Drucilla was irritated with her fellow District Two-ians. After being scolded by Enobaria to stop being so invested in the District 12 tributes, she walked into one of the elevators of the Training Center with Draco and hit the 2 button. "You know," Draco said. "You're not what I expected you to be, Ramirez."
Then the doors opened and her fellow tribute got off. "What the hell was that supposed to mean?" the girl yelled at him, but he'd already gone to his room, leaving her incredibly confused.
Drucilla sat down at a table in the dining room and started to eat, only to be interrupted by Enobaria practically barging into the area. "Okay, I have issues with you. The trainers at the facility and your family have acclaimed you the best of you training class. I really hope we didn't pick the wrong tribute. Now come here." Drucilla stood up and walked over to Enobaria, who pulled her into a hug. "You know, Drucilla." The victor whispered into her ear. "I'm supposed to be mentoring you, and as much as I would like to let you defy the capitol, I would get punished, so for my sake will you please act like just another of your brainwashed kin?" She released her.
At this, Drucilla's eyes widened. Was Enobaria not as bad as she thought? She seemed to be genuinely willing to help her. "Okay, but I wish to be allies with the two from Twelve. Is it possible—"
"No. 12 hasn't won since the Quarter Quell. I' m not banning you from it. I'm not that kind of mentor, but I'm still a mentor. You won't have as many sponsors, or supplies, you'll have under skilled allies, and you'll have a triple-target on your back from the Careers, partially for revenge for not joining them, partially because you're legacy, and also because of your skill. As long as you're with them at the beginning, you're safe. "
"But do what you want. I don't care if you don't listen to my advice. I didn't listen to my mentor either, and look at me now." She smiled, flashing her teeth. Drucilla shivered. The girl decided that it was best to go to her room.
On her way there, Draco tripped her. "I really don't know how the Ramirez family could've spawned someone so pathetic. I saw you staring at those two during the ceremony. Why? Do you have some kind of kink for coal dust?"
"You're an idiot." Drucilla replied, getting up and dusting herself off. She so did not want to be allied with a man that was such a jerk. Honestly, she'd rather take her chances. She stormed into her room.
The next morning was the first day of training, and Drucilla was annoyed upon realizing that 'training' apparently means 'Career Tributes show off.' Drucilla could care less about showing off her skills to intimidate the poor kids there, so she chose instead to keep herself.
The teenager threw a spear into the heart of a dummy, not really caring too much. Her eyes scanned for Amber and Onyx, who were trying to climb the rope. They didn't do the best, but Drucilla wasn't one to laugh at someone's attempt like Draco apparently was. Her district partner sent bile up her throat.
The redhead walked over to the kids from Twelve. "Hey, do you two need help?"
Onyx didn't look like he trusted Drucilla very much, but the girl couldn't blame him in all honestly. It was kind of weird that she'd asked.
Amber just smiled with a light blush on her face, her black hair in her eyes.
"What's the catch?" Onyx said.
"No catch." Drucilla offered him a smile. He didn't return it, but his features softened a bit. He didn't look like he was going to kill her at least.
Drucilla watched as the twins climbed up the ladder, pointing out places that were the best to step on and where to avoid. It took a while, but the girl from 2 finally managed to coach the two all the way up the ladder.
"Thanks!" Amber called from the top. Drucilla followed them up to the top in about half as much time it took them.
"Why did you choose to help us? Aren't we your enemy in this whole thing?" Onyx asked.
Drucilla sighed. "I was going to ask you two to be my allies. I can't stand the Career pack, and if I never go home it will be too soon so I really don't care about actually winning or anything, so forgive me if I don't seem very pleased to be forced to volunteer this year. I was blinding hoping I could survive until my eighteenth reaping, but unfortunately that's not the case."
"What do you mean 'forced'" Amber asked quietly, seeming quite concerned.
"Exactly what I said. I'm sure you know by now that I'm a legacy, and since I'm a legacy they expect me to want to kill. Why would I want to kill?"
Onyx looked taken aback. "You mean you don't?"
"Contrary to whatever they teach you in your district, other districts do suffer, even Career ones, but maybe not the physical ones like you're used to. Not all Careers were bad, just given a bad hand. And then you have people like my sister."
"Elda, right?"
"Yeah, that's her," Drucilla said with a sigh. "Her games gave me nightmares. I was only ten."
Amber and Onyx didn't look like they knew what to say. After all, they were nine at the time, if Drucilla had their ages correct. They probably had dreams just as bad that night, especially considering what district they were raised in.
The three tributes headed to lunch during the break. Draco and the girl from 4 both ushered Drucilla over to the Career table, and she hesitated, turning to Amber and Onyx. She would much rather sit with her new allies.
Amber rolled her eyes. "The Careers want you. Go. Why bother making yourself a target on the first day of training. Let them think you're their ally, and then find us during the bloodbath.
Drucilla bit her lip. "Okay." She walked slowly over and took a seat next to Draco. On her side was the girl from Four and in front of her was the girl from 1. The boy from 4 and the boy from 1 were on either sides of her.
The girl from 1 introduced herself as Ruby, and her partner to her left was Marble. The girl from 4 was Marina and the boy was named Ocean.
Drucilla hated all their names, thinking they were too like their district industry. Like, really? Ocean? At least Amber and Onyx had names that sounded more like 1 or 2 names, with the fact that they were stone names.
She didn't know what she would do if they were named Ash and Cole.
"Why were you talking to Twelve?" Ruby said with disgust in her voice, but luckily she got to refrain from answering when Ocean talked instead.
"She's just looking for ways to kill them, isn't that right, Drucilla." His voice held a flirtatious tone to it, sending a shiver down Drucilla's back.
"I have a boyfriend." She announced suddenly, getting up to get more food.
When she came back, Ocean rolled his sea green eyes at her. "It's not like you're ever going to see him again. What he doesn't know won't hurt him. You only have a one in six chance in winning."
The rest of the Careers burst out in laughter, as if someone not from a Career District didn't have a chance.
"Actually, you seem to be mistaken." Drucilla said. "I have a one in twenty-four chance. Maybe one of the other district kids has some kind of secret talent or something."
"Yeah, like what? Being able to shoot a bow when there's no way they could have learned the skill?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. I'm just not too big on the idea of counting any of them out, just because of their district."
"Drucilla's right." Marina finally said after a silence. "I like the girl from seven. I saw her skills with an axe earlier. Maybe she'll be this year's Johanna Mason?"
Drucilla liked her slightly more than her name, but her money was still on Amber or Onyx. They had to win, somehow. She swore it.