Chapter 6

The axe is heavy, overbalanced. It's tricky to throw. So I decide to go onto something else. Ooo a spear. That looks good. I pick it up and catch Cash staring at me. I smile but he just looks away. Rude. It pains me seeing as we only kissed yesterday. I shake it off though and face the dummy at the other end of the firing road. It's a long way away. I squeeze my eyes tight and squint at the tiny target. I tighten my grip on the spear and aim it at the target. With all my strength I throw it and it hits the target in the centre.

I look around the room to see if anyone saw that. They didn't. They're concentrated on whatever obstacle or weapon they have, looking determined to be the best. I suppose I need to practise. We have our evaluation this afternoon. I need to get a good score. I need to show them I am not worth voting for. I need to show them I am strong.

A twinkly bell sounds and the woman who addressed us before stands atop the platform.

"Tributes. I would like to remind you all that you have only one hour left. Use it wisely. Now, once you have finished your evaluation, please make your way back to your rooms and remain there until tomorrow morning when you'll be fetched by your stylists. Thank you."

She steps back and the general murmur resumes. I'm concentrating hard now. I need to think about what I might need in the arena. It could be anything. I couldn't count how much I need to remember whilst I'm in there. Not only killing people but trying to survive, myself. I miss home. Technically, I am home but I miss my bed. I miss the comforting eyes of Mr Tallagh-Patch. I miss the gentle sound of the stream at the back of the Orphanage. I even miss Mrs McClaven.

We are sitting in rows on metal benches. They're freezing to touch. And uncomfortable to sit upon. It's my turn next for evaluation. Shelby must be in her room. I wonder if it went well for her. A buzzer sounds and a red light flashes above the rounded metal door. I walk through not gazing back at Cash or Devyn. I walk back into the Training Centre where the Game Makers are talking and drinking, again. They pay no attention to the small young girl timidly walking into the room. Now that there aren't any children in here, the room is large and looming. It's really intimidating. There's so much to do. I haven't really done the agility courses so I think I'll steer clear of them. Instead I go over to the spear station and pick up the largest one. I hear the Game Makers mumble behind me. They're talking about me; I know they are. I can sense it, you know? I turn to face the target and lift the spear above my shoulders. I throw it and it pierces the head of the dummy.

"Vivron Matthews." Beckons Herbert. It startles me as I didn't think that I'd even be acknowledged through this. I spin round to face them. Some of the Game Makers are looking at me, some are sneaking glances and some are ignoring me altogether. Herbert is stood at the front of the round platform holding a silver clipboard. He waves me over and when I reach him he bends down to talk to me.

"I want you to show them your strength. I saw you yesterday with June and those men. You have hidden talents and now is your time to use them." He croaks. He looks to his left and stares at the long and high assault course. "I did that when I was here. You should do it."

I nod. I know I should but I've never done it before. I might be rubbish. But I'll give it a go. I wander carefully over there; dodging the poking up corner of the mat. I can still feel Herbert's gaze on me. I'm getting self-conscious again. I can't do this. I'm going to make a fool out of myself and I can't afford to do that here. I glance back at he gives me a reassuring look. He thinks I can do this. Is he totally insane?

I get to the foot of the ladder and a lump forms in the middle of my throat making it near impossible to swallow. I try clearing it but it seems as though it's here to stay. I shake all other thoughts from my mind and focus on the task ahead. I clasp the ladder rungs and it swings viciously. I secure my feet on the bottom rungs and start, slowly, climbing. I found something I didn't know about myself.

I'm afraid of heights.

Now I know what you're thinking: Vivron, if you don't like heights, then how did you climb the oak with Twila, Joumana and Dora? Well, to be honest, the tree may be large but it is not tall. And this ladder seems to be going up into the looming ceiling. I climb onto the thin platform and steady myself for the beam across. This doesn't seem so bad. And then I look down. My eyes widen in fear, my heart beats twice its normal pace and my hands start to feel clammy. I stare at the thick yet slim beam in front of me. I look down at Herbert; he winks. I'm about to run across when I spot soft patches in the beam. I look down again and see the Game Makers staring at me waiting; June tapping her foot impatiently. No time to waste Vivron. Let's go.

I spring across the beam, flipping to avoid the cushioned darts. I reach the end; realise that what I've done was very dangerous and swing across the ropes and reach the large rope net. I climb halfway down and lean over to the metal bars. I hang there, not daring to look down; I swing myself up through these bars and hook my legs round so I hang upside down. Ooo, I feel rough like this. Quickly I swing up right and stand on top of the slippery bars. I hop delicately from one bar to the next. It's alright. I swing on another long rope and jump off onto the floor. Herbert gives me his nod of approval and just as I'm about to leave a man much bigger and taller than me enters; I take a step back in awe. He's wearing all black with padded armour over his chest and legs he carries a black padded helmet and what seem to be two long, plain sticks.

"This is Rala. He will fight you." Informs Steenie coolly.

"But I thought I was done." I say, keeping an eye on Rala.

"You are done when we tell you, you're done." Snaps June. She still looks shaken up from her fall. I bet she dislikes being touched by someone from the Districts.

"Here." Grunts Rala. He hands me one of his sticks. He looms forward sending me backwards onto the blue training mat; I almost fall.

Rala twirls his stick through his fingers and lunges at me to try and scare me. However, it's delicate for someone of his size. It kind of reminds me of baton twirling. I used to do it with sticks because I didn't have the money to buy a proper baton. I was going to do it as my talent for the people here; when you're 16 you get to audition for a place in their talented and gifted academy. I twirl my stick high in the air. I raise my eyebrow at him; his face a shock at my talent. I smile. He wasn't expecting that. We circle each other, waiting for the first attack. Rala lunges forward, I block him. For the next few moments, Rala and I are locked in a battle, in a frenzy of twirling, spinning and clicking of wood. I knock his feet from under him and he slams onto the floor. He takes one last swing at my legs. I jump in the air and land, holding my stick inches away from his nose.

"Thank you Vivron." Says Herbert, a sneaky smile spreads across his face.

I drop the stick on the floor and exit as quickly as possible. How long was I in there? I go to my room and slump on my squishy bed. Now all I have to do is wait till they announce the results. I hope I don't get a 2. That would be embarrassing.

Bela has joined me in my room. She sits at my desk, eating my tea. I didn't want it and she obliged to have it. In a few moments, Conrad Sanford will announce our results. I have butterflies in my belly. Why do the other Tributes have to know? They can tell who to pick off first, who's the most threatening.

"Right. I'm stuffed." Sighs Bela. She places the fork on the plate and pushes it away from her. She sits on the bed. I stay where I am, staring out the window at my Sector in the distance. Kip will be there, watching. And Teddy. And Twila. And Mr Tallagh-Patch. But not that Old Man. No, he'll be watching from wherever you go when you die and he'll be smirking; thinking 'Ha, she's got her comeuppance.' And I have, haven't I? I mean, I might die, I might not. The thought makes me sick with fear. I feel as though everyone around me dies. Maybe I should be locked in a room so no one can come near me, and then people would be safer. The TV screen above my desk flickers into life.

"Ooo, it's started!" Bela says, with an excited grin across her face.

"Good evening ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome back to the Results show. I hope you've been sitting comfortably. We're almost finished. It's time for our last District. District 44! Now, because there are 119 of them their scores will be presented the same as the other Tributes'. I will read them out for all you District people out there."

Bela giggles, forgetting there's a District person in the room. Is that what they think of us?

"First up Sectors 1 to 10." Announces Conrad, his pearly white teeth sparkling under the studio lights.

On the screen there are 5 sections on each side and there are everyone's photos from earlier. Some are smiling, some are not. There are their full names that no one is going to remember and their scores I turn back to look out the window. Conrad continues to read out the scores. I hear Shelby – 6. That's good. I think. Sector 2 girl got a 9 but I'm not surprised. She is a 'career' Afterall. Her name is Bergwind.

I hear Bela gasp. I know instantly what she's looking at. My score.

"My, my, look at this. Size means nothing to this girl. Sector 12, Vivron Matthews with a score of…12." Says Conrad, almost shocked.

I spin around instantly to face the screen and there, as clear as day, is the number 12. I can't believe it. 12? 12?! I feel like crying, laughing and screaming all at once. Instead, Bela stands up and grasps me in her tight hug.

"Oh, well done Honey. I knew you could do it." she smiles at me with that growling familiar smile.

I don't hear what she says from then on because a thought hits me. Tomorrow, I'll be fighting to the death. Tomorrow. I'm not ready. I can't do it. Panic sets in and my breathing becomes rapid. My legs go from under me and I fall to the floor. My vision pinpricks until I see nothing. Just darkness.

I'm in my cellar. I'm no longer 4 years old. I'm myself in my pyjamas. I stand up and wonder over to the small bench in the dark place of the room. The gloomy light bulb swings overhead. I can see the dust particles in the air. Then I hear a clink, like a door unlocking. Devyn bursts in and starts stabbing me with her sword. Then Brent comes in with his bow and arrows. He aims at my head and fires.

I wake with a start. My room is dark; the curtains are closed. My face is dashed in sweat. I go to the bathroom and splash my face with cold water. I stare at my reflection in the mirror, for perhaps the last time. Why did I volunteer for my death? What if Beetee does nothing and I die for nothing? Kip was right, I should have kept quiet. I stroke the earrings on my bedside cabinet. Pointless things. I don't have my ears pierced.

My eyes well up with tears; they drop onto my lap and dark patched form on my pyjama bottoms. This is it. My last night and I can't sleep, I have nightmares and I have an overbearing sense of death. The pain in my chest ache's more than ever. I peer through the curtains out into the dark Sectors. The sky is clear and I see the sparkling stars far away from me. That's where I want to be. Far away from here.

Maybe soon I will.