Chapter 4: Penthouse Incident
In the time before our upcoming tribute interviews, we had training in the penthouse. The trainers taught us survival skills and combat moves with an array of mock weapons. I observed the others carefully and spent the majority of my time learning about plants and land and how to take care of myself. I didn't want to make a show of my skills, but instead intended to seem average and scared, with a hint of weakness. Too much strength, and you would be hunted. Too much weakness, and they would chase you down in the bloodbath. So that was my strategy. Don't pose any threat at all.
I noted the potential menaces to myself and was careful not to make early enemies. The career girl from District 1, Amber, was aggressive and had a hand for short swords and long knives. Several times I had caught her eyeing me, sizing me up. I had the distinct feeling that she knew my moves and potential. Amber was a year older than me with a small body, round head, and short, brown hair drawn back in a high ponytail. Though she was short for a girl, she matched my own height and had a lot more strength. Her expression was always smug and determined, and her aim scared the hell outa' me.
Another tribute that I disliked was Hawk, a tall, buffed out eighteen-year old guy from District 5 who shot a bow like no one's business. His long, golden throngs of disheveled hair and striking green eyes almost made him likable, if it wasn't for his swaggering attitude.
Lemongrass was a 14 year old girl from District 4. Being from the fishing district, I took a liking to her ways with the spear and, maybe in another time and place, we could have been friends. She smiled a lot but didn't talk much. The one time I did hear her voice, it was low and husky with a slight accent. Her brunde hair was short and curled, with a natural wave to it.
It was during this time of preparation that an unfortunate incident occurred. Lately, the District 1 career tribute, Onyx, had taken a fancy to me. He was Asian with black hair and even blacker eyes, and he had a deadly talent for throwing knives. He also had a deadly temper, which I soon found out.
He had challenged me to a sword fight, and we were pretty evenly matched. My former days of dueling with Andrew must have helped me more than I thought. We were both breathing hard and sweating. He swung a hard blow at me and I stepped back, avoiding the hard, rubber weapon. Taking advantage of his fumble, I slashed down diagonally. I was targeting his bent shoulder, but he whipped around and my sword hit his nose full on.
Onyx shouted out and cupped his bleeding nose in pain.
''Sorry!,'' I said, and tentatively stepped over to see if he was okay. He turned away and grimaced.
''Don't be,'' he said, then spun around and kicked me hard in the stomach.
I yelped and fell back, smacking my head on the concrete floor. Doubled over and my head throbbing, I tried not to cry. Get up, I thought. You have to get back up, but I couldn't, not until the pain had ebbed and my head stopped swimming in dizziness. I could see Onyx standing there, livid.
Then, in a flash, another tribute bulldozed Onyx and grappled him to the floor.
''You'll pay for that!,'' they shouted, and I recognized the voice as Andrew's.
They tussled around on the ground and I watched as two trainers ran over and broke them apart saying, ''Save it for the arena!''
Andrew and Onyx stood apart, glaring at each other. I had never in my life seen Andrew angry. Frustrated, yes, however, never furious, like this.
''Trying to protect your little girlfriend?,'' Onyx said snarkily.
Andrew didn't reply and instead walked away, very slightly favoring his right leg. I sat up and checked myself, then stood up, carefully. My head roiling a bit, I walked over to Andrew near the wall.
''Hey,'' I said, ''how's your leg?''
''Fine,'' he said.
''Thanks for, um, doing that,'' I said quietly.
''Yeah, of course,'' Andrew sighed and ran his hair out of his face. ''You should probably avoid him.''
''Jealous?,'' I asked, grinning wryly at him.
''No! I'd just rather not save you from his girl, Amber.''
''Oh, yeah,'' I said, the laughter dying inside of me. Amber and Onyx had been with each other before the games and had volunteered together. They thought that if they both were last standing, the Capitol would let them win for their district. I would never make such a risky endeavor, but I realized that I already had. By letting Onyx grow a liking to me and being friendly with him, rejecting him might seal my death by his anger, not to mention receiving Amber's vengeance for taking him as well. With her aggressive nature, she would likely take me down in the first two minutes of the games, and that was not a comforting thought.
I tucked my hair behind my ear. ''What am I going to do?''
''Stick with me?,'' Andrew said hopefully.
''That'd make us easier to find.''
''Maybe, but it would raise our odds. Two against alliances, two against one, every way is good. One guards, one gets food. One heals, the other tends. Two is a team, three is a crowd,'' he nodded.
''We'll see,'' I said. ''I just hope that the games are in a forest. We know them, could survive in one.''
''Mhm,'' he said, ''cross your fingers.''
I never did it. I would rather let the future be what it would be, even if we didn't have any odds in our favor.
Onyx acted like nothing had happened and persistently tried to interact with me. I was wary of him though, and now I could evidently see his temper all the time. He got mad at anything that didn't go his way and anyone who didn't do what he wanted, and I knew that the trainers were the only thing between him and me.
So instead, I concentrated on the upcoming interview and pointing session.
