4th Chapter – Crossed the line
The morning after, we have breakfast in a deathly silence. I'd like to speculate that it's because of the assessement's nervousness or the upcoming Games. Actually I know for sure they're hungry with me, given my reckless behaviour. After the interview I definitely had the answer to what i was asking myself: yes, the backstage had cameras. I found that out too late.
" Ethan" I try to approach a conversation, but he gives me a bothered look.
" I'm sorry, now I think I know why District 6 has never had a winner"
" Keira, may I tell you something?" the beginning is not good at all, so I nod diffidently.
" this bad temper of yours is what will save your life in there.." his words leave me quite puzzled. I thought I was going to witness the worst preach of all times.
" but you said.."
" I know what I said, but someone ready for the Hunger Games is someone who follows his own mind and doesn't give a damn about what the others say." is he saying he texted me?
"well, my istinct has sucked until now." I've been doing nothing but getting myself into trouble constantly.
" let me be clear, I'm not telling you that you don't have to listen to me. I'm just saying that you've been foolish, reckless, determined and strong. And you should have made a good impression ,according to me".
"did you mean this, when you told me to scary them out?"
" not literally, I told you to intimidate them and you gashed a Victor, in a certain kind of way that could be a winning move, who knows.."
" I didn't hit the judges at least"
" yeah, so mind your attitude today, ok?"
" Andrew beats me 100-0 in public relations"
" that kid is formidable, he even managed to make a conversation with Gloss last more than five minutes"
"makes friends fast . He's a genius in that."
"You will have to select the right friendships, so be careful and watch out the people you sorround yourself with"
" Ethan, what is convenient for me to do today?" he ticks the foot on the ground and reflects.
" I know I'll probably regret this but, do as you feel" I smile knowingly and I go to Glenda to get my uniform.
I run into Peeta in the corridor,though. Oh God, wouldn't he want to preach me too, right?
" Keira"
" Ehi Peeta, are you going to Cinna?"
" yep, Katniss's already there.. look, I wanted to tell you something"
" do tell, then" I admit I'm kind of curious.
" don't trust Brutus and Enobaria, they won't be so scrupolous with Andrew, they're not that kind of people". I hope the warning comes from his umanity and not from something he heard.
" thank you, Peeta" I'm about to go, but he stops me again grabbing my arm.
" that arena, that arena marks you, it turns your world upside down, but it's not impossible. It's made of stone, earth, water.. we can make it." I smile at him cordially, if he wants to cheer me up, he's on the right way. Now I feel a little guilty for thinking he might have been a chore. He's a lovely person, it's normale that everyone likes him.
" have you always been a philosopher or do the Games inspire you?" he titters and adds one more thing.
" we'll be there, for Andrew and for you", gives me a slap on the shoulder and goes towards his dressing room.
This thing leaves me pleasently surprised, practically he told me they'll be our allies, which is appreciable, given that everyone's looking for Katniss's alliance. It's not a great advantage for them to choose us. Perhaps it's not that true that Hunger Games changes us, if you're warm-hearted, you'll carry on with that forever.
All Tributes are grouped in a room full of benches, as if we were waiting for a true selection. Tension is to be cut, despite the present people are all skilful, more or less, the assessment is very important. A moment after I sat down, I feel someone touching my shoulder. I turn around and see Mags looking at me with loving eyes, I give her a smile in return and leave her some space to sit down too; she makes me understand she already has a seat, so she caresses me and Andrew on the cheek and leaves.
My brother can't wait to go around the room but I hold him as much as I can. We're not at the summer camp, all the people here are potential killers, we must never forget this.
Johanna's in the only voice standing out from the silence. She's been doing nothing but being nervous,angry and irritated this whole time long .
Peeta and Katniss are holding hands for exorcising tension, Wires and Betee are quite motionless too, probably lost in some physical theorem. I try not to make eye contact with Finnick, I don't want anything else to happen before assessment. Like Ethan said, I have to behave. I glimpse him while he's talking to Mags, the cut on his cheek is not healed yet, and what's more he looks a bit tired. It would be wise enough to leave him alone.
As my turn comes by, the Gamemaker informs me I have handful minutes to show what I'm capable of. My brain mists in that situation., I'm not ready for that kind of reality, I'm not used to prove someone how good I am in killing someone. But appearently that's what they ask me. I dedicate myself in doing something with groves I learnt from Mags, and with a little intelligence it becomes a trap.
I need a volunteer to show how it works. I throw it on the ground as a failured experiment, I take a bow and point it out towards the judges. Luckily a peacemaker comes towards me and tries to disarm me, but falls right in the trap, which brings him up as a hooked fish. Perfect. A self satisfied smile appears on my face and I go off the big room without saying a word.
My brother comes out of nowhere about twenty minutes after.
" how did it go, honey?"
fine, I think. I played a little with plastic man and horrible paintings
" really? And with what?"
" I don't know, little iron balls. Plastic man sounded good as they were falling apart". I smile, proud of my marvel brother who's proving to be a rock. I let him sit next to me. Ethan arrives with a hasty and nervous pace to call me up.
" Keira, Gamemaker's looking for you" oh Damn it, it's like school, in the principle's office.
I go back in judgement's room as fast as I can and Plutarch is nervously walking up and down. All the guys are gathered there waiting. It's not going to be fine.
Ethan sets on the jamb of the door and holds Andrew, while Plutarch urges me to come closer with his hand.
" Miss Bradshow, an anomaly has been verified in the assessment room", he starts. He presses a button and suddenly my experiment is on air on the huge grey wall. I take a look to the others, they have impressed eyes and don't say anything, except Katniss, who winks at me.
" might this be a lesson for all of you. It won't bring you anything good". I start feeling twinges in my stomach, a punishment is coming, but I really hope it won't involve Andrew.
" do you recognize that what you did put our safety in danger and you in a difficoult position?" his tone is filled with rage.
" Sir, respectfully talking. No one put your safety in danger, that was a simple expedient to obtain a volunteer."
" your method was not appropriated" it can be true.
" I apologize, sir. The situation wasn't dangerous for you at all, because it so happens that bow is not really my strong point".
Maybe I shouldn't confess it, but desperate circumstances call for desperate remedies.
" that's not an excuse, ms Bradshow. If you wanted a volunteer, you should have asked" don't even try to fool me.
" this is not a tv show, Sir. So I assume it'd have been hard to find someone who was willingly to be hung by feet ", he literally forms an "O" with his mouth and keeps silence.
Obviously uncertainty doesn't last so much.
" you got over the edge for a while by now" he asserts. Oh geez, the blow is coming. I can't do anything but waiting for him to go on.
"You will be sanctioned, ovbiously. That kind of behaviour can not go unpunished. For entering in the Arena, tomorrow, you will use another entry and at first you will not be allowed to reach it with the others. What's more, you'll make the best of what you'll find." He finishes with satisfaction. I should have thrown that arrow, it'd have been better.
" who knows, perhaps there will be a crossbow left and I'll have to thank you for having forced me to learn how to use it" I mutter sarcastically before being dismissed.
I don't even have the courage to look at Ethan right now, but he anticipates me and comes by.
" Keira "
" again, I know what you want to say but.." appearently everyone likes interrupting.
" I'm proud of you. You're tougher than all the people full of themselves in here". I barely hold the tears back, but if he's just said I'm tough, I can't make him renege on it, so I control myself. It will just take a hug.
Trimphet comes out of the corridor, calling Ethan loudly, probably all that anxiety is due to the fact that Ethan's tie doesn't go with his suit. I snigger and get through another corridor, this damn building looks always the same.
" you'll only find kitchens over there.." a voice came out of nowhere warns me. I turn around instantly and meet two emerald eyes. I don't know who he is, I've seen him before, I think. I try to be jaunty and hide uncertainty.
" yeah, I know I just needed a snack ". I lie. Two days spent in this hell, and I've already started lying for nothing?
" seriously? After those pharaonic meals?" my lie was pointless, as I thought.
"No. I'm actually eating less here than in my District " he comes colser smiling. His face looks sweet, his curly hair looks like silk, they lean on his eyes, his huge green eyes. He has not that confident attitude like the others, so I assume he's not a Victor.
" it's normal, you know. We don't turn yourself into serial killers everyday, and I guess our body feels the changes" the word 'changes' is really reductive, it's like saying that World War has been a discussion.
" look, given that you already understood I'm not a good liar, I'll be honest then. I have no clue of who you are" he laugh loudly and gives me his hand
" I'm Vaugh, District 8" not a winner, then.
" Kiera, it's a pleasure"
" yeah I know who you are, you're kind of famous" I didn't doubt that.
" something tells me that my fame is not due to the fact that I volunteered for Andrew, am I right?" I say dejected.
"You are. Finnick is quite a giant here at Capitol, and it's unusual that someone treats him like you did" great. This situation is getting better and better everyday.
"Now you're cheering me up!" he minimizes with a gesture of the hand.
" I wouldn't worry so much if I were you, he won't pay attention to lower-classes". Weird, Ethan told me the opposite.
" wouldn't be so sure. I had this brilliant idea of insulting his girlfriend so.." his face covers with wonder, and I think compassion is on its way,too.
"ok, I'll shut up then"
" that trap you built, that was amazing ", he compliments me.
"just an old trick, it will take so much more than that in there" his face turns sad in the blink of an eye.
" you know what I regret most about all this stuff?" he asks softly.
" that no one will get back home but some guy full of himself who's an excellent swordsman even when he's jumping on a grove?" I dare.
" no.. we won't be able to see the song of rebellion flaring up" he says seraphically. His District is the rowdiest one, and people really seem to be on the brink of a riot. And I can see sparks of hope making his eyes greener, people really started believing. In the end it's thanks to Katniss, when trangression doesn't develop into incoscience, it might bring some good results.
" but you know ash is still white-hot" he shakes his head.
" we're getting poetic" he sniggers. I've never liked poetry, but when you think your time's almost over you make the most of what you have and feel things that would have never passed through your mind otherwise.
" you're brother is amazing "
" he reached you too, huh?"
" yeah, he wanted to learn the art of tracking" I serously start to believe that my brother will do better than me.
" he's a volcanic kid" at least he was, before dad's death. Appearently this place is stimolating him, this'd be the only good thing to get from this hell.
I'm about to get nervous, people staring at me make me feel unconfortable, so I always search for a way out.
" Ethan's waiting for me, I'd better go before he gets angrier"
" oh, I see, don't get on his nerves after these days.. well good luck for everything" we shake our hands again and he gives me another rushed smile before going.
Katniss stops my way down the corridor, for telling me something I will appreciate for the rest of my life.
" we'll get something for you, don't worry" I candidly smile to her and I thank her for her interest.
The end is in sight by now, we don't have much time. I know what I needed to know, now practice is the real deal. I'm close to the elevator, and while Trimphet cries a river, Ethan is explaining the last few things to me, there are only five minutes left to go.
" after getting Andrew back, you look for your allies, ok?" I nod trying to accumulate as many informations as possible.
" how's Andrew?"
" he's fine, calm down, he's just nervous like we all are" yeah, but not in the same way though.
" as soon as I get in, I'll focus on him, I need to find him." I'm close to hyperventilation.
" you will, Keira. Katniss and Peeta will be with him" but they're not his sister. I should restart brathing right now, or I won't be helpful for anyone.
" listen, Ethan, do you think Finnick was serious? "
" may I tell you the truth?"
" you said I'm tough, show me you actually believe that "
" I think he was, he doesn't threaten in vain. He's a peacock, yeah, but he's one of the worst in the arena. Be extremely careful, and if the right situations happened to you, don't be scrupolous and kill him off, ok?" as if it was easy, I should catch him while he's sleeping.
" remember I am unarmed"
" ok, so if things are really getting a turn for the worse, use another strategy" I look at him hopefully, believing he has found some amazing ideas.
" what?"
" make him fall in love" my expectations shatter like broken glass while I nastily look at him.
A voice in the loudspeaker announces we have ten seconds more, and my trembling knees remind me it's time to go.
" Keira, I haven't told you earlier 'cause I was afraid you could do something stupid but, with the right moves, you can make it, I mean it. Try ti impress sponsors, they can prove to be very necessary for Andrew"
" after what I've done, I don't think so"
" just try, and get what you deserve" glass suffocates my answer. The only thing I can do is breathe, the nightmare I was most afraid of is becoming reality. I just need to breathe.
Author's corner: here it is again, hope it's not boring, enjoy