Training Day 3: Teen Angst
Teen Angst by M83
The more we learn
The more we cry
How fast we burn
How fast we die…
Note: Sorry for the unannounced leave from FF. I needed to get some things sorted out and clear my mind. I've been writing bits and parts for upcoming chapters so I'm kinda ahead of updates :/ I will finish this SYOT!
Training Area
Coyote "Coy" Coy (15) Past District 10 Male of the 8th Games
"I have everyone gathered here today to make a few announcements." The plain dressed trainer stands on a pedestal and directs our attention to the large screen behind her. "The Games' are special this year, not only with the Quell twist, but in the Arenas' themselves."
A whirlwind of hushed whispers and cries erupts from the crowd of teenagers awaiting their fate.
"With the skills and cooperation during your team building activities over the past couple days, you will put your trust in one another to the test." She clicks a button on her device and various images of dark hallways and strange rooms lit up. "Each Arena has their own perks, their own scares, and ultimately death scenarios."
My eyes waver as the screen delves into the depths of one building, a virtual tour of long cooridors shown. "Tributes will not be premitted to kill one another, the Arena will dwindle down the participants quite easily based on your decisions." The trainers snicker, my blood boils as my fists clench at my sides.
"Notes from the Gamemakers will be scattered throughout the areas and/or announcements will be made. Any questions so far?" The trainer's eyebrows rise as she scans the crowd of dumbstruck teens.
Silence.
"Cool. One more thing to mention, there will be a period of time where an announcement will be made to inform surviving tributes of nighttime approaching. Failing to follow the announcement's instructions will lead to being locked outside of your resting chambers and having to fight off mutts during the 'dark hours'."
A chill runs up my spine and I shiver, the thought of mutts leading to demise sends a rush of fear throught my body. I raise my hand. "What's the point of this?! Why not just stick us outdoors like you've always done! Why the change!" My body goes rigid, my brain racing with so many memories of the past. I feel my body tremble.
"It's the 4th Quarter Quell, Coy. It has to be different from what we've done before." The trainer scans the room. "I need everyone to line up by District. We will be escorting you all to the waiting area."
District One heads to the front of the line, while District Twelve makes their way to the end. Everyone else just sorta fits in between the two polar opposite Districts and the trainers lead us to a medium sized room. The room feels stuffy and uncomfortable as we seem closer together than usual. I can feel District Two's eyes scanning me, taking note of my small build and lack of muscle.
I sigh and take my place in the corner of the room, finding that a lot of the tributes are conversing with their District partners or their Arena teammates. None of the conversations seem genuine and most seem like small talk. I don't care to eavesdrop onto any, I don't care to join the third group.
I just want to get this over with…
Waiting Area
Track Williams (16) Past District 6 Male of the 86th Games
"You know, I can communicate with animals. I'm like the freakin' animal whisperer." I let my words sink into their heads. "How do you think I survived the mutt rampage in my first Games, you know what I'm saying." I cock an eyebrow and raise my cup.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Trolley raises her voice, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Track…"
"It's true!" I throw my arms at my sides, leaning forward slightly. "I can talk to them!"
"I don't think so…" Mercy murmurs, turning her head away.
"I can!" My eyes dart around the room to find some sort of animal or insect life. The room is completely filled with homo sapien life. Damn.
"Just focus on your session, Track." Coy chirps from the corner of the room. He nods his head assuringingly and returns his focus to District Eleven.
"Boo…" I find an empty seat and slump myself into it, my body slipping downward. "No one ever believes me…" I rest my palms on my cheeks and exhale frustratingly.
"I need District Six tributes." The trainer's voice calls from down the ajar door. I assume she's far down the hallway as Trolley, Andra, and I walk down a very narrow, dark cooridor. It smells of sweat and body odor, it takes everything I have not to cover my nose.
"First will be Track, then Trolley, and last is Andra." The trainer escorts me into the massive area that has every weapon imaginable inside. My eyes wander to the balcony as three adults stare down at me, cold stares sketched into their features.
I can't help and whimper as I stand squarely in the middle of the platform.
"State your name and District." The man calls, his brown eyes casted down at me.
"I'm Track Williams from District Six."
"You have ten minutes to showcase your survival and fighting abilities starting… now."
I run to the sword station and try my hand at the variety of weapons there. It doesn't prove efficient as my swipes and stabs at dummies lack the pizazz to woe the Gamemakers. I run over to the small weaponry station and perform a bit better there.
Just as I head for the obstacle course my timer runs out. "Thank you, Track." I lower my head ashamed as the trainer escorts me out of the room, lightly patting my back.
"Look, kid. After your sessions, you're allowed in the Recreation Cent-"
"OH MY GOSH, REALLY?!" My sadness immediately vanishes as the thought of the arcade calls my name. Sweet, sweet pastries at my fingertips and Avoxes doing my every whim.
"Yes…" She steps aside as I dash across the street, ignoring the Capitolites as they point and wave. The sweet scent of food and sounds of gaming bring a toothy smile to life.
One of the many reasons I'm glad to be back…
Gamemakers' Meeting Room
Ky Orion (22) Gamemaker
"Simple. I know many of the tributes have no connections to loved ones now. I understand that, but how could I make this twist live up to its potential? Well, by the team-building activities! By having tributes work together and learn more about their competitors, you create bonds. Bonds that aren't so easily broken," Icelynne smirks, her blue eyes sparkling under bright streams of light from the series of windows beside us. "Plus they need to work together to get through the different areas, we can't have a bunch of detached individuals giving up mid way through the Games! I also gave Seraphina the idea for the special reward this year."
I simply nod and continue down the hallway into the notorious room where all of our operations take place. I throw the mutt designs on the table, done with staring into souls of demons, at least for now. "Where's everyone else?"
She turns back, surprised. "Don't you remember? Lucina and Hunter are observing training sessions and Mimzi and Caleb are working in the Arenas." There's a certain dread in Icelynne's eyes, I'm not sure if it's from the lack of sleep… or… eh. Better not ask.
"You're awfully quiet." Her eyebrows rise and she sits on the top of the table, her pale legs hanging off from the edge of the counter. "It's just the two of us~…"
Icelynne pulls me toward her, my heart begins to race as she kisses my cheek. "Something wrong?"
I clear my throat. "No… no." I wrap my arms around her, letting the fresh strawberry scent consume me. She laughs as we stay like this, embracing one another as the sun just outside the window falls below the horizon. Pastel colors light the room and it almost feels like this is from a movie.
"You've got everything ready?"
"Yeah."
"I've gotta go. I'll see you later?" She untangles herself from me and walks over to the door. She turns back and smiles, her eyes closed and her hand waving at me.
The door closes behind her and I collapse into a chair, my body exhausted. I stayed up all night finishing up the mutts for the engineers and I feel myself nodding off. I grab an empty glass just inches away and chug the contents of it. Room temperature water runs down my parched throat and replenishes some lost energy.
"Sir, is the designs ready." I jump a few centimeters from my chair as I find a scrawny young man at the entrance of the doorway. "Didn't mean to wake you-"
"It's fine. The designs are here." I grab the stack of papers and straighten them out, handing them to the boy. "They're separated by stacks."
"Thank you." He scurries out of the room, shutting the door violently. The sound of the slam wakes me up and I stand back up, rubbing my face with my hands. "Uggghhh…"
I can't help and look back as I exit the room. The sun has now set and the moon shines brilliantly. The chairs and tables make shadows and shapes that send a chill down my spine. Ominous and sadistic, this room is.
A room that reeks of death and destruction.
A/N: Hiya! This is the final Training Day! Below are the scores received by the tributes! Please review what characters I need to show more of! Blog has been updated with alliances and scores. Poll up on profile: Bloodbath predictions. Interviews will be posted next!
Glint Gemstone: 10
Carmini "Carminha" Floyd: 7
Steele Lawrence: 8
Hero De'Rogue: 9
Azura Sparks: 10
Keither Masonfeld: 5
Macintosh "Mac" Wattson: 0
Rhea Katze: 6
Vetch Colhaine: 4
Eccentricity "Tricity" Elm: 11
Ashton Finnow: 8
Brielle Marina: 9
Joules Valence: 2
Mitzi Allardyce: 3
Faust Stark: 5
Maiandra "Andra" Goldenrod: 2
Track Williams: 4
Trolley Deckman: 7
Ember Oakland: 6
Kale Kolman: 7
Barkley Brimming: 6
Messiah "Alpha" Emerald: 9
Mercy Jade: 2
Mira Knitt: 5
Barrik Solstice: 8
Fenella Wren: 4
Charlotte "Chord" Whitestone: 4
Coyote "Coy" Coy: 5
Elmay "El" Risque: 4
Elijah "Eli" Sonenclar: 4
Valiant Yates: 9
Lilac Fields: 6
Yarrow Ashby: 5
Bram Riles: 4
Carella Bray: 5
Orion Hades: 5
Love Always, Domi