Author's Note: I'M BACK! School ended on friday and I've been working hard to bring you the next few chapters. I'm currently working on Eleven, which is the actual first day of training, unlike this one, sorry about that. But it will be up soon, I promise! Thanks for sticking with me, you can expect many more uploads now that the SUMMER HAS ARRIVED!

intheshatteredglass

P.S. Recognize the chapter name from anything? Free virtual psyducks to anyone who guess it right! :)

P.P.S. I'll try and delete the other chapter ten soon...once I figure out how...

Chapter 10 - Come Morning Light

I wake to the sounds of screams, sure, once again, that we've already reached the arena. But, once again, that isn't the case, but this time, the screams aren't my own.

I get up and quickly pull on a blue shirt and grey pants, then go in search of the source of the screams. I end up easily tracing it back to Finnick's room, hesitating only for a second before pulling the door wide open and running in. I would normally be more polite, but now isn't really the time to wait for him to tell I may enter.

Finnick is on the ground, having evidently fallen off his bed, but is still tangled amongst several layers of sheets and blankets. I have some trouble pinning him down, like he did to me yesterday, and begin to shake him. I'm not sure if this is really how you're supposed to wake up a person, but it's always been what works for me.

Sure enough, Finnick soon springs to his feet, only to have his legs catch on the cocoon of sheets he's made on the floor and fall back down again. I decide to sit with him until he calms down, quietly, for I don't know what I'd say.

When Finnick finally speaks again, it's about the day's plans. "You have training today."

"Yes." I don't know what else to say.

"Did you meet the Volunteers yesterday?" he asks.

I frown a bit. "No. Cassius did. I talked to 3, 7, and 9. We're allies now."

Finnick winced at the word "allies". It must have something to do with his Games. "Allies." he repeats. "Be careful with those, Alexis, although 3, 7, and 9 are likely to be more trustworthy than the Volunteers, you don't want 1 and 2 to be against you."

I sigh. "I know. But I trust them, really. Especially Jayden and Willow. That's the boy from 3 and the girl from 7. I'll talk to the Careers today too though."

"The who?"

I laugh. "The Careers. That's what the other districts call the Volunteer group. Because they train for this their whole lives."

He smiles. "Makes sense, I guess, even though I'd be considered one of them. Anyway, meet the group from 1 and 2, and keep friendly with your group. If you're going to get out of here, it will be good to have as many friends as you can when you go in there. It will make it easier to come out physically, but much harder emotionally."

I understood what he meant. I just met Jayden yesterday, but I don't think I could bear to see him die, or any of the others for that matter. Especially Cassius.

I decide not answer, standing slowly and quietly stretching my arms and back as Finnick silently observes me. He finally stands and walks over to me, placing one hand on my shoulder comfortingly.

"You can do this, Alexis. I really believe that." His words are strong, but he won't look at my face, eyes touching the spaces around my head. He moves his hand then, stepping back from me and staring not at my eyes, but my chin.

"You'd better get ready for training. I'll see you at breakfast."

I shower as quickly as I can with all the difficulty that comes with operating it, and then walk out to find an outfit set out for me. This must be my training clothes.

The outfit is soft and comfortable, good for movement. The number 4 is embroidered to a patch on either arm. I wonder if all the tributes are wearing the same thing as me.

The other tributes. Making friends seems like a worse idea now than it did yesterday. I was so focused on helping Jayden, who I didn't even know, and now look what I've gotten myself into. If I ally with the Careers then I'll be allied with nearly half of the tributes. And yet only one can get out. And I want that to be me. Or Cassius, because of my promise to Annie. Or Jayden, because of my promise to myself. Or District 7, or 9. Only one of us can make it out.

I let myself imagine, just for one second, that it's me that made it out. For some reason, I've always been very good at imagining accurate scenarios based on my decisions and what I know of the people around me. I can't see much, but I feel the pain. Immense amounts of crushing grief for all the kids that I doomed by being the one to come out of the arena.

Somehow, that doesn't really seem like a life. I wonder if anyone has really made it out of the arena. Just physically doesn't count.

Well, if this is our fates, it doesn't need to hurt more because of torturous deaths. I remember the one thing I did figure out yesterday. I won't let people suffer like I've seen them do every year of my life. I'll help them, in the only way I really can. And it seems like the best way to do that is if I was with the Careers.

Finnick said I should meet them today anyway. It can't hurt.

I laugh darkly to myself. Of course I could hurt. That's what this is all about, isn't it?

I walk into the…what is this place, anyway? The dining room? Anyway, I walk in as quiet as I can, and apparently it works, since only Cassius looks up at me. He's wearing the same thing I am, a black unitard with a blue 4 stitched to each shoulder. He looks more relaxed than I am, but that's not saying much. His muscles are tensed up and he stares hard at the table, not saying anything. I walk over and sit next to him, practically vibrating with nervous energy, and start shovelling food into my mouth. You never know how much of this stuff I'll be able to get once I'm in the arena. I repeat the advice to Cass, who nods and follows my actions.

The conversation hasn't changed since I walked in, something about costumes for the interview. I know I should be interested, but I've got much more on my mind today. And by his expression, so does Cass.

"Hey," I whisper, nudging him. "You ready?"

He nods back, relaxing a little. "Just a little nervous."

"Why should you be? You're already in with the Ca-…Volunteers, and you've done this, like everyday of your life!"

He shakes his head. "This times different, though, isn't it? You seem pretty shoken up, everything okay?"

"Finnick said to meet the…Volunteers today, I'm worried they won't take me."

He looks up at me then. "Alexis," he says, "I've seen you fish. Just to do that with…well, you know, less water and bigger targets, and you be great."

As he says this, he quietly grabs my hand, squeezing it slightly, then just holding it in his. There's never been anything romantic between us, so I know that the gesture has nothing to do with that, but it's comforting to know he's there for me, even if he won't be able to be soon enough.

The conversation around the table soon dies down, and Zéle insists on escorting us downstairs, on the elevator.

"It is my job, after all." He reminds us, after our protests.

I snort. "What, do you think we'll get lost on the elevator down?" Cassius has to hide his chuckle in a very exaggerated coughing fit, which makes me smirk even more.

Finnick leans over, "Come on, Zéle. None of the other escorts will be bringing their tributes down, and we need them to look strong. Besides," he adds with a slightly overdone smile, "you've already done your job so well, it's about time you got a break."

And so, it is after much argument that Cass and I make our way downstairs, ready to meet our…"friends", the other tributes again.