The remaining Training Days went by without my notice. Everyday I did the same routine, knives then survival stuff. Speaking of knives my Trainer told me that I was one of the best tributes he ever trained, even though this is his 5th year. It is so weird , being from District 12, we never "perform" well enough to survive. But this year, I am going to be a victor. I am so confident about that thought that it makes my skin tingle. While I was thinking about how long I have been in the Capitol, Portia was knocking at my door for the Private Interrogation.
" Riley! get out of that bed and get out here now!" She yells from the hallway.
I groan, yet get up and notice an outfit on my cabinet. Instead of my usual training uniform, for this occasion it is different. A black jumpsuit with a white outline on the neck area, arms, legs, and sides of the torso. As I fell the silk fabric, I notice another thing. On the back of my outfit there is my District seal, with a bronze inside of the seal and a darkened silver on the outside. I scoop it in my hands and then begin to undress myself. The outfit creates at strangely easy way to move my body, usually I thought it would be the Capitol stuff that weighs 25 pounds.
I reach for the door, but find myself opening it at the same time as Tucker. Startled, I almost punch him in the face, yet I restrain. He laughs at that then moves away from the door, letting me pass through. I nod and leave my room. Every step with the dark black cargo boots, creates my destiny. I will have to show it all in that room, and that arena. I want to beat the odds and win, go back home and live a normal life. But, even if I win Victors never come back "normal". After watching the Games for many years, the Victors changed from their first interview, to their last. Like the guy from 4 few years back, he started out like a nice guy with high hopes to save his District partner, but by the end he murdered her and 8 other tributes. With every kill, he made a scene, creating a horror for people watching. I cringe as I remember that memory from years ago, then I continue to focus on walking to the elevator.
" Ready for the Private Interrogation?" Tucker asked, hitting the button to the Training Center.
"I guess, how can I not be really? It is just doing what we did for the past few days, but nobody is there besides you and the Gamemakers." I say as the elevator goes down.
"Well I am not, I don't have any skill." He replies as the elevator reaches the Training Center, and my eyes widen.
" How can you not have a skill?" I whisper as several tributes stare at us since we walked in.
We take our seats right next to the tributes from 11. " Sorry, I just never did anything there that I was, well, good at." He says, still in a hushed whisper.
"It doesn't matter anyway, just do what you think you will do best at." I whisper, hoping I won't need to talk anymore.
He just frowns and we wait. As the tributes begin to their Private Interrogation, I watch some tributes that seem interesting. Some tributes I kept track of since I watched the reaping, including the girl from 10, large dirty blonde guy from 7, and the blonde guy from 4. Since then I started to avoid both from 7, it seems that they will be our opponents. The guy from 4 is , as usual, an arrogant self-centered Career that cares for him and him only. When 7 goes by, they dart their heads across the room, searching for prey, guess who they looked to first? The girl from 10, meaning that we will be up soon, almost fainted as they called her name for the Interrogation. Pulling herself together, she started for the gate. For some unknown reason, I respect her.
It only takes a while until finally, it is District 12's turn. An almost robotic female voice beckons my name. I take a few breaths, then start to enter the Training Center. I hear the hollering from the Gamemakers in their little area, not allowing us to join them. I head over to the knife section of the Training Center to get started. I retrieve a knife from the box, and turn to the Gamemakers. All eyes watching me, weird since we are usually just forgotten. I see that several random robotic figures are running, towards me. Shocked by the madness, I begin showing my knife skills.
The first one is running at me with full force, wanting me dead. I gripe the handle with rage, and make my presentation. As I swipe with my blade, parts of the robot fall to the floor, like hair from the barber shop. When I stop, I see the robot is torn up from the blade. He falls, yet 3 other ones spawn, and dash to me. I copy what I did to the first one, but it have to pick up the speed being there are 3 at a time. I finish one, while another I hear comes from behind. I dart around and shove him. He falls to the floor as I stab his chest multiple times. The last one grabs me with its fist. Yanking me from the floor, he starts attack me. I duck and slice his right leg in half. The robot topples over his own feet, then falls. With one final blow, I launch the knife into his chest. It lands perfectly.
" That is enough, what is your name again?" One Gamemaker asks.
" Riley Cone."
" Okay, well that was a great presentation, you may leave."
I nod, returning the blade, and start towards the gate. The dark black gate opens up to me, allowing me to leave from this cell. I look over a Tucker, biting his fingernails, his face drained of blood and filled with fear. He doesn't even notice me, just wondering about how he will do. Same like I was. I hit a button that makes a blue, clear, sliding, glass, door opens. I step into the elevator and turn back, only one time. I see Tucker heading to the gate, but he turns around. He looks at me with fear in his eyes, like as if he was calling for somebody to save him if he was lost. I shake my head, right as the elevator door closes, leading me to my floor.