Enigma Fenn (13) D1F
Now I had time to think. I didn't have to train, or strategize for the interviews. I didn't have to think about how I was presenting myself to the other tributes, because only Tiger and Extravagance could see me, and their opinions of me were set in stone. For the few seconds before I had to step into my tube, I was able to think about anything I wanted to. I could think about my emotions. I could think about my future after the Games. I had a slot where I could stop thinking about the Games and think only about me.
I didn't know what to think about.
So I gave up on that idea. Without constantly strategizing I was lost, so I would just keep on doing it. I thought about the most likely and least likely Arenas. I thought about the likely and unlikely mutts. I thought about the other tributes' strategies and how they would work compared to mine. I didn't think about how dangerous the Games were; I thought about how to minimize that danger.
I figured a lot of tributes cried before they got into their tubes, or second-guessed themselves. I probably should have doubted myself, but I wasn't that type of person. I didn't have the mindset to doubt myself. Instead, I got into the tube with a totally straight face. Tiger was trying to look fierce. I wasn't for that life. I was calculating everything out, so my face didn't have to show anything. Tiger was being emotional, I was being calculating. I probably looked like I was trying to be cold, but I didn't care about my expression. I cared about the arena.
Extravagance wished me well. I acknowledged it, hardly thinking about anything. I was trying to decide how to survive in an outside Arena. That was the place where I lacked skills. Tiger glared at me, and I didn't acknowledge it. I was thinking about his weaknesses and how to kill him, since he was so much bigger than I was. The tube began to rise, and I could actually be bothered to notice it. That was the thing that would matter.
After the tube rose, which I assumed would be a couple of seconds, I would have sixty seconds to do what I did best. I got myself in a good position, bending my knees slightly so I could turn around quickly. I could get a quick glance, then a slower one, and still have time to look at the Cornucopia. I made a quick checklist of everything that I would need to know when I scanned. I needed to know where to go. I needed to know where supplies were. I needed to know where the Careers were headed...
Finally, the Arena came into view. I realized quickly that all my worries were for naught. We were inside a building, and I assumed it was huge. The room we were in looked like a lobby, with a desk full of brochures and pamphlets in front of us. Behind the desk, which made a full square, was the Cornucopia. It was full of both food and weapons, thankfully. To either side of the desk there were staircases, carved out of marble and wood, much like the floor was. The stairs had lovely wooden banisters, and I considered how easily you could shove someone over those.
To the left of me there were outliers. To the right there were outliers. All the Careers were across the desk from me, which was a huge blessing. Only outer-District kids were between me and the stairs, or the rooms to my left and right. I took a quick note of what the stairs say, realizing that the clock had ticked down to fifteen seconds. Pre-Dark Days, said the staircase to the right. Present, said the staircase to the left. I couldn't imagine what that meant, but I decided to go up the Pre-Dark Days one.
Then the gong ticked.
Dun dun dun...
Finally, we're to the Arena! Spark asked for an inside Arena. Ask and ye shall receive.
I put the into the tubes and countdown together because there's only one tribute and I'm impatient