Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games...I wish I did though.
A/N: Some shoutouts to my reviewers. Thanks ruthrose for your review. I like that you're liking the story. Also thanks to NathaliaEverdeen for your praises. And finally, to my most frequent reviewer...SibunaMockingjay...thanks for your words of encouragement and advice...you've truly convinced me to carry on writing and not get dejected. Thanks to my lovely readers and reviewers. Wow...I wrote a long authors note. Sorry guys. Here's the 2nd part of the 1st training day...enjoy guys...
Chapter 10.) Training Day 1: Close to Death
Why is the District 8 girl targeting me? Her words linger in my head. I guess with two allies I have made an enemy, other than the Careers. The lunch bell drags me out of my thoughts.
I enter the dining hall to find District 1, 4 and Amelia at a table. The Career table. I guess Mason wasn't lying. He wasn't sitting at the table. I soon spot Keeth at the end of the line to get lunch. I run up to him.
"Found any allies?" I ask.
"Yeah, the boy from 11, Durian, and the pair from 10, Mink and Angus. Durian wants his district partner in the alliance too." He says, causing me to laugh at the irony. "What? Did you not like them?"
"Yeah I mean I haven't met the 10 pair but they seemed nice. The thing is I formed an alliance with the District 11 girl, Meadow, and she told me that she wants Durian too. That's why. It is really ironic." I say.
"Wow. You actually tried. After your rant in the morning I thought you would refuse." He says.
"I have another ally too." I say, slightly quietly. I don't know how Keeth will react.
"Who?" He asks.
"Um. The District 2 boy. Mason Hawthorne." I say.
"What," he says in shock. "You got a Career. You cannot trust them."
"No, he's not in the Career Pack. And from what I have seen and heard he is a nice person. Talk to him. If you can trust him we will have him. Don't worry I didn't tell him it was confirmed." Keeth nods and we head over to a table.
We are soon joined by District 11 and 10. The girls in both Districts are small. Maybe 12 or 13. Their District partners are older. Maybe 17 or 18. Durian is dark skinned and has short black hair. Angus is pale and has brown hair. They both smile. Durian is quite silent from what I can tell as he tries his best to answer in minimal amount of words. Meadow tells me that he has always been like this and it is his personality.
The District 10 girl, Mink, is sweet and bubbly and a chatterbox. I find out that Meadow and Mink are both 13 years old. Mink is also dark-skinned and has black hair. She looks very similar to Meadow. Angus is also a chatterbox and is witty as he keeps cracking jokes when we all get a bit serious about the fate of most of us in the Games. I cannot believe how well Mink and Angus are holding themselves in this situation. I have broken down several times and can barely laugh. The 6 of us talk a lot as though we are friends for years. I like to know that I have friends in a cruel place like this.
After a while I notice Mason sitting by himself at a table. I beckon him over to our table, causing the others to murmur in shock of a Career in our alliance. When Mason takes a seat opposite me Angus asks him questions about why he is not in the Career Pack and why he is with us.
"I was pre-trained in 2. They train you physically and mentally. Physically to make you stronger and mentally so that you can kill someone without a second doubt. I am really strong and have a lot of skills but they failed to train me mentally. I don't have the heart to kill someone. I am a Career physically but I am one of you mentally." He says, convincingly. Everyone seems to trust him. It was easier than I thought. I take a look at Keeth but I see some doubt. I need to ask him about that.
"But how were you pre-trained if we only found out about the Games a month ago?" I ask.
"Because the training academies were still open after the rebellion and it would be part of curriculum. Then there were extra classes that were paid by us. My dad sent me there because there were no woods in 2 and he wanted me to be strong and skilful like he was when he was a child." He says, which clears my confusion.
The rest of lunch carries on talking about individual districts and life there before the Hunger Games were announced. I found out that their Districts too have been in tight control of Peacekeepers. Not just 12. Aquilo wants to keep the Districts under his watchful eye. There are a few laughs here and there but soon lunch ends.
All the tributes soon disperse back to the stations, with the Careers staying in the combat section but changing weapons. I decide to go off to the knife throwing section because no one's there. I have some experience with knives and I am not that bad. I approach the section pick up some knives and stand at the throwing line. There's a dummy right in front of me. I don't want to go into the chamber with holographic targets so I decide on the static one. I place the knife between my fingers, stand in a stable position, stretch my arm out by my side, aim and flick my wrist to release. I watch as the knife hits the chest but the right. Close. I repeat several times, each time getting closer to the heart. I use the last knife of the size I want and throw it. It hits the heart.
"Wow. And I thought I was good." I hear someone say behind me. I turn to see Mason.
"Yeah. I had some practice." I say with a wink. I can't say I hunt even after the Peacekeeper incident or I may get into a lot of trouble.
I walk towards the dummy and pull the knives out one by one. It takes some time and I am about to head back when I hear someone shout.
"Ashlyn! Duck!" Mason exclaims, running towards me. I freeze at the urgency of his voice. I take a look behind him to see Chase from District 1 with a knife in hand about to release it, aiming it in my direction. In the next moment I see Chase release the knife. My joints don't move. This is the end. I die before the Games. I watch the piece of metal fly towards me as I close my eyes. Suddenly, I feel someone jump on me, causing me to fall backwards and therefore dodging the knife. I feel some weight on top of me. I open my eyes to see Mason's gleaming smile and pearl-white teeth above me. Mason Hawthorne saved me.
"You need to watch where you're going." He mocks, tucking a strand of hair behind me ear.
"Shut up. This was not my fault." I say in defence. "Now get off of me." He gets up and then offers his hand to me too. I take it and stand up. I see that most of the tributes have gathered around there and Keeth comes running towards me.
"You alright? What happened?" He asks in concern.
"I went to collect my knives and then Chase threw a knife in my direction. But I am fine thanks to Mason. He pushed me out of the way just in time." I say. Keeth smiles at Mason. We walk towards the other tributes to see Atala there too. She enquires about what happened and then concludes that Chase broke the training rule and is therefore not allowed in training tomorrow. One less Career in training, which means one less occupied station.
Training is soon over and we head to the elevator. Mason, Mink, Angus, Durian, Meadow, Keeth and I enter the same elevator. As soon as the elevator doors close we burst into laughter at the thought of a punished Career. Mason gets more involved in the conversation now that everyone is displaying more trust and acceptance after he saved my life. Even from Keeth. Soon the elevator starts to get empty and after the 11th floor it's just Keeth and I.
"Do you trust him now?" I ask, referring to Mason. Keeth doesn't say anything. "He saved my life Keeth. Why would he do that if he didn't want to ally with us? It would've been one less person for him if he weren't trustworthy and didn't want to ally."
"Ashlyn, I trust him. He is our ally along with 10 and 11 okay?" I nod. I give him a quick hug and then let go.
The elevator door opens, Mum and Dad hug Keeth and me and Effie hurries us to our rooms to change.
I enter the room, scavenge through my chest drawers and pick out a pink short-sleeved top and black baggy trousers, which allow me to move around in comfort. I check to see that my Mockingjay pin still lies on the side table next to my bed. I let it be there and make my way to the dining room.
At dinner our stylists are not present because they are busy with coming up with our interview clothes. Everyone else is present and already deep in conversation. Soon Haymitch decides to involve Keeth and I.
"So, have you two made any allies because some mentors have approached me about alliances." He says.
"Yeah. District 10 and 11 – both of them." Keeth says. "And…um…" Keeth tries to carry on.
"The boy from 2 – Mason." I complete.
"A Career." Haymitch says with wide eyes. "Wow. Are you that good?" He says.
"No. He says he isn't like most careers, like people who don't have a heart." I say.
"Can you trust him?" Haymitch asks.
"Yeah. Mason saved Ashlyn's life when Chase threw a knife at her." Keeth says.
"First day of training and you're already a target. I guess this is some sort of new record. You must be a threat." Haymitch says, congratulating me.
"Haymitch this isn't a matter of happiness. She could've been killed. Plus the more enemies, the more chance of dying." Mum says.
"Katniss. You've been through two Games. You should know that even if you're not enemies people will target you because after all it is the Hunger Games. You only win when the others die." Haymitch says, causing Mum to have no response.
"And about allies. The 10, 11 and 2 mentor approached me but the District 2 mentor, Enaboria, was reluctant. Of course she was. She was a Career and would want her tributes to be in the Pa." Haymitch says. "So should I say yes to them?" Keeth and I nod, absolutely sure about our alliance.
Dinner is over without another word and we are sent to our rooms. I am absolutely exhausted after training and almost facing death and I plop myself on my bed. I reach out for the Mockingjay pin. I stroke the pin, thinking about how much strength this one pin brought to the people of Panem. How this one pin became the symbol of the rebellion. This pin represents hope. It could be the hope that Dad was talking about. Maybe the hope can be revived and Aquilo could be taken down. The thoughts in my head don't leave. My mind will not be at peace until I talk to someone about his. I jump out of bed and run into the living room, hoping that someone would be awake. When I enter I see Uncle Haymitch sitting on the chair taking another sip of alcohol.
"Don't you think you're past you bedtime?" He says, sarcastically. I give a fake smile before running to the seat next to him.
"Uncle Haymitch, I need to talk to you about a rebellion." I whisper, knowing that the apartment will be bugged.
"Wow. You're ambitious." Haymitch says.
"I mean, about reviving hope in the people to stand up against…" I don't need to complete my sentence because I am sure Haymitch would understand.
"Ashlyn, I knew you're just like your mother." I roll my eyes. "She wanted to get rid of it too. She didn't want innocent people to die. She has that fire that she passed on to you. I can see it in your eyes. And about what you want to do. Just remember there is a right time for everything. And let me tell you the right time is not now. It will soon come however. Just play the Games on your own terms and make it out alive – as Victor." He says, before taking another sip of alcohol and walking off.
His words ring in my head.
I know what I need to do. Ignite hope in the people of Panem and make sure that I win the Games to continue to revive the hope.
"Just play the Games on your own terms and make it out alive – as Victor."
A/N
Liked the chapter? Well we can see that Ashlyn and Keeth have formed an alliance with 5 other people. Looks like we have the anti-Careers. Which character do you like the most and which one the least?
What do you think about Ashlyn thinking about another Rebellion? I know for sure there won't be a Rebellion however because I am planning a sequel for a rebellion.
Follow, favourite and review...(most importantly review). If I get a lot of reviews I won't discontinue...so guys...review!