…
I know we've got it good
But they've got it made
And the grass is getting greener each day
I know things are looking up, but soon they'll take us down
Before anybody's knowing our name
…
Rendwick Ambrosia
Where am I? I wonder, glancing around. Tall dark walls enclose me into a room. The ceiling is so high that I can barely see it. I try to move, but my arms and legs are restricted. Is this the Capitol's way of punishing me for something? I didn't do anything bad!
A high-pitched scream comes from above. I look up at the ceiling to see a small figure coming towards me. A mass of blonde hair rushes downwards. As the figure grows closer, the scream continues louder. I make out a flash of blue cloth with white lace. It looks vaguely like the dress Alice wore to the reaping just a few days ago. That's when it dawns on me- this is Alice.
"ALICE!" I cry, sprinting underneath the falling girl. I wait for impact, but it never comes. I look up, startled to see her with strings attached to her joints that latch onto the ceiling. Her scream stops short as she remains suspended.
"Alice." This time my voice is no more than a muffled plea. "What's happened to you?"
"You're a puppet Rendwick. You're stuck, floating, waiting for the unevitable- death. You will die Rendwick. You're lying to yourself if you say that you won't. Because the Capitol controls your strings and they want a victor. You are nothing but a self-centered coward, Rendwick."
"Alice, I… I thought you-"
"Aww, poor wittle Wendwick! You thought I loved you too? Please, I just hung out with you to get closer to your brothers. It's too bad their 'good-looks' wasn't passed on to you." She scoffs.
"Mister Rendwick! My dear boy, wakey-wakey!" I jolt up. My escort is at the door in my room, not the one in my nightmare.
"Wha-?"
"Training's today, son! Bright 'n early!" he calls. I moan and get up.
…
Two hours later I'm standing with Frankie. Her hair's tied into a straight blonde ponytail.
"Can you do it?" She grumbles.
"Why me?" I ask.
"Because, I picked him out!"
"Fine. But it isn't my fault if he says 'No!' I told you that I'm not good with people!" I crack a small grin.
"Liar! You asked me be your ally and I didn't think twice!" She laughs, playfully punching my shoulder. I smile to her, and walk over to the boy from Six. He's at the weight station. For his slim figure he can throw them surprisingly far.
When I stand in front of him I say, "Hi. Um, I'm Rendwick. My ally Frankie and I were watching you throw weights. You're really good,"
"Uh, thanks! I'm Konan Phillian." He says. I notice his shoulders are set at an angle that makes him appear relaxed.
"Frankie and I aren't the strongest of tributes, and we think that it's a necessity in the arena, so we were wondering if you'd like to join forces with us. You know, be allies?" I let out a breath.
"No pressure or anything, but what do you have that I don't?" Konan says curiously.
"District Three's known for its wits. We both have high intelligence levels. I know how to make poison out of just about anything and Frankie's strong emotionally. We're both determined to win and if we can't claim the victory ourselves we'd give it to our allies,"
"Sounds good- I'm in." Konan smiles genuinely.
"Really?"
"Yeah. It didn't really matter what you told me you and Frankie were good at, I was just curious."
I lead Konan to Frankie. I introduce them to one another and we begin making a strategy. Our alliance looks strong- Alice, I'll be home before you know it.
Lillith Gold
"Okay, so we need a strategy in the arena," Sanus tells the Careers and me.
"Yeah… so?" I say slowly.
"We need one or else we'll all be lost out there. I need some ideas. You guys need to think,"
"- and isn't that your job, 'Mister-Career-Leader' or are you willing to step down already?" I smile at him.
"Since when is that my job? I don't have to do anything!"
"So you expect to sit back and relax while we do all the dirty work? You aren't fooling anyone, idiot," Glass glares at him
"We have to do it, or else he'll CHOPoff our heads!" Canzi cackles. When we all give her a funny look she adds, "I was just playing around… sheesh," Then she turns to glare at Sanus.
"Fine. Whatever. You guys can frolic around while I'm stuck thinking about a strategy," Sanus says sarcastically.
"Works for me!" Skye grins, then skips away. The rest of us follow suit.
"What's stuck up his butt!?" I say when we're out of earshot.
"Seriously. What a kill-joy," Glass sneers. His muscles twitch. I stare at them, then step a little closer. He looks at me uncomfortably for a moment, but in a flash it's gone. I put my mouth up to his ear.
"Are your pants on discount?"
"Um. No, why?" Glass asks out loud.
"'Cause if we were in my room they'd be 100 percent off," I whisper.
Glass laughs. I see Skye give me a long look of something I can't process. Before anyone can say anything else Sceptor asks, "What should we do now?"
"I don't know. Maybe we should divide and conquer… in pairs!" I suggest. "Everyone choose a partner!"
Skye looks at Glass slowly, but her eyes dart away when he asks me to be his partner. Now I know what that look was- jealousy. Honey, if you think I'm going to stop because you throw me dirty looks, you better get ready for a reality check. He's mine. But I won't stop there- I'll crush any hope of a romance in these Games because these little boys are for me.I give her a 'sincere' smile and link arms with Glass, strutting to the spear area.
"So, what's your specialty?" I smile at him.
"Spears, what about you?"
"I like sickles… dangerous… and sexy."
Glass mumbles something softly to himself with a smirk plastered on his face. He thinks I didn't hear him… but I did! He said two simple words. They seem like nothing. An airy compliment, I suppose. But to me it tells me that my job here is done.
Glass had whispered, "Like you."
Ash Sphere
Morgan Adams from District Six and I are allies. We found each other at the weaponry. Neither of us are too skillful with anything, but we still have a fighting chance at this. Right now, Morgan and I have headed back to the weaponry. The Careers lurk there, staring at us like prey, but Morgan and I both know that they aren't the only predators.
I grab a pair of axes. Swords are my best weapons, but I have decided to try out everything else in case that's all I have in the arena. Morgan is doing the same thing. He takes a bow and five arrows, while his main weapon is a dagger.
I chuck my first axe at the target. I smile slightly when I see that the blade has stuck into the surface. I see next that it's about a foot from the target. I hear laughter from the Careers, but it doesn't faze me. I throw my next axe and it lands (and sticks) only a few inches from the bull's-eye. I smirk. The Careers don't stop giggling though.
Next, Morgan goes, shooting an arrow that hits the wall beside the target- giving the Careers more entertainment- and then hitting just three inches below it. I give him a high five with a giant grin on my face.
Seconds later, it vanishes, when I see the Girl from Four and her District partner Sanus strutting over to us.
The girl grabs axes-like me and the boy grabs a bow and a set of arrows- like Morgan. My face turns to stone, my body raging with hate. The girl, who I realize is named Lillith walks feet away from me. She turns to give me a smirk, then fires the axe at the target. It hits the bull's-eye at a wicked speed.
Lillith flips her hair behind her ear, then throws the other axe at a different target that's set up even farther away from us. She hits the bull's-eye, yet again. The girl smiles at me and walks over to the other Careers, who glare at us. Lillith walks straight up to the boy from One, who smacks her butt. The girl from One looks like daggers are about to come out of her eyes.
Sanus takes the elegant bow. He flings and arrow way across the room. It nails the bull's-eye, like expected. The next four arrows follow suit. I don't know why Morgan and I stay to watch them mock us, but we do.
As we're leaving to go to another station I see Lillith fly away from Glass, only to jump in the air and cling to Sanus. Hurt flashes across Glass's face, but then it disappears when the girl returns.
Aiden Jones
Today I've had to leave Autumn. We and I have both found separate allies to be with in the Games. But we agreed that if we found each other in trouble we'd help each other no matter what. My allies are Calico, er Cali as she likes to be called and Lani.
Autumn is with Cassandra from District Six. They seem to be doing well over at the knots station.
Now it's lunchtime. This can be outstandingly embarrassing, alright, or if you're a Career- intimidation time.
I huff a small sigh and step into the steel room. A long metal table with uncomfortable stools are the only pieces of furniture in the room. An avox stands in each corner. Heaps of food on perfect white plates line the edge of the table. Lani, Cali and I all sit next to each other, with Lani in the middle.
For some reason it looks like the Careers have split up for lunch, divide and conquer I guess. A girl named Canzi sits across from us tapping her foot wildly underneath the table. Her nose twitches ever so slightly.
Across from Cali is Nina Rane of District Seven. She digs into her food immediately, while talking with her ally and District partner Evan Keers. I scan each tribute, saying their names in my head. I've memorized everyone's reaping. Everything. From their facial expressions to family members in the crowd.
I suppose while the Careers and most other tributes are physically preparing, I've been mentally preparing. That includes turning the furnace and air conditioner on extreme temperatures at night- which drives my escort mad- watching previous Hunger Games, and studying each tribute. That's probably the hardest because some people are suprising. Sometimes people can deceive even themselves.
Like the boy from Eight, Raiden Brown. He's managed to convince himself that he was framed for the murder at his school. There are security camera's that say otherwise. Another example is the poor Girl from Four- Lillith. She hides behind a thick layer of slut. Underneath she undoubtedly has a reason to act that way. I don't know why though.
After lunch is done we go back to the training center. Today is our last day to practice- tomorrow's the private sessions!
…
I know we've got it good
But they've got it made
And the grass is getting greener each day
I know things are looking up, but soon they'll take us down
Before anybody's knowing our name
…
Sorry for the wait. I've had busy week [blah, blah, blah excuses, excuses]! But, seriously, I don't think I'll be able to update on weekdays since I have school, then homework & volleyball and my parents don't love it when I'm on my laptop… so I'm trying to update quickly, but it might not happen!
HEY YOU! CHECK THIS STORY'S PROGRESS (as in when the new chapter should be up, who has a POV, how far I've gotten etc.) ON MY PROFILE!
What's that? A hat! A crazy funky junky hat! Overslept. Hair unslightly. Tryn' look like Kyra Knightly! We've been there- we've done that! We see right through your funky hat! –Wizards of Waverly Place.
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