I waited in earnest for someone to call my name.

Corvin sat next to me. I stared at a flower vase across the room, trying to focus on the complex patterns painted on its surface. But I knew the flowers were fake. The way that they were so perfect, their aroma so strong- they couldn't possibly be real flowers. As I tried to sort out the projection in my mind, Corvin kept his eyes locked on mine, trying to discover what I was thinking.

Finally, a female voice announced on a loudspeaker, "Evelyn Shemblr, please enter the training arena for your evaluation." I stood up on shaky legs and walked into the arena.

The Gamemakers were waiting for me on a stage off to the side of the training arena that was illuminated with a faint pink light. The rest of the warehouse that the arena was located in was dark and filled with all kinds of stations waiting for me. Most of the Gamemakers sat and talked, others ate food that was brought in on trays by the avoxes. I nervously walked over to the knife throwing station.

I selected a few daggers and clutched them in my hands. Taking aim on some moving targets, I carefully narrowed my eyes, drew my arm back, and hurled the first knife dead in the center of a human dummy's heart. I strutted over to another side of the station, now more confident. This time I threw two knives at once, nailing two different targets bull's-eye at the same time. I glanced over at the Gamemakers. Luckily, a few were watching me with steely glances.

Now that I was done throwing knives, I decided to push my luck with a bow and arrow. Definitely a stupid idea, but I walked over to them. Picking up one that seemed my size, I felt it, then got an idea and put it back down. I ran- no, sprinted- over to the fish hook-making section and picked up a few good-sized pieces of bark and began to fashion them into a bow. When I got a pretty good one made, I got a few arrows and used that. It turned out great- this one wasn't as hard to pull back on and I hit every target I tried. It wasn't as if I was an expert, but I think I did fairly well.

After that, I look at a huge clock on the wall above the Gamemakers and see it reads: 5:00. Five minutes left. I choose to spend my time climbing trees, sprinting on mats with obstacles on them, and continuing to throw knives. I think I do pretty well, and when I am dismissed I walk out with my chin higher than before. Before I even get out the other end of the training arena, I see Corvin walking in where I did.

I close the massive door behind me as I exit and stare at a vase identical to the one in the previous waiting room, wishing I had never been here in the first place.

You'll be lucky to pull an eight, I think. I wonder what Corvin is doing in there right now. I've heard rumors of people pulling stunts on the Gamemakers during their private sessions, but that seems too outgoing to wrap my mind around. I'm suddenly hit with a shiver as I realize I'm being watched.

"Hello," says a tall, dark man in a red uniform as he walks toward me.

"Y-yes, sir," I stutter to the Gamemaker. He says nothing else, just walks past me back into the training arena. What was he doing out here? They're supposed to stay on the stage the whole time. That's required. So why was he here? I try to shake the thought as Corvin walks back in a minute or so later.

"How'd you do?" I ask quietly.

"I could ask you the same," he says with a sparkle in his eye. Sitting next to me, he stares at the vase that I'm still connected to. "You really seem to like that vase," he comments.

I can't help but laugh in spite of myself. "Yeah, I guess I do. What did you show them?"

"I mainly used my strength. I threw a few spears, but I didn't hit the center of the targets. I pushed my luck and tried to climb a tree and hide in it, but that probably ruined my whole score." He looks down at his lap, then back to me. "What did you show them?"

I shrug. "A little bit of everything," I answer. "I did same as you- pushed my luck and tried a bow and arrow. I built one myself."

Corvin's eyes grow wide. "That's something to be proud of. You must have great abilities!" Suddenly he's serious again. "I can't do things like that. My only strengths are that I'm not afraid to kill and I'm strong. I can hunt, I guess. At least I could, if I was faster, and more accurate." He leans towards me. "But I'm sure you'll do fine," he says, coiling my hair around his hand, as usual.

We are left alone a few more minutes before Symma appears and leads us back to the Capitol Building. We get there around four o'clock and make it just in time to see the scores.

They start with District 1. The boy got a ten. As did the girl. District 2 got a five for the girl and a nine for the boy. Pretty much scores ranging in the seven through nines for Districts 1-4. Five turns out okay with a score of six and seven. When we reach six, the boy tribute manages to get an eight. I was surprised with the girl from seven- she got a ten, one of the best so far. I felt bad for the boy from eight- he got a four but the girl got a seven. The rest of the districts are pretty low, including eleven, but I remember Corvin's advice: trust the girl from 8, the boy from 6, both from 11, and watch out for 1-4 and I make my own tab to watch out for that lucky girl from seven.

Finally the scores turn to 12. I watch, and the seconds seem like hours until my name flashes on. This is it, I think. Here it is. Remember that you worked for this... before I can remind myself that it's okay if I only get a seven, I see it- ten. One of the highest up there! All I can do is stare at the television in amazement as my mentor, escort, and fellow tribute cheer for me. Ten. That number will be stuck in my head all night.

Then I see Corvin's name, and before I can wonder what number he will get, I see his rating. I collapse on the couch. Twelve. I turn around to congratulate him, but he's gone.

We eat dinner and celebrate and afterward I have time to fit in a shower before bed. As I stand in the warm spray of water, all I can think about is how disappointed the Gamemakers must have been this year in the scores- usually they can at least get an eleven.

Suddenly I'm dizzy. Ten! I thought I would barely get an eight! I don't know what it was that they liked- probably that I had a perfect arrow right in front of me and chose to make my own. How did Corvin get a 12 though? I turn off the shower after using the usual rosy soap and conditioner, and dry myself off in a Cloud Towel.

I lay down on bed and wait. I'm wondering if Corvin will come in tonight. I tell myself I don't want him to, but I know it's a lie. I need to know how he got that twelve. Finally I fall asleep and have dreams about Gamemakers and bows and arrows.