The sun's barely up and I'm already on the elevator, a fixed destination in mind: the 12th floor. After going back to my room last night, I barely slept, continuously going over everything I was going to say. I'm going to have to really sell this plan to get District Twelve, a place about as similar to District One as a desert is to a tundra, to commit to it.
The doors open on a hallway identical to mine and all the other hallways that lead to tribute apartments. The smooth wood of the apartment door stares back at me. Here goes nothing.
I knock and wait. No answer. I knock again. No answer still. Oh c'mon, I know it's early but someone has got to hear this. I'm in the middle of my third knock when the legendary victor and alcoholic, Haymitch Abernathy, opens the door, looking surly and ungroomed as ever.
His look of annoyance quickly morphs into one of surprise and suspicion. His dark eyes narrow at me and a frown appears on his unshaven face.
"I think you got the wrong room, kid. District Two is ten floors down," he says, making it obvious he's not glad to see me.
Really? The floors match the district numbers. Nobody, not even Glimmer, could screw that up.
"I'm not looking for District Two. I'm exactly where I intended to be," I say calmly.
"Well, what the hell do you want?" he asks gruffly.
"I need to talk to Katniss," I answer.
His eyes widen a bit at that. "Look jackass, if you came up here this early just to try and scare her, I admire your dedication, but you're wasting your time," he says.
I suppress the little bit of anger I feel at his assumption. After all, what I'm about to do is unheard of for a District One tribute.
"I'm not here to threaten her. I honestly just need to talk to her," I say.
Haymitch still looks suspicious. "Can't it wait 'til training? They need sleep, y'know, especially with the private sessions coming up today," he says.
That makes this even more urgent. I suspect once those training scores come out, Katniss will be on the career radar and I won't be able to get this plan together.
"I know, but this isn't something I can risk others overhearing. Can you tell Katniss to meet me on the roof in ten minutes?" I ask.
Haymitch is silent for a moment, his dark eyes burning holes into mine. C'mon man, I need this.
"Fine. I'll get her up, but don' try anything or I'll be sure you regret it," he says before closing the door, a loose string of profanity still audible behind the wood.
Huh. For a drunk, he's pretty committed to his tributes.
Jesus it's cold up here. The sun's just rising above the sleek buildings, but it hasn't warmed up much yet. Reminds me of my morning runs, back at the academy. I find myself wishing that's where I was instead of here. I could be just waking up, climbing out of my warm bed to have breakfast with Striker and my parents before heading off to train. Instead, I'm here, surrounded by thousands of freaks and twenty-three other teenagers who've all gotta go if I'm ever gonna see my family again.
I try not to think about the fact that for me to see my family again, all those other families will lose their loved ones. Katniss, Lewis, Brooke, the little girl from Eleven, Thresh and all the other tributes will never hug their parents and siblings again. Hell, I even feel bad for the ones I don't like. They still have people who'll miss them.
I hear the distinctive sound of the door opening behind me. I turn to see Katniss standing there, still wearing pajamas and looking more suspicious than ever before, which is saying something.
"Ah Katniss, glad you could join me," I say, hoping to be charming.
It doesn't look like it's working.
"What do you want, Marvel?" she asks, raising one dark eyebrow at me.
I glance around. I really can't risk anyone coming up here and catching me, especially Cato and Clove.
"Follow me," I say simply and start heading toward the pool nobody seems to have discovered. I glance over my shoulder to see Katniss isn't following.
"Why?" she asks, her eyes narrowing.
"Because what I'm going to say is very sensitive and we're both dead if anyone else finds out about it," I say harshly. I know I should be more understanding, especially when you consider the past relations between our districts, but I just really need her to hear me out.
Katniss still looks skeptical, but follows me anyway. I hear her gasp when we enter the grotto.
"This place is amazing," she says, her grey eyes running over every part of the room.
"It certainly is. I discovered it on my first night and no one else knows about it. Comes in handy when you're trying to avoid your district partner," I say.
"Okay, we're in private. Now, what are you up to?" asks Katniss, the suspicion back in full force.
I simply turn towards the pool, admiring the lush plants and the blue waterfall. I have to do this just right.
"I had a feeling there was more to you, girl on fire. A lot more. Everyone else seems to think you're just a girl from a poor district that lucked into a great stylist…but I know better," I say, keeping my gaze fixed forward.
I can see Katniss' reflection in the pool. She looks a bit nervous.
"Come again?" she says, trying to sound surprised, but not completely pulling it off.
"You heard me. You've been hiding a secret weapon, something that's going to drastically change the outcome of the games," I say calmly. I can see her reflection stiffen.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she says and turns to leave.
"I think you do. Tell me, how'd you get so good with a bow in District Twelve?" I ask with mock cheer.
I turn to face her and see that her grey eyes have gone wide and her fists are clenching. Damn, she looks ready to fight.
I hold up my hands in defense. "Don't worry. Nobody else knows, but I wanted to talk to you before the private training sessions. Something tells me you're going to surprise everyone," I say.
Katniss takes a deep breath. "So you know what I'm good at. Fine. What do you want?" she asks.
"It's not about what I want. It's about what I need…and what you need," I answer.
"Stop speaking in riddles and just tell me what you want!" she snaps.
"An alliance," I answer simply. Her anger quickly morphs into shock and, for a moment, she's at a loss for words.
"Why do you want to ally with me?! You're already working with the most-deadly tributes in the games!" she says incredulously.
"That's exactly why I want an alliance with you. They're deadly, but I can't trust them and eventually that deadliness is going to be working against me," I say.
"Oh what, and you trust me?!" Katniss spits back.
"More than them! We're far from best friends, but…yeah I trust you more than them," I answer sharply. This really isn't going how I hoped.
"Why?" she asks, looking confused instead of angry.
"I guess because of what I saw you do for your sister. Somebody who does something that selfless isn't someone who'll slit your throat in your sleep," I answer. Katniss must hear the sincerity in my voice, because her face softens.
"I-I don't think it's a good idea, Marvel. There's no way it can work, especially with the careers hunting down everyone else," she says, her gaze flickering away.
"That's why we have to work together! Otherwise, District Two is just gonna wipe everyone out like always. If you're worried about secrecy, don't. I assume you'll be hiding out in the woods and that's perfect. I can sneak off to meet you every once in a while and we'll try to find ways to pick the other careers off. With your archery and my unparalleled ability with spears, we just might pull it off," I say, sounding like a damn salesman as I say it.
"You may trust me, but who said I trust you? Is this just some complicated plot to take me down?" asks Katniss.
Goddamn it. This is a good plan, just work with me.
"Katniss, if I wanted to take you down, I would just rat you out to the careers and we'd destroy every bow at the cornucopia, but that's not what I'm doing. I know you want them gone and so do I. We stand a much better chance of going home if they're out of the way, so why not work together?" I press.
"Have you forgotten how that would end, Marvel?! Assuming this all works, we'd be the final two and we'll have to kill each other!" Katniss fires back.
I sigh. "Katniss, odds are that one of us will go down long before then, but that's no reason we can't help each other. I know you want to see your sister again, just like I want to see my brother again. If we work together, I've got a good feeling at least one of us will get to do that," I say. This is my final plea. I've thrown out all my arguments. If she says no, I'm without an ally. If she decides to inform the careers what I've been planning, I'm a dead man. Maybe I should've thought this through more.
"Okay," she says quietly.
"What?" I ask, unable to keep the excitement out of my voice.
"I'm in," she says simply.
I feel great. I feel ecstatic. I let out a cheer that surprises Katniss and I surprise her even more by wrapping her up in a giant bear hug, lifting her thin frame off the floor in my excitement.
"We're gonna flip this game on its head! No one, and I mean no one, is going to see this coming!" I laugh.
Katniss chuckles in my arms. "Can you put me down?" she asks calmly.
I'm sure I look embarrassed as I realize I'm still holding her. I quickly put her down and notice her face has gone red, sticking out against her long dark hair.
"Sorry 'bout that," I say lamely, rubbing the back of my neck.
"It's fine," she says, "So…what's the plan for today?" she asks.
I'm really grateful for the subject change. "I guess you should just keep doing what you've been doing. Don't attract attention during group training and then let it fly during your private session. Think you can do that?" I ask, already knowing the answer.
Katniss just smirks. "There's not a doubt in my mind, spear-boy," she quips.
This is perfect. District Two won't know what hit 'em.
Training went as scripted. Me and my temporary allies destroyed dummies, threatened younger tributes and did all the usual shit, while Katniss blended in as much as she could. By now, only Glimmer is still pissed about the parade. Everyone else is focused on their private session and the score that will either bring in sponsors or leave them high and dry.
Now, we're just waiting. Once again, I'm among my fellow careers, sitting at our table in the cafeteria, waiting to be called in for our private sessions. I have to admit, I'm a bit nervous. I can't decide if I should try some variety or focus on spears since it's what I'll do best at.
Lewis and Brooke look a bit nervous. If the others are, they don't show it.
"All right, be honest Clove, what do you think you're gonna get?" Cato asks in that teasing tone he only uses with his district partner.
"I better get at least a ten," she says, frowning at the thought of anything less.
"I don't know about that. Midgets don't usually look very intimidating," teases Cato.
"Bite me," she says back with a smirk, "You better hope the arena doesn't require any agility or maneuvering. I don't think a big, clumsy oaf such as yourself would fare too well in a place like that."
"I bet I can get a ten no problem," says Glimmer, evidently feeling left out of the conversation.
Cato snorts. "Good luck with that…What about you, fish?" he asks, using his favorite name for Brooke and Lewis.
Lewis just shrugs. "I'll do the best I can," he says simply.
Cato just rolls his eyes in response and looks at Brooke.
"I guess everyone wants a ten. I could live with a nine, but ten's the goal," she says.
Her response reminds me of why I can never find it in myself to hate District Four. Although they are careers, there's a big difference between them and the others. I think it's mental. They just don't have that insufferable arrogance and inclination towards cruelty that the others have.
"Marvel? You in there?" asks Clove, snapping her fingers in front of my face.
"Sorry. I must've zoned out," I say.
Clove rolls her eyes. "We were just asking you what you think your score will be," she says.
"I'll just do my thing and take the score they give me," I say with a shrug. Like them, I'm hoping for a high score, but I don't feel the need to engage them in conversation.
"Let me know how that works out for you," says Clove dryly, drawing a shrill laugh from Glimmer.
"Just ignore him. He's always been weird and quiet like that," says Glimmer, "I remember this one time…"
I zone out again after that, not hearing whatever story Glimmer's telling about our days at training. Even back then, I wasn't fond of my comrades. They were all like Glimmer, rich, arrogant brats that only wanted to compete in the Hunger Games for fame and fortune…even though they already had the latter of those two. They never knew what it was like to actually have something worth fighting for, something worth sweating for, something worth bleeding for. That's why I beat them. Anytime they were complacent, I wasn't. Anytime they took a day off, I didn't. It was all about motivation.
I know it's my destiny to win these games. I just know it, deep in my bones. I have no delusions about how hard it will be, but I can take it. I have to. I have to so my father won't have worry about what hard labor a handless man can do for a day's wages. I have to so my mother won't spend her days slaving away for people like Glimmer and her family. I have to so Striker won't grow up the crippled boy from the poorest part of the district. Who knows, maybe I could afford Capitol treatments for him and he'd never need those damn crutches again. That's why I have to win and it gives me more fire than anyone else here…except maybe Katniss.
I have to admit, I see some of myself in her. Maybe that's why I wanted her as an ally so badly. Sure part of it was her skill, but I talked to her before I even knew that. She's one of those people that you can't help but admire and you're drawn to her. She radiates courage in the face of overwhelming adversity. You could tell the moment she volunteered for her sister, fully aware that the odds were never in District Twelve's favor. Thinking back on the reaping, Katniss never wavered.
I feel a small twinge of sadness at the thought of my victory, knowing that Katniss has to die for that to become reality. She doesn't deserve a fate like that. She deserves to see her family again, as do most of these poor kids.
I think back to the conversation Katniss and I had this morning and how she agreed to work with me. I can't help but smile as I remember how excited I'd been. So excited that I'd actually picked her up. I can't deny how good it felt to hold her like that.
Wait, what?! Where the hell did that come from? The games are already fucking with my head. They must be. Christ, I hope I don't lose it like that maniac from District Six a few years ago.
"Marvel, District One!" bellows a peacekeeper, entering the cafeteria.
It's time. One good thing about being from District One is that I get to go first, when the gamemakers are still sober and alert. Hopefully Katniss will still get their attention when it's her turn. I get up without a word to my allies and follow the peacekeeper back toward the training room. I pause at the door and take a deep breath.
I've trained for this. I'm ready. Failure is not an option.
I open the door and stroll inside, remembering the only decent piece of advice Prue has ever given me: keep your chin up and show pride. I look up to see the gamemakers all watching me intently, including Seneca Crane himself. Wow, that beard is something.
"Marvel Maddox, District One," I announce, making sure my voice sounds powerful.
Seneca Crane nods, his imperious gaze never wavering. "You may begin, tribute Maddox," he says.
I need no further invitation. Fifteen minutes. I've got exactly fifteen minutes to sell myself. I've got it all planned out. I hurry to the edible plants test, something that's sure to be a surprise for a career. Fortunately, I remember most of my mistakes from last time and finish with 90% correct.
I don't stop to see if they're impressed. I bypass the fishing station and pick up the throwing knives. I spot my targets downrange and start throwing, carefully remembering how Clove did it. I don't have her accuracy, but it's nothing to scoff at. I never miss a target and most of the knives end up in the dummies' torsos. A few even hit the dummies right in the heart.
I spot the clock and see I've only got five minutes left. Time for the grand finale. The spear station is waiting for me. I pick one up and, with the flawless motion that only comes from hours of practice, let it fly. I can't help but smile when I see it bury itself in a dummy's head fifteen yards downrange. I'm like a machine after that. I pick up spear after spear and send them all into the heads and hearts of my enemies. I don't see anything but the targets and I don't hear anything but the sound of spear meeting plastic. After a while, I'm not throwing at dummies. I'm throwing at Cato…and Clove and Glimmer and Seneca Crane and even President Snow.
My focus is finally shattered by the sound of the horn going off and the sound of applause from the gamemakers. My time's up, but I made the most of it. Downrange, there's not a dummy left without a spear in its head or buried in its heart. If those were tributes, Snow would already be placing the victor's crown on my head.
"Thank you for your time, gentlemen," I say as I walk calmly from the room, just catching Seneca Crane's smirk as I turn my head.
That couldn't have gone any better. Nothing left to do now but wait for everything to fall into place.
We're all sprawled out on the couch later, awaiting the announcements. Glimmer keeps prattling on about how well she did while Cashmere tries to give her advice for the arena. Gloss pesters me a bit about what I did, but lets me be after a few short answers. I know I did fine, but what about Katniss? She's already at a disadvantage being from Twelve. If she's going to get any sponsors, she need a good score.
I suppose it cuts both ways, though. If she gets a good score, she'll become a target, just like Thresh. Damn, it'll be hard to plan together if we're out hunting her most of the time. Maybe I'm worrying about nothing. It would take something pretty spectacular to take their focus off Thresh. No matter how well she did in the parade, it's hard to look more threatening than that guy.
"It's starting," says Cashmere, shushing Glimmer.
We all look to see the legendary Caesar Flickerman appear on the screen in his usual freaky clothes. Claudius Templesmith is beside him and they're laughing about something I don't quite catch.
"Finally, the training scores are in! All our beloved tributes have been assessed and tonight we'll know where they all stand. I don't know about you, but I'm excited," says Caesar, flashing his pearly-white smile.
"I don't know how you couldn't be, Caesar. These scores are of the utmost importance. The winner of the games almost always has a high one," says Claudius.
"Well, without further ado, let's get to the scores," says Caesar.
Glimmer's haughty face appears on the screen beside Caesar.
"Glimmer, from District One, with a score of…nine."
Nine? Wow. I wonder how much clothing she had to take off to get that. The others are so busy congratulating her that they almost miss the next tribute.
"Marvel, from District One, with a score of…ten."
"Well done," says Gloss, clapping me on the back. Cashmere also nods in approval, while Glimmer just rolls her eyes, evidently upset at being surpassed.
This couldn't be going any better. I'm so pleased that not even Cato and Clove both receiving tens can bring me down. Brooke and Lewis both receive nines. Not bad at all. That sly looking ginger girl gets a six. The kid Cato threatened, the boy from Six, gets a six as well. I guess Cato won't have too much trouble fulfilling that promise.
I don't notice any of the others until we get to District Eleven. The little girl, whose name is revealed to be Rue, gets a seven. Have to admit, I didn't see that one coming, although she did show she's not sniveling coward by messing with Cato. Thresh gets a ten, no surprise there.
"Next, Peeta, from District Twelve, with a score of…eight," says Caesar.
So that's his name. Peeta. He looked strong when he threw that weight. That was probably enough to get him that score, unless he's got something up his sleeve like Katniss.
"And last, Katniss, from District Twelve, with a score of...eleven."
Damn…and I thought ten was a good score. Judging by Glimmer's face, the careers have a new number one target. If she thought this was a nasty surprise, just wait. The games haven't even started yet.
A/N: Our hero has found an ally, but how long can it last with the Careers out for blood? A special thanks to all my readers, especially those who review. As always, all reviews, follows and favorites are greatly appreciated.