This chapter focuses on the tributes training! Sorry for rushing through these chapters, but I hope you can enjoy them anyway. Tune in for the next chapter, which is the Interviews.
RENATA PENDAL - AGED 16 - DISTRICT 3: POV
Even if I die in the Hunger Games, I am so glad I am away from my mother. I've eaten more in one day than I have in a month at home.
I bring my head back to the real world and see Atala, the head trainer for the Hunger Games, explain each station in the training center.
"No fighting with other tributes, you'll have plenty of time for that in the arena. My advice is don't ignore the survival skills. Twenty-three of you will die. One will not. Who that is depends on your ability to anticipate. Everyone wants to grab a sword but lots of you will die of natural causes. Ten percent from infection. Twenty percent from dehydration. One year the arena was a frozen tundra. Another year it was a burning desert. Exposure can kill you as easily as a knife."
I'm guessing this is what she says every year? As I start to zone-out again, I see everyone run in different directions to different training stations.
I feel a tap on my back and I turn, seeing my district partner Sam. "Renata, I've been wanting to ask you this for a while. Would-"
"-you like to become allies?"
"Yes!"
"Where would you like to practise first then?"
"Let's start with throwing knives?"
"Sure! Race you there!"
JAX NEXAS - AGED 13 - DISTRICT 1: POV
"Hey, you!" I look behind and see the newly formed Careers standing together. The group, led by the boy of District 2, consists of Carroll and Sonya of District 4, Curtis and Ashlie of District 2, Jarrod of District 9 and Blondie, my district partner, from 1.
I move towards them slowly.. nervously.
"I heard from Blondie you desserved a spot in this team. Show us your skills" Curtis chortles with the other snickering along.
"Ok then.." "Can you climb? If you can climb that net tower, you can join us."
I nod and start to climb. I start to sweat because I know I can't do it and look to Blondie, "Okay, guys! He's from District 1. Give him a break. We can train him to be good." Blondie pleads the Careers. I give her a smile implying my appreciation of what she has done.
Curtis thinks for a moment, "Hmm.. Okay. Well we'll start with this. Climb!"
JOEY MARTIN - AGED 14 - DISTRICT 6: POV
I walk to the middle of the room, so I can get a view of my surroundings.
I look over to the knife throwing area, where I can see the tributes from 3 doing an exceptional job. The Careers don't look very strong this year. All they've got are pretty girls and a few unintimidating guys. The only ones in that pack I should watch out for are the tributes from 4, and the boy from 9.
I look above and see the tributes from 8 making out on the beams. I feel bad for them because they're crying, and I know it would hurt to have your girlfriend or boyfriend.. die. I'm assuming if one dies, the other will commit suicide?
I see Riva at the bow and arrows station and she has got three bulls-eyes in a row! This really surprises me because she doesn't get out much in our district.
I decide to take note on the tributes strengths throughout the day:
The boy from 1 is a weakling, the girl is great with the bow and arrows.
Both from 2 are very skilled with most equipment and they are stronger than they look!
District 3 is quick and they are great with throwing knives.
Both from 4 are really strong! The boy has great body strength while the girl can use large and heavy weapons; like an axe!
The girl from 5 has been avoiding the weaponry and has become an expert on survival. The boy has been trying to impress all the girls by doing all the hard activities and has been failing! Is this part of his strategy?
Me? I'm just going to survive the games with what I've got. I can say with confidence I've got good aim, so I can do well with dart and knife throwing. Like I said, Riva is great with the bow and arrows. She's also really quick.
The girl from district 7 has been demonstrating little power and has only been fiddling around with a fire all day! The boy has spread out and has tried to master each station. He's a bit of a worry.
Both from 8 have been crying into eachothers arms on the beam all day.
The boy from 9 looks like the winner already. He's great with everything. The girl is good with sharp objects.
The boy from 10 is a wimp. The girl has been too shy to actually try the weapons properly.
The boy from 11 looked intimidating, but he really isn't. And the girl is very flexible and fast, but she's nothing to worry about.
Nor is the girl from 12. And the 12 boy is very intelligent... but that's about it.
And lastly, the tributes from district 13.. I haven't really seen much of them. They aren't anything to worry about either.
GINGER GRIFFITHS - AGED 14 - DISTRICT 5: POV
I've spent all day trying to find someone who will form an alliance with me but no one seems to want to. I guess I'm alone for the games, with my strategy like Foxface's. Oh gosh. I'm calling her by Katniss' nickname for her again. I mean Finch. I need to keep the same strategy as Finch did. Sly and elusive. But instead I will try to get some supplies at the Cornucopia.
I'm hoping to get just enough food to survive and... Throwing knives! That's one thing I've mastered today. Throwing knives. I need to get a hold of one and then I'll know I have a chance of winning.
"Ginger Griffiths of District 5?" I am called to a separate room to demonstrate my power to the gamemakers.
I walk in and see a duplicate of the previous room. I am asked to choose 2 stations to demonstrate my power while they choose the 3rd station for me.
I start with the one they told me to do, which is aim. I have to use three items to acquire a bulls-eye; Bow and arrows, throwing knives and gun shooting. I fail utterly with the bow and arrows, almost shooting the gamemakers in the process. I make a big miss with the throwing knives as well, and with the gun, I manage to shoot the corner.
Next, I am asked to move on to my first preferred station, which was the agility course, to show my speed and movement. I do okay with that, but my score isn't impressive.
And lastly I move on to the climbing bars, which probably earned me the most points out of the three.
After this, my training session is over and the boy from District 6 is called in. I assume everyone goes through the same routine to earn points?
EMILY JONES - AGED 14 - DISTRICT 12: POV
Me, Matt, Effie and our stylists sit on the couch of our District 12 based room, and I turn on the television. Now, is the time we find out our training scores to see if we will be getting many sponsors for the Hunger Games.
"And now to reveal each tributes training scores from their private training session with the gamemakers! We'll start with District 1, like always! Jax Nexas got a score of 11!" All of us gasp. I am really shocked by this because he was so cowardly and weak in training.
"While Blondie Hickey achieved a score of 9. Curtis Klaus recieved a 10, along with Ashlie Anders who also got a score of 10. Moving on to District 3; Sam Wattle scored 9, and Renata Pendal got a 6. District 4: Carroll King recieved a score of 10 and Sonya Cerulean scored a 9."
We listen through each districts scores..
D5: Zac Austin: 6
D5: Ginger Griffiths: 5
D6: Joey Martin: 8
D6: Riva Billion: 10
D7: Ben Horx: 9
D7: Renee Lookluck: 3
D8: Keam Paterson: 9
D8: Ellie Jackson: 5
D9: Jarrod Limestone: 11
D9: Campbell Terrier: 8
"And for District 10 tributes.. Hm, a score of 4 for Brad Velvet while Charlotte Amberwill required a 7. And nearly there.. District 11 tributes... Steve Kansas got a 6, while Sareth Maxarain scored an 8."
"And District 12.. Matt Marley got a score of-" We all hold our breath, my hand squishing Matt's in suspension "-a 7."
"Yeah, that's okay Matt!" I smile at him trying to make him feel better since he had a lower than expected score.
"And Emily Jones getting a... 12!"
"WHAT!" I jump out of my seat in happiness.
"Oh.. sorry! I read the District number by accident. Emily Jones with a score of 10." Everyone starts to laugh at me and I blush, a bit embarassed.
"10's good! You'll get a couple of sponsors with that!" Effie chimes.
"And finally, district 13. Rees Jules recieved a score of 6, Helenna Rush getting a 9. Well done tributes, and may the odds be ever in your favour!" The screen cuts off to black and I discuss the scores with the group.
MATT MARLEY - AGED 16 - DISTRICT 12: POV
That night, Emily and I go up to the balcony to talk about anything and everything. "Well, the interviews are tomorrow.. Are you excited?" I ask.
"Of course not. I'm just so confused on why and how Commander Paylor decided to bring back the Games. I just want to get back to my sister. I miss the orphanage. The forest. Everything, I guess." Emily starts to sob silently, but I am more concerned on something else.
"Emily. Shush. There's someone up here." I whisper and she looks up to see who it is.
"Charlotte Amberwill from District 10. What is she doing!" She gets up onto the side of the balcony and takes a jump off.
"DON'T!" I scream at her to stop but she has already jumped. We hear a loud zap and run to the edge of the building's cliff. She is floating in mid air, and we see her being dragged into the floor below us.
"Well now we know we can't commit suicide.." For some reason Emily finds this funny and we burst out laughing. Emily stops laughing and looks right into my eyes. I start to realize she likes me. I get the feeling she wants to kiss me but we are interrupted by Effie, calling us to go to our rooms. We have a bit of a giggle, and go downstairs.
"You have a big day tomorrow! Get lots of rest" Effie says.
BRAD VELVET - AGED 14 - DISTRICT 10: POV
I watch in horror as a peacekeeper whips Charlotte for trying to escape/commit suicide. "If you try this again, we'll get the gamemakers to send mutts to give you the most torturous death."
"I promise I won't." Me and Charlotte leave the room and go back to the District 10 floor. "Why did you do that, Charlotte?"
Her tears fall to the floor and she says, "I just can't handle this anymore. I know I'm going to die in the arena, Brad."
"We could always team up! We'll stand a chance, if we work together."
"No. You won't be seeing me after Day 1. I'll be killed in the bloodbath. That way, my death will be easy and quick."
I start to cry because I love her so much. "Don't! I can't live without you!" I grab her and start kissing her. I know I failed because she pulls me off in disgust.
"What the fuck are you doing! You're disgusting." She storms away crying and I go to bed, sobbing.