Training Day I: What's My Name?
What's My Name? by Rihanna
Baby, you got me, ain't nowhere that I'd be
Than with your arms around me
Back and forth you rock me
So I surrender to every word you whisper
Every door you enter, I will let you in…
Training Area 1- Ib
Tricity Elm (18) Past District 4 Female Tribute of the 90th Games
Tributes participating in the first Arena, please report to the North-West area of the Training Center... Those participating in the second Arena, report to the East area of the Training Area… Finally, those participating in the last Arena, please report to the South area… All tributes must be in their respective areas in fifteen minutes…
District Four had been the first group to arrive followed shortly by Twelve and Five. Due to the special circumstances of this year's Games, our mentors are required to accompany us for Training, and according to River, will be observing potential allies and threats for us.
It won't matter for me, of course.
"Hey!" The voice is feminine, twinkling like chimes but sounds of haughtiness. The three of us turn our heads and spot a blond female and male, along with a younger boy and a dark complected male.
"That's probably the Career pack…" I decide to go ahead and go with Brielle and Ashton to introduce myself to Districts One and Two. The seven of us meet up in the middle and, as if on cue, our arms extend and we shake hands with one another.
The blonde girl pipes up first, "I'm Azura, District Two tribute of the forty-sixth Games."
"I'm Hero, District Two tribute of the sixtieth Games." The dark complected male states as he salutes us.
"Steele, District One tribute of the tenth Games." The brunette boy waves and looks down at the ground.
"Glint Gemstone, District One tribute of the second Quarter Quell." The broad-shouldered blonde smirks and crosses his arms across his chest.
"Brielle Marina. District Four tribute of the twenty-first Games" She nods and turns her head towards Ashton.
"Ashton, District Four tribute of the fifty-ninth Games."
I look around at everyone and find the girl from One and boy from Two absent from the group. "Where are your other partners?"
The mood shifts uncomfortably and I instantly regret saying anything. The young brown-haired boy from One rubs the back of his head and laughs nervously. "Carminha didn't want to be a part of the Careers…" I can sense his apprehension as he looks over at the blonde female with a look of resentment.
"Keither had other plans…" Azura flips her blonde hair and gives me a playful smile. What a bitch… I mean, I know I'm pretty bitchy… but, wow…
"Well, I have other plans too…" I wave my hand, making sure to show off my long dark red nails. "I just wanted to introduce myself. Tricity Elm of the ninetieth Games."
"You're from the ninetieth?" Hero inquires as he points to an all too familiar woman standing at the far edge of the room. "Dolly's from those Games. You know her?"
My eyes set on Dolly and the corners of my lips begin to turn upward. "Of course. Dolly Westever…" Her presence brings back long forgotten memories of my first Games. She was a monster, robotic, beautiful, deadly…
"I'll see you guys later…" I leave before I can hear their responses and make a beeline towards Dolly. She converses with a redheaded boy, her eyes gleaming, and her arms waving around, but as I approach her from behind, the boy stops mid-sentence and walks away.
Dolly turns her head and her eyes widen, her mouth open in surprise. "T-Tr-Tricity…?" She looks the same as ever with her large blue eyes and porcelain white skin, a few new wrinkles etching her round face.
I smirk and bring my right hand to her neck, pushing her kinky curls away to expose the supple flesh of her skin. The space between her collarbones pulsates softly as my sharp fingernails trace shapes across her neck, finding four red scars. Jagged and discolored, the only imperfection on her body…
"Did you miss me, Dolly?"
Training Area 2- Mad Father
Azura Sparks (18) Past District Two Female of the 46th Games
"Okay, everyone! Now that we are acquainted with each other, it's time for… TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES!" The Trainer giggles and points to all of us.
"Now… I will separate everyone into four groups, three persons each… and I'll explain the rules for the activity…"
The young woman whips out a tablet and her fingers fly across the screen. She taps the screen one last time and clears her throat. "Okay… Valiant, Barrik, and Azura are the first team… Mercy, El, and Steele are the second… Rhea, Glint, and Trolley are in the third… and Joules, Vetch, and Andra and you guys are the last group…"
I walk over to the towering dark male and seemingly relaxed blonde and smile. "This is a team that'll surely win, I know it!" Giggling, I playfully smack Barrik's arm. He grins and turns to Valiant, winking.
What a dork.
"Each team will choose one member to participate in an obstacle course…"
We'll definitely win… victory is mine.
"… but not just any obstacle course… the selected team member will be blindfolded and will have to depend on their other teammates to guide them to safety. The team with the fastest time will receive a rather generous sponsor gift…"
I coyly smile at the two. "I'll represent us." Putting my hands on my hips, I raise my head and grin. I look at Valiant and Barrik to see they're not that all amused. "What's up…?"
"Well… I think Barrik would be a better candidate…" Valiant mumbles. Who the hell does he think he is?! I'm a Career, dammit!
"What…?!" I can feel the heat traveling to my face, my fists clenched at my sides.
"There are going to be some tight places…" Valiant looks away, embarrassed. He looks almost scared himself.
"He's pretty much saying your big in the right places…" Barrik smirks and makes a cupping motion around his chest and butt.
I'm fuming. "TO HELL WITH YOU TWO! I'M GOING IN THERE!" I grab the blindfold and walk to the starting line, tightening the straps of the cloth. "You both better give me great instructions!"
"I'm good at giving instructions… just ask my late girlfriend." He laughs and I can hear a high five. Can I kill Barrik now, please?!
"Ready. Set. GO!" The trainer fires the gun and my legs take off. My mind races as my sense of hearing and touch are intensified. The blood and adrenaline drowning out the two commands. I run head first into a wall.
THUD
Fuck! I fall back and land on the floor, my head spinning. My anger and frustration rises as the inability to see takes over. I crawl, my head spinning and mind hazy as I fit through a tiny space, my chest and behind fitting through just fine. I stretch my arms forward and wave my hands furiously to find an exit.
Jerks.
"There's a rope that you need to swing from! There's a ball pit below!" I hear Valiant shout as I feel my way for the rough material. Lucky for me, I'm pretty good with swinging and stuff, so no problem.
Or so I thought.
I had no idea how long the jump would be, and even then I had no idea if I would have to drag myself up from a ledge or what. I got a running start and grabbed onto the rope, my mind and body soaring forward. I successfully manage to leap across the ledge, entirely avoiding the cursed ball pit.
"You're gonna have to crawl on your stomach, the space is really tight!" Valiant yells as I hear the three-minute alarm sound. It is extremely humid and I can feel beads of sweat fall as I desperately crawl through the tiny space. There is no way Valiant could've fit in here. Ever.
"Now run!" I sprint with the last of my energy and hear the four-minute alarm sound. A loud beep echoes and I catch a whiff of the trainer's perfume.
I did it.
"You're time is four minutes and three seconds. Please wait with your partners while we test the other teams." The woman nods in the direction where Valiant and Barrik are huddled. I hand over my blindfold and march to where the two boys are.
"What the hell was that about?!" I look at Barrik, the scars around his hazel eyes darken. I grab the front of his shirt and push him against the wall. "I don't know who you think you are, but you do not mess with me…" I let go of him, snarling at him.
Everyone better hope they don't cross my path in that Arena…
Training Area 3- The Witch's House
Hero De'Rogue (16) Past District Two Male of the 60th Games
"Take a step forward if at least one of your immediate family members is still living." The trainer announces on a platform. We are lined up, each of us fully aware of the names of our competition and the special circumstances surrounding us for the Quarter Quell.
You will not kill another person in the Arena
You will work together to complete puzzles and progress
You will cooperate with the Arena's specialties
You will be sleeping together in a room at night
Only one will survive…
Brielle, Ashton, Mac, Mitzi, Track, Coy, Fenella, Chord, Kale, Ember, Lilac, and I…
Only a few of us step forward. Track, Fenella, Chord, Lilac, and I step forward. I look around and watch their hesitant faces, their frowns, their despair… I could care less about any of this; we don't have much choice in the matter, though. Those who refuse to participate are sent directly to meet with President Echo. I shiver, goosebumps forming along my forearms..
"Take two steps forward if you had an ally or allies during your first Games…"
"Take five steps forward if you killed a tribute or more in your first Games…"
"Take three steps forward if you survived the bloodbath…"
"Take two steps back if your training score was below a five…"
"Take a step forward if you were deemed most likely to win…"
"Take two steps forward if you were District partners with the Victor of your first Games…"
"Take a step forward if you never had the chance to attend high school…"
"Take a step forward if you killed someone with a long distance weapon…"
"Take a step forward if you killed someone with a blunt object…"
"Take two steps forward if you are sexually active…"
My curiosity gets the best of me and I turn around to see most of the tributes step forward, surprisingly Kale and Ember from Seven step forward along with myself and Brielle. Surprisingly, Ashton stays put, which seems weird considering his chill and laid-back personality. It's not like he can't get laid, you know?
"Take a step forward if you have consumed alcohol…"
At first only I step forward, but several seconds later, Brielle steps forward. Kale takes three steps forward.
The trainer doesn't say anything.
A long time passes, and after the series of cheesy activities, we're allowed half an hour for training. The ground where the equipment for the exercises lowers and a floor of the familiar area appears, weapons and mini survival centers are set up for use. It is smaller than past years, but considering the way the area is divided…
"We will dismiss for lunch in a bit, tributes. Remember, you will be face the winners from the two different Arenas in the final three so it'd be in your best interest to learn a weapon or technique to win…" The man nods and heads for a small love-seat at the far edge of the area, plopping himself smack center of the cushion and pulls out a book.
My eyes drift up the white walls to find several mentors monitoring us. Dolly waves at me and winks, her cheeks rosy. I grin and wave back, my gaze focused on the other mentors. If I could get Brielle's and Ashton's mentor to like me, it would be amazing!
"Hero... I'll race you to the cafeteria after this," Ashton exclaims as he points to the rising dividers. I smirk at him and flash him a thumbs up. I prepare myself, taking deep, slow breaths and getting into a stance.
I am ready for anything.
As the dividers rise I gaze at all the other twenty-our tributes and show a fierce smile. Ashton gives a battle cry and we sprint, and a surge of adrenaline surges through me like electricity. The world better be ready for a hero…
Training Center's Health Wing
Carmini "Carminha" Floyd (17) Past District One Female of the 87th Games
"You're baby is healthy and doing just fine, Carmini." The physician's assistant assures me as she shows me the monitor. The baby is much larger than I expected, healthy and strong. It never occurred to me how long it had been since I felt our hearts beat. The little one moving and kicking inside me, full of life. Even in the face of death, this baby wanted to live, even when I had given up those ten years ago.
"Would you like to know the sex?"
My heart skips a beat, remembering the night of the baby's conception. "Sex…?"
"Yes. The gender."
I shake my head. "No…"
"You want it to be a surprise?" She smiles, her eyes practically closed.
I don't bother to respond.
"You will go into labor in the Games, you know that, right?" She frowns and removes the wand from my belly. "You aren't allowed pain killers for the birth, President Echo's orders."
That bitch… even now she plans for me to die before I see my child's face…
I just nod and cast my eyes to the linoleum floor. The lady rubs a damp rag over my stomach, removing the sonogram jelly and switches the lights on. "If I may ask… is the father still alive? He'd be about thirty now…"
I shake my head, my eyes burning with anger and sorrow. "He died in a boating accident…" I wasn't about to tel her the truth about him, not to anyone.
"I'm sorry, dear." She frowns and helps me off the examination table. "I hope you survive… for both of your sakes…" The older woman leaves the room, shutting the door firmly behind her. The moment I hear her heels echo down the hall, I fall into the chair and weep. All that comes to mind are his beautiful green eyes and his incredibly warm hands. The way his strong arms held me in those darkest hours, our first time… which was unfortunately our last.
His family were never Panem citizens, they lived off the land and roamed secretly from District to District. Since they weren't citizens, they didn't have to worry about reapings or rations. They lived a reserved life, free of the restrictions set upon us.
District Four had been my home, a place I called home. It wasn't until Peacekeepers had found him and his family scavenging too close to the city did my heart break forever. Him and his parents were publicly executed, and… and there was nothing I could do…
Just a month later, I found out I was pregnant. The one vivid memory that comes to mind every five minutes. I cried, and cried. An endless flood of tears fell in the bathroom that day, and it never stopped, at least not on the inside. Every time morning sickness engulfed me, or my swollen feet stopped me from pacing nervously, I always thought of him.
I ran away. My father would've killed me if he had found out, despite being a teenage parent himself. Managing to gather money supplies under his nose, I set out for District One. It took me three weeks, but I made it. Through the woods and under the noses of the Peacekeepers, I managed to survive the trek through District Two and the Capitol. I found a job at a popular jewelry store and found a small apartment. I registered my name into District One's database and applied for tessarae. I didn't think one extra slip could make a difference… but I was wrong…
My hand snakes into my jean's left pocket, and I hold up a photograph of the two of us, laughing. A small smile sets on my face. I should be glad to have met him, but he shouldn't have died, not like that anyways.
Standing up, I wobble over to the mirror above the sink and discover red, puffy eyes staring back at me. My once sunken cheeks are full and swollen, my once dead, cold eyes are now a warm honey color. I look down, my belly round and full of life. Once flat and toned, now holds our future.
"Baby… If I die…" My words are choked, tears stinging my tear ducts. "… No… Just know that, your father and I love you so much. I will live to see your birth…" I put my hands around me, looking up at the ceiling.
That is a promise.
Cafeteria
Lilac Fields (16) Past District 11 Female of the 45th Games
Tributes… please proceed to the Dining Hall through the North Wing of the Training Center… Today's special is salisbury steak with mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, a dinner roll, and brownies…
The walls separating the Training Areas rises, slowly but silently as view of the other tributes come into view. I spot Valiant with a blonde-haired male, conversing as the three groups head to the North Wing. Yarrow manages to find me in the sea of people and walks next to me, not saying a word. I take her silence as welcoming and press forward in hope of better things.
Trainers from before set us in line to receive food and quietly monitor us, it's just like school all over again except this time the people here aren't just douche bags and bitches, they're murderous douche bags and bitches. I end up near the entrance door and watch as the Careers find their places toward the front, managing to get in the front.
"Move…" A boy grunts as he moves in front of me, his large feet step on mine and to make matters worse he grinds his foot further down on my toes. He smirks and turns away, a look of satisifaction written across his stupid ass face.
My point taken.
Valiant comes over and I politely let him in front of me, watching with delight as the boy from Three glances back at the towering giant. The ginger's head snaps back forward and the tips of his ears turn red. I snicker, feeling a bit taller than I did several minutes ago.
Bastard.
"Which table would you like to sit at?" Valiant mumbles, scratching the back of his head.
There are numerous tables, all coated a menacing silver that reflects the sun's rays stridently. Despite this, the room has an open and warm feeling. It penetrates through the tension and friction between the other tributes. Most of the tables are already filled, with the Careers taking the most favorable spot: right next to a window. Not that this would be a deal breaker (I guess) but the window reflects a soft hue of light that isn't bright or harsh against the eyes. Instead, it creates a haunting spectrum of colors that shine brighter than anything I've seen before.
And yet they bask in it… killers…
"Yo, Valiant!" My head perks up as a male voice sounds from the far table in the room, the same blonde-haired kid from before waves and gestures towards the seats surrounding him.
"He's cool, trust me." Valiant winks and heads over to the strange boy. Taking his word for it, I stride over facing several other groups and loners as I take a seat next to Chord and Fenella.
"Hi, Lilac." Fenella turns to me and gives me a soft smile, patting the corners of her lips with a napkin. The slight blush to her cheeks and the soft wisps of blonde hair that fall in loose strands from her ponytail make her seem and appear all that more elegant and beautiful.
Chord simply nods and continues with her meal, her pupils widening at the amount of food piled onto her plate. Her shoulders are slouched, her elbows propped squarely on the table as she devours her meal.
"I'm Barrik." The blonde kid reached over the table, extending his arm out. I gladly take it, and relish his firm grip. He situates himself and grabs his spoon. "Valiant here is a pretty cool guy… heh." He takes a swig of juice. "You're Lilac, right?"
I nod. "Yes."
He gives a warm smile and continues with his meal. Valiant looks over at me, his mouth taut. "Did they make you guys, um, do weird stuff…"
"Stuff…?"
He faces me, his eyes shifty. "Yeah… like… 'team-building activities'." He turns away, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"Yes, it was strange… they didn't do that before… and knowing everyone's names?" My mind searches for a reason behind it, I look down at my napkin and try to form a basis for it. Anything. Nothing comes to mind.
"If I may…" Fenella pipes up from the far right of the group, her face stern. "I think it's because President Echo wants us to connect people with faces… she wants us to know each other, like friends…"
"That's fucked up…" Barrik mumbles as he chews on a piece of his roll. "I mean… we won't even be the ones killing, it'll be the Arenas…" He grunts in frustration and stands. "I'm going to the restroom." He leaves his tray and abruptly departs from our small-knit group.
Tributes… for the remainder of the day… you are allowed free time… please make your way to the Recreation Center… May the odds be ever in your favor…
The cafeteria erupts in comotion as the others pick up their trash and place them in their respective recepticles, several pieces of diningware are left behind. You can see the different alliances and singles leave together, either acknowledging of ignoring the presences of the other. With the trainers and our mentors by our side, we safely cross the street and enter the Recreation Center.
Recreation Center
Barkley Brimming (13) Past District 7 Female of the 71st Games
The ceilings are as high as the eye can see, the Reacreation Center is spacious and open. It features many different areas where tributes can relax and hang out. Art halls, music rooms, fitness gyms, gymnastics studios, movie theatres, study rooms, a library, video game tournanment rooms, and temporary living quarters all come together to form the best thing I have ever seen.
If you need to ask one of our fine mentors a question, or just simply wish to socialize with other tributes… please proceed to the East coridoor… Arts such as painting, music, the movie theatres, and video game tournament rooms are located to the West… and the library, fitness gyms and temporary quarters are located to the North…
Tributes disperse in different directions, most of the Careers headed through the North entrance while only a handful of people go through the East coridoor. The rest head to the media and fine arts rooms, most being from the outer Districts. As we pass through the hall filled with various pictures of this years' tributes past Games, I feel mixed emotions as the depictions hanging from the walls are anything but cheerful.
I ignore mine, not wanting to relive those awful events.
We exit the dimly lit hall and enter a bright and colorful area. The large room has splashes of paint thrown here and there and leads to the different centers. I find the art room and duck quietly in it, careful not to draw suspicion from the others. Scenery and abstract art fill the large room and countless amounts of paints, brushes, pencils, paper, canvases, and oil pastels. My heart bursts in my chest as I collect a sketch pad and several vibrant oil pastels and plop myself down on a beanbag. It forms around my body and gives me peace and relaxation as I turn the crisp pages, forming images and shapes from a past forgotten.
My fingers wrap around the pastel and I press down lightly on the page, the rich pigments forming lines and shapes before my very eyes. The feeling is soothing, I reminesce those long summer days is the forests of Seven, capturing the movements of butterflies, birds, billowing flowers, and the extensive curvuture of the twigs and leaves of limber.
I wish I was back to those days… careless and wondering… thinking only of small, insignficant things…
I lose myself in the drawings, using my fingertips to blend and form the fuzzy images onto the paper. A medium to express my inner feelings and thoughts, when words cannot form them. Not realizing anyone else was in the room, my heart nearly jumps out of my chest when I glance up at the clock by chance to find pale blue eyes watching me.
"AGGHH!"
I throw the notebook forward on impulse and lean as far as I can back against the beanbag. The boy casually walks over to the thrown notebook and retrieves it, his eyes concentrated as he flips through the colored pages. A small smile forms on his lips, suiting him quite well.
"These are really good… you have a real talent for art." The red-haired boy hands me back the sketchbook, my cheeks flush red as his hands graze mine. "I'm not sure if you remember…" He smiles nervously and extends his hand out. "I'm Keither."
My mind clicks and I recall the events during the Training Center earlier today. "Right…! I-I'm Barkley." I accept his hand, surprised by his cold touch. Finding another beanbag at the far corner of the room, Keither scoots his next to mine and reveals his own materials.
"I'm sort of an artist myself…" He laughs and grabs a sketching pencil. He opens his own sketching pad and begins to draw, his eyes casting down and up towards me often. I watch in a trance as his hand flies across the page with concentration and dedication, his entire being focused entirely on this one sheet of paper.
Did I look like that while I was drawing?
I can see now why he was staring at me contently for so long. I understand, and now, I face the same problem myself. With every stroke of the pencil and blending of pastel, I watch in awe as his creation comes to life. His movements are methodical, but fluid, every line keen.
He sighs heavily. "Finished."
He holds up his drawing and my jaw drops. It is me, smiling at full profile. He's captured every small feature, even the faint scars that mark up my face like puzzle pieces. The uggliest part of me… and he has made it beautiful…
"Wow… this is perfect…!" I grab the sketchpad from him and raise it high above me. "This is amazing! You did it so fast too…!" I am astonished, my brown eyes wide.
"It's nothing…" He laughs nervously and takes the sketchpad from me. "Look… I have to leave… tomorrow?" He raises his eyebrows, hopeful.
I nod, happiness for finding someone who I can connect with. "Tomorrow."
A/N: Hello! I hope everyone (American viewers) had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I'll be posting another poll on the last Training Day. Blog is up to date, and on another note, I was recently nominated for 'Best HG SYOC' from the Golden Pen SYOC Awards. Thank you so much to the person who nominated me, and of course everyone who has been supporting Oblivion! I know this is going to be super cheesy (and cliché) but I couldn't have done it without you guys.
Alliances (as of Training Day 1)
Arena 1- Ib
Careers: N/A
The Artists: Keither and Barkley
Carminha
Carella
Orion
Bram
Messiah
Mira
Tricity
Yarrow
Faust
Eli
Arena 2- Mad Father
Careers: Azura, Glint, and Steele
The Bromance: Barrik and Valiant
The Brains and the Sensitive One: Rhea and Vetch
El
Trolley
Andra
Joules
Mercy
Arena 3- The Witch's House
Careers: Hero, Brielle, and Ashton
The Goddesses of Grain: Chord and Fenella
Track
Coy
Ember
Kale
Mac
Lilac
Mitzi
Love Always, Domi