I woke up early for the second day of training, so earlier that lights were still on in the city because they sun hadn't risen yet. I wasn't going to go back to sleep, so instead I went to the window to watch the city come to life. Down below I could still see the ranking board, and I wondered exactly what people thought my chances were. But because Lincoln seemed determined not to tell us I'd never know.
I left my room and went to the sitting room and decided to see what was on the TV. Maybe they'd be talking about the rankings? I pulled my feet up onto the couch to get comfortable and picked up the flat digital remote. I clicked several buttons, trying to figure out how to make it work, but I could only pull up a menu that had listings of previous Hunger Games. I scowled down at the remote, it was too advanced. I'm sure the tributes from Three knew how to work it, their district made electronics like this, but I was lost.
I jammed my finger onto the button that said 'LIVE' but the TV simply flickered and went back to a black screen. I pressed the button that said 'CHANNELS' and then pressed every combination of numbers I could think of, but it'd only go to static or a message would come on the screen reading 'invalid'.
I finally got so fed up with the stupid remote I threw it across the room. It hit the wall and the thin back cover broke off. That only made me feel a bit better.
"You ok?" Lincoln asked as he made his way around to couch to sit down beside me. He was holding a mug of tea and looked completely awful.
"I just wanted to watch something but couldn't get anything to work," I grumbled. "How long have you been standing there watching me?"
"A couple minutes," he chuckled dryly, "I've mastered sneaking around."
"I've always been pretty good at that too," I admitted, "I'm sure you've heard the stories."
Lincoln stared down into his tea and tapped his finger on the rim of his mug, clearly thinking hard. "It wasn't you, was it." He finally said. I could tell it wasn't a question, not really. He knew.
"Axl took the food," I said, "I was trying to put it back."
Lincoln continued to stare down at his tea, his eyes had dark circles around them, and not because he had just woken up. Finally he took a sip of the tea before setting it down on the coffee table. He still wouldn't look at me but said, "Don't ally with Axl, he'll hold you back."
I studied Lincoln for a moment, trying to work out what he was saying. "Aren't you suppose to be his mentor too?" I finally asked.
"I'll give Axl the advice he needs and you the advice you need. And you need to not work with him."
"I need someone though," I admitted, "and I'm not to keen on getting to know anyone else."
Lincoln sighed and picked his tea back up and downed half of it before finally looking at me. "Don't screw this up because you're too damn afraid of getting close to someone again only to lose them. You're going to lose people in life. It sucks, I know. It's the worst thing to possibly happen. But it's going to happen. Don't deny that it won't. You have a family, right? Would you rather them lose you or for you to lose someone you've only known for a week? I actually believe you have a chance at winning this, Cas; but you need to believe it too or it's not going to happen. You have to start putting in the effort it takes or you're going to be dead on day one! And... and I need you to win, ok? I need this. The past four years... they've been rough. Really rough. I might sound like damn hypocrite but I'm sick of losing people, alright? Don't screw this up, Cas."
"I am trying," I said, "believe me, I am. I just don't know how to do any of this."
"No one really does," Lincoln said before finishing his tea. He suddenly frowned and looked around. "Is it colder in here?"
"Yes," I said.
"I was having trouble sleeping, I probably turned the air down and don't even remember doing so."
"Are you still in withdrawals?"
"Not really," Lincoln said. I frowned, he looked really awful, if it wasn't withdrawals it had to be the stress of the Games.
Behind us the sound of plates rattling carried into the sitting room. We both turned to see the pale Avox setting the table. He nodded politely to us before continuing with his work.
"I guess that means it's time for breakfast," Lincoln said before standing up and heading back toward his bedroom, he paused before disappearing out of sight. "Mirka freaks out if we try to eat breakfast in our pajamas." He informed me. I looked down at my own pajamas and frowned, I was comfortable, but I stood up and went back to my room.
I changed into the training outfit and put on the thin black jacket that was provided with it because the suite was a bit colder that than it had been the past couple days... Couple days? Had I really only been in the Capitol a couple days? It felt like weeks.
I made my way back into the dining area where the pale Avox was still setting the table while the female Avox set out the food. I wondered what their names were, but I knew they wouldn't be able to tell me. My stylist, Hawk, entered the suite. His suite, along with his prep-team, Tinka, and her prep-team, was located just across the small hallway on the other side of the elevator. But being they were allowed to come and go in our suite as they pleased it was basically one big apartment.
"Castilla! So lovely to see you this morning!" Hawk beamed at me. He walked over to me and gave me a hug. It was awkward because I didn't hug back, but he didn't seem to mind. "I have great news for you!" He said as he pulled away from me.
"Great news?" I asked.
"I've found a way you won't have to wear heels for the interviews!" He said excitedly.
"Oh," I said, half laughing. Heels had been the least of my worries.
"I know you didn't like them on the Chariot, and I've designed the perfect dress that would go great with some amazing tie up flats! Oh it's going to be wonderful!" Hawk seemed so happy, so I smiled back and thanked him for thinking about my concerns. He hugged me again then went to sit down at the breakfast table.
"What was that all about?" Axl asked, startling me a bit because I hadn't realized he walked up behind me. He too was wearing the black jacket that matched our training outfit.
"Nothing," I said. The table was almost completely set and Tinka had let herself into the suite as well. She sat down across from Hawk at the table. "Let's eat," I said to Axl. I purposely sat down beside Hawk so Axl would have to sit across from me. I wanted the table between us for good measure when I delivered the news to him that I was no longer going to train with him.
It didn't take long for Lincoln and Mirka to join us at the table, and right after they did we are all too focused on eating to really acknowledge each other yet. I scooped some eggs onto my plate and helped myself to a bowl of cinnamon oatmeal. I'd had oatmeal before, it was always rather cheap and affordable back in District Six, but never did we get to add cinnamon. It was always very bland.
About halfway through eating, Axl finally spoke up. "Should we start in the weapons station today?" He asked. It took me a moment to realize he was talking directly to me. I glanced at Lincoln, wondering if now was the time to let Axl know I wasn't going to train with him anymore.
Lincoln gave me a look saying 'Just tell him now.'
I swallowed my oatmeal then glanced up at Axl. I hesitated. It wasn't that I felt bad for leaving him to train on his own; I didn't really care what he thought or felt. I was worried about his reaction.
"Axl," I said evenly, "Axl I don't think we should train together anymore." And then, finding my voice I said.m, "You'll only hold me back."
Axl's brows narrowed and he scowled in anger. He shot a glance at Lincoln to gauge his reaction to the news then looked back at me.
"I'll hold you back?" He scoffed. "Yeah, because I'm the weak link in this duo then?" He stood up and glowered down at me. "This would have been great to know yesterday, Cas. I wouldn't have wasted my time building stupid snares with a bitch like you. I'd have actually done something useful with my damn time."
"Language dear," Mirka said calmly while she continued to cut her sausage.
"I never said you had to work with me!" I shot back at Axl. "I wasn't too thrilled to be working with you in the first place. Then it finally dawned on me why. You're incapable of caring about anyone but yourself. And for all I know you'll slit my throat during the bloodbath!" I was yelling now.
Axl raised his voice to match mine, "Me slit your throat? Wow! Do you not remember what we just talked about two nights ago? You really are selfish." He stormed off, leaving the rest of us in heavy silence. That is until Mirka pipped up.
"That boys is so confusing. Sometimes he seems like he wants to help you, and other times it seems like he hates you." She sounded like she was commenting on characters in a book. I didn't even think she always saw us as real people, sometimes we were simply entertainment for her.
I gave her a look and hoped with every fiber in my body that she interpreted it as saying 'You're an idiot' because I simply couldn't find the words at that moment. I wanted to tell her it had always been like that. Axl would go from being caring and nice to explosive in seconds. He couldn't handle being put in his place. If he was wrong he'd defend his point to no end even if he knew he was wrong. If he screwed up he couldn't admit it, he'd dump the blame on someone else with no regrets.
Hawk spoke up, "Don't let his outburst upset you."
I realized he said this because I had my hand clinched tightly around my spoon and it was shaking slightly from anger. I released my grip on the spoon.
"I'm not upset," I assured Hawk, "I was expecting worse actually." I stood up. "I'm going to go down to the training center."
"It's only nine thirty," Mirka said.
"Yeah well I'm suppose to be making friends." I shot a harsh look a Lincoln. The outburst at breakfast had been partly his fault. "So I need to see who's there and ready to train so I know who to ally with." It was a lie, I had no intentions of getting to know anyone. I'd just observe.
Once off the elevator I marched into the Training Center. About half of the tributes were already there. We weren't allowed to start training yet, so everyone was hovered around and talking quietly to each other.
Leo, the boy from District Ten who helped me and Axl weave the ropes into a sort of armor, stood with both of the frail District Twelve tributes. I glanced around for his District partner and spotted the number Ten on the back of a jacket that matched mine.
She was talking to both tributes from District One. They seemed to be studying her while she talked. She stood very still the entire time, with her hands jammed into her jacket pocket and her shoulders slumped. I couldn't see her face, but for some reason I got an eerie feeling she was talking eagerly about something despite her odd posture.
I glanced around the Center again and spotted the girl from Four sitting on a gauntlet. She was scanning the crowd. She must have been kicked out of the Career alliance for whatever her fight was about yesterday. Her gaze fell on the tributes from District One. She didn't look sad, or angry, or even resentful as she looked at them. She just had an expression that read she didn't care about them.
I decided to approach her before I fully thought my plan over. I wasn't even sure what happened. One moment I was by the doors to the Center and the next I was at the gauntlets standing no more than five feet from her.
She glanced down at me. "Six," she said curiously, "I was wondering who'd approach me first wanting to be in an alliance. I actually considered it might be you."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because you clearly don't like your District partner and I didn't like my last alliance I was forced into. It was only a matter of time before you ditched you partner as well, and I felt you'd gravitate toward me." She leaned far over the gap between the gauntlets effortlessly and patted the gauntlet beside her. I hesitated a moment then sucked in a deep breathe and hoisted myself up onto it. I turned so I could cross my legs but still see her and the crowd of tributes. I didn't want my back toward any of them.
"I'm Nema. You're Cassidy?"
"Castilla," I corrected her, "Cas."
"Cas, right. Well listen, Cas. I'm actually not sure if I even want any allies."
"Same here," I shot back.
"I don't know who I can really trust."
"No one," I admitted.
"But I don't mind having someone I can share information with. I want to know things about the other tributes. Things that would be good to know once we're in the arena."
"Such as?" I asked.
"Weaknesses, strengths, who the crazies are."
"Crazies?" I frowned.
"Who's here because they like killing? Or who's here because this year their District took advantage of the voting and decided to weed out the troublemakers and criminals," Nema said. My stomach did a violent flip, and I was sure my face turned white. Luckily Nema didn't notice anything and kept talking. "I'd like to know the tributes who think they can win."
"Don't we all think that? Or at least hope it?" I dared ask.
"That's not what I mean." She nodded toward the girl from District Ten who was now walking away from the tributes from District One. "She thinks she's going to be a killing machine. She wants to be a killing machine. It's not about actually winning for her, it's all about the bloodshed. She came into these games willingly. She thought she'd get a spot on in the Career alliance because she wants to be here and wants to kill. She begged people to vote for her and send her into the games."
I got a chill just looking at the girl. She wanted to kill teenagers her own age? I finally looked away from her and back at Nema. "Didn't the Careers rally for votes though?" I asked. "Didn't you?"
"No. Not me. Maybe the others but I didn't. Did you?"
"No." Rather she believed me or not I'd never know. She was a very hard person to read.
"Well I told you about Ten. Who can you give me information on?" She asked bluntly.
I stared at her shocked. She just expected me to give her information just like that? I didn't actually have any information to give her, so I made something up quickly. "Do you know about the boy from Ten? Leo?"
"Only that he's built strong and does everything possible to avoid his crazy district partner. Why? What do you know about him?" Nema asked.
"He wants to help the weak links," I made up. It had been a good lie, a convincing lie. He was still talking to both of the tributes from Twelve. "He came over to me and my district partner yesterday because he thought we looked like we could use some help."
"What did he help you with?" Nema asked.
If she thought I was about to tell her what I had been doing during training yesterday she was wrong. I lied again, "He didn't actually know much, but he was trying to use the ropes over in the defense station to show us how to make a lasso."
"Interesting..." Nema said, scanning the crowd again and finding Leo.
"Your turn," I said. If she expected more information from me she'd have to tell me about the Careers. "What about her?" I nodded toward the District One girl.
"Porcelain Gowan, she's sixteen years old."
"Gowan?" I asked. Two years ago an Augustus Gowan won the Hunger Games at sixteen years old.
"Yep, Gowan. She's just like her brother. Good looking, determined. Deadly with a sword. They both started training when they were twelve."
"So her chances or winning are good then," I said mainly to myself, but Nema nodded in agreement.
Axl entered the Training Center then. He's eyes stopped on me just for a second before he turned away from me. He approached the boy from District Seven and the girl from District Nine and easily struck up a conversation with them. I watched them for a moment, curious what Axl was saying.
"You should go talk to them too," Nema said, nodding toward Axl and the other two tributes. "If you can figure out their strengths and weaknesses for me, I'll tell you anything you want to know about the Careers and those who approached them yesterday about joining."
Knowing the Careers weaknesses would be a major advantage in the games. But I was done with Axl; I wasn't going to approach him and the two other tributes he was now talking with. I was done with Axl. I didn't need him holding me back. I'd just have to spend the day training on my own and getting as much information out of the tributes as I could. I could talk to Nema tomorrow about them, and she could tell me who I really needed to watch out for, and possibly ways to beat them.
The Lead Trainer blew his whistle, signaling that it was ten o'clock and we were to start training. Nema jumped off the gauntlet without saying another word to me. I was alone and unsure where to go. The Weapons Station was filling up quickly, everyone wanted to train with the weapons today. I glanced around the Training Center and realized the entire survival station was left empty. An idea came to me. I suddenly knew exactly what I wanted to show the Gamemakers tomorrow; and now was the perfect time to start preparing for it.
AN: I had planned on having Cas talk to some of the tributes from the Outer Districts in this chapter but it was already getting pretty long. I know this chapter was a bit slow for a training chapter, but I promise the next chapter will have some action in it!
Also I typed the second half of this chapter this morning before work and felt really good about it. I planned on coming home to proof read it before uploading it only to find it didn't save... and this version just doesn't feel as good as it did this morning. I felt like it flowed better this morning and I'm missing something I had before. So I'm pretty bummed about it.