.
Looking at her though, I know don't want to make it a problem.
…
Well, there you go. Not my best, but I have to set up the romances. The next chapter will be the second and third day of Training with training scores. Expect more romances, alliances, and rivalries to emerge.
Reviews are much loved. Peace, Love, and All That Jazz.
-Emma
