Training Day II:


Too ambitious and too damn timid,
And too thrilled that the glass was half filled to wonder what was in it.


Millet Arrowroot, District Nine


Slowly and reluctantly, I uncover the heavy blanket from my face. Blinking, I close my eyes, reopen them, and blink again. Streaks of sunlight penetrate the window and blind me. Sitting up, I drag my feet off of the bed, rub my knuckles against my eyes, and stretch my arms above my head and yawn.

My legs dangle over the off-white polyester carpet, swinging there, before I hop off and head to the bathroom. Right when I reach the door, I hear the pouring of liquid, which confuses me at first, but then I step through the entrance, a little bit annoyed.

''Oh, shit.'' Whipping his head around, Demetri stares at me as he uses the bathroom in my room.

''Don't you have a bathroom of your own?'' I ask, leaning against a wall. ''Like, on the other side of the penthouse?''

''Lilac's currently using it, and, you see, I wasn't about to use Cherokee's, so hopefully you understand.'' Looking away, I wait for him to finish up, wash his hands, and get out. Right as he steps outside, he says, ''Breakfast in ten. Also, we've got a lot to talk about.''

''Yeah, yeah.'' Gesturing my hands forward, I usher for Demetri to leave. After the weird encounter, I allow the robotic arms of the Capitol-style bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth for me. Following breakfast, I'll take a long, relaxing, icy cold shower to get my mind off of things and then head down to training. But why's she using his?

Once I leave my room and enter the lobby, I wince as the twilight melts away, the majestic, red-orange sunrise glow seeping over the horizon as if the light itself is being poured from a molten sun. Powerful rays flood over the landscape, lighting every blade of grass all the way down below, where the pedestrians walk and stand outside of the hotel, shining from each leaf.

''Good morning, sweethearts!'' Lilac cheers, clapping her hands together. Behind me, Cherokee walks toward the dining table tiredly. Sauntering forward as well, I take a seat across from Lilac and cover my mouth with my hands.

In front of me, steam rises from a cylinder, ceramic white cup. Curious, I ask, ''What is this?''

''It's coffee,'' Lilac answers, taking a sip. ''You've never had it before, have you? Well, I definitely recommend it if you're tired – it'll wake you right up and get you ready for the day.''

''Bull. It forces you to stay up, more like it,'' Demetri mutters.

''No, I haven't. Actually, I've always wanted to try hot coffee, but I never knew what it was. My mother would always give me hot chocolate when I was younger, but I'd heard about coffee a few times.'' Looking down at the cup, I bring it up to my mouth and take a big gulp. A fleeting expression emerges on my face, showing malcontent. Placing down the cup with tight, pursed lips, I choke out, ''Sour overload.''

It's so putrid, and every single one of my taste buds are telling me to drain every last drop of the cup and to drench my face in a water fountain or something.

''I knew he wouldn't like it,'' Demetri says, sounding confident for no reason. A light smirk is plastered on his face, which makes me shrug.

''Glad I got orange juice.'' It seems as though I'm the only one who heard Cherokee say anything. Sparing her a glance, I watch as she looks down at her drink and takes a small sip.

''Anyway, I heard that you gained an ally,'' Lilac starts, standing up and leaning across to table to look me in my eyes. ''Wanna tell me about her?''

''How do you know that it's a her?'' I question. ''You've been gossiping with the other Victors, eh?''

''We all gossip,'' Demetri admits. ''Now, go on.''

''Um, yeah. I allied with Natalie from Seven,'' I acknowledge, speaking in a mellow tone. ''I know what you're gonna ask, and yeah, I think she's pretty trustworthy. We had a nice conversation yesterday, but at the end of the day, she said something cryptic and then told me not to worry about it. I don't know what it was about, but I'm gonna egg it on.''

''C'mon, kid, at least sound excited! You speak so maturely when describing her, and it's like you don't care. There's no happiness in your voice! Lighten up and show some emotion! Don't be so serious, and have a little bit of fun while you can...'' Lilac pleads.

Standing up and objecting, Demetri states, ''Actually, it's respectable that he isn't overexcited about one ally. I mean, if he went around bragging about it or something, he'd look like an idiot. It's better this way, and it makes him appear more prepared.''

After our calm chat, we patiently sit down and wait for the Avox or whoever else they've sent up here to bring us our meal. A fork clangs on the floor, and I instantly know who dropped it. Staring at Cherokee through my peripheral vision, I'm about to say something to cheer her up as I notice the puffing of her lips, but Lilac beats me to it.

Demetri eyes me as a heavy silence settles over us, thicker than the uneasy tension in the atmosphere. Unsettled eyes glance around in the silence, no-one talking vehemently anymore.

''Oh, Cherokee, honey, did you meet anyone yesterday?'' Lilac tries. ''Tell us about your adventure. I bet you had an enjoyable time.''

''...Don't act like you don't already know,'' she frowns, covering her face. ''You guys said it yourselves: all Victors gossip, so surely somebody told you about my embarrassing moment.''

Ding!

The elevator rings, and that signals that our breakfast has arrived. The wheels of the rolling table squeak over their movement of the polished floor. Suddenly, I feel something splash against my ankles, and when I whip my head around, I see an enormous platter of food come flying down. Eggs, ham, piles of fried potatoes; a tureen of fruits that were sitting on ice even come down along with a basket of rolls that would keep my sister and I going for a week back in Nine. An elegant glass of citrus juice cracks once it makes abrupt contact with the ground, completely drenching the lower portion of my legs.

When I incline my head and look the Avox in his eyes, I realize exactly why they dropped the plates. Brick by brick, my walls come tumbling down, and the tears in my eyes turn this sunny day into a rainy one filled with whirlwinds of gray. ''...Dad?''


Eloise Allegro, District Eight


'''Scuse me real quick, I'ma go get some water,'' Darren grunts, picking himself up and walking away from the survival station. ''I'll be back in a bit.''

''All right, cool.'' Facing the bugs and plants that are displayed on the table, I survey each one and read the signs that state what type they are, what effect they have on the body if consumed, and where they're usually located.

Snapping her fingers, the trainer suggests, ''It'd be better if you looked up here and let me explain the basics of survival before we indulge in the knowledge of specific species, don't you think?''

''Oh, sorry. Was just prepared to get my brain juices flowing, you know? Tackling on the more advanced things is always exciting.''

''Yeah? I'm glad you feel that way, then. You know why? Because more important than any other skill, your attitude determines how successful you are in a survival situation. That's the first thing you should focus on; in the end, how you feel about a conflicting circumstance can determine whether you live or die.''

Nodding my head, I listen intently and give her all of my attention. ''Now, when you're stuck in a situation, say, without food, water, or basic needs, just remember The Rule of Threes: a human can survive for three minutes without air, three hours without a regulated body temperature – or shelter – three days without water, and three weeks without food.''

''Okay, I got ya.''

''Surviving a difficult wilderness situation also requires meeting many challenges while avoiding panic,'' she stresses, making a symbol with her hands to show that she's serious. ''You must remember to always use a 'SPEAR'.''

''A spear? Like, the weapon?''

''No. 'SPEAR' stands for: Stop, Plan, Execute, Asses and Re-evaluate. By systematically assessing, planning, and executing your basic skills, you'll help keep your mind and body actively engaged in addressing your problems. This will greatly aid in avoiding panic and other negative states of mind. By upholding an upright attitude, your chances of survival are greatly improved already!''

''Oh, I understand. And what about shelter? Are there specific considerations for choosing where I should set up camp for the night and decide to rest?''

''It's as if you read my mind,'' she exults. ''But yes, actually. Many people – and tributes from past Games – who are forced into harsh climates often get in trouble because of direct exposure to the elements. Most people in these predicaments die of hypothermia, which can easily be avoided. Building your own shelter is of paramount importance, especially if you want to prevent or minimize heat and water loss. You want to consider your location – are you away from hazards and near materials? Insulation is another thing to contemplate – is it raining, is the wind too harsh, is the air polluted? Do you get what I'm saying?''

''Yeah. For sure.''

''Good. Really, there are many types of shelters to inhabit in,'' she informs, ''such as caves, hollow stumps and logs, as well as building things like a debris hut, lean-to, debris tipi, scout pits or snow shelters. Of the ones I've just listed, the debris hut is often the most practical to construct in any environment. If you want, I can show you how to create one.''

Where's Darren? He should've been back by now. ''Definitely. Please.'' I've gotta admit, with Darren on my mind, my full attention isn't placed on her. Rotating my head slightly, I look to the front of the training center, my lips slightly quivering as I notice the District One girl approaching him, touching his shoulder and smiling. She says something and begins to laugh...

The stupid girl is giggling repeatedly, so child-like..! Darren furrows his eyebrows, clearly uninterested, but his muscles shake a bit. I hold my breath behind my pursed lips to steel myself against the gales of laughter coming from One. Of course, I know exactly what happened – she told a lame joke, and now she's trying to bond over it with him, but...

Pushing myself up, I grumble, ''Actually, not quite yet. I'll be right back.'' Now rushing towards where Darren's located, I grab him by his hand, clutching it tightly and taking both of them by surprise. ''Um, is there a reason as to why you're speaking to Darren?''

''W-Well, I was actually gonna ask him if he wanted to join the Careers.'' My heart almost skips a beat. ''See, we're scouting to see if anyone's worthy of joining, and I think that Darren could help us o—''

''Am I invited, too?'' I blurt out.

''Um, I—''

''If not, then get the hell away from him! I don't know who you think you are, but he's not interested in your offer. You Careers disgust him anyway, so just leave before things turn bad. Because, I swear to God, if we have a problem, I'm gonna smack the shit out of you until your face turns a stained shade of red!'' She doesn't even pose a threat to your alliance. Why are you doing this?

''Why are you so threatening? I just... I didn't come here to start any trouble, I—''

''Yeah? Well, you did! And mark my words, if I see you in the arena, I'm gonna beat the fuck outta you!'' I warn, serious with my threats. ''Go back to your little army of killers and stay where you belong. You've got no business with Darren. None at all, you hear?! I don't care what the rules are, if I see you coming near him again, you and me are throwing hands.''

My hands are frailty and sweaty, intertwined with Darren's fingers, shaking gently as we walk away. They're ashen where the sunlight catches them, not ghostly, just subdued and grayish from nervousness. Darren's hands always reassure me that my world will be safe and that I won't just wither away to something a little bit more than skin and bone.

''Why'd you come off so aggressive like that?'' he wonders.

Yeah, why did you? ''I just can't stand Careers,'' I lie, attempting to smile. That's not it. You were scared, jealous, that she would take him away from you and that you'd never see him again. Your friend, gone, snatched away just like that. How pathetic of you to act that way because of your insecurities.

I wanna stop it... but, I can't. I'm sorry, I want to apologize, but it'd have to be forced outta me. Seeing all that, I realize just how much I really love Darren. Having him by my side, helping me... I'd follow him into Hell if it meant that I could keep such a good friend. Nothing would allow me to let our relationship break, no matter how insurmountable the odds are. But that just proves how vulnerable I really am.

Seeing him replace me with someone better than me – prettier than me, smarter than me – like One... I wouldn't be able to handle it.


Chayona Watt, District Three


For the first time in my life, I find myself alone. Truly alone. A huddled heap of slightly-ripped black jeans, a t-shirt with a Three on the shoulder, and laced-up black boots, I sit alone, utterly satisfied in the darkness of this far-out portion of the training center.

My sisters aren't around to make fun of me, my dad's not here to yell at me for making a mistake, and, as usual, no-one's here to soothe me of my insecurities and fears. I've come here purposefully to escape everyone and everything. Like I anticipated, it's not so bad.

Staring down at the fishing pole and all of the other items that I borrowed from previous booths that were unoccupied, I inspect the properties of the item, taking in the reel seat, the handle, the hook keeper, and everything else that's important to the puzzle. Can I really construct what I've been planning for some time now?

''No, of course not,'' I sigh, feeling disappointed in myself. ''My sisters were right, I'm nothing special. But, I guess it wouldn't hurt to try.''

Dismantling the fishing pole and removing its pieces, I do my best to remember the blueprints that I had for a stun rod-baton. Not everything comes back to my memory, but I can improvise. If it weren't for the bead necklace that I have in my hands, a blueprint would be sitting on this table.

Starting out, I take a piece of tin foil about the same length as the diameter of blank of the fishing pole and wrap it around, making sure to also cut a piece that's the same length of the inside diameter, half an inch shorter than the previous one. Rolling up the tin foil carefully, I insert the reel seat into a plastic tube and tape it together.

Ripping another piece of tin foil with my mouth, I move my hands around the table in search of the ping pong ball that I snatched. Once my fingers brush against it, I remove the bolts that I kept in pockets and insert them into the ball, keeping them about half an inch apart.

Cutting two pieces of wire and attaching them each to the bolt, I glue the ball and screws to a piece of the cardboard foam that I collected. I measure it to make sure that the foam is the same size in length and width as the blank is, having to do a little bit of cutting and destroying to make certain that the baton won't have any disproportional features.

With a little bit more work, I manage to secure the first wire to the foil on the inside of the blank, and the other wire to the foil on the outside, creating two tiny holes in the cardboard and plugging them like they're electrical inputs. Next, I glue the ping pong ball to the blank so that the inner wire fits inside, keeping the bolts pointing out vertically.

It was impossible for me to find a bottle cap, so I had to resort to cutting out a circular item with a piece of broken, flexible wood. Overall, it's fairly easy to keep it in place, but the real challenge is whether or not it'll go as planned – and will it work?

They always told you that whatever you amounted to wouldn't be anything compared to what they would. Your accomplishments – which you have very few of – are insufficient. Daddy's not proud of you, and if anything, he won't ever be because you'll never see him again.

My eyes shift to the side, becoming slightly glazed with a glassy layer of tears. As I blink, they drip from my eyelids and slide down my cheeks. I bite my lip tightly in an attempt to hide any sound that wants to escape from my mouth, prompting my heart to sink lower than it already has.

My lower lip quivers as words slowly make their way out of my mouth. ''Maybe they're...'' I begin, yet what follows is engulfed in my tremors. Ignoring the pain on the inside, I force the tears to stop and search for a wall plug. In the deepest corners, I find one. Slowly approaching it, I stick the two bolts of the ping pong ball into the two round, parallel prongs.

Once I remove it, the static electricity flows in an instance, drawing a little bit of light in this dark portion of the room. Cautiously, I place the device on my fingertip and giggle slightly as the harmless voltage tickles me.

''Helloooo!'' Out of nowhere, a feminine voice rings out in my ears, and an arm is slung across my shoulders, pulling me into whoever it is that's beside me. Slightly turning my head to the left, I stare at the District Five girl for what seems like hours until my gaze finally drops, my voice quieter now, less sure.

''O-Oh... H-Hi...'' A gentle flush of pink rises in my cheeks, making me look susceptible. I hold my breath as she leans up on the tips of her toes and tentatively slants against me. My head goes hazy; my body becomes stagnant at the unfamiliar sensation of being so close to someone else. After all, you've always been the avoidable one.

''Why are you being so shy?'' she questions, almost as if she's suspicious of something she shouldn't be involved with. ''You know that you can be open and express yourself, right? In fact, it seems as though you already have.''

As she eyes my stun-baton, I stutter out, ''M-M-Many p-people i-in my D-District made f-fun of me, s-so I-I guess i-it's b-become a n-natural t-thing.''

''It's also made you reserved, huh? You stutter because of it, too, am I right?'' Catching on quickly, she adds, ''Well, shame on whoever that's picked on you in the past. Obviously they're ignorant, because they don't know a genius when they see on. By the looks of that stun-rod, people really seem to be a bad judge of character – and in a District full of nerds, too? How shameful. Do you mind if I inspect it?''

Laughing to myself a little bit, I say, ''Y-Yeah. I mean, n-no. G-G-Go a-ahead..!''

When she takes hold of the weapon, she asks, ''How many voltages are in this bad thing? Two hundred, four hundred? Two thousand?''

''Actually, n-none,'' I answer shyly, feeling as though she'll be ashamed of me, too. Slowly, she brings the rod up to her eye-level, and before anything can happen, I say, quite loudly, ''Don't r-rip the t-tin foil or e-else it'll cause a loss of—!''

''Corona, or static charge?'' she finishes my sentence for me, her smile filled with joy. Lightly, my lips tug upward, putting me in a state of happiness. ''Why didn't you add any amount of voltages on this baby anyway?''

''W-Well, I f-figured that t-the t-trainers wouldn't be f-fond of a w-weapon that's c-capable of electrocuting s-s-someone just l-lying a-around and being a-accessible l-like t-that. If it fell into the w-w-wrong hands, who knows w-what c-could happen?''

Giggling, the girl says, ''You're honestly adorable. Just know that no matter what anyone says, I like you for who you are. That might not mean much coming from someone you don't even know, but if it makes your day any bit brighter, then I'm happy. By the way, I'm Imogen. You are?''

My body no longer feels like a cage, but instead, more like an unlocked door – and the key to it is in Imogen. ''C-Chayona. I-I'm C-C-Chay— Ch-Chayona...'' With a beaming smile, she takes the pain away and makes it bearable to be around others, being seen for who I am. No matter how long I've known her for, I just feel that she carries a charm of being firm, reassuring, and kind.

And for some reason, I feel as if I'm a bird in the sky, able to sing once more.


Sebastian Hammond, District Five


Descending carefully from the rock wall, I land softly on my two feet and untie the Prusik knot from the rope and safety harness. It took me a bit of time to understand how to tie it and use it to climb, but I've got the hang of it now.

''Good job, Sebastian.'' The male trainer takes the knot from my hands and queries, ''Are you sticking around for more, or are you going to head out to another station?''

''No, I think I'm just gonna go walk around for a bit. Today's been a long day,'' I say.

''All right, that's digestible.'' He nods his head enthusiastically, approving of my decision. ''It's best that you get some time to yourself. After all that you've learned today, I think that it's in order.''

Stepping away from the rope course station, I scrutinize the training center, observing what's going on in multiple regions. Currently, two Careers are chilling and talking to one another, three of them are walking around in search of something, and the last one is training. Who is who, I don't know.

The other tributes are all either making friends and communicating with one another, or they're at densely populated booths. There are some loners, but none of them are doing anything that makes them look distinct. But, catching my attention, I spot the District Thirteen boy at some sort of touch screen, sorting through various questions and answers – I suppose that it's set up as a memory game.

Approaching the struggling boy, I pay attention studiously.

The trainer shakes her head unsympathetically. ''When a tribute is out in the arena hunting, he or she must always: A. Carry a survival kit at all times, even if only out for a short amount of hours. B. Carry only their weapon and prepare for a hunt. C. Leave all of their valuable items behind. Or D. Jump at the chance to kill whatever they find.''

The first one, obviously. ''C. Leave all of their valuable items behind, right?'' he answers confidently, but more in a question-like tone. ''Because if you run into another tribute and you die, then they collect all of your items!''

''No. That's wrong, wrong, wrong! Leaving your valuable items behind will ensure of your death, especially if you can't protect yourself!'' she spits, attempting to maintain her composure. ''Say you get lost after running away from something. How do you know your way back? The correct answer was A. If you carry your survival kit at all times and you're injured, you can patch yourself up, and be able to protect yourself in dire situations.''

''Fine...'' he moans, seemingly giving up. ''Next question.''

''If you're in a group of more than two people and are attacked by mutts, you should: A. Run away and split up from your pack. B. Attack the mutts to show your dominance. C. Stare them down. Or D. Group together and huddle up so that you appear larger.''

''A! Running away gives you a boosted chance of survival!''

''Wrong. Making the first move and abruptly taking off like that will more than likely attract the mutts to you, prompting them to target you first and rip you up until they turn their attention back to the others.'' Rolling her eyes in obvious agitation, she sasses, saying, ''Are we done now?''

''One more time, please. I can do it, I—''

''How many times have you told yourself that?'' I step in, barging my nose into his business. ''One more. Just one more.'' Through the corner of my eye, I catch the trainer smiling at me, a bit humorously. ''The last two answers that you've chosen back-to-back have been wrong, and from my earlier observations, it seems that you've actually gotten quite a few incorrect. The answers were obvious, too. It's ridiculous that you've failed so badly.''

''Shut up, you don't even know—''

''I know that it's pointless and stupid of you to continue. You're just stressing yourself out, and yeah, it's pretty entertaining, but your determination won't lead to anything. Don't you realize that it's fruitless? Judging by your character, anything that you come up with will be futile.''

''Fine, you do it, then!'' he commands. His face contorts with a venomous outburst, brewing anger like tea in a pot. Instead of calming down and relaxing, he kicks at the touch pad for good measure, only satisfied by being able to let it all out. ''You come up with better answers and I'll watch!''

Shaking my head, I deny his request. ''No, I just wanted to let you know that what you're doing is to no avail. You can't even get one answer correct. Maybe this isn't your thing.''

From my view of him, it seems as if he's become invisible to himself, that he can't bear to hear my words. I've crossed some invisible line, offended his sensibilities. It's idle of him to say anything or do anything now. My words bounce off as good as hard rain, so it isn't surprising to see the rage in his eyes, his anger booming.

His shout is violent in the air, becoming a way to take the anger from his miserable attempts and transferring the tension to me. He doesn't just raise his voice, but his muscles tense and he goes right in close for maximum impact. ''Maybe you shouldn't be sticking your nose in other peoples' business when you have no right to interfere in what they're doing!'' Whipping his head around, it seems as if he's about to curse me out, but then he stops. ''You're so damn meddlesome! It's like I wanna—!''

I stand there slightly confused, my brows creasing and my face tense. His tone suddenly becomes casual and light as he says, ''I'm so sorry!'' It's like he's retracing his steps. ''You're right, maybe I've been blindsided. Listen, you're a smart kid, and you obviously know what you're talking about. Do you, by any means, wanna join my alliance?''

There's something puzzling about this guy's gait and way of flipping his attitude in mere seconds, enough to make me suspicious. It seems that something's weighing him down on one side and his muscles are struggling to compensate for his lack of balance. Backing up, I hold my hands in the air and choke out, ''Why? Are you switching how you act so that you have an easier chance at killing me?''

''No, that's not it at all!'' he frets. ''I actually want to protect you. Kids like you don't deserve to even be here, and it makes me upset to see that you have to face death so early. Trust me, please.''

''Yeah, right.''

''I'm serious. Think about it; if you go around talking like that to the other tributes, who knows how they'll react? If I'm being honest, they won't be too appreciative of your invasive behavior. I'm willing to forgive you for your rudeness, but only in return for your loyalty. You don't even have to give anything back – I just wanna make sure that you're safe.''

Thinking critically, I decide that this might be my only opportunity at reaching something better. In life, second chances are rare. Take advantage of this while you can. He could help you get far enough to win. ''Fine.''

He becomes so excited when I accept his offer, but I'm not making any promises to him. If things turn bad – when things turn bad – I'm out.


Gideon Alvaro, District Three


Gripping the spear tighter, I lunge forward, taking a large step and using both of my hands to caress the shaft, stabbing the blade into a dummy's abdomen. In my mind, I can imagine a cannon sounding, and it makes me cringe in fear.

Behind me, the boy from One simply stands there, watching me – and it's been about five minutes now. Finally, when I take a short break, he approaches me fully and asks, ''You find enjoyment in solitude and escapism, too?''

Guarding myself, I shrug my shoulders, retorting with, ''How'd you know? Is it the fact that I'm in an entirely different region from everyone else in the gym, or is it that I've avoided any type of interaction with the rest of you that makes you curious?''

''Funny.'' Smiling genuinely, he closes his eyes and cocks his head to the side. You made him smile... It's been so long since you've made somebody happy – without providing ''favors.'' ''You don't have to be so chary, you know. With the whole away from everyone thing, I know how you feel. It's like entering a dream world where you're subjected to yourself only, but don't make it a burden.''

...But I have to be this way. ''All my life I've been circumspect. It's gotten me this far, so why should I switch things up now?'' Why fix something that's not broken?

Nodding his head, he doesn't seem to have a problem with my decision. ''That's not why I'm here, though. You see, Cassian advocated that us Careers go out and recruit those that we deem fit to join. After watching you for a while, I've come to the realization that you've got what it takes.''

I have what it takes? Sounds like an excuse to me. ''No thanks,'' I deny his offer. ''I'm better working alone.''

To follow the rules and orders of some trained killer isn't fit for me. Doing as they please without having a say in what I think is best, or what I wanna do... That's just not my style, and it'll never be.

He narrows his eyes softly, a peculiar situation arising. ''Why? Joining us would aid you in making it further into the competition. It'd keep the Gamemakers interested in you, but going at it alone doesn't have that type of benefit. If you're boring, then they'll target you.''

Shaking my head, I disagree with his claims. ''Nope, that's not true.'' My voice sounds a bit harsh, but I keep it steady. ''Outer district tributes like me who join you guys have a chance at making it far, but it's not guaranteed. Although, they're usually the first ones dead when there's no need for the alliance to stick together anymore. Remember Avery from last year? What happened to him when that little scuffle occurred? Three Careers died in the matter of twenty minutes, and he was the first to go.''

I'm just not willing to move with the unpredictable. When I'm by myself, I know what'll happen, but if I were to join them, it'd be a whole different story. I don't know how they think; I don't know what their chemistry is like. And if I go to sleep around them, who says that they won't kill me in my slumber, and I'd never know... ''I couldn't live with that... The risk isn't worth it – and it never will be.''

''What about the company, though?'' he inquires. ''Being alone would get boring, don't you think? Maybe you're right about the whole outer district thing, but I promise you that we wouldn't betray you. The past Careers were different from us. Besides, say you did join – what if you made it farthest? Isn't that something to ponder? You'd be able to go back home and play sports with your friends again, like baseball or something.''

Trying to get my mind off of this conversation, I cope with the stress by cutting through his logic. ''Orphans like me can't play baseball. You know why? It's because I don't even know where home is, to tell you the truth.''

Sorrowfully, he smirks just a little bit. His suppressed smile turns into a light form of laughter. He's smiling... Again, just like before. I stand here frozen, watching in awe at his generous expression. There's nothing short of a welcomed look on his face. My own reddens with embarrassment, my head spinning. Quickly turning away from him and facing the dummy once more, I hide my grin.

''Maybe I can't relate one hundred percent to what you've just said, but I'm there with you. Home is such a strange word, isn't it? Lucky for you, you've never been kicked out.'' I thought that I was the only one blushing, but his face is flushed, too. But you've had parents in the picture, I wanna say.

There's an unspoken decision that hangs on his lips. Respectfully, he sighs, resigning to my previous statements. ''If you wanna be alone, then that's okay. Really, it is. I guess I'll be on my way, then.''

Before he completely leaves, though, he spins around on his heel and objects, holding his hand up in the air. ''If you want to have more of an impact with your strikes, I recommend that you stand perpendicular to your opponents with your feet shoulder width apart, and that instead of only rotating your hips, you turn with your whole body.''

Practicing the movement as he repeats the instructions, I follow through. ''Bend your knees to lower your center of gravity and move your weight to the balls of your feet. This'll allow you to use your entire body with every shot. If you don't perform your assaults this way, you could tire out your arms, which – I suppose you can guess – will lead to an increase of fatigue and you'll be open.''

For a few seconds, he watches me pounce forward once more, slamming the spear into the side of the dummy. ''Your blow should be a side-on tap or a thrust past the body to touch the opponent on the way back, remember that. Don't stab. The head of the spear should be pointed down, and make sure that that's the part which makes contact with your foe.''

He really walks away this time, back to his alliance. Alone now, I calm my breathing, remembering what he just taught me. Perfect your footing, move your entire body, bend your knees, and thrust, don't stab.

Acting it out completely, I pierce the spear head through the dummy's chest, and to my surprise, the weapon lodges into the prop deeply, pushing past the restricted area that I once believed was blocked. It's almost as if the spear is engulfed in the dummy's body, sinking deep in it. So much more fatal...

Thank you.

Suddenly, something in me wants to call out the boy's name, to tell him to come back, because his company was appreciated. He was appreciated. I don't feel as though I've made a mistake, but I do sense that I've let someone important go – someone that would make my days more worthwhile.

People like him... they aren't so bad.

If only life could've started out this way.


A/N: Ayeee! Okay, here we go with the second round. My goal is to get everyone at least two POVs before they die, and currently, I think I'll reach that goal. Granted, the Bloodbath chapter will definitely be a bit different, so that'll help out, too. Anyway, not much to say today. Was able to get this chapter up because of no school today. Senior friends are graduating, big families, tickets are expensive = an update. Anyway, yeah, we're slowly creeping up to the beginning of the end. This story has definitely been advancing quicker than I expected. I'd love to get it over with by the time summer ends, but I doubt that'll happen. A boy can hope, though. Keep voting on the poll. Seriously, the votes are pretty close, and I'm not even surprised with who you guys have been choosing so far. Lowkey, though, a few have like zero votes, which surprised me because of the good feedback that y'all provided for them. I guess you guys like them, but not more than the other ones. Y'all probably know who the tributes on top are, but we'll see who wins in two or three more chapters. Ight, question time.


Favorite POV?

Least favorite POV?

What was the most interesting part of this chapter?

You see a girl in the corner with a stun-baton that emits electricity. You don't know a single thing about it, but it looks deadly. Whatcha doin'?


This has definitely been one of my favorite chapters to write for so far. The alliance building, the relationships forming, it's all nice. I bet many of you expected Imogen and Chayona; Pavel and Sebastian just needed to happen; and Darren and Eloise is always gonna be interesting, trust me. But Gideon and Aether, hm? I'd love to know what you guys think about those two. But yeah, I'm done with this chapter. It's around lunch time over here, and idk what I'm doing today, but hopefully you guys have a wonderful day/night doing whatever you've got planned. See y'all next time! ^-^