Author's Note: This chapter was risky. As I was reading the chapter in The Hunger Games where all the tributes are training together, I realised that I had forgotten to mention when Rue was discussing these matters with Adriana that Rue was extremely skilled with a slingshot, as was pointed out by Katniss in the actual book. I had to fix it quick; and so resorted to making Rue a natural. I hope no one feels I'm trying to create a Mary-Sue in this chapter, or the chapter before. My most sincere apologies if they do. I hope you like chapter eleven - here you go.

My hands are clenching and unclenching into fists as I walk to the middle of the big room. There's proof that other tributes have been here, with the severed ropes and punctured bags and dummies. The Gamemakers are lazing about in their fancy purple robes, nibbling at food in front of them and pouring alcohol down their throats. There's a table with weapons spread out on it: bows and arrows, knives, maces, tridents, all sorts of things. And there's my beloved slingshot. I swipe it, grab some ammo, load and fire at a dummy. The little ball rips through the heart of the dummy. But when I glance at the Gamemakers, they appear bored. Most of them aren't even watching me. I'm not exactly exciting.

I sigh, frustrated. I'm a person, too! I count! I guess I'll have to do something to catch their attention.

I run over to the climbing frame, next to the wall, that stretches up and up and up to almost touch the giant beams supporting the roof. I hesitate, having no pockets and no bag; no way to hold my things. I slip my arm through the slingshot and pour the little steel balls into my mouth. I screw up my nose at the strong metallic taste but grasp the ropes and haul myself up. I scramble up the net as fast as I can.

When I reach the top, I look down at the Gamemakers. Oh, well, they're looking, at least. I shuffle along the wooden pole sticking out the top, parallel to the ground. I steadily get to my feet, and hear a few of the Gamemakers mumble unsurely. If I lose footing I'm as good as dead. "Oops," I mutter to myself. This was a stupid idea, Rue, I think. But I have to get a good score.

So, I crouch down a bit, centre myself, face the long beams up above me a few feet, think of the trees at home, and leap. There are a few cries below me and I latch onto the beam. Oh dear. It's round. And slippery.

I adjust my grip and shift myself up over the beam a little more, using my clammy hands as kind of frog-like sticky pads to hold on. Then a little more. And a little more. Until I'm draped over the beam. I lie flat on it and shuffle forward on my stomach to a thinner one. I get to my feet again and before I can slip I jump. This time it's easier and sooner than before I'm on top of it.

Breathing heavily, I look down. No one is focused on the food, and a few Gamemakers have stood up. I smile in what I hope is a confident way — not very easy with a mouthful of slingshot ammo.

I carefully, carefully sit up on the beam, then, using a technique I've done over a hundred times at home in the orchard, throw my leg over one side so I'm straddling the beam, then let myself fall sideways, locking my feet tightly together. A female Gamemaker screams, thinking I've fallen, but I keep my ankles locked.

Now, upside down, I spit out a metal ball and load my slingshot. I am for a target and fire. Oh! Just missed it! I try again a few times, getting a feel for firing whilst upside down. When I've gotten it pretty well, I go for a dummy. The ball rips through the stomach diagonally.

The blood is rushing to my head, which I'm used to, but the cold, slippery surface of the beam is making holding on with my legs quite difficult. I quickly use up the remainder of my ammo, getting pretty good shots actually, and hoist myself up, grabbing the beam.

When I lift my body up to lie on the beam, I drop my slingshot and let it tumble to the ground. I hope that's not me soon. I freeze when I realize: how am I going to get down?

Well, going back the way I came is out. I see a thick padded mat, a few feet tall and wide and thick. Maybe I wouldn't completely kill myself if I land on that.

I pull myself along the thin beam and shakily get to my feet, then jump for another beam. Then another. And then one more. Finally I'm above the mat. I think it's for wrestling practice or something.

"What are you doing?" I hear someone cry. I don't reply. Instead, I steel myself, squeeze my eyes shut, and roll off the beam. My stomach drops like a stone but I swallow my scream. It's quite a fall so I make sure I land on my back to minimize injury. Can't have a broken arm. I cross my arms over my chest as I reach the ground. All I'm thinking is, 'Don't die, don't die, don't die...'

All the wind is knocked out of me when I hit the mat. I've hit the edge and so I'm hastily deposited by the mat onto the floor, on my stomach. I feel like I'm back at the Justice Building, saying goodbye to my family for the last time. There's no air inside me. Just take deep breaths, Rue. Calm down.

Eventually I can sit up. I struggle to my feet and give a wobbly smile to the Gamemakers. "Ta-da," I say weakly, holding out my arms. They seem to be frozen on the spot. After some time one purses her lips and says, "You're dismissed." This thaws out the others and they regard me stiffly, sitting back down and enjoying the rest of their meal. I exit the doors and take the lift back to floor Eleven, still unsteady on my feet after my little act. I seem to be wading through tree sap for all it's worth. I push open the sitting room door and immediately I'm swamped by people. "How did you go?" "What did you do?" "You didn't screw up, did you?"

I ignore them and take a seat, sighing. "Never again," I mutter to myself. That fall must have turned my hair grey, it was so scary. I wait till everyone's settled down before I begin to speak. "Well, I doubt they'd seen something like it before," I say slowly. I'm staring at my knees but I can feel nine pairs of eyes fixated on me: Aurelius, Ossian, my prep team, George, Adriana, Thresh and his stylist.

"So how did you go, Thresh?" I ask brightly. He stares at me, his eyes hard. My smile drops.

"Fine," he replies, surprising me.

"If he followed the plan, he impressed the Gamemakers with his strength," George brags. I'm deciding I'm not a big fan of George.

"Thanks for that, George," Aurelius drawls sarcastically. "But unless your name is Thresh I doubt your input was needed."

George scowls but stays quiet.

"So, Rue, honey, how did you go?" Aurelius says eagerly.

"Fine."

"What did you do?" Adriana asks.

"I...hit some targets with a slingshot," I answer reluctantly. Then I make a face. "Well, tried to. A lot of the time I missed. That sucked."

Adriana's hopeful smile vanishes. "That's all?"

"Hey, I'm pretty good at it fro someone who's never used one before today!" I say defensively. "The expert at the station said I had a gift."

"Yes, but it doesn't set you apart from the other 23 tributes who also have 'gifts'," Adriana says. "Come on, I know you, Rue. You're a bright girl. You know that. You must have done something else."

I nod. "I did. I climbed the net and fired some shots from higher up."

I don't want to talk about it in front of everyone and I try to channel this through my eyes as I look at Adriana. She seems to get it.

"Well, that's better, I suppose," she sighs, leaning back against her chair. "I'll talk to you mentor-to-tribute later, 'K?"

"OK." She rises and leaves in a way that dismisses everyone else, including me. I go to my bedroom and hug my pillow.

"I hope it was enough, Mom," I whisper. Enough to get me a decent score. Enough to let me live a little longer so I might have a better chance to go home.