Chapter 4: The Final Days in the Training Center
A/N: Heya! Just saying... if you got something to say, speak up. I welcome constructive criticism, since I'm still a very amateurish author. Those that can guess the arena for this fanfic's Hunger Games gets a shout-out… and a cookie. It's not anything complicated, so guess away, in reviews or PMs. Lurking is fine too, and just reading my little story makes me feel happy. :)
LittleMermade - Thanks for the constructive criticism, but it's purposely made to actually resemble Katniss' canon storyline, and you'll get a little backstory for the girl from Two in this chapter.
Sophia Kirhart's (D2 Female) P.O.V., 9:00 A.M.
The second day flashed by, with everyone brushing up on their weapons of choice. In my case, spears and knives. Here we are: the final day. The day before we go into the Arena.
I'm up, eating breakfast with Cyrus, Wade, and Enobaria. I was going over what we learned from yesterday, and I nearly choked on the pastry I was eating, when Cyrus spoke:
"Sophia, our local softie, got herself a boyfriend."
Boyfriend? What the hell was he talking about…? Did he mean…
Wade interrupted my thoughts as I finished off the portion of the pastry I was eating.
"What does Cy mean by 'boyfriend', Sophia?"
"I just met him! He's the guy from Twelve. Rain was his name, OK? He's not my boyfriend."
Cyrus spoke again.
"Yeah, right. You were constantly looking at him, plus you actually swooned for him in the elevator. Right, Enobaria?"
Oh, of course Enobaria told him. Guess I can't spill any more secrets to her, but it's difficult to keep secrets when your mentor has sharp teeth that are legendary throughout Panem, which started 38 year ago with her Games. I've had enough of this.
Flashback, 2 years ago
Location: District 2, Victor's Village
I'm with my father, the victor of the 76th Hunger Games. I was watching my best friend, who I had a crush on ever since I was little. He, Linus, was competing in the 98th Hunger Games. It was down to him, the girl from 7, Magnolia, and the boy from One, Onyx. The arena were mountains with ruins scattered about. The final fight was atop the tallest hill, close to the Cornucopia. He managed to fell Magnolia in a close battle, in which he walked away from with few injuries. A cannon sounded, signifying her demise.
I tugged on my dad's arm.
"Hey, look! It's just Linus and the boy from One! He can do this!"
"You never know, darling. It's not over 'til…"
Another cannon sounded. Onyx had stabbed Linus in the back with his sword, after sneaking up on the latter.
"...the last cannon sounds." I completed his sentence for him.
I immediately ran out of the house. Just three weeks ago, I was about to tell him how I felt about him, but I backed out of it at the last second.
He was dead. My best friend was dead, and I would never see him again. That shaggy black hair, and those blue, nearly gray eyes… I would never see him again.
At the service for my district, I could barely hold back my tears. He lost, but despite that shame, I felt incomplete now. My other half was gone.
That day, I decided I would volunteer for the Fourth Quarter Quell, two years before I was supposed to. I didn't care anymore, and no one could stop me. If I won, it'd be even better. If I lost… I'd be able to see him again.
Present time
I stormed off towards the elevator, angry and down because of the painful memory, not to mention Cyrus' relentless taunts. I kept going and slammed the elevator's down button, and ignored Wade and Enobaria's shouting to come back. The elevator door closed behind me, and guess who? Rain, the last person who I wanted to see. He'd probably mock me too. I parked myself across from him as the elevator descended for what seemed like an eternity.
"Hey. What's wrong?"
Curse him and his looks. His skin, his hair, his eyes, and even the worried tone in his voice reminded me of Linus.
"Nothing. Nothing's wrong. Stay out of it."
"Tell me, Sophia. I promise I won't mock you. I swear it, on Twelve's honor."
"I said nothing! NOTHING!"
That scream didn't even seem to deter him one bit, because when I looked up at him, he stared right back at me, with those piercing gray eyes.
"If you want to talk about it… meet me after the interviews. On the roof."
The elevator dinged, and he walked out. I don't know if he's just joking
Location: The Capitol, Training Center Gymnasium
Rain Orion (D12 Male)'s P.O.V.
So, that was unsuccessful; I didn't get any information out of her in any way. I met up with Iris at the axe station, and she was training against a trainer, and actually overpowering him. After she wrapped it up, she went over to me.
"Did anything… interesting happen out there, Rain?"
"No, nothing." I shrugged as I tried to cover up my pathetic lie. I've always been awful at lying.
"OK…" I know she doesn't believe me, but I go along with it.
Iris and I start discussing what we've been doing over the past three days… observations, possible allies, and choice of weaponry.
I've gotten pretty decent with a sword, mainly from observing Vulcan, the reaped boy from 1, and training at the sword fighting station everyday against the trainers. He's likely been handy with a sword ever since he could lift one. I'm interrupted by my thoughts by the Head Trainer, a woman named Atala. She's been doing this for over thirty years, and safe to say, she's good at her job.
"All tributes - line up for the compulsory gauntlet run."
I made it through the compulsory gauntlet run on my first attempt, much to the surprise of the Careers, and to an extent, myself. I know it was just a fluke, though.
"Oh, so your boyfriend's not too bad, eh Sophia? He made it. Him and that boy from 10 were the only ones to make it through, besides us" says Cyrus, Sophia's district partner.
I watch as Sophia attempts to tackle Cyrus, screaming at him to stop taunting her, until some Peacekeepers step in, holding her back from possibly pummeling him. They once again state that fighting is forbidden in the Training Center, and they can settle their quarrel in the Arena.
After eating lunch with Iris, I went back up to the District 12 apartments with her.
"You know, I think she really likes you, Rain. You might stand a chance with her."
"Ugh, don't push it."
The elevator dinged, and we came in to meet Katniss, Haymitch, Lukas, and Effie. We discussed what our training brought us, and possible allies. Haymitch spoke up first.
"So, kiddos… enlighten us. What weapons are you planning on using?" Iris replied first.
"I'll be using throwing axes; Acacia helped me." Haymitch then looks at me, expecting my answer.
"Swords, or knives. A spear could work too."
"Alright then.. It's time. Show the Gamemakers what you got, and show off your skills with your chosen weaponry in mind," Katniss said as she gave us the last piece of advice.
I once more, headed down to the Training Center. I was herded into a dimly lit room, where the rest of my fellow tributes were making small talk. The Gamemakers soon called in Velvet. After that, Vulcan. When it was Iris' turn, I smiled at her and gave some words of encouragement.
Now, it was time for my private session. The Gamemakers were actually watching, so I picked up a sword, and began destroying dummies, swinging the blade with precise motions, imitating Vulcan's own style. When I looked back up, they weren't paying attention at all. This year, they removed the forcefield, thinking it was safe. I walked over to the spear throwing station next, knowing exactly what I was going to do. I picked up and threw a javelin at the banner, the one labeled '100'. The Gamemakers looked stunned and dismissed me after this, and I heard one of them whisper:
"Talk about déjà vu…"
Location: The Training Center, District 12's Quarters
That night, I met up with Haymitch, Katniss, Lukas, Effie, and Iris on our floor. Effie didn't seem too amused with my stunt, while our mentors laughed it off. Katniss seemed especially happy.
"Good work out there, kiddo." She gave me a soft smile, which was extremely rare in her case. She's barely ever smiled in the span of twenty-five years, according to Haymitch. Lukas picked up the remote, and tuned in just as our host, Marcus Flickerman, was preparing to read out the results. He's pretty much the same as his predecessor, who retired after Lukas' Games.
Marcus Flickerman, whose makeup was themed yellow for this year, was handed the list of scores. He explains the rating scale as usual, and then he starts reading the results. Vulcan's face appeared first, and he looked intimidating. Go figure.
"Vulcan Prisma - with a score of 10."
No surprise there… although I'd likely get a lower score, since I basically copied him.
"Velvet Ritchson, with a score 9."
I heard she was the daughter of Gloss Ritchson, the 63rd Hunger Games' victor, so I expected better.
"Onto District 2's tributes! Cyrus Rankine, with a score of 11."
Eleven? He'd be one to watch out for, and probably would be the leader of this year's Career pack.
"Sophia Kirhart comes in at an 11."
I smirked again at the mention of her, and Iris looked at me and laughed.
I wonder if she'll actually show up at the roof?
District 3's tributes, Jeremy and Ellie, score both 5s. This might paint them as weak tributes, but some tributes deliberately underperform to be not weak.
"Now, for District 4's tributes! Adrian Bismarck, 11! Aileen Kendari, 9!"
I'd also need to look out for Adrian… he might even purposely target me for declining his offer to be in the Career alliance. Districts 5 and 6 score relatively low, and we're on District 7's scores already.
"District 7… Jose Aspen, with a score of… 7. Acacia Mossalia, with a score of 8."
Hm. One of the interesting cases as to where a training score matches the tribute's district number. I tune out for the most part, and note the boy from 10's training score of 9.
"OK, now for District 12's tributes… Oh?"
Everyone leans forward as Marcus reads out my name…
Cyrus Rankine (D2 Male)'s P.O.V.
Marcus, who looks like he could fit in with the Ones, gets on with Twelve's tributes.
"From District 12, Rain Orion, with a score of…"
I elbow Sophia, who's sitting right next to me. Uncle Wade is sitting on my other side, while Enobaria is on the other side of Sophia.
"Look, Sophia! It's your boyfriend!"
Sophia is about to shoot back, when Marcus announces Rain's score.
"12!"
WHAT? A completely perfect score? That's impossible! He must have cheated or bribed the Gamemakers! Ugh, this would likely get him some sponsors. I'll be sure to target him in the arena. I sink down in my chair as Sophia smirks at me, knowing she's bested me this time. I hear Marcus wrapping up the scores with Rain's district partner, who got a 9.
Sophia's now the one taunting me. How the tables have turned.
A/N: Yo! If you read this far, thank you. I found interviews too hard to mush into this chapter. Leave any feedback or suggestions in the reviews, or PM me if you just wish to talk about it. Next chapter will be the interviews + the prelude to the Games, so stay tuned. See you around :)
