District Ten-

Evelyn Knight 16 and Lee March 17

Evelyn Knight 16 POV

After a disastrous first day of training where I nearly shot the instructor of the archery instead of the target, I decided to try something that required a little less aim. In the knife station I choose a broadsword and swing it over my head a bit. If felt right, not too heavy, not too light and with a comfortable grip. I blanch at the thought that I have to use this against the people around me and quickly eject the thought.

"You! From 10, come here and take a few swings at the dummy!" An instructor shouts. Standing a few feet away I swing at it as if I was holding a baseball bat. "No, no, no, no! Like this!" He slashes and parries and then cleanly removes the dummy's head. I mimic his actions and end up dropping the sword. The instructor tuts and I lift my sword again, focusing and willing the blade to slice through the air. With a thump the dummy's head hits the floor and I laugh quickly. "Pfft, that wasn't hard at all," I say with an exaggerated shrug.

I practice with a sword and dagger that day and by the end, hope swells in my heart and I believe for the first time that I have a chance.

Lee March 17 POV

The Training Center is so crowded that I am overwhelmed for the second time. I can't tell what is where so I blindly stumble (literally), to whatever station I find. After stubbing my toe on what I believe was a weight and bumping into a rather tall girl I finally get my bearing and stumble in to the hand to hand combat station. I snort because the concept of me fighting somebody is so ridiculous, yet, to survive I have to try.

"Combat is an art. The art of studying your opponent and anticipating their moves and throwing in your own. You, with the blonde hair over there." I don't move because I'm not sure if he's referring to me or another person with blonde hair, I can't exactly tell. When I hear no movement I ask, "Who? Me?" "Yes you! I'm looking right at you!" He snarls. I purse my lips, "Well excuse me. I'm sorry if I didn't see you… I guess it's a side effect of being blind…" I shrug nonchalantly and step forward.

I imagine the instructor wincing and wishing he chose his words more carefully, but this is the Capitol, he probably just scowled at me for wasting his time. I hear someone else step forward on the soft mat and I examine them. Clicking my tongue a few times, I determine that they are approximately 3 feet away from me and a skinny twig. I frown knowing that everyone thought I couldn't handle a stronger opponent. I regret telling them that I was blind, knowing that they would treat me as a weakling.

A few more clicks let me know that the instructor has stepped in front of us. "Okay, I want a nice fight, okay? No bleeding or you'll be in trouble, pulling hair and groin shots are perfectly acceptable," he says with no expression in his voice and steps aside. The twig in front of me hesitates, wiping her hands on her pants, then lunges. I'm clicking my tongue every half a second or so and I step aside easily and listen to the twig tumble to the floor with a girly squeak. "Come on 6, you can't take on a blind kid?" Someone watching shouts.

My pale face colors and I leap on the girl from 6. I don't weigh much but I weigh enough to hold her down. The instructor blows a whistle and I step side. "How'd you do that, 10?" The instructor asks, I can hear the confusion in his voice and imagine his facial expression. "I have my ways," I say mysteriously. Like hell I'm going to announce how I move around so someone can tie my mouth shut and I'll truly be blind. I hear him scratch his head and I leave him to wonder how a blind kid can fight.

I help the twig up and step to the side, I know I'm being stared at but I keep my head high and gaze into the darkness.