Still Missing Check-Ins For:
Brooke Reefside (2)
Dylan Angel (2)
Arlene Marven
District 3, 14, Female
I jump into the shower and have a quick rinse before jumping right out again. I'm confident to make it to training as fast as possible and so I grab a small pancake from the table and then rush off to the elevator. Leaving Winston to talk to Macx, our escort, and his mentor - Farrel. Farrel won last year's games and probably has the most knowledge off of memory but of course I was stuck with the 24 year old man who wouldn't speak about The Games.
I click the 'T' button on the elevator, knowing that it would take me to the training centre, and I begin to descend.
The doors open slightly and I manage to squeeze out before they crush me, how faulty. Of course I'm not the first one here I think to myself as I see Embry trying to master the knives, yet again. Oh shoot she's seen me. "Arlene! Hey, wait up." She cries and drops her knives into the box, running over to me. "So, did you sleep on it?"
"Embry, I am happy that you invited me into the alliance but it's just not my thing." She twists her lips, clearly confused but she nods and walks back to the knives.
Alliances have never really been a good thing to me. I have watched The Hunger Games at the community home almost every year and I just can't help but think why you would trust a group of people that want to kill you with your lives. I wouldn't say I have trust issues because I am very social and have a lot of friends but if I become close to someone and see them die. Even if I did win I couldn't erase that.
I clear my mind and begin at the shelter building station.
"Nice shelter!" Someone shouts and runs over, knocking down all my hard work. He puts his hand over his mouth and makes a kind of whimper noise.
"Harrick, right?" I ask with a sigh and start to pick up the fallen sticks.
"Yep, that's me." I nod, I am good with names. "I know it's not a good time but me and Jean were wo-"
"Sorry, I don't want allies." He looks slightly upset but turns into a smile,
"That's okay." Then, he turns and walks away.
Why does everyone want allies and why does everyone want allies with me?
Harrick Cartler
District 6, 13, Male
I definitely thought it would be easier to make allies than this but before Arlene, I had been turned down by: Kliar, Eoghan, Samara and Friday!
"Hi." A meak voice says behind me and I see Piper, the small and helpless girl from 12.
"Hello, Piper." I sigh as I kneel down.
"I know I am weak, small and a big drag around but I heard you guys were looking for an ally and there is no one else I can go to-." I cut her off.
"Piper, I'd be happy to invite you into our alliance." Her eyes well with tears and she jumps into my arms, sobbing. It's not fair, this girl shouldn't have to die so young. At least I know I have more than a 0 percent chance but I can't say the same for poor Piper. I hold her and don't let go, this may be my last hug after all.
A few moments later I introduce Piper to Jean and Jean smiles politely but pulls me off to the side, apologising to Piper.
"Harrick, what the hell?!" I knew she wouldn't be happy.
"She had no one Jean, the least we can do is get her past the bloodbath." Jean looks back at her sympathetically.
"In my heart I know you did the right thing but in my mind I want to slap you so hard right now." I shrug and she slaps me, hard, across the face and turns back around to piper. "You're in." She says and Piper looks like she might cry again.
Jack Sanford
District 9, 16, Male
I miss everything about back home. I miss my family, I miss my friends, I miss my girlfriend and I miss the warm sun tanning my face. I don't and won't get any of that here, these people can't be my friends only my competitors but I will make allies with the weak and I have some in mind. I purposefully go to the sword station, in front of Mahala, and begin to duel the trainer. Of course I lose but she is slightly impressed. "I wish someone could ally with me." I sigh as I sit in front of her and look up at her. Her brown eyes become wide,
"Oh my god! I will me, me, me! Please." I act a little surprised but it's all just part of the strategy.
"Really? Yay!" I cry and try to say as positive as possible. Mahala puts on a wide smile and giggles, excitedly.
We sit down at lunch and begin to talk.
"So in the bloodbath I reckon we just run!"
"Seriously? You want to die of starvation?" I question her and she seems a bit unexpected about how fast I turned her down but she slowly nods. "Now. I want you to try and recruit Quail." She narrows her eyes at me but shrugs it off and runs over to the table where Quail and Nevaeh sit together, silent. I have seen them training together but I am pretty sure they're not allies. Soon, Mahala and Quail walk over to my table, leaving a hurt looking Nevaeh.
Quail puts his hand out and I give him a high five, he saw it coming and pulled away saying,
"Too slow!" We laugh.
"Do you two know each other?"
"No! What makes you say that?" We ask in sync and fist bump right after. Mahala raises her eyebrows and rolls her eyes.
"Must be a guy thing." She mutters under her breath.
Nevaeh Rechwhal
District 11, 15, Female
No hope, none whatsoever. Me and Quail were really hitting it off and I was just about to propose an alliance before those b*tches came and took him away. I was upset, obviously, when I saw Quail agree and completely forget about me. I had shared everything with him.
My heart is aching with homesickness, like everyones is. We all knew, even the careers, that we had a 23/24 chance of surviving and I don't know why you would take that chance. Suddenly, I look over at Quail and Jack laughing, the careers talking strategy and showing off and Eoghan and Samara looking at one another sorrowfully. I scream, I scream with all my anger and pain. I scream for Saoirse and my parents. I scream because I am going to die.
I fall to the floor with tears and everything goes black.
"Nevaeh? Nevaeh! Wake up..." My eyes shoot open and I see Sapphire looking back at me, she pulls me into her arms and I cry into her shoulder. She doesn't need to ask, she knows why I fainted and so does everyone in this room. I feel arms fall on my back and I hear a faint cry. Embry is hugging my back and crying into it. All of us are on the floor, crying and yet it's no surprise to anyone. No one looks at us because this is it. This is The Hunger Games.
We finish up crying and I am offered to join their alliance, which I accept gratefully, but I have a feeling Loren might not be too happy about it as they tell her. Loren shrugs and shakes my hand, not a hug but a start. Who knows, maybe I can go home after all.
Training is over pretty much over! Next will be Training Day 3 with a POV and then a letter read by our lovely president.
Is Arlene making a good move?
Would you make friends with your allies?
Is Nevaeh a good fit for The Girl Power alliance?
Alliances:
The Career Pack: Caesar, Xavier, Vidia, Dylan, Brooke and Kliar. (Sorry I missed this out the last couple of chapters).
Forever and Always: Eoghan and Samara.
Team 6: Jean, Harrick and Piper.
Girl Power: Sapphire, Embry, Loren and Nevaeh.
The Smart And The Strong: Reuben and Lex.
Best Buds and Mahala: Jack, Quail and Mahala.
Solos: Winston, Arlene, Field and Friday.
Sorry if you wanted your tribute in an alliance and they weren't. I still needed a few solos.
-James