Training Scores Reveal
Malikah Goths, 16, District 3
"Why are you so happy about a four?"
"Why wouldn't I be happy about a four?" I responded, to my mentor, L.C. who was apparently less than satisfied with my score.
L.C. sighed heavily, "I was hoping for at least a five, like Pascal. If I'm going to rally your sponsors, it's going to be a hard sell with a four. A four in their minds equals a Bloodbath tribute."
L.C.'s words did little to alter my current emotions. As far as I was concerned, my plan was working to perfection. The reason I wasn't disappointed with a four was because I had wanted a four. From what I had seen in the past games, sponsors, as beneficial as they were, would only get you so far. If I managed to undersell myself, especially to the other tributes, I knew I fared a better chance in the arena.
"You're throwing it." Pascal finally said, flatly.
I had done my best to keep my strategy under wraps, but I had a sinking feeling my district partner, Pascal was on to me. He was far to observant and intelligent to not be suspicious.
I frowned, as I shook my head, attempting him not continue, "I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"You could do better than a four. I watched you during training. You and Khara made an entire elaborate plan for your private session. The only logical explanation is that you purposefully did not do you best..." he trailed off.
So apparently, Pascal was worse at picking up on social cues than I had thought.
"Is he right?" L.C. asked, her jaw clenching as she did so, arms folding in that oh-so-judgmental manner, "Did you throw it? I want you to be honest, Malikah. I can't help you if you aren't open with me."
"I think Pascal is mistaken. I think he tends to over-analyze things. Of course I did my best," I responded with the most genuine smile that could fool just about anyone. It was a trick I realized was even more effective in the Capitol.
Pascal's head snapped to look at me, "No. I'm not mistaken. I'm right but I do not understand why you are lying. Playing weak a smart strategy."
I sighed. He clearly wasn't going to let up and I supposed if I were to reveal my plan to anyone, it should be L.C. and Pascal. Pascal, while incredibly intelligent, could be susceptible to my manipulation later on and if this is what it took to build trust with him, then perhaps this could be an opportunity. "Fine. I did throw my training session and your right, it is part of my plan," I admitted, slowly, "But you cannot tell anyone, Pascal, and that includes Khara and Winston, understood?"
"Okay," Pascal replied simply, his mind already returning back to the training scores playing on the screen. After our scores had been revealed I had lost interest, training scores, like sponsors meant very little. Just as I had skewed my training score, I knew the Capitol tended to score those from districts 1,2, and 4, higher simply due to their loyalty during the war and who knows, perhaps some other tributes were mirroring my own strategy.
No matter what the Capitol claimed, everything leading up to the Games was frivolous. All that truly matters is what goes on during the Games, in the arena, because that is when life and death really comes into play. Despite their attempts to control every aspect the Games, at the end of the day, what I decide will be my choices.
The reason why the Capitol watches the Hunger Games is because it's real. It's a really just change from their typical scripted entertainment and endless Pro-Capitol propaganda.
There are no second chances for tributes and that is what makes the Games interesting.
Corinne Orchid, 12, District 11
"Why on Earth are you taking notes?" Creed asked with a frown, "You know we'll get pamphlets will all this information tomorrow, right?"
"My mother always told me that you remember things better if you write them down," I replied with a slight smile as I scribbled down the girl from 9's score, which had just been announced as 8 by Kastor Clemmons.
Metallics seemed to be in fashion in the Capitol, seeing as Kastor had gold hair, a silver suit, and a ridiculous amount of bronzer applied to the point where it was borderline offensive. He looked more robotic than human.
I never understood fashion back home, much less at the Capitol. I was lucky if my older sister, Layana, had grown out of her clothes and I received a new hand-me-down. I didn't mind hand-me-downs at all. I was one of the lucky ones back in district 11, seeing as my family was able to afford 3 meals a day for all four of us.
"That's funny, my mother used to tell me the same thing," Sirco chimed in, with a sheepish grin, "although I never really took to writing things down. I much prefer using Capitol Tech."
"Well, not all of us are victors who can afford Capitol Tech," I added, with a teasing grin. At 17, Sirco was too much older than me and we had gotten along surprisingly well. I had never rooted for a tribute as hard as I did for Sirco, last year. There was something about an underdog like him winning that put the Hunger Games into perspective.
He also was the same age as my sister, who he apparently had gone to school with. It was a small connection and I would have imagined that Layana would have bragged about it non-stop if she had made the connection herself. If I made it back, I would definitely have to tell her...in hindsight, if I made it back, then the fact she went to school with a Victor would be irrelevant. She would be sisters with a victor and I wouldn't mind her bragging at all- I'd probably partake in some of that myself.
Before Sirco, district 11 had no victors and I couldn't help but feel that having a mentor who had won the games was an extreme benefit. Sirco had gone through all of this just last year and seemed to really want the best for Creed and I.
I worried how I fared in these games. I couldn't image that my training score was to be too high. Raft had scored a 6, which wasn't too bad and I could only hope that I didn't do too much worse. As for my other ally, Janelle, I had a feeling she had done well for herself. Everything about Janelle was unexpected and I loved that about her.
While I had allied myself with both Raft and Janelle, I found myself truly drawn to Janelle. She had been the first person to seriously approach me during training and didn't completely dismiss me due to my age. We had only known each other a couple days but I already found myself calling her a friend. I would also be lying if I said I didn't have the ever slightest crush on her.
My mind couldn't comprehend that at the very least, one of us wouldn't make it out alive. As much as I knew I had to win, I hoped that if it wasn't me, Janelle or Raft would be crowned victors.
It was a strange coincidence that both Creed and I ended up working with the pair of twelve, but separately. It wasn't new for the tributes from Districts 11 and 12 to ally, but it usually never happened quite like this. I suppose something about having more shared life experiences attracted us to one another. We were equals.
As I looked at the TV waiting for Kastor to reveal my score, I bit my lip nervously.
"And with a score of 5, we have Miss Corinne Orchid of district 11 and with a score of 9, Mr. Creed Alfond of the same district," Kastor finally announced.
My eyes along with Sirco's went directly to Creed, "You got 9!" I exclaimed, truly happy for him, my score suddenly feeling irrelevant, "That's really wonderful! Congrats, Creed."
Creed seemed to want to make eye contact with either of us and shrugged, "Thanks..."
"Hey, 5's not a bad score either, Corinne," Sirco added, "Two people scored lower than you and you tied with two other people, so I'm proud of the both of you."
"Thanks, Sirco, that means a lot," I grinned.
His faith did mean a lot.
The strange thing about this situation was that the longer I spent here, the more I saw the kindness and goodness in people. It strange to think that there could be such a light in dark times.
Hope was important and hope was powerful- perhaps powerful enough for me to pull out a win.
a/n: Sorry, it's taken me so long. Also, this is unedited to all mistakes are mine. I just really wanted to get this chapter out XD Now that school is back in swing, updates will be more sporadic, but I hope you enjoyed this chapter none the less! Updates will take a little more time, but I promise I am in no way giving up on this story at all. Life just gets busy sometimes, as I'm sure you all know :D Question time!:
1. What did you think of Malikah?
2. What did you think of Corinne?
3. What do you think of the training scores below?
Tribute List
District One:
Male: Valour Porter: 9
Female: Gemma Merlot: 9
District Two:
Male: Dillon Ricci: 11
Female: Brigid Cearra: 6
District Three:
Male: Pascal Townsend: 5
Female: Malikah Goths: 4
District Four:
Male: Nemo "Kraken" Warnock: 10
Female: Azura Kayle: 7
District Five:
Male: Atom Beaker: 9
Female: Davina Gage: 7
District Six:
Male: Raft Spence: 6
Female: Cassie Long: 6
District Seven:
Male: Kent Timberland: 10
Female: Sloane Lovette: 6
District Eight:
Male: Tennor Blankette: 5
Female: Lisle Ellis: 7
District Nine:
Male: Winston Grainelle: 4
Female: Khara Byron: 8
District Ten:
Male: Dakota Branson: 6
Female: Aisling Shepherd: 7
District Eleven:
Male: Creed Alfond: 9
Female: Corinne Orchid: 5
District Twelve:
Male: Darryll Rimmond: 8
Female: Janelle Ashton: 6
See you next chapter! - Cass