A nice and lovely long one for you today.
CHAPTER NINE - MORALS AND LIES
Over the next two days, the twenty four of us spend as much time as possible in the training room and the Careers – Ash, Seela, Jasmine, Preese, Ethan, Reuben and Me – all train together. When I'd asked why, Ethan had told me it was to intimidate the other tributes, and I guess it works. We're the biggest Career Pack in a long time, after Ethan had persuaded Ash to let Reuben join (although, to be fair, it hadn't taken much persuasion), and from the outside, we're pretty terrifying. On multiple occasions, I catch the eye of one of the other kids and they shrink away like I'm going to send a spear through their stomach...
Which I could probably do now if I really tried. Ethan's had me throwing spears and harpoons until I hit the target every time. I can't throw further than ten metres and it's not always a bullseye, but at least I now have some means of self defence.
Even Ash is mildly impressed by my throwing skills. Of course, he can throw his sword at least three times as far, although his accuracy is far inferior to that of Ethan's. Ash fares much better in close contact with his victim, as does Seela, who is frighteningly good with her sabres. To my surprise, Jasmine also seems to have a skill for fighting at close range and despite her size, has floored a couple of the trainers on countless occasions. She tells me her preferred weapon is "being underestimated" which, considering I'd originally described her aura as 'angelic', makes complete sense. (She had then gone on to add "but having a knife helps too", but then, that makes sense too) Reuben, meanwhile, is pretty skilled with his axes from close quarters and relatively far away. He can hurl them – with surprising accuracy – at least ten metres. I guess being from District 7 and using axes from an early age is a pretty good advantage in the Games.
I soon realise that out of our group, Preese is the only one without a real talent. He's not yet reached his growth spurt and I think even I could snap him like a twig. Not that I'd want to though. He's a nice kid – a little gloomy perhaps but understandably so – and I feel rather sorry for him. Out of all of us, he's the one who is least needed. I may not be hugely talented in the fighting department, but I have other skills and the Careers know it. Preese can't really do anything and, as far as I can tell, has been pampered all his life.
He doesn't stand a chance.
Not that I do, really, come to think of it. If I survive my alliance with the Careers then there are other tributes I have to worry about. Sneaky Eyes from 11, for example, and Elenna, who I've noticed knows her way around a bow. A few of the others also seem to have pretty good aim and that's worrying. No one would dare try and fight the seven of us Careers at close range, but from a distance, who knows?
Of course, as well as the other tributes, there are the Gamemakers - Mutts, fires, lightning, flash floods so powerful even a strong swimmer like me couldn't survive, earthquakes, landslides, even the force field around the arena itself could kill us.
My odds aren't looking good...
...
On the third afternoon, it's time for our private sessions with the Gamemakers. Since we are called in by order of District, mine and Ethan's sessions are early on, and because it's always 'ladies first' in the Capitol, I go in before him. Finnick has already instructed me to show off my new found skills with a spear and that's what I do. I throw three spears and two harpoons – missing once, but then hitting the human shaped target twice in the leg, once in the shoulder and then finally (completely by fluke, may I add) in the chest. Pleased with my one clean kill, I move on and quickly knot up a net, big and sturdy enough to catch another small tribute - perhaps the small dark haired girl, Mia, from 3. The thought of catching someone and then killing them in cold blood makes me suddenly feel very sick, and after demonstrating the strength of my knots and the net I've created, I pause and stand awkwardly, waiting to be dismissed while trying to fight the nausea rising in my throat.
The Head Gamemaker, Silas Benedict, is still watching me expectantly and for a fleeting moment, I wonder if I've done enough - should I start a fire perhaps, or climb a tree? – but then he flaps a hand in my direction.
"You are dismissed."
I give a curt nod and leave the training room as quickly as I can without bursting into a sprint. Finnick and Violet descend on me as soon as I'm outside, but I push past them and race up to our apartment. The lift seems to take forever and all I can think about is my spear in that target's chest and that little girl trapped inside a net and Ash laughing as he rams his sword into her stomach and how, in 48 hours time, that's all going to be real.
I barely make it to our bathroom before I throw up.
Only when I think about it later do I realise that's exactly how Finnick won his Games.
...
When the scores come in, I am in the bathroom, still feeling queasy. By the time I come out, they've already been announced and Ethan relays them to me.
He tells me I received an 8 (for which Mags applauds me) and so did Jasmine. Ethan achieved a 10 (and despite telling me this casually, I can see the pride in his eyes) as did Reuben and Seela. Ash received a 9 (I almost smile when I think about how angry he'll be that he didn't come top... but then I remember all that anger could be directed at me in the arena and I think I might vomit again) and Preese got a 5.
He then tells me that Sneaky eyes achieved a 9 and Elenna, an 8. I can't help but flinch when I hear Belle only received a 4.
I actually do throw up again when he tells me Mia scored a 2.
...
The fourth and final day in the Capitol I spend preparing for my interview with Mags, Finnick and Ethan and working out ways to get sponsors.
Ethan's angle is simple. He's calm and charismatic, but the deadliest tribute out there when he wants to be, and frankly, that's the truth – even if Reuben and Seela got the same score as him. My angle takes a bit more working out. Okay, I got an 8, which is good, really good, but I'm not naturally as outgoing as Ethan is and I'm not as good an actor.
"You're pretty," Finnick says while Ethan is off with Mags doing something or other. "And you got that 8, so everyone knows you're tough too. We've already had quite a few inquiries for sponsorship."
"Really?" I ask surprised.
He laughs at me.
"Yeah, they're all under the impression you're some kind of beautiful warrior princess."
I give an unimpressed grunt.
"Well, they're going to be disappointed."
He rolls his eyes.
"Stop it, Annie."
"Stop what? Thinking I'm going to die? Because I am."
His eyebrows knit together in a frown.
"You don't know that."
"I do," I insist irritably. He folds his arms.
You are such a pessimist!"
"No," I say. "Just a realist."
"Stop it!" Finnick suddenly cries exasperatedly, throwing his hands in the air. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Me?" I scowl. "What's wrong with me? How about...um I don't know, maybe the fact that I'm going to die tomorrow and the whole country is going to be cheering on my murderer!"
"You don't know that!" he repeats fiercely.
"Of I course I do!" I snap, glaring furiously at him. "Yes, I've got sponsors now, but that'll all stop when they realise I'm not what they think I am, that this is all a lie!"
"It's not a lie!" he tells me angrily. "You got an 8!"
"I threw a couple of spears at a target, Finnick! Not a real person."
"It's no different!"
"Of course it's bloody different!" I bawl. "I can't kill someone! For goodness sake, Finnick, I get upset on those whaling trips back home, and they're just whales!"
"You'll change, Annie." He tells me forcefully. "You'll do what you have to do."
"No, I won't!" I cry. "I will never ever change! I would rather die than kill someone else and just because you had no problem ramming that stupid trident into people's chests, doesn't mean I don't. Not everyone's as cold and heartless as you are, Finnick Odair."
He looks like he's been slapped.
I've never seen him look so... so hurt. For a fleeting second, I regret my words.
But then, as quickly as the look appeared, it vanishes and his face sets like stone. He takes a few steps forward until he's standing right in front of me.
"Don't you dare judge me, Annie Cresta," he snarls, his green eyes glittering furiously like uncut emeralds. "Not before you get in that arena and see what it's like for yourself."
"With all the help you're giving me," I hiss. "I'll probably die in the first five minutes anyway."
"Good," he snaps. "Then I can focus on Ethan and maybe bring home a winner this year."
And with that, he turns and stalks from the room, slamming the door shut behind him.
...
Oh the angst! I love it.
Anyway, thank you for reading, guys, please review xx
