Two months. That was all it took for me to recover and the doctors to give me the all clear. In two months i went from being severely under weight, to a strong and fit enough fighter to train with the new recruits.
That takes longer, longer than a year. The seventy third Hunger Games wrapped up with the victory tour in the Capitol three weeks ago. The victor hailed from District Five, Talion, his name. He won by killing other tributes with a rock, seeing as the gamemakers declined the option of weapons for that year.
In the Capitol and the other Districts, they are preparing for the seventy forth games, the Reaping being just a few hours away. Everybody was especially excited in the Capitol this year. Why? Well, these games will followed by a Quarter Quell. A special Hunger Games which take place every twenty five years. Now the years before the Quarter Quells always get the Capitol people hyped up, because most of the time, the Head Gamemakers want to set a standard to Snow. To show him that they can create the most exciting games and will do wonders with a Quarter Quell. I've been watching all the promotional videos put out by the Capitol for the games when i'm not training. Each and every one of them noting how this year will set the bar for next. Though none of it is really important to me or to anybody here in thirteen.
Lunch time is held earlier today, because of the Reaping. Each and everyone of us is expected to watch at least the Reaping, as a reminder that Snow is an enemy who needs to be stopped and if the Hunger Games don't make you want to kill him, then you shouldn't be here. At two fifty five sharp Boggs collects me and we walk to the cafeteria, there the Reapings from each District will be shown to us. You might ask well why does Boggs collect me personally. Well, Coin had given him the duty to teach me to fight properly and use a firearm. If i'm honest, the fact it's Boggs training me is the reason why i'm doing so well and advancing faster then the other recruits. Why i get the special treatment? My only answer comes in the form that it's related to me being Snow's blood and the fact i have a few dirty secrets on him that nobody else has. So being related to that bastard has its benefits.
We chose a table and sit down at it. I don't bother getting food because i'm not hungry and neither does Boggs.
When the footage starts rolling, the first District we go to is District One. Both their tributes were volunteers. Marvel was the boy and Glimmer was the girl - both pretty and pampered just as you'd expect from the district of luxury. In District Two yet another two volunteers, Cato and Clove. Now the Cato guy, he looked mean, stocky and able. He was already a fan favourite and you knew it. In hindsight, so was the girl, Clove. District Five gave a female tribute with orange hair, Caesars skittish comments made it hard to hear her actual name.
When District Seven came up i was too distracted watching Johanna at the side of the stage to even notice the tributes had been called out. I didn't know either of them. The male tribute wasn't Reg or one of my brothers thankfully. As for Johanna, she looked different. Stronger was the word i'd use. When the camera gave viewers a close up of her and Blight, all i could see her in her eyes was the inability to care about what was going on around her. I'm almost thankful when the screen cuts away from District Seven and goes to Eight, it meant i couldn't over think about exactly what was going on in Johanna's mind. Cause i know for certain it can't have been good.
The rest of the Districts take their turn, only up until District Eleven none of them are memorable. From that District was Rue. Twelve years old and selected for the games with nobody volunteering in her place. And a big guy named Thresh. Another contender this year based on his massive frame.
But District Twelve, that is where things get really interesting.
After all the video bullshit and prattling on by their new escort Effie Trinket, the female tribute was selected. Primrose Everdeen. The whole cafeteria began to lose interest, that was until another girl, with long braided brown hair, began screaming and volunteered as tribute. Her name was Katniss Everdeen. Primroses sister. It was this act of desperation by Katniss that caught every bodies attention. Even Caesar Flickerman had no words to describe what he had seen. A volunteer from an outline district is rare. A volunteer from District Twelve? It's never happened in all the years of the games. Until now.
This girl. This Katniss Everdeen. She had my vote to win based on that one moment. I think, going off the silence by Boggs, she had his vote too. She was certainly going to be remembered. Just as it was certain that Snow would not like the fact the games hadn't even started and already an outline district was all anybody would be talking about.
In other news, the male tribute from Twelve was a small boy, with dirty blond hair all gelled back. His name was Peeta Mellark, but other than the fact he was chosen, he didn't stand out much against his female counterpart. After the footage was over, it was like Caesar had forgotten the other districts existed, all he could talk about was Everdeen. How it pulled at the heart strings when she volunteered for her sister.
"Sounds like they already have a favourite." Comments Boggs.
"Yeah." I chuckle. "Being from Twelve, Snow isn't going to like it."
"Too bad for him." Boggs shakes his head. "Come on, we train now you can have the evening off."
I don't argue with him or anything, i just jump straight up and follow him. It'll be nice to be able to have some free time.
As promised, Boggs finished up what he was teaching me - mostly methods of defence - and then allowed me to go back to my room early.
Once there i shower up before my roommate Hansen shows his face and decides to hog the shower for hours.
I usually don't look in the mirror in the bathroom, mostly because the scars that mark my body remind me of how they'd hurt me in the Capitol. Especially on my back, those scars ran deep and took the longest to heal to a point where the doctors were pleased. I have them everywhere mind, not just my back. The ones on either side of my face came from Thread and his baton. The one on my abdomen marks my time in the arena, courtesy of Marric sticking that huge ass knife in my gut. Twenty one years old and i have more scars and stories to tell than most people double my age. I'm not so sure if its a good thing.
"Ethan!" Hansen runs into the bathroom, still hyper as always.
He's from the Capitol originally. Turns out Plutarch helped a lot of people get out or they escaped themselves. Hansen i believe escaped on his own with a few others. His tattoos all down his arms and various piercings mark him as a former Capitol too, but unlike them he styled them in a way to make himself look tougher than he actually is. Those are his words too, not mine.
"Did you see that stuff at the Reaping today?" He asks frantically, hopping as he follows me out of the bathroom.
"Yeah." I sit down on my bed. "The Everdeen girl."
"Yeah her." Hansen sits down on his own bed. "Some of the others broke down after what she did."
"It was something alright." I nod. "The very first volunteer from Twelve in seventy four years."
"It's inspiring." He laughs. "Imagine if she wins."
"She probably won't. Snow won't like that she's from Twelve." I say all to quickly. "But if she does, it'll be something. I mean if a girl from District Twelve can win then... Who knows right?"
"Yeah." Hansen nods smiling at the thought. "You coming down to Elliots room for a game of Adder with the others?"
"Yeah. I'll ugh, meet you there." I scratch my cheek which is starting to grow stubble again.
"Okay, see you in a bit." Hansen gets up and runs out of the room.
Now i think on what i said more, it would be nice, to finally see somebody other than the regulars win. Especially if it was an underdog like Everdeen. I say underdog because even though the Capitol will like her, she is still from District Twelve. I hope she proves them wrong though, that'll be like waving a big screw you to President Snow himself.
Now that. That would be hilarious.
The next few days Boggs lets me finish training early so i could watch the games, or more the build up to the actual games starting. I'm watching for Katniss Everdeen. After her reaping, i found myself wanting to see exactly what she does in the days building up to the games.
At the tribute parade both she and her fellow tribute stole the show thanks to their new stylists. Their outfit was black leather, a cape attached to the back of both costumes which was engulfed in flame. They were all anybody was watching and again were the only District that Caesar Flickerman and Claudius Templesmith could speak of. They were stealing this years games and they were only a day in. After the parades things went quiet on Twelves progress, though everybody in the Capitol had begun nicknaming Katniss the "Girl on Fire". It was meant both literally and not. She was on fire at the tribute parade, but she was also on fire in a sense that she was doing everything right.
The next time we heard anything, a few days after the parades, was when the individual scores were revealed. When Cato and Clove from two both got tens, you'd think they'd be pinned as the ultimate favourites. They were, until the highest score of the 74th Games was given. Katniss stole the show yet again, scoring a high of eleven from the gamemakers. Yet another factor to consider when you took in her nickname of Girl on Fire. She was something special and everybody here in thirteen knew it. Every time her name was mentioned people stopped what they were doing to watch. It was guaranteed, every time.
It was on the day before the games started that i met up with Boggs for a final test of training that when complete would allow me to join the militia. When i got to him, he was talking with none other than President Coin, and they too were talking about Katniss Everdeen. Trying not to interrupt, i stood back and hid around a corner.
"We can't guarantee anything." I heard Coin say. "This girl might have everybodies attention now, but it means nothing unless she wins."
"I know, Madam President." Boggs says respectably. "It was just an opinion."
Coin continues. "One girl wearing fake flames can excite a crowd and nothing more."
"Of course."
I only caught the tail end of the conversation, as is apparent. But it was enough to send my mind spiralling with questions and theories. I intended to ask Boggs, once i'd gotten through the exam. That's just what i did. As soon as the test finished i chased after Boggs. Intent on getting some answers no matter what they were.
"You shouldn't have heard any of that." Boggs says.
He didn't appear to like the fact i'd eavesdropped on his conversation with Coin.
"Well i did." I dodge a trainee who is running down the corridor. "You might as well tell me?"
He stops walking and so do I. "It was just an opinion Ethan. Let it go."
I know that look on Boggs' face right now, it means don't keep treading down this line of conversation.
"Okay." I admit defeat.
"Good." He looks at his watch and sighs. "It's almost lunch, go there and stick to your schedule for today. I'll get back to you once the test is evaluated."
"Thanks Boggs." I nod as he starts walking away from me.
I look down at my tattooed schedule for the day on my arm. After lunch i have duties working on hovercraft repairs. I think Hansen and some of the others work in there. When two hours of that are up i have a half hour downtime before i'm expected in the hospital for a check up. From there it's as simple as return to quarters. Not the most eventful day, but it's better than doing nothing i suppose. It'll all change once i'm officially enlisted in the militia, Coin has already told me i'd be working alongside Boggs. Again the special treatment is showing but I'm not going to compalin about it.
At the end of the day why would I?