Chapter 18: There Is No Gray Area
Training Day Three
Anet Bennet - District Four Male
"In an evil society a villain is the hero, because only the villain can speak the truth."
- T.J Kirk
It's been an interesting few days. I'm in the Capitol, I'm in the careers, and so far - I'm not completely unhappy as I expected to be when I volunteered. The holoscreens are futuristic, and I enjoyed watching a few shows. Especially about the vampire and werewolves, I suspect that there's hidden romantic tension between two male characters.
I eventually binged the whole supernatural trilogy, and I was right on the mark too. But I doubt I have enough time for all the other shows here, plus Delmara (and my mentors, Claudio and Kailo) might not like me spending the whole time watching trashy movies instead of of training.
Personally, I think we scared the other tributes enough as it is. We're the big scary careers, 'fear us'. I imagine doing some sarcastic hand-waving. Well, the girl from Six doesn't. She... makes me nervous. I told Delmara about Moira of Six, but she dismissed my fears of her.
That Moira girl almost tried to kill me with leaves! Highly flammable leaves, apparently. Not to mention, I'm positive she has a grudge against District Four for reasons I have yet to figure out.
"And so I said, 'Emma, that guy wasn't worth it', but she still cried a lot after their breakup," Roxy gossips to me. I nodded intently. Honestly, I was only half-listening to her. But once my Two ally started talking about Somnus, I got more than a little interested.
Somnus is an adonis, I can't be blamed for not being interested. Should have been One that had a handsome tribute, but Two's the one with their ace this time around. Shame we couldn't get the real volunteer; but from what Bliss told me, Geo was a bit of a dunderhead, so maybe this was for the best.
My allies like to talk to me for some reason, probably cause I just like to stand and listen. They asked why I don't talk, but I just answer 'cause' in my usual one word responses.
Can't exactly let them know of my stutter.
Other than Delmara, I suppose. It was during the train ride that I revealed my little secret to her and my mentors, Kailo and Claudio.
"Snow's beard, no wonder you never fucking talk much," Delmara says with an annoyed pitch to it. "Whatever. Just do what you always do, then. I get it."
That was two days ago. I honestly expected a worse reaction from her. Shows what I know for assuming, but she's still kinda annoyed. My mentors also agreed that it's for the best I kept my 'strong and silent type' persona. Though, it's not like they had to tell me this. It's been planned by me (and my parents) since they couldn't get rid of my stutter.
"Hey, Anet. Why are you so silent?" Calliope asked, coming back from the archery station. She did pretty well, getting 3 out of 5 arrows in the red center.
I refused to answer with words and shrugged. The girl from Eleven is a strange new addition to the group and I don't mind her one bit. She waited a whole day to ask that question, and that means she's more patient than some others. She's still not going to get an answer, however.
Ruby looked at her, "He keeps saying 'cause'. It's a bit weird and strangely endearing. Personally, I think he's shy."
Calliope looked up at me to see my blank face, and then raised a dubious eyebrow at Roxy.
I can be stoic if I choose to be, but I may as well laugh a bit. No one ever told me that I'm shy to my face.
The new girl also gave a chuckle, thinking the same thing.
"Aw nuts, was I wrong?" Roxy whined.
Did the grin on my face not answer that?
Eventually, the rest of the group came back. Delmara, Somnus, and Bliss came back from 'training' at the stations. Those three in particular don't really need training, but the other's think that intimidation is a good measure to the others. I think the rest of the tributes understand that and we should just stop, but I never voiced it.
It's also interesting to note that one training station here includes a fire-hose. Just something I never expected. Not sure what's up with that, but we all took turns. Just spraying heavy pressured water around one cubicle area.
"You three having a fun time?" Somnus grinned lazily as he asked.
Calliope, Bliss and Delmara groaned. I was far more focused on looking at his face to do so myself. Roxy rolled her eyes.
"Shut up, Two," says the career leader. Delmara revisits the 'Two', 'One', and 'Eleven' naming system with our allies when she's annoyed. It doesn't happen as often, so I'm glad about that. Honestly, doesn't Delmara think that referring the others as numbers is dehumanizing? Other career's in the past have done it, but it doesn't mean we have to.
Her attitude aside, there could be a worse partner to team up with.
"Take a chill pill, boss," Somnus said, uncaring of her glare. "No reason not to have fun before the real show starts. I mean, we're pretty much set. You all got my face to get those sponsors."
"Indeed," Bliss agreed. "There's not much else to do, but talk at this point. But we don't have to hear Somnus brag about himself."
"But we can all agree he's a handsome guy, right?" Roxy says bravely. "Raise of hands that Somnus is attractive."
Bliss, Roxy, Delmara (reluctantly), and I raised my hands.
I... didn't intend to, but I did unconsciously.
Somnus noticed me, and grinned. I gulped, expecting the worse. Instead, he said, "I'm flattered. Really, I am. But I'm a straight roader."
"Wasn't there a guy in our unit who had that adorable crush on you?" Roxy asked. The Two's probably have the most history, compared to Delmara and I at least. Roxy hasn't painted a nice picture when mentioning Somnus and his casanova lifestyle.
"Yeah, I let him down easy."
"Hmm," she said, dubious. "Did you?"
"Yes," Somnus says, but he frowned a little when Roxy raised a brow. He groaned. "It was the one time I actually meant it. I knew the guy. He's pretty cool hanging out with and I didn't want to make him feel bad."
"That's a first," Roxy sniffed. "Just checking. I've seen a lot of girls trying to disembowel you after you cheated or break up with them or whatever. Pretty sure you wouldn't care if it's a guy's feelings."
"I don't," Somnus admitted, went back to smiling. "I don't think I'd survive the Academy if I was bisexual."
Roxy laughed. "Ohmysnow. Your love letters would fill two lockers."
It was Delmara who spoke up, "You guys are talking about homosexuality a lot more freely. So District Two doesn't care about orientation?"
"No, why would it?" Somnus asked. I shifted at that. It's not something people normally talk about freely. Some old age stigma still exists in Four, and I don't really look at guys. The trainers would probably not have chosen me if they discovered my interests. Not that I ever talked about that sort of thing.
Delmara doesn't care, at least. "Four doesn't do any of that homosexual stuff. A lot of people think it's not right, and so on."
Bliss tilted her head. "Doesn't Four have a famous gay couple? You mentors even. Kailo and Claudio. The couple of the decade, I believe. They're in popular magazines."
"They're not so popular at home," Delmara says.
Everyone had a disappointing look on them. Roxy shakes her head in disgust. "That is so draconic."
"What? Two doesn't have problems of their own," said the leader of the careers testily.
"It does," Somnus admitted readily. "Class issues mostly. The rich grow while the poor starve. Got to love neo-capitalism."
Roxy looked a bit uncomfortable with that - which is a new thing to see after seeing nothing but smiles and laughter from her.
"One has a rather brutal and if I'm being completely honest, dogmatic academy," Bliss joined and continued this inter-district rant. "Some students ended up maimed, and if not maimed, they leave traumatized or with their reputation in shambles. To survive, you either need to join a group or be the biggest bitch in the academy."
"That bitch just happened to be you?" Somnus inquired. At her smile, he gave a one of his own. "Never could have guessed."
At that, we all talked and joked more about our home districts. I didn't say anything (obviously), but I nodded at times. It feel's nice to be included. I'm happy that my group didn't turn out entirely as I expected. I believed there would a lot more arguing and dogma - only to be proven wrong when everyone proved to be the opposite. Well, Delmara is rather dogmatic, but thank Snow, she's the only one.
I smiled at this. Instead of rivals and people I would despise, I made some new friends.
But my smile faded when I saw Marron going straight to the small girl from Ten. I can't help but glare at that asshole.
Doe Adler - District Ten Female
It's been a challenging few days. For so many reasons. Many would have similar problems when entering the Hunger Games, but not so many tributes would have...
"Doe. I don't think you should be doing this," her brother says sternly, but I know where he's coming from.
Buck is concerned about me. Why wouldn't he be? I'm equally concerned for him too. In any case, I still wanted to train. Even if the past three days proved that the two of us were mediocre at best when it came to weapons.
I swung the sword for what felt like the hundredth time, but I felt like it was the sword swung itself and pulled me. I remember cutting myself the first day, and Buck kept me out of the training. Something I couldn't blame him for, and it's not like I'm interested in picking up weapons.
After that, Buck was doing his own training.
It didn't end well.
He went to the running track station, and Buck ended up exhausting himself trying to beat one of the career's high scores. He's not doing that bad. By the second day, he's been great at throwing spears around and he's tough enough to fight the trainers.
He's a lot better at the martial stuff than I am. I studied some medicine and types of monsters (mutts, dad never lets me watch Hunger Games, but I heard horror stories about them), but that's not really a lot.
Back at the present day, I put the sword down before I embarrass myself even further.
"I'll stop." I looked down, disappointed in myself. It's not like I can learn to be a career in less than three days, I thought with mirth.
Buck face looked like he kicked a puppy, "Don't sweat it, Doe. I'll be with you every step of the way. I guard you, and you watch my back. Like how you help me back home."
Home wasn't exactly the best place for Buck, but he always said it was fine since I was there. It was nice of Buck. That he trusts me so much.
I just wish I can do more.
There's something that we can do, however. "We can always use some allies," I proposed.
"We don't need them. We can't trust them."
Buck's tone makes it clear he won't change his opinion on the matter. I've been throwing this out to him. Getting someone like the girl from Three or Eight. There's the guy from Three, buts he's a bit out there.
I saw in the distance that the anti-career's were bullying poor Dorian. Definitely not nice.
"Extra help would be nice," I commented, not expecting this to go anyway.
"It would be," my brother says, surprising me. "But this the Hunger Games. The only one's who'll help us is each other. No one else. They're too worried about themselves."
"The Sevens and Daisy were nice..."
"I really don't think they're going to help much," he said drily. I suppose he's right. Two girls, one older and the other a child along with a boy with a ruined leg. They offered while we were in track arena, and while I was hesitant to say no, Buck did it for me.
Cruel as it is, I want to live further than one day. Still, there are others.
"It's not because of your hyperhidrosis?" I questioned.
Buck clicked his tongue. "You don't actually believe what the Capitol doctor told us?"
"I think it makes sense. Considering you sweat more often than not, and you sweated even more when we talked to our mentors."
The fact that Buck never went to any doctor beforehand makes me angry at dad. Now, it looks like he's got a condition that may seem a bit laughable, but constant sweating can cause some concerning medical conditions.
"Sure. Why not?" He said, uncaring. "Not like I ever talked to a lot of people before. If this condition that makes me sweat when I talk to others, that means you have to stop asking for allies," He looked pained now. "Am I not enough?"
"Of course you are, Buck," I reassured. "When you're here, I feel protected. I feel better with you at my side. I'm glad you're here."
That was the truth. He was soothed from that, and I'm thankful. Carefully, however, I saw some sweat in Buck's forehead.
Paradoxically, while Buck being here helps me calm down, I'm also frightened for him. The Hunger Games makes it clear that there can only be one Victor. Co-victory is impossible. Our mentors said so to our faces with looks of pity on them.
I'm so afraid of the future, and I'm even more afraid to bring the topic up with Buck.
"Hey, bloodbath twins," a malicious voice was heard.
It was the boy from Eight. He was accompanied by the boys from One and Five. Two out of three of them had nasty smiles on them while the Five boy looked stoic about the whole thing. Why must there be bullies here?"
Buck scowled. "Back off."
"Why would we?" the blonde from One said. "After all, we still haven't talked to you two yet. I mean, twins. That's got to suck. How exactly is that going to work out? Are the two of you going to die next to each other? Or one of you going to run off screaming while the other dies protecting you?"
He looked at me when he said that.
I felt sick. I felt terrible just from the thought.
"Looks like your little bitch of a sister is going to cry?" Eight man said with a cruel laugh. "We haven't even gotten started yet."
"YOU BASTARD!"
My twin was livid. Their bullying didn't last long, but it already got to the both of us. He swung at the taller boy from Eight, who wasn't expecting it. He was only pushed back a step and it was enough for the boy to sneer coldly at Buck. "You shouldn't have done that."
He proceeded to punch Buck in the face, and I screamed.
I screamed louder when he kicked Buck too. My scream attracted others, but no one was doing anything. The Peacekeeper's weren't even doing anything at all to break this up. I wanted to intervene, but the boy from One pushed me.
On the ground, I was crying and crying when Buck kept getting hurt.
No one was helping, until someone did.
"GET AWAY FROM THEM, YOU JERKS!"
Marron Deinan - District Eight Male
WARNING: It's Marron.
Joining the anti-careers; not something I ever saw in my future. But I can work with this.
It's unfair that I got here to begin with. A bunch of BS. I don't deserve this. My dad is the most important man in District Eight - I'm not bragging, that's a fact. Since I got on that train, all I've been thinking is the unfairness of my situation.
The only thing I find that keeps my mind away from all this Hunger Game nonsense is messing with other tributes.
Just the usual comments, telling how they're all going to die and that stuff. Not a lot of them cried, to my disappointment. I called the crippled boy from Seven 'deadweight' to his face, and that did it. And it was easy to make that girl from Twelve cry when I called her fat and ugly. Everyone else played it cool.
I did see in their eyes that my words affected them, and that was enough for me. An ounce of fear from each tribute.
"Did you see that freak's face?! He looked like he tried not to piss himself?" Silver laughed, followed up by me and Eleven guy.
We all left the kid from Three after our verbal beat down on that religious nut. It wasn't any of the religion's pre-Dark Days that I'm vaguely familiar with. The kid was a delusion dumbass, and I was glad to take him down a peg right after he tried to introduce his ridiculous doctrine.
In any case, this group was probably the best I can hope for. The anti-careers, tough guys who oppose the regular career assholes.
Silver was alright, but he is so fucking ridiculous about his reason coming here. Waaah, I'm Silver my brother and everyone didn't love me so I joined a death game and now people should go and kiss my feet. Love me, brother. That's how I imagine Silver sometimes.
But he's still a fun guy to hang out with. I laughed a bunch with him. "What a fucking freak. Well, he's going to see his girly god real soon."
Volt wasn't laughing along with us. He's in some station, and that's fine. He's only here in the alliance so he can set up the trap. After that, he's dead. Something I have long decided. Then there were Cristian and Kalvin. To be honest, I have trouble telling which one is which. What use are they besides cannon-fodder.
This dynamic in this alliance is about right. Having one guy I can count on (for a while) while having Volt is the gizmo guy with the other two being human shields.
"I'll go and get some last minute exercise," Kalvin (?) - he had an Eleven on him, so it might be him - announced. "See you guys later."
None of us said anything at that. Now, it was just the trio. Whatever, not like Kissass 1 and Kissass 2 are any fun to be around. I'm not even sure who's the biggest brown-noser here, it would annoy me if I wasn't so used to fake friends back home.
"Hey Marron," Silver pointed at a station filled with books. "There's your district partner over there. Reading something. You want to go mess with her?"
But the one who annoys me that most is that bitch Hadley. So many sins against: sneering at me, pushing me off the chariot, spitting in my food, telling me I'm a corporate monster and Capitol stooge (fuck her, we just met, judgemental much).
"No. She knows better and she'll just go sit next to the careers. She's smarter than the others," I admitted. Not to mention, some mean-spirited words won't affect her at all. You might think that she was cold-eyed career herself with the way she acts.
"Whatever," Silver dismissed far too easily for my liking. "There's those twins right there."
Following his line of sight, the twins from Ten. Tributes I haven't messed around with yet.
I smiled, and so did Silver. It wasn't long until we got there.
"Hey, bloodbath twins," I called out.
The two were surprised. The girl looked scared while her twin was glaring at us. Either one or the other reaction when the tributes see us. Fear is always pleasant to see. And the hostile victims just means I can put them down harder. The male twin told us to back off, Silver said some shit, and it greatly affected the weak girl.
"Looks like your little bitch of sister is going to cry?" I laughed in front of their faces. "We haven't even gotten started yet."
"YOU BASTARD!"
The twin brother punched me. It didn't hurt really. But the fucker still pissed me off.
So I returned the favor and punched that asshole in turn. But that wasn't enough. No, there should be punishment when someone touches me. When the Ten boy was down on the ground, I kicked him in. His whiny sister said something, but I didn't care. All I did was kick the little cowboy in the torso, and relished it.
Idiots. They deserved this. Someone has to pay for pissing me off, and may as well be the dumbass here.
Then, something squishy was thrown at the back of my neck.
I stopped my attacks, and moved my hands to the object.
It was jello.
Cheap stuff on the lunch menu, and it was trailing down my neck.
"GET AWAY FROM THEM, YOU JERKS!"
Everyone turned to the little girl wearing a '9' on her uniform. She was small, probably only half my height. I recalled pissing her off when I made her crippled ally cry, but all she did was glare at me. Now, she's doing it again.
Now, she pissed me off.
I ran to her, and when I tried to reach her, the girl ducked and ran away. I gritted my teeth, and yelled "Get back here!"
Chasing that brat wasn't as easy as I'd like, and it became downright embarrassing when she spilled milk on the ground, forcing me to fall face down. This only pissed me off more - no, wait, I already reached that point. I'm fucking livid.
That little shit is dead. I promised, my pride wounded and anger reaching the boiling point. I didn't focus on anything other than ripping off the dead off that Nine girl.
She went to some station, and I followed her inside. When I did, I saw Hadley, my district partner who's had it out for me since the start. The Nine girl was next to her, looking relieved.
Hadley looked up. She grinned as she aimed a fire hose at me. "Hey, moron."
It was already too to get out of the station before she fired high-pressured water at me. The water pushed me back to the tough black-stained glass.
They kept it for a whole minute. I tried to get out of it, but the water wetted not only my uniform, but also the floor. I freaking fell. When attempting to get up, it only proved difficult by the that annoying water hose.
Once it stopped, I wondered if they ran out. Only I saw Hadley gave the Nine girl the water hose. "Remember to hold it tight," she turned to look at me with a smile that made me want to hit her. "I raised the pressure, Daisy. So much so that the water will sting a lot."
Flower girl looked cheerful, and if I was anyone else, I would say she looked like an adorable child having fun. Only I'm not basic, and I know little girls are as bad as me - they're just more devious about it.
The water ended up hurting three times as much.
Unfortunately for Hadley and flower girl, the water hose seemed to lose its steam. The hose released less and less each second until only droplet's were left.
Good news for me.
"Oh No..." Daisy groaned out, her reaction is similar to that of a kid having their favorite toy being broken. While Hadley glared me, daring me to try something. Pretty much anything they can do pissed me off at this point, but the indifference and defiance they have are the worse emotions in my mind.
My uniform is wet and my skin stings. I still stood up, hatred in my eyes. More good news for me, I was closer to the exit of the station than they were. Now, nothing can stop me from maiming them with my bare hands.
Naturally, I charged at them.
Only halfway there, I was pulled back by someone. A strong tug made me go back to the puddle, almost making me fall down again. I didn't, but it was close. There was the only tribute taller than me, Anet from Four.
"Back. Off."
The big redhead growled, looking at me with eyes narrowed. Hadley and Daisy walked by, faces of similar opposition.
My anger... it's there, it'll always be there as long as I'm in the Capitol. But I can tell when there's a losing fight.
So instead of hot anger, it's cold now.
I laughed mockingly. "What the fuck even is this?" I waved at these three. "Who do you think you guys are? Do you think you're doing yourselves any favors, helping each other out? This is the Hunger Games. You guys, thinking yourself a hero - well, that doesn't work. Not here"
"You're wrong!" Daisy yelled. "Anyone can help! In any time and everywhere! And you're just a bully!"
"Holy shit, that's self-righteousness," I said, feeling sick from that. I looked at her. "You're going to be a bloodbath with the way you're going at things. You too, big guy," I told Anet. "You're both just too nice. If you do the same shit when the show starts - let me tell you, your definitely going to die."
They didn't say anything, remaining silent and hostile.
Whatever, I know how this world works, and the world is not going to humor these dipshits when the they're in the arena.
I left the station. I looked back once, and Daisy went in to hug Anet. The big guy blushed. Hadley, the bitch, waved at me when she saw me look back. I spat on the floor.
They're already dead, mark my words. I thought viciously.
Silver and the other's are walking nearby. The other's looked hesitant when they saw the angry look on my face. Silver just moved with the same bravado as usual. God knows what he thought, and I didn't care. I said,
"We are going to kill everyone here."
Silver shrugged. "That was already the plan."
I walked away from the training floor, the anti-career's following me. There were guards posted on the walls of the floor, dressed in the white and looking at statues. One strange thought came to me, Why didn't the peacekeeper's stop the fight?
One thought was that there was someone as vicious as me and allowed it to happen.
Wasn't that an interesting realization?
One that makes me laugh in delight.
A/N: I pulled out this from the book shelf and I now it's here. In any case, another unexpected chapter! I'm happy that's over and done with. No one asked, but there's only 5 more chapters left until the Games start. Got a plan there, fortunately.
-/Alliances/-
Careers: Bliss Lustra(D1F), Roxy Flint(D2F), Somnus Marbrand(D2M), Delmara Lum(D4F), Anet Bennet(D5M), Calliope Germaine(D11F)
Anti-careers: Silver Chase(D1M), Volt Nightingale(D5M), Marron Deinan(D8M), Kalvin Kanstine(D9M), Cristian Moldovan(D11M)
The Ten Twins: Doe Adler(D10F), Buck Adler(D10M)
Helpful and Cheerful: Taliah Marik(D7F), Aspen Wolfe(D7M), Daisy Grove(D9F)
The Card Sharks: Vita Del Mina(D3F), Zyra Koore(D5F), Jaeden Rota(D6M)
The Illusion of Sisterhood: Roxy Flint + Iry Hawkfeather(D12F)
Loners: Dorian Fleece(D3M), Moira Balise(D6F), Hadley Holbrook(D8F), Cole Lynderly(D12M)