Today is training day. I need allies. But then again, when I was six, someone won by hiding in a tree, drinking the water from inside it eating the fruit of it and throwing rocks at the birds and cooking them in the sun.
Fia knocks on my door, followed by an Avox boy, who is carrying a plate of toast. He lays it on the table, and looks at me. I give a slight nod silently saying thanks.
"You missed breakfast by a half hour. It's okay though; we were up to gone midnight last night. Pixi and your other mentor Etan will be discussing tactics. Eat up. Come down when you are ready."
I eat my food and dress in a simple white blouse and black skirt.
I walk down the stairs, scraping my hair back in a ponytail as I do. I see Fia, Pixi, Carmen, Maple, Sam, Lu and Dream (his stylists) and another man who must me Etan.
I seat myself next to him. He cracks down to business right away.
"Ok. Any special abilities?" He asks.
"I know my way around a slingshot, and I have a very good throwing aim." Sam says smugly.
"Good. And you, Flimmer?"
"It's Flicker. And I can throw a spear well, and knives, I use them at short distance. I'm also fast." I say, looking down.
"Ok. Any mental skills I can take note of?"
"I know the rough time of day without a clock" says Sam.
"I'm smart. I can tell everyone's weaknesses. I can also set traps."
IOI
The Training area is huge! Areas with targets, areas with knives, spears and any type of weapon imaginable. There are also places were you can practice knots, building fires, even identifying plants and animals. I quickly spot Enya at the spear station.
She throws rather crookedly. Her arms are too stiff and her eyes focused on the wrong point.
"Hey," I greet.
"Hi. How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough to figure out how to help you. Loosen your arm a little. Focus your eyes precisely on the target. Breath in. Aim. Breath out. Release."
She tries again, twice.
"I'm not very good at this, am I? I'm waiting for the girl from 10 to move from animal identifiers."
"There's your chance."
She runs over to the station as I pick up the spears.
I stance myself, arms loose, but strong, legs spread shoulder length apart, leaning my weight on one knee. Breath in. Aim. Breath out. Throw. The silver spear hits the human shaped target in the chest. I throw another and another. They land in the wooden head and stomach.
As I turn to leave, I notice the tributes from 1 and 2 are surrounding me.
"That was some nice throwing." Say the boy from two, Mason.
"You're so tiny, but you're so good." Says Pearl.
"Well I have to be. You know, because we are going in an arena to fight to the death sooner or later. I can't go in without flashing my skill to the Gamemakers, can I?"
"S'pose not." Says Paris.
I begin to walk away, to the trap station. I set every trap with ease.
"There's more advanced traps over there, you know." Says the bot from 11.
I follow his point and set these traps aswell. Harder yes. Easy still. Yes.
OooO
At lunch, I sit at a table alone, eating my stew. The Careers, Pearl, Paris, Mason, Valerie and the District 4s, Sirena and Finn, all come and sit around me.
"We could use you in our group." Says Valerie.
I nod my head slowly.
IOI
My name is called. I walk into the room for my private session.
"Flicker Aura, District 5." I say.
The Gamemakers nod expectantly.
I walk over to the spears. They gasp; they didn't expect the littlest to do this now, did they?
I aim my throw at a still target. Throw. It lands, and points through the other side. I throw another at a moving target. It still landed perfectly. I throw a final spear at a hidden target, before moving on to knives. They feel familiar; the same sort I use at home.
Each knife sticks out of the target. I look over to the Gamemakers, who are gazing at my work.
"Flicker Aura. District 5."
"Dismissed" says one of the Gamemakers.
I walk out grinning.
IOI
We all sit around the screen. They'll show our scores now.
PEARL-9
PARIS-10
VALERIE-8
MASON-9
ENYA-6
BOLT-6
SIRENA-7
FINN-8
FLICKER-10
SAM-7
Everyone except Sam slaps my back. He scowls at me.
PIPPA-4
TRIM-8
EVE-8
OAK-10
BOBBI-4
CREASE-9
BAYLEE-6
RYE-6
RHONA-7
BUCKLEY-9
WILLOW-6
BLAKE-5
CHERISH-2
MARLIN-6
IOI
Ten! I scored 10! That's higher that some of the Careers! 12 aren't doing so good this year.
This is my second chance of sponsors. Tomorrow is my last impression. My interview with Caesar Flickerman.
The Avox takes me to bed that night. I want to hug her. I can't. Instead, I say, "Thank you. Is there anything I can-"
She stops me by tapping my bottom lip. She then opens her mouth and I see the hollow where her tongue used to be. I understand her message and nod.
She exits the room as I slip into silent slumber.