Chapter 4 - The Private Training Scores

The next two days flew by. Karis and I practiced spearing, dodging blows, climbing, snaring, and throwing knives together and individually. We mingled with some of the other tributes too, but never with the Careers. They always glared at us from a distance, and Karis's district partner even had the audacity to "accidentally" poke Karis in the arm with a knife. Luckily, the Gamemakers and trainers made sure to separate Karis and the Careers and were watching them like hawks. The District 2 boy had been sent away for the afternoon, which had made us smile.

Before I knew it, it was the morning for the private training sessions. Felix and I scarfed down breakfast and practically flew back to our rooms to get ready. My hands shook as I pulled on my training clothes and pulled my hair into a ponytail. I paced my room nervously, and was practically bouncing off the walls by the time my Avox came to fetch me for the private sessions.

We silently stepped into the elevator and my strategy for my private session ran through my head.

'Show off your axe-throwing. Let the Gamemakers know you have a great shot.'

'Do some climbing. Maybe throw an axe from a tree, to show them that you can throw from anywhere and still hit the target.'

'Do some sword-fighting and knife-throwing. Show them that you're not experienced with axes.'

The elevator made a 'Ding!' and the Avox signaled that I was here. I took a deep breath and stepped out.

Felix, Karis, and some of the other tributes stood there. Some were talking and laughing casually, others trembled and paced nervously.

I walked over to Felix and stood stiffly behind him. He turned around and curled his lip distastefully, his glare shooting me down. Instead of wallowing, I stood up straighter and growled a little. This stupid boy who had tried to beat me up should know his place.

They began to call in tributes. Ripper, the District 1 boy, went first. He exited with a victorious look on his face. Next, they called in the girl from District 1, Faith.

Then went District 2. The boy, whose name I discovered was Lander, and Karis walked in. Karis walked out smiling, and threw a grin in my direction. "Good luck," she mouthed to me. I nodded and gave her a small wave. I hoped she got a high score.

Then went 3, 4, 5, and 6 until finally it was our turn. District 7. Felix's name was called and right before he went in, he turned to me and said one thing.

"It doesn't matter who gets in my way, Mills, but you're my kill."

He said it with such venom and malice that I shook a little, but stood up straighter and shouted, "Only if you can survive the bloodbath, Jameson. Which I'm pretty sure you won't. After all, you're not clever or strong. Just full of hatred." I smirked.

He lunged towards me and I ducked out of his way, smiling.

"You should really get to your private session. You're wasting your own time, and after all, we'll have plenty of time for fighting in the Arena."

He stalked into the Training Center.

I blew out a breath. My hands were shaking. Felix had just told me that he was going to kill me. This boy, who, while not clever, was pretty strong. And he had volunteered for his brother, which was sure to capture the nation's attention. It was definitely going to gain him sponsors. Could I really compete with that?

I shook my head. Now was not the time to dwell on those things. I had to focus on my skills and get ready to perform. Besides, Felix was not my friend. He was my foe. He had gone from feuding District boy to one of my worst nightmares. And he had been my first kiss. And now, he was out for blood.

Five minutes later, Felix walked out with his head held high. He barely glanced at me as he stalked by, but right when he was next to me, he kicked me in the shin. Hard.

I let out a soft yelp. My blood boiled. That idiot would pay.

I practically charged into the Training Center, steam practically pouring out of my ears. I was furious, and my anger would be taken out here. I walked up to the Gamemaker balcony.

"Asher Mills. 15. District 7."

The Head Gamemaker of this year, Gloria Silling, nodded subtly towards me. I breathed in. It was time to begin.

I headed straight for the axe station. Looking over the various types of them, I picked up two similar-looking ones: silvery, curved blades sharp enough to take off a head with a single swipe.

I lifted them and walked over to where four dummies stood in a circle. I jumped into the circle and raised my axes above my head.

Then I flew. I jumped and ran and spun, and in seconds, all four dummies were headless, armless, and were completely reduced to heaps of stuffing.

I nodded satisfactorily. Then I ran towards the trees.

Using my axes to pull myself up, I began to scale the tallest one. I hopped onto a sturdy branch and aimed my axes at the dummies below.

Then I threw. Both axes lodged themselves in two different dummies, making a heavy 'thud'. Stuffing fell to the ground as a quickly climbed down.

Then I moved on to the sword fighting. I picked up a heavy sword and began to dance around a dummy, making my moves precise and quick. Finally, I stabbed the sword into the target on the dummy's heart.

Perfect.

I ran over to the knife-throwing station, knowing the clock was ticking. I grabbed two throwing knives and ran over to the dummies, clutching the hilts of the knives in my sweaty palms.

I positioned my arm and threw. One landed in the dummy's shoulder, the other in its stomach.

I wiped my palms on my training uniform and looked up at the Gamemakers. They were nodding approvingly, the expressions on their faces telling me that they were impressed.

Gloria spoke up. "Well done, Asher Mills. Thank you for your lovely performance today, and we wish you luck in the Arena."

I bowed my head and exited the Center, skipping happily. I had excelled with my axes, done well with sword fighting, and had been decent with the knives. My climbing had impressed them too. I exhaled. Tonight they'd announce the training scores.

The rest of the day went by quickly. I lounged in my room and tried to sleep, but I couldn't. I knew that the interviews were tomorrow, and I was nervous.

I made small talk with my stylists and prep team, and Geisha told me about my outfit for tomorrow. A gauzy, green gown that was printed to give an illusion of leaves. A crown in my hair, made of real tree bark. My wispy brown hair swept up in my signature high ponytail. I smiled as she described it to me. It sounded beautiful.

Then it was time to announce the scores. Nervously, I went up to the television and turned it on. The Games announcer, Tawny Hexor, was with the interviewer who would conduct our interviews the next night, Casser Chandria. They smiled and held up the sheet in their hands.

"Ready to read the tributes' scores, Tawny?" Casser joked, trying to ease the tension.

"Perfectly ready, Casser!" Replied Tawny cheerily. She held up her sheet.

"Let's begin with the scores of District 1 kids! From Ripper Vinard… a 10! And Faith Mortemer gets…. a 9! Congratulations District 1!"

I heard cheers outside, from the Capitol citizens.

Casser spoke up next. "And now, for the District 2 scores! From Lander Kavis, a 10! And from Karis Montfort, a 10! Spectacular!"

I sighed in relief. Karis got a 10. She was really good, and she'd get through the bloodbath, I was sure of it.

The scoring kept going on and on. Cordin Smith got a 5, and Sasha Rhine got an 8. I wondered how she had done so well.

The 4 kids were up next. Allan Viper and Charlotte Parks both got 8s.

The boy from 5, Viktor Murr, got a pathetic 3, the poor kid. The girl, Jessica Lerva, got a 10, which was rare from District 5.

6 was next. Darren Hills, the small boy, got a 4, and the girl, Ciara Morris, got a 5.

Finally, it was time for our scores to be announced.

"Now, time for 7!" Casser announced. "From Felix Jameson, an 8!" Garrett got up and clapped Felix on the back, who looked pleased with his high score.

"And for Asher Mills… an 11!"

It took a moment for my score to register. An 11? How was this even possible? I was expecting, at best, a 9 maybe! But an 11! I grinned. This was great! Better than great, it was wonderful! Geisha clapped for me, and Maia beamed proudly.

The 8 kids were up next. Brendan Corwin, the boy, got a 7, and the girl got a 6.

9's tributes, Ian Stork and Maria Lancer both got 5's.

The 10 kids were announced. The boy, Roran Cooper, got a 9, which was very impressive. Mary-Grace Hodnett received a 5.

Leila Shard and Andrew Larr, the tributes from 11, both got 3's, the poor kids.

The Twelve tributes were last. Jack Shan got a 7, and Shing Curren got a 6. It was decent, for kids from Twelve.

Finally, it was time for bed. I hopped in and nervously laid awake in my bed. The Games began in two days. Two days until certain death. Two days until I'd have to witness others die.

Just two days.

I shook off the thought. Nervousness wouldn't do me any good. I had to stay strong. I was a fighter. My father had used to call me his "little fighter" when I was younger. It had made me laugh then. But now, it gave me something to hang onto.

I fell asleep dreaming of my father.