Chapter Ten

The next few days went by pretty fast - training was getting easier, my friendship with the Careers was getting stronger. David and Rhett had allied each other - which everyone had seen coming. Today was the day we would be tested on our newly developed or enhanced skills - and I was nervous to the point where I thought I might have a panic attack. Each tribute would use their best skills to impress the game makers, receiving a score out of twelve, twelve being the best.

Luckily for me, Cipe and Evie would be first, as they were District One. As Evie went in, I nervously waited with my allies,

"What are you gonna do?" I questioned Cipe, who looked a little unnerved,

"I'm good with obstacle courses, and I'm pretty fast. Thought I'd show them that," he rubbed his hands together fretfully,

"Don't worry, Careers always get high scores," I encouraged, but according to Cipe's reaction, it wasn't working,

"That makes it worse. I have to do well," he looked up, noticing Evie walking back from the training room. A grin was pasted across her face,

"I think I did well, I showed them healing remedies," she sat down next to Cipe, who was pale from nerves. There was a short break between each tribute's testing, so each tribute could be judged correctly,

"Good luck," Evie hugged Cipe, who was then called to enter the training room.
***

As the boy from District Six walked out of the training area, a broad smile on his face when he walked up to his District partner, I knew it was my turn. I was shaking - obviously from nerves. Emertxe pat my shoulder,

"You'll do great," he smiled. I didn't reply, I forced myself to enter the training room.

The game makers were sitting at a table that had now been placed in the training room, chatting casually to one another. When I stood in front of them, they coughed loudly, and began focusing their attention on me, which was slightly intimidating,

"District Seven?" One asked, a pen in their hand,

"Yes," I replied, looking around the room for the swords. I eyed them up, along with a dummy,

"Alright, you can start," Seneca Crane, the head game maker gestured towards the equipment.

Jogging over to the swords, I wasn't quite sure what to do, so I just picked up the sword and began slicing furiously at the dummy. Thanks to my practice, I managed to rip up the dummy fairly well.

Then it struck me - I should try use an axe. Stupid idea, but I went for it.

Walking up to the targets, I picked up two axes in my hands. I stood at an angle, trying to get my aim right.

As I threw the axe, it reminded me of the dream. How I'd knocked Coburn dead with an axe square in the chest. I faltered, which caused the axe to completely miss the target and land with a huge clash on the floor.

The second axe. I had to make this work.

Aiming once more, I pushed the vision out of my head. I wouldn't kill anyone, I'd let them kill me.

The axe hit the target, but only just. Nowhere near the bull's eye.

I heard game makers behind me clap half heartedly, and as I turned around I saw them scribbling down notes with their faultless Capitol pens,

"You may leave," Seneca said, gesturing towards the door. I sighed as I walked out.
That went terribly. Absolutely terribly.

When I stepped back into the training room, I received a friendly glance from Katya. I hadn't really spoken to her much,

"You alright?" she asked, patting the chair next to her. I sat down, and leaned on my arm,

"No, that was absolutely awful," I summed up, knowing that I shouldn't have gone and used the axes. Katya put a hand on my shoulder,

"Don't worry. Just because you don't do well here, doesn't mean you won't do well in the arena," she comforted me, using the same tone Mom always used to cheer me up. It made me homesick, I swallowed to hide it,

"I'm going to die anyway, why does it matter? I'd much rather die than continue living a life with the memories,"

As I said that, David began walking towards the training room, a smirk on his face. I had no idea what his plan would be, I hadn't spoken to him for the past week or so.

I noticed Rhett was giving me an evil look, which probably suggested either he or David had a plan of some kind to get as many sponsors as possible.

Then I thought - sponsors. I didn't think anyone would even bother, after my disgraceful performance.
***

As the male from twelve stepped out of the training room, we all eagerly awaited for our scores to be decided. This process could take a while, so we all began to chat boisterously.
So far, I was generally closest to Emertxe, Dylan and Cipe. They had been the first few people to speak to me, so I decided to talk with the girls for a change.

Astrophel, Katya and Evie were all talking about their Districts, which I thought would be a nice conversation to join,

"Hey," I put on a smile, and sat on the sofa next to them, "Mind if I join you?" I'd never really been shy before, but suddenly I was,

"Sure," Astrophel smiled, "So Adalyn, what's your District like?" three pairs of eyes latched onto mine, eager to know what my home was like. Though a sensitive topic, I replied,

"There's a town in the centre of the forest, not many of us live there. We all live in log cabins crammed together - everyone knows everyone. The school is literally four seconds from my house, which is quite handy in the cooler months," I began, "My dad is a carpenter, so David and I always used to collect wood for him," I glanced briefly at David, who was of course talking to Rhett, "It smells like pine needles," Finishing my description, I met the three girls' eyes once more,

"This probably sounds stupid," Evie whispered, "But I don't know what pine needles smell like," the other two girls began to laugh.

I smiled, and pulled off my bandanna - my token of home. I briefly inhaled the scent, which of course smelt of home,

"They smell like this," I handed it to Evie, who quickly sniffed the green fabric. She nodded,

"It smells really homely..." She handed it to Astrophel and Katya, who both took a short sniff, which looked rather awkward,

"Tributes!" I heard a voice - belonging to Seneca Crane. I was in awe when I saw a huge television screen fall from the ceiling, as if it was floating down from the heavens, "The scores are in, please watch carefully,"

The screen showed the Capitol seal briefly, also playing the Panem anthem. Evie's name showed first - an eight. She squealed, obviously happy with her score. Much to Cipe's surprise, he got a well deserved nine. Emertxe, Katya and Astrophel all got eights, and when Rhett's name flashed across the screen I was eager to see his score. A four.

Coburn received a seven, which he looked rather disappointed to have received. I couldn't really think of him positively, not since the dream I'd had.

Then it showed - Anise Tamarind, eleven. Everyone gasped - nobody ever got that high of a score. When I turned around to view Anise's reaction, she just stood there, humming a nursery rhyme. It didn't take me long to realise which one it was,

"Ring a ring a roses..." She whispered, before walking away to sit on the other side of the room. It was extremely disturbing - and I could tell all the other tributes agreed with me.

Both tributes from six got a seven, and then it was my turn. Adalyn Farron - five. Five.

I was doomed.

I felt an arm around me - Astrophel, I think it was. I knew I was going to die - but that just made it seem like I was going to die quicker. Everyone knew I'd be vulnerable.

I eagerly waited for David's score - a nine. I knew he'd used his axes, disobeying Johanna.

I didn't bother listening to anyone else's score, until it ended on Dylan:

Ten.

He'd received the second highest score - I didn't understand how. He would have only done sword fighting, unless he dramatically improved overnight, I had no idea how he had done that.
The other tributes received fours and fives, which made me the equivalent of a loser.

Once again, dying didn't seem like such a bad idea right then.