Zacharian Paisley, District 8 Male: Training day 3

"Zach!" Ciara says as her, Anne and Sunna jump on my bed. I was awake, sure, but tired from the lack of sleep I've gotten during my stay in the Capitol.

"Hey." I reply sitting up to face the girls, "ready for yet another day of training?"

"I guess…" Sunna says but seems to lose what she was planning to say.

"I know this isn't ideal."

"That's one way to put it." Ciara chimes.

"Sure." Anne nods.

"Sunna. What's on your mind? Don't tell me nothing 'cause it's obviously something." I say staring at the small girl. Sure, Ciara and I were close but I wanted to make all my allies like me. It's harder to kill someone when you really genuinely like them.

It's not like I didn't care about Sunna at all and to be honest, she reminds me a lot of Savannah. Same fighting spirit but almost distant eyes. Something was bothering her but I just couldn't put my finger on it.

"It's written all over your face." Anne says, taking Sunna's hand.

"Guys, I'm fine."

"No you're not."

"Why do I feel ganged-up on?" Sunna laughs, "seriously I'm fine. Let's head down to the training center, don't want to be late like we were yesterday."

"I mean, throwing snowballs is way more fun than listening to boring trainers anyway." Anne says sliding off the bed, grabbing Ciara's ankle in the process. Both girls fall down in a heap of giggles.

"I stand by that." Sunna smiles as she slides down to join them.

"I'm king of the mountain!" I say getting to my feet, tossing the blankets down to the girls. "I will rule with an iron fist." I say, mocking President Sliver.

"Sure." Anne says climbing back up on the bed. She stands up but quickly gets into a crouch.

"You win." I say falling to my knees pretending to be heartbroken. "You're too good." I chuckle and Ciara pulls me down toward her and Sunna. I lose my balance, falling down onto a pile of blankets.

"Noooooo." I cry as Anne takes my place as ruler of the bed.

"You can't stop me." Sunna shouts as she and Ciara climb back onto the bed. Sunna erupts into giggles and rolls down and lands on top of me.

"Ow."

"Sorry Zach."

"It's fine."

"No Ciara!" Anne cries as Ciara pushes her down towards me and Sunna.

"You can not defeat me."

"Yes I can." I say getting to my feet. I grab a blanket from under Sunna and jump back up onto the surprisingly high bed.

"You don't scare me!" Ciara says, staring me down.

"Are you sure?" I ask as I get to my feet and hold the tan thick blanket over Ciara's head. She giggles and Sunna gets up and tries to help her.

"What is going on here?" Spencer, mine and Ciara's mentor says strolling into my messy room.

"Nothing." Anne replies, halfway up the bed.

"You guys should be training!" Maya, Anne's mentor says joining Spencer in the doorway.

"What time is it?" Ciara asks, wrestling the blanket off her head.

"I don't know but you're the last ones to show up." Maya says shaking her head.

"For the second time!" Spencer adds.

"What did I miss?" Dakota, Sunna's mentor says as she sprints into the room.

"We busted them." Spencer replies as he turns to me and Ciara. "My room, now."

"We were just having fun."

"You're in trouble." Maya says pointing at Anne, before turning to look at Dakota. "What are we going to do with these tributes?"

"Sydney is better off than you, and he's twelve." replies Dakota looking away from Maya towards her tribute.

"I mean Abram's doing pretty well with his alliance and actually training. Why can't you?"

"I'm sorry." Anne looks hurt at the comparison to her district partner but quickly wipes it off her face.

"We all are." I chime in.

"Yeah." Sunna says, not making eye contact with anyone.

"You guys should get going." Dakota says turning back to her fellow mentors. "Anyone seen Sina? I've got a date with her later and wanted to check with her on the time."

"Oh, I forgot that you two were dating."

"Spence, it's been almost a year now."

"I'm sorry I'm forgetful, besides there's too much drama to keep up with anyway."

"True. There's always something new." Maya laughs as she motions for Anne to follow her. "Time for training."

I awkwardly turn to Spencer and give a thumbs up. He laughs but points to Anne, motioning for Ciara and I to head to the training gym. Sunna quickly joins us and we collectively let out a sigh of relief.

"That was interesting."

"Tell me about it." I sigh pressing the silver button underneath the twelve brass ones.

"We were just having fun." Ciara complains.

"And why did Dakota have to compare me to a twelve-year-old?" Sunna sighs, "not gonna lie he does have his shit together."

"Wow Sunna, I thought you were too good to curse." Ciara laughs.

"Nah,"

"He does have his priorities right though."

"Isn't he in an alliance with Eleven and the girl from Seven?"

"Yeah," Sunna says as the elevator door dings and opens. We step out into the crowd of tributes all packed into the tiny gym.

"Well, what are we gonna do first?"

"Fight with pillows." Anne chuckles.

"I mean, I'm down." I reply.

"Because that went so well last time."

"Loosen up Ciara."

"I was loose, until we got in trouble."

"Not so much trouble as just scolded."

"True." I add.

"Guys, why are they staring at us?" Sunna asks, shaking Anne's arm. She indirectly points over to where the careers were standing. They were indeed staring but for what? Were we threats to them?

"Just ignore them." Anne says turning around, blocking them from our view.

"Whatever." I sigh.

"Let's practice at the knife throwing station." Ciara says enthusiastically.

"She's been wanting to go there for the past few days, why not?"

"Lead the way." I laugh as Ciara practically jumps up and runs over to the station.

Angel Mayfield, District 1 Female: Training day 3

"Misty why did you stop here?" I ask.

"Yeah, I'm confused. One second we're walking back to the spear station and the next we're standing still in the middle of the walkway.

"It's nothing. Let's get back to work." Misty sighs.

"Alright."

"So as I was saying Kai will take the left flank and Angel the right."

"Sounds good to me."

"How can we prepare for an arena that we haven't seen yet?" Onyx mumbles under their breath.

"Did you say something?" Kai asks.

"Nah." I reply still looking at Misty.

"I wasn't talking to you." He sighs, "I was talking to him."

"Them." I correct.

"Them." Kai says nodding. "Why do you use that pronoun?"

"Because I'm non-binary." Onyx croaks. It was the first words they had spoken to the entire group and everyone almost seemed shocked that Onyx could even speak.

"Noted." Kai replied, "continue."

"Alright, so Onyx and I will take the middle, protecting the heart of the cornucopia."

"Sounds good."

"Don't forget-"

"When the gong goes off, sprint for the closest weapon and kill as many tributes as possible." I interrupt, "I've been studying these games since I was five. The Hunger Games are my life."

"Alright then." Misty says, pretending not to care that she had been interrupted when it was obviously clear on her face.

"Whatever you do, always watch your back."

"True." I say.

"Anything else we need to go over before the bloodbath?" Misty asks.

"No, I don't think so." Kai says as we turn around and head over to one of the nearby tables.

"Well, we could go over what we plan to do during our private sessions."

"I think that's a great idea. We all know everyone's favorite weapon so it only seems fitting."

"I plan to use a cutlass or maybe a rapier. Probably both." I sigh.

"Cool, well I want to show some moves with a spear. I'm sure Misty wants to do the same."

"Hell yeah." Misty says, turning to Onyx. "What about you?"

"A sword. Maybe a knife." Onyx whispers.

"Wait. You too share the same favorite weapon and so do we." Kai chuckles.

"What odds." Misty says, clearly not amused.

"It could give us more sponsors."

"I'm not sure they'll care."

"You're not a sponsor so how do you know?" I snap back.

"Because." She said, turning to look me in the eyes. My heart started to race but I held my ground.

"I think it could be a good thing to mention during interviews."

"Whatever." She sighs.

"Lighten up." Kai says, shaking Misty. She glares at him but her mood seems to shift slightly. "We can't go turning on each other now. We have to stay together, a united front."

"Yeah…"

"Just wait 'till final four." I whisper. I was serious, Misty was starting to make me a little worried. I have a feeling she's ready to turn on us at any moment. She'd be the first to come after her alliance members when we hit the arena, so I guess if I want to stay in the pack, I'll just have to stay on my toes.

"Oh, I can't wait."

"Guys!" Kai shouted.

"What?" I snap.

"We can't turn on each other."

"I know." I sigh, instantly regretting snapping at him. "I'm sorry,"

"It's fine, we just need to calm down."

"Alright." Misty says,"we should get back to work anyway. Wanna make sure that our skills are perfect."

"You don't always have to be perfect, you know." Kai jokes trying to ease the tension. His unsure smile told me he really hated being in the middle but knew someone had to.

"Yes I do."

"Misty, you're a perfectionist. That's fine." Kai says.

"But I need to be perfect."

"No one's perfect."

"Some people are." Misty grunts getting to her feet. She turns around and starts to walk toward the sparring ring.

"Who? Who out there is perfect?" Kai asks, grabbing her arm.

"My mother."

"I'm sure she's not." I say getting to my feet as well.

"You don't live with her."

"True, but no one's perfect."

"Whatever." Misty sighs, "can we just enjoy our last day of training before all hell breaks loose?"

"I agree."

"Sounds good to me." Kai says and we head over to the sparring ring, "you coming?" he asks, turning back to look at Onyx.

"Oh yeah."

"Hey, you good?" Kai asks after Onyx joins us.

"Yeah." They whisper, "I just don't like fighting."

"Alright, whenever you want to talk I'm here."

"I'm fine." Onyx mumbles.

"Well, who wants to go first?" Misty asks obviously not hearing Onyx.

"I will! I love swords." I say quickly getting in line.

"Alright, Angel's up first." Kai laughs as the rest of the group joins me in line.

"Let's do this thing." I say grabbing a sword off the rack at the front of the line. No one was waiting so I stepped right up. The trainer had a large wooden pole that he held out in front of him.

"Actually guys, I think that we should hit the survival stations before we do more weapons." Onyx replies right as I take my starting position.

"Survival?" Kai asks. "We'll have all the food and supplies though."

"But what if something happened to it? Like in the 257th Hunger Games?"

"The chances of that happening are very small, and besides, I think we all know the basics."

"But they're never zero and the basics aren't enough to help us survive. Please just an hour worth of non-weapon stations then we can hit the sparring ring."

"Whatever, I guess it wouldn't hurt to at least check them out."

"Exactly, then we can come back and Angel can take out the trainer with her sword skills.

James Patrick, District 12 Male: Test announcement

The last day of training was cut short for announcements. Announcements that meant nothing to me anyway. I wasn't going to win the title of smartest and I think a career will run away with the money for being the strongest.

Besides, why would I want to win money for the district that put me into this hell hole? The district that just decided to send me to my death. I'll show them. I'll show them all what a mistake it was to underestimate me.

"Please silence for the speech of President Silver!" shouts a deep voice over the crowd of tributes. Everyone was gathered around the test building waiting for Kendel Sliver to make her dramatic entrance.

"Oh, a speech. That's a little extreme, it's more of an announcement done in person." Miss Sliver says as she walks through the heavy metal doors. I could feel the rising tension and anticipation as a small boy brought Kendel Sliver a golden envelope.

She quickly tore open the seal on the laced envelope, eager to know the winners like the other tributes. There were two copper cards placed squarely inside the envelope so when Miss Sliver tries to take one out the other one falls to the ground.

Tributes crane their necks to catch a glimpse of the card and what name had been written there. Many were disappointed to see that the card had landed face down but I couldn't care less. It'd be faster if we just saw them anyway.

"And after completing the greatest fear challenge, the smartest response belonged to… Sage Greenberg." Miss Sliver says into the giant grey microphone.

"What?" asks a small voice towards the back of the crowd.

"Sage! I told you you would win!" a girl from the other side of the room calls. I recognize the voice instantly as the small weak girl from Eleven.

"Let's go Sage!" the small boy in front of me shouts.

"Wow. I didn't expect this." Sage says turning their eyes to the ground. I had found out the hard way that Sage was non-binary. I had called them a girl, because, honestly, Sage looks like one, and I got the wrath of Sage's alliance. They might be small and weak alone but together they're a force to be reckoned with.

"Come on up here Sage, maybe say a few words." Miss Sliver says motioning to the microphone.

"Alright…" Sage says quietly as they walk to the front of the crowd.

"Make it quick. Some of us don't have all day." I mutter only to be jabbed in the ribs by the girl from Ten.

"Well what else do you have planned for tonight?" She whispers.

"Anything besides this."

"Whatever." She sighs turning back to the front of the crowd.

"So, um, I just want to say that I won this for my mom. I hope this helps out in Eleven." Sage says looking directly at the camera that had been planted at the very back of the crowd.

"You're so sweet." Miss Sliver says picking up the piece of paper that had dropped on the floor. "Now, standing up to your fears takes a lot of bravery and courage so the person that showed the most strength and courage is… Misty Weaver!"

"Yes, I knew this was coming." Misty says making her way to the front of the crowd. She was obviously a career so it made sense she had won.

"Would you like to say a few words?" Miss Sliver asks, handing the microphone stand to Misty.

"Well, I want to thank everyone from Four that has helped me reach this point." She says looking at the president, "don't our families get some money too?"

"Yes they do." Miss Sliver says nodding.

"Then I would like to give a quarter of the money to my district partner, Kai's, family." She smiles kindly at a boy in the second row but something about the gesture seems off.

"Thank you so much Misty-" Kai says as a smile creeps up his face.

"Get down!" Someone shouts, interrupting the 'heartwarming' moment.

"What?" I hear a boy call as panic breaks out among the tributes.

"I said get down!" The voice calls again. At that everyone drops to their stomachs, including myself. The snow was cold but the voice was colder.

I looked around but I couldn't see where it was coming from. The President's disappeared but Sage and Misty are still up front. They look as worried as everyone else, no title can change that.

"What's going on?" the girl from Seven asks.

"Tributes calm down, please follow me." I hear another voice say and this time it belongs to Thea Daxton, the new Head Game Maker.

"Everyone up!" shouts the boy from Two as he heads toward the Head Game Maker.

"What is happening?" the girl from Eleven cries.

"Cel! Come on we've got to go!" the boy from Nine shouts grabbing his alliance member's arm as the crowd of tributes rush towards the open testing building's doors. Snow stuck to my pants as I joined the clump of tributes huddled into the entryway.

Thea leads the group back past the waiting area and into the testing room. It smells of disinfectant spray and strong perfume, a smell that makes my stomach churn. I clutch my stomach and grab the wall, vomit rises up in my throat but I swallow it, there is no way I'm gonna puck in front of this crowd.

Suddenly the door clicks shut and keys bang against each other. The lights flicker from on to off and back to on. That's when all hell breaks loose. Everyone rushes around and panic rises in the arena.

"Calm down!" Thea shouts, it's surprising I can even hear her over all the noise.

The room goes ghost quiet and twenty-four eyes turn to look at the Game Maker, mine included. She held a knife in one hand and a radio in the other. The young Game Maker reminded me almost of a modern-day warrior.

"What's happening?" the girl from Three asks Thea. Something flashes across the Game Maker's face but she quickly wipes it away.

"Rebels are attacking." Thea whispers as if the mention of the enemy could cause an earthquake.

"Rebels?" the girl from eight asks, no hint of worry in her voice.

"Ciara…" her district partner warns.

"I'm just curious."

"Yes. Rebels are in the Capital." Thea says her hand that holds the knife started to shake. "I need a headcount so when I call out your district just say something like 'here'"

"Alright." Misty says in her rich District Four accent.

"District One."

"Here!" Angel calls from her place next to the rest of the careers.

"I'm here." Whispers the boy next to her.

"District Two."

"Here."

"Right here." The girl says as she looks back toward her District partner. I wonder why they didn't end up allying with the careers, they both seemed strong enough.

"District Three."

"Here."

"Are there really rebels here? Oh and yes, I'm here." The boy says. I remember yesterday how his district partner and him had a fight over allying with the boy from Five. I guess he got the short end of the stick because now he's sitting alone with no allies.

"District Four."

"Here." The pair chime in exact unison.

"District Five, and yes Gage, there are rebels here, that's why we're hiding." Thea sighs.

"Here." The small boy squeaks.

"Here."

"District Six."

"Here."

"Here." The pair is sitting together closer than allies would but not touching. Was there something going on between them?

"District Seven."

"Here." The quirky girl says as she looks at her alliance members.

"I guess I'm here. Where else would I be?" the boy says rolling his eyes.

"District Eight."

"Here." The boy says almost immediately. The girl, however, does not respond nor does she look up from her hushed conversation in the back corner with the small boy from Nine. "Ciara?" the boy asks and I can feel everyone's eyes shift to the whispered conversation in the back corner.

"Oh, um, I'm here." The girl spits out, obviously flustered.

"District Nine." Thea continues like nothing suspicious just happened.

"Here."

"Same." Sydney, the boy from Nine says as he gets up and walks away from Ciara and back to his alliance. They all give him strange looks but Thea keeps her list rolling.

"District Ten."

"Here."

"Banana farts." The boy says smiling over at Lily.

"Really? We're in a state of emergency." Thea scolds.

"You said I could say anything I want."

"Whatever. District Eleven."

"Here."

"Here." They both say still attempting to read Sydney while he tries to explain it was nothing.

"Last one, District Twelve."

"Here-" I start but am interrupted by the sound of gunshots and screams.

A/N: Guys! First time since the reapings that I've actually updated earlier than my expected update date, I even beat my goal! Yas, I feel so dang pumped right now, might even get the next chapter out tonight!

Alright so with the sad little contest I tried to create I only had one person submit so I'm gonna keep it open for two more chapters because I'm probably gonna update soon! The prize will help your tribute(s) out during the bloodbath, so it might be good just to send in your ideas.

So the next chapter is not gonna be the private sessions, I know that's what comes next but just wait, you'll be surprised. I'm honestly so excited for the next chapter because it's something I've never seen doon in a SYOT before! Same with the test, oh and what do you think about the winners? Did you expect it? Was it a total surprise?

Bye for now,

Marie