"District 3. Beetee Latier, report for individual assessment." We heard over the intercom, having me look and watch as Beetee got up and walk over to the double set of doors. I sat next to my brother and Johanna in the waiting room for our individual training score in front of the Gamemakers. I remembered the last time I was in this room, getting a score of only 6. That was pretty good for what I did, only showing that I could make traps and snares. That was pathetic to say that least. But I hoped I could use some of the weaponry that was in there, praying that there was a slingshot or even a poisonous dart.
"I give them each a 5." I heard next to me, seeing Johanna look at the door and the face of Beetee lit up on the screen. I nodded my head, not knowing how they would do. I knew Beetee electrocuted the last of the tributes in order to win when he competed, but Wiress was a different, she was a different story. She was talking about the both of them, how they both were going to do in there.
"Nuts and Volts won't make it past 7." She said under her breath, having me look from her over to Finnick and Mags, who were next in line.
"What about Mags?" I asked her aloud in curiosity. She looked over at Mags as well, thinking to herself. She brought her knees to her chest and sighed.
"She better do something great in there, or she's looking at a 3." She replied back to me.
"I hope she doesn't make fishhooks." I said in a sorrowful tone, rubbing my red hair that was in a messy half up and half down style. It was harsh to say something like that to a friend of mine, but I knew it was true. I trust Mags, but she needed to convince not only the Gamemakers, but all of Panem as well, that she was worth it. I looked past Johanna at her tribute partner, Blight. He was a little older than us, a bit fidgety in his spot and was biting his nails. I hardly talked to him, since he was more of being alone and not around big crowds. That could be his positive outcome with the Games, being alone.
I gazed back at my own brother, who was staring sad ahead and not saying a word. I nudged him slightly, seeing him look over at me. I could tell he wasn't getting any sleep that past few nights since we've been at the Capitol, and that was worrying me.
"You okay?" I asked him aloud. He searched my eyes with his own tired ones, hearing the hint of worry in my voice. He gently took my hand in his and squeezed it lightly, showing a tired smile on his face.
"I'm fine." he replied to me in a low tone. Something in his tone of voice convinced me that he wasn't fine, but I was going to save that talk to later when I heard the loud speaker come on again.
"District 4, Mags Coehn. Report for your individual assessment." I saw Finnnick get up quickly and then help Mags up from her spot next to him. They both walked over to the double doors in the room, having me watch them both with my eyes. As Mags disappeared into the room, Finnick walked back to his spot. As he walked back, he turned around and found Johanna, Sampson and myself sitting in our spots. He nodded to us, and I nodded back, silently telling him good luck. I closed my eyes to think back and what my father would be doing right now. He would be working at the factory, though most of the time watching a lot of the Hunger Games footage and news hoping to get a glimpse of both of his children on the screens. I wished I was able to talk to him, tell him all is well, and that he won't be worrying about me anymore.
Not for long
I walked into the training session room, seeing that the Gamemakers were at their own balcony that was protected and looking lush. They were all watching me, including the Head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee. He was standing up as I entered and stood in the middle of the room. I looked to my left and saw the weapons assorted and waiting for use, and straight in front of me I saw several targets arranged in different levels and areas.
"Miss Trenton, you have ten minutes." he said aloud, his voice booming in the training room. He nodded his head, showing that my time as begun. I instantly walked over to the weapons table, looking and what I could use first. I saw it, my primary weapon: a slingshot. Grabbing it I also grabbed a handful of the pellets, walking over to the mark and aiming at the first target. I took a deep breath and shot at three targets within 1 second apart. When the pellet would hit the target, colored paint would explode, having me seeing a tint of yellow or pink on the three targets. They were paint pellets, having me shoot at the rest of the target within 30 seconds. I used all of the pellets and then I moved to the poison dart tubes that were sitting next to the tridents. I grabbed the tube and the rest of the pellets and moved over to another set of targets that were replaced with the old colorful targets I used. I shot one target three times with the tube, then another. I went on with this for about another minute or two, hitting each target right in the middle and then went for the last weapon I knew how to use: the bow.
I grabbed the bow and arrows, aiming and shooting at the last batch of targets that appeared, but this time they were around the room. I rotated with my feet, shooting at every target with rapid fire and then finishing the arrows. I stopped in my tracks and then looked up at the Gamekeepers. I then had a idea that would work with them, since they knew my past. They watched my games before, and they had a hunch from what I was good for:
Snares.
I looked back at the weapon area, seeing that they also had other tools that weren't considered weapons. Paint, wood to start a fire, and some other knick knacks. But my eyes went to the pieces of wood and from what I saw, a sewing kit. I walked over quickly, taking out the plenty of rolls of string that were colorful and then the 5 needles that were there.
Think. How did I do this years ago? I thought to myself as I looked at what I had. I knew they were watching me then, seeing what new play I was going to do. Then it hit me, not only do I have to show them: I have to scare them. I started making the snare I made in the past along with booby traps. I threw together a basic needle trap, getting the needle to stick out of the end of the tick that was attached to the string. I made 5 of them and had them circle around me on the floor, with me placing the end of the string in the middle and me hopping over one to the side. The needles were against the floor, and with one pull of the string they spring up like a coil. I hopped to the outside of the circle, a glare in my eye and a motive in my brain.
I grabbed the paintbrush that was close to my arm and looked back up at the Gamekeepers. Pluatrach was watching with intriguing eyes as I kept my eyes on him. I threw the paintbrush towards the middle of the string, seeing the end of the brush hit the floor and I knew it moved the string. Within seconds all of the five snares went off and we could hear the clicking in the room. I saw all of their eyes going big as they saw what happened behind me. I stayed perfectly still, as if it was nothing new to me. And it wasn't anything new, not at all.
Plutarch eyed me from my spot. At this point, being watched constantly wherever I went and being told what to do, knowing that I had no say as to when I will live or die, I was beyond angry. This was something I never wanted in my life, to seen by the rest of Panem and to be judged. I just walked out of the room and towards the doors that lead be back to the main room. I didn't want to look back, since I was sick of looking at their faces anyways. All of this was turning into chaos, mass chaos.
"Haymitch. What a nice surprise." I said aloud as I opened the door. Haymitch stood in the doorway and was looking as sober as ever, but had a sour look on his face. I moved aside to let him come in, seeing him walk over to the large window of my apartment and say nothing for a moment. He looked over to my right, seeing the stylist already getting my gown that I designed ready for the interviews that were that very night with Caesar.
Since the Individual Assessments, I stayed mostly in my room and tried to think about the upcoming Interview with Caesar. I had to rethink of how I was going to present myself in front of the crowd. Was I going to play nice, or was I going to play God? I needed to talk to Sampson before we went out there together in order to make sure we both were on the same page.
"Can we have the room to ourselves for a few minutes please?" He asked in a cold tone, though I knew he was trying to be polite. I saw the stylist look dumfounded, then looking over at me for approval. I nodded my head, seeing them walk out of the living room with dress in hand to go into my private bedroom, out of ear shot. We were alone for a moment, having me see Haymitch look out the window onto the Capitol. I walked over to him slowly, seeing the sun hit his worn face and his piercing blue eyes.
"The plan is in motion." He said aloud to me as I stood next to him. I looked out as well into the streets of the Capitol, seeing the busy people walking by without any knowledge of what we were about to do. I node my head, knowing that Haymitch was working over time in order to make sure this was going to work.
"You have other Tributes joining the Alliance?" I asked him aloud, thinking of who else he talked to.
"Districts 3, 4, 6, 7, and 11." Haymitch explained to me, having me look over at him. So Finnick, Johanna and Mags were in on the situation. But then again I knew that the Careers wouldn't want anything to do with it. I saw him look over at me and then look down for a second.
"Do they know about this, Haymitch?" I asked him aloud in curiosity. He knew who I meant, his own two tributes who were probably prepping for the interview tonight as we were talking. Haymitch was all about secrets, since his whole life was a secret. There were still some things about him that he never told me, nor any of the other mentors when we were together. So something like this wouldn't surprise me when it came to secrecy.
"No, and they can't know. If Katniss hears one word about this, she will do something stupid." Haymitch said aloud to me.
"You don't know that." I said back in retaliation.
"I do know that. I know her more than she knows herself. She even wants the boy to live over her if something were to to happen to her in the arena." he explained to me. I looked forward once more, thinking about how I was in the same situation with my own brother. Sampson was for certain going to have me live in the arena, but I didn't want to live knowing that he had the better chance. I was more of the pawn than he was, Sampson was the favored twin. Not me.
"I know where she is coming from." I said to him aloud, seeing Haymitch look at me with serious eyes. I sighed and rubbed my eyes.
"Sampson has to live." I explained to him aloud in a cool tone, "Not me. I'm not favored in the Capitol like he is."
"Don't say that, kid." He said aloud in almost a hurt tone. Sure we weren't close as mentors and friends, but we did have times together sitting in the Mentor Room talking together about past Games. He had a bit of a heart for me at least, but who knows if it was the same for the others.
"You know it's true, Haymitch. Might as well give the people what they want, who they want." I explained to him, knowing my own fate was sealed from the moment that I was Reaped once more.
"You try telling that to your family, to Finnick and Johanna and Mags, and even to Oliver." he said to me in a cold tone, having me stay still for a moment or two before he continued, "I know he cares for you. We all see it, and you're going to throw that away because of what the people want?"
"I have no choice in the matter Haymitch." I said to him in a stern tone, "I am part of an alliance that is going to try to keep those two of your teenagers alive, and that means I will be dying in the arena within days. I know my own fate, and I have come to accept it. You ask me to help Katniss, yet you don't understand that it means I'm sacrificing all that I have, all that I know, and all that I want, in order that she can live and help with your rebellion."
Haymitch was silent then, having me stare at him and watch as he understood what I said. I knew that it was true, since I accepted my fate. But it was more than the Reaping, it was when I accepted the alliance with Haymitch and now about half of the tributes in the Games. We all were basically signing our lives on the line for Katniss, and it was going to be for the good of the future. Maybe I should of refused and just tried to stay alive on my own in the arena. But when I knew I would have to fight and kill Finnick, Johanna, and Mags, let alone my brother. This was all messed up, and there was no way I was going to come out alive.
"I'm dead either way Haymitch. I might as well wake up from the notion that I could live after all of this is over." I said to him to finish off my rant. I had to grow up, and I had to accept that I was going to die. Either in the bloodbath in the first day, or by a Career with a axe to the chest. There was no future for me. I was looking back at the city once more, trying to find my composure once more. But I felt Haymitch place a hand on mine and I took in a deep breath.
"You don't have to do this, you know that." He said to me in a soft tone. I knew he was trying to have me not pick his way, have my own choice in the matter. Maybe he was wanting me to fight on my own, and not fight for a girl I hardly knew. But his plan was going to have a huge after effect, he was going to change the face of Panem if Katniss lived. They wanted to change the system, the way of life, and the future of our country for the sake of the future citizens. He asked me to join, only because he saw what the damage did to my brother and I. And he wanted to fix it, not just for me, but for all. As tempting as it was, to walk away from the Alliance, I knew that it was more important to help save Katniss. If what Haymitch was saying was true, then the outcome would be worth it. President Snow will fall. All would be well.
Was it worth it?
I looked back at him, seeing the hurt in his own face as he looked back at me. I shook my head.
"I made my choice, Haymitch. I'm going to do this." I replied back to him, knowing that the outcome was far better than what I wanted in my future. For once I was trying not to be selfish and not think about my own future. That was no longer important, but it was more important to help the future of Panem and get freedom back. I would want to help in everyday possible. Haymitch nodded his head, looking down at his own watch and then clearing his throat.
"I need to go get Katniss and Peeta ready for the interview." He said aloud, walking away from me and over to the front door. I watched him from my spot and saw him stop once more before looking back at me.
"I want you to know, I never would of asked you to join if I didn't know you so well. But I consider you part of my family now." He said to me, having me smile at him and nod my head. I knew what he meant, since we were mentors together. But it was mostly because of the fact that he had no family to go home to. He was asking the only people he knew to make the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of a dream, and mere thought to idea, and it was going to work.
God I hoped it did.