Notes: As of right now, there are only three chapters left, including this one. Not much more left. Not much to say about this chapter, so ignore any errors and enjoy!
Warning: Language
Summary: Katniss mentions a Game from when she was young where a female Tribute drops her token on the ground before the gong sounded. That was Camellia Galvan, a young girl from District Seven, whose life was normal. Until everything changed. This is her story.
Disclaimer: See chapter one.
Reminder: Please review!
For the next two days, Ash and I continue our training. I don't try but I manage to stay away from him. I spend part of the second day at the knife throwing station. I'm not great, not like some of the others, but I can hit the knee or the shoulder two out of five times. It's not much, but it's enough to get Ash off my back. I've made him happy, so when I spend the first half of the third day at the plant identification table, he says nothing. Then again, maybe he realizes he doesn't have the right to tell me to do anything anymore.
The last two days of training go by quickly. I spend my free time watching the city from my bedroom window and eating my way through the menu from the kitchen. I don't have much longer here, so I want to eat as much Capitol food as I can before I go into the arena.
At lunch, my stomach tightens and I can't eat. I'm surprisingly nervous about my private training with the Gamemakers. Thankfully, being from Seven, my turn will be just about in the middle, so I won't have long to wait. I figure I'll show them my knife throwing, even if I'm terrible at it. My score doesn't matter anyway.
After lunch, we sit just outside the training room, all lined up, girl-boy, ranging from district One to Twelve. One, Two, and Four, the Soldier districts, are the only people talking. I'm sitting with my hands between my knees, shaking. I don't know why I'm so nervous.
People are getting called in and I want to say something to Ash, maybe get him talking of home, but I can't. Instead, I just sit there and wait my turn.
Four, Five, and Six are done and suddenly it's my turn. I'm walking through the main doors and there are a bunch of Gamemakers above me, on a little balcony, waiting to see what I can do. One or two already look drunk, with all the wine that's being passed around. At least a few of them are still interested in me. Some are too busy with other things, like food and conversation. It's disgusting. They have our lives in their hands, and they are too busy eating and drinking to pay attention. It makes me want to do something drastic, like throw a knife in their direction, knock a glass out of a hand. Make them notice me.
Instead, I make my way to the knife station. I don't have a lot of time left. I pick up five and stand on the line, about ten feet from the targets. I don't look at the Gamemakers again. I let my first knife fly. I hit the right knee. I let another one go, and another. The first one misses, and the other hits the left knee. The last two go. One misses, while I get lucky with the last and hit the center of the neck. I look up at the Gamemakers. A couple are nodding, but the rest aren't even looking my way.
I'm dismissed and as I leave, I regret not throwing a knife their way.
When I make it to our floor, I head straight for my room. I drop my training uniform and get into the shower. I'm still nervous. My score is bound to be awful, but that's not why I'm nervous. I can't pinpoint why my stomach is still knotting, but I wish it would stop.
After my shower, I lie in bed and eat green fruits with fuzzy brown skin. The fruits burn my tongue, but I eat them anyway. I lean back against my pillows and wonder what is happening at home. I can't recall what day it is.
I reach over and grab my token, Caroline's little wooden marble, from my nightstand. I just got it back. It had to be tested for anything that would cause an unfair advantage. I'm glad I have it back. I thought I lost it, on the train the first night, when it disappeared with my dress. I hold it in my hand and squeeze tightly. I think it is Friday. Caroline has been 10 for a whole week. I hope she's not tired of her marbles yet.
The light is fading outside when there's a knock on my door. It's Shae, calling me to dinner. When I arrive, Blight is the only one at the table. Shae must be getting Ash.
"How did it go?" He asks.
"Are we allowed to talk about it with you?"
He smiles. "What are they going to do, punish you?" He says.
I can't help but smile. "I threw some knives. It wasn't that great. I don't know how many saw me." I glanced over my shoulder. Shae is still gone. "Are they always like that? Don't they know the tributes depend on them to pay attention to their skills?"
He looks surprised for a moment, but then shrugs. "I guess not." He tells me as Shae and Ash join us.
"Where are our stylists?" Ash asks as we're served a yellow soup that turns out to be a spicy cheese. It's delicious.
"They're going over your outfits tomorrow, for your interviews. They want to make you look gorgeous!" Shae says, taking a sip of her soup.
After dinner, consisting of baby vegetables, a beef dish, and fresh fruit for dessert, we make our way to the television to watch for our scores. First they show a picture of the tribute, and under it is their score. Both tributes from One get 10's. The girl from Six manages an 8. I wonder what she did. I wish we could talk about what we our sessions. But I don't think anyone would answer truthfully. Why give away your strengths?
Soon, my picture flashes onto the screen. I'm not expecting much. A six is flashed under my picture and I am genuinely surprised. I was expecting a four, maybe a five because of the neck shot. Shae and Blight are pleased, until Ash's picture is flashed, followed by a 10.
Ten!
We all cheer. Ash looks surprised and embarrassed. Blight pats him on the back while Shae calls for champagne. Ash and I smile at each other. He got the same score as the Soldiers. That means he might have a chance. That means someone from Seven just might win this year.