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The Impression

I wake up in Theo's bed and see him sprawled across me, drooling. His wings are wrapped around him in a safe little cocoon, and not for the last time I wish that we had met differently. I slide out from under his now slender body and walk back to my own room.

I check my internal clock and see that it is almost time for me to get up anyway. I strip off yesterday's clothes and get into the shower. I keep my face in the water, trying to see if gills grow but unfortunately they don't. Maybe my whole head has to be submerged.

I slip on some pyjamas and walk down to breakfast as though I had slept in them all night, in my own room.

Alexandria greets me as usual and for some unknown reason I suspect she knows that I slept in Theo's room so I glare at her. I immediately feel bad for it though at one look of her surprised expression. She was just warming up to me.

I sigh with feigned exhaustion. "Sorry." I mutter. "I didn't get much sleep last night." Alexandria's face softens a bit as her pale eyeballs watched me. I eat a small breakfast, just listening as Alexandria talks to me.

"Your true allies know the plan…" she tries to explain. I pretend I'm listening but my mind wanders to my family. They must be going about their daily business, going to school, going to work. I wonder what they had to say about the Opening Ceremonies and the Great Reveal as the show is being called.

I imagine Ruby and Emerald, gasping in awe and surprise at my newfound beauty. Alec would've pretended to be uninterested, but I know he would've watched with such a reverence my mother would've had to peel him away from the television. My mother, Imogen, wouldn't have dared to watch, claiming it too heart-breaking to watch another daughter go to her death. My father, Felix, would have rebutted this, might have even caused an argument with his dissent. He, like my brother wouldn't be able to take his eyes away. Trying to gobble up the last images of me before I die.

Seeing me, did they believe I could beat all 23 of my fellow tributes? Or did they just see how much of a difficult task that was, and how my chances are even lower now that everyone is special.

Theo walking in knocks me out of my reverie. Alexandria looks at him, and then conveys a worried look towards me. I pretend not to notice and stare into my bowl of fruit. It suddenly looks very unappetising.

For once, I lose track of time with my thoughts and abruptly leave the dinner table and rush to my room. I hurriedly shove on my training gear and head down the lift.

My melancholic mood is reflected in my hair with it resting just a bit above my shoulders. It was still early, and there were not that many people in the centre yet.

Today, I practiced every weaponry station. I excelled in all of them. There wasn't much time before we had to show off before the Gamemakers, and because I hadn't listened to Alexandria's advice about it, I worried. Would this be enough to fight in combat? To get me a good score? I could wrestle an average man, but could I wrestle a Cyclops? I could throw tridents, but could I hit a mermaid? I could wield an axe, but would it be pointless if I was facing a dwarf? The answer was that I would probably die in any of those situations. I trained hard. I ignored stares. I trained harder. And I kept on training. I ignored all attempts of conversation from my allies, careers or not. I needed to concentrate and squeeze in this final bit of training before I was thrown into the games. Something I thought was my dream. Normal life wasn't enough, I had argued.

But now, I realise that winning isn't worth my life as the price. I wasn't ready to die. I wasn't at an advantage anymore. I had to fight like everyone else – like an unforgiving animal.

I ate a small lunch. People noticed. I didn't care.

All the tributes were escorted to a waiting room while we waited to be judged.

Iowan goes first. All my allies wish him luck. I stay stoic.

Sunshine is next.

Theo is called and I mutter out an encouraging word. He looks at me with an expression for once I don't know how to decipher. And he flies off into the gym.

Me.

I walk into the room and am surprised to see that the gym has changed since lunch. Obviously noting what skills I would want to practice they are all placed in the center of the gym. The other skill stations haven't been removed just moved farther back.

"Olivia Bellona." I report to the Head Gamemaker, Silas Choke. Evil name belonging to an evil man. He was a hero in District 2.

He nods his assent for me to begin. The other Gamemakers watch intently, expecting an impressive show from District 2. Well, I plan to give them one.

I decide to start off with my trained skill, knife throwing.

I head to a stimulation and do a more impressive show than I did during training. I was a whirlwind of terror, death and destruction. I even incorporated using water when I threw a knife, choking a stimulation to disable him while I went in for the kill. When I exited I received some hoots of approval and cheers of admiration. Some looks of revulsion as I feel my scales have come on show. I hate side effects.

Now onto the creepy power stuff.

Already practiced with Decimus, I knew what to do. I called upon as much water as I dared from the air, and the water coolers, and the glasses of water from the Gamemakers glasses. They watched with dazed astonishment as the water rises up from different points and drifts its way towards me in a steady stream. Satisfied I have enough, I form a man made of water. I make him wave to the Gamemakers and bow, and they clap with delight.

But the show isn't over. I collect an array of weapons. One knife, one sword, one axe, one mace, a bow with only one arrow and a scythe, and place them not far to my left. I start with the sword.

I make the man attack me, and I lose myself in the imagined battle. I make him do something that I would expect in the games, and form him a weapon out of water. He charges at me and I duck and slash at his body. It quickly reforms and comes at me. We battle relentlessly. But I give him a swift defeat. I move on to each weapon, using new creative ways to 'kill' my supposedly unbeatable opponent. But I do, due to it being completely at my own mind control.

Hopefully they will look past that and see that I am fighting two sides of the same battle. Which, is in fact a difficult feat when both sides intend to win.

I finish with a flourish, and in a moment of adrenaline, I run into the water man, drenching my body. He loses his form immediately, but before I lose control I form it into a sphere of water, completely submerging me.

I have a few seconds of panic before my gills kick in. I then control the bubble of water to rise to the ledge of the Gamemakers until I am eye to eye with all of them.

I can only imagine how creepy I look. A luminous, glowing girl, with floaty black hair, scales and gills; glowers menacingly at them from a ball of water.

I then blow a kiss at them and force a tiny portion of water to leave the bubble, forming a heart and make it sail towards Silas. He watches in shock as the water stays exactly where his heart should be, seemingly solid. He touches it and gasps as it gives no resistance to his fingers.

I give a giggle, and it sounds unearthly and disconcerting from the bubble. I slowly lower it to the ground and bid farewell, sending the bodies of water to their respective homes. I breathe normally, and let the heart of water go, watching as it is absorbed by the Head Gamemakers suit.

They all seem stunned into silence, and I stand awkwardly, waiting for them to dismiss me. Soon realising that it isn't going to happen I just rush out of the room, suddenly feeling embarrassed at the way I taunted the Gamemakers.

I ride the short ride to my floor and hear the others all call me from the sitting room. Reluctantly I follow their calls and walk in, seeing the whole team sat around the coffee table, laden with cakes and pastries. I grab two cupcakes and stuff one in my mouth before I have to answer any questions.

"How did it go?!" May is shouting, bouncing out of her seat and rushing over to me.

I look up at her with a mouthful of cupcake and icing and say: "I did my best. Let's hope it was enough." But it came out more like: "I wid ma bsh leff ope it waaa good enouighnsfgdgr"

I swallow and just as I am about to tell them what went on, Theo butted in.

"Well basically, I did the stimulation thingamajig and flew all around the arena dropping weapons and shit on them. And then I took Gamemakers on rides." He grins, positively beaming.

"You did WHAT!" May squeals, sounding on the verge of fainting. "You kidnapped Gamemakers and 'took em for a ride'! What do you think this is? Where were your manners?! Do you have any idea how this will affect all of us? No of course not, because that is just who you are Theodoros Gift. Thinking only of you. What do you think this is? Some kind of game!"

I rudely butt into Mays rant. "Actually yes. It is The Hunger Games. It's in the name May, keep up." The look she sends me was positively terrifying. Her golden skin contrasting with her silver hair, and eyes flashing like a crazy woman.

"Actually May… I asked them first. They volunteered if they wanted a go or not." Theo says sheepishly, rustling his wings. May seemed to deflate then, and sort of pottered back to her seat.

"Alrighty then. So Olivia, what did you do?"

And I went into lengthy detail on what I did; exaggerating a bit on how much mental power and skill I had to have by fighting both sides of the battle. And then I too admitted sheepishly for taunting the Gamemakers, blowing them the kiss.

Brutus immediately waves it off. "You'll be fine. You didn't do anything bad at all; they'll love you for it. Not to mention we have the added appeal of being District 2." He says with a touch of pride. And I can't help but feel proud too. I grin at him but too soon his good mood is gone and he is back to the brooding wall of muscle.

Theo and I are dismissed, and we have a lot of time to kill before the Training scores are released.

I walk back to my room, and in dismay see Theo following me closely like a lost puppy. I wait at my door, hand on the door knob and give him a withering look.

"Is there something I can help you with?" I sigh.

"They stole my alcohol." He simply states, and without asking opens the door for me and barges straight in as though he owns the world.

Feeling my temper rise I control the water from my glass beside my bed and fling it onto his face. Without realising it I send the glass over too, using the power of the water to transport it. The glass shatters onto his chest and shoulder, leaving a trail of blood, black on the material.

He gasps in shock and pain, shaking his hair and wiping at his face. His face was like thunder.

"How dare you!" He snaps at me. Almost as if it was automatic his wings unfurled, slowly, threateningly. They seemed to enfold everything, and blocked my vision until all I saw was Theo looming over me menacingly. The dark colour of his hair and wings seemed to draw out the colour of everything in the room until it was dark and depressing. We were both staring into each other's eyes, so silent you could hear a pin drop.

My cold stare had nothing on Theo's look of malevolence. A sense of dread and unease crept over me. Shivers slithered up my spine as I looked at him, waiting for him to make the first move. My scales emerged and I bristled, anticipating an attack.

It never came. The lights flickered and went out, leaving us in darkness. I could barely see Theo. I was about to reach out to him when he just stepped back into the shadows and his body was no more. He vanished without a whisper, the darkness enveloping and welcoming him into its breast. I almost worried about him.

But then I remembered it wasn't any of my business.

"Well good riddance!" I shout, slamming the door. Thanks to my better eyesight I adjust to the darkness quickly. I head over to the service phone to ask for candles, but then I get an idea to open my curtains, something I haven't done since arriving. I shake the idea off, not wanting to see the freaks of the Capitol, relishing in their wealth.

The candles are dropped off within the next 10 minutes and I set them evenly around the room. I light them, and am shocked to discover that the candles are scented like that of the ocean. This disturbs me. Normally I would've preferred an earthen smell, of freshly cut grass, recently turned land etc. but I realise now that there is no better smell than fresh water. I breathe in deeply, filling my nose and lungs with the comforting smell.

I play some music in my room, nothing I know but it calms me. It is nothing like the heavy music from our district. It's soft, gentle. I can't tell what the words say, but it too relaxes me.

Lying in bed I am left alone with my thoughts. I'm still wondering if volunteering was such a good idea. But it was necessary, I tell myself. I never would have been satisfied with just winning the trials. I would have to go all the way. That's just who I am. But is it worth my life? All that fame, glory, money? Is it worth it?

Too late now. And it's not like I can't kill children. I've done it before. I relished in the violence. Does that make me a monster? No. I haven't changed since I did it. In fact, have I not become nicer? More sensitive? I have begun to like the people I am destined to kill, whereas in the trials I grew up with the girls I murdered. And I barely spared them a second thought. The situation was different though, we all knew for years we would be pitted against one another. And in the heat of the battle there wasn't much time to think about my relationships with my friends. And I believe it will be the same in the actual games. Now, I don't want to kill them. But when we are thrown in the arena and it is a matter of my survival I know I won't hesitate.

These thoughts are pointless though. There is no going back. I was going to kill as many people as needed to get home. Even if that meant Theo. The boy I desperately wanted to be friends with, who I wished never volunteered for the games. The boy who I could see myself growing old with.

I quickly shake those kinds of thoughts out of my head. Not two minutes ago he was acting like he'd very gladly rip my head off and stuff it with worms.

And the added fact that we were thrown together in an arena to fight to the death, so there's that in the way of our friendship too.

I change into a simple purple dress with very little patterns that seemed to be shoved right at the back of the wardrobe. Something that wasn't supposed to be worn instead of the extravagant dresses in there.

Half an hour later, I am called into the main sitting room. Never having been in this room, I am still taken aback by the differences of the Capitol to District 2. Which would probably be even worse for the poorer districts. There is one long sofa that stretches along the back of the room looking like it was the epitome of comfort. There was a huge fireplace with a crackling fire that spat sparks out, and I got the desirable urge to douse it. Resisting, I threw myself onto the sofa. Soon everyone filed in, Theo taking his place next to me.

"I'm sorry for throwing water at you and cutting your chest." I say.

"I'm sorry for being creepy and disappearing." He says, and just like that. We are friends again. I would miss this, when he or I either died. Or both of us.

May came trotting in, adorned in another ridiculous outfit to commemorate this year's games. She was dressed in a solid gold pant suit. She could barely walk.

I mainly noticed the tray of snacks she brought in with her and dove in, suddenly ravenous. Theo took the whole platter from her and we shared it between us.

There wasn't a screen in this room. Just a projector that showed up better than a screen. Undoubtedly an invention from District 3.

The projection flickers to life and up comes Caesar and Claudius Templesmith who sat on a table discussing the bets. The ranks were high on all the careers so far. Theo was in the lead, I came up second, but that wasn't anything new. District 2 was the District who wins most of the time, so the bets are always high for us. Then there were tributes with the good powers, and then the rest of the careers. Iowan wasn't going to be too happy about that, I mused happily.

Now the training scores. They were showing our school pictures from that year. Iowan scored an 8.

Sunshine was an 8.

Next was Theo. I gripped his hand and we watched reverently. The picture showed a slightly younger, more care-free version of Theo. His hair was much shorter.

And suddenly a 9 was flashing on the screen. Our team whooped in appreciation and muttered quick a well-done before it was me.

A younger, freckly version of me with midnight blue eyes and dark wavy hair stared back at me. Her blood red lips were in a tight, fierce line. I wanted to look like her so bad it hurt.

And my image was soon replaced with the number 10!

Soon everyone was celebrating, putting the show on pause. There were lots of awkward hugs, a nod of acknowledgment from Brutus and Alexandria. May squealed in happiness and rushed off, already getting calls from sponsors apparently.

Theo tries to give me a hug. I barely respond to the body contact, and I feel my skin rippling from the touch. I awkwardly pat his back and rush back to my seat, blushing furiously.

Once settled we all sit back down to watch the show.

Jonas (Dwarf) from District 3 gets an average 5.

Electra (Super Speed) from District 3 gets a 6.

Pisces gets a 7, and I can almost imagine him showing the teensiest bit of fury. Clio gets a 7 too, but I assume it's because she had no powers to show off to the Gamemakers with.

I'm selfishly proud I got the highest score out of all the careers. I may not look like much. A bit too tall for my age. A bit too thin. Average face. But that is where my advantages lie. I am under-estimated over and over.

And that will be every tributes downfall.

Cosmo (Cyclops) District 5 gets a 7.

Leone (Shape-Shifter) District 5 gets a 4.

Webster (Shrink Potion) District 6 gets a 3.

Felicity (Fairy) District 6 gets a 6.

Hart (Werewolf) District 7 gets an 8.

Sibylline (Oracle) District 7, sister with Hart, gets a 4.

Kingsley (Satyr) District 8 got an 8.

Cotton (Air Element) District 8 got a 7.

Oscar (Vampire) District 9 got a 9.

Barbie (Medusa) District 9 got a 5.

Cain (Death Mist) District 10 got a 7.

India (Fire Element) District 10 got an 8.

Black Berry (Growth Potion) District 11 got a 2.

Ambrosia (Mermaid) District 11 got a 6.

Cameo (Minotaur) District 12 got an 8.

Cinder (Earth Element) District 12 got a 9.

I had the highest score. Theo had one of the highest scores. He celebrated a bit more, while I began to memorise everyone else's scores. I needed to use them. I needed to know who would be a threat, who I had to watch my back around, who would easily be a bloodbath.

But it was harder than it should've been. Oscar could've been an easy kill. He was only 12, and yet because of these abilities had become a bloodthirsty killing machine?

"Well Olivia and Theo, your interaction with the Gamemakers certainly won you some favours. Well done." Brutus says. I'm almost shocked at that long sentence. He is usually a man of very very few words. And a compliment too? He must be in a good mood.

Over dinner we discuss final strategies with our mentors, reminding us simple instructions of survival, helpful facts and such to help us get through the games in two days. We listen intently, even though we had both been told this about a million times.

Rules:

Trust no one

Break an alliance, you strike first

Nature is the only one on your side

Kill or be killed

There were a lot more, I reminded Alexandria. In fact there were about 48. She wasn't happy that I corrected her, and told me she was keeping it simple. She looked tempted to throw the knife at my head, and if it were any other circumstance I know she would've done it.

May had missed dinner, but rushed in during dessert absolutely ecstatic. Her phone hadn't stopped ringing all night, people lining up to sponsor the two of us.

"This is the most sponsors District 2 has had in years!" She wriggles with glee, and runs off to post on her blog a meeting time for potential sponsors in the Cordelia Park. A venue that meant nothing to me, but it didn't matter. Tributes weren't allowed to leave the training centre anyway.

After dinner we have celebration shots, and Theo is allowed some. I sneak him mine, and soon he is stone cold wasted. An Avox offers to carry him back to his room, but I shake them off.

With my new strength and Theo's newfound litheness I carry him as easily as a sack of potatoes back to his room. I dump him unceremoniously onto the bed and set to work removing his shoes.

"Liiiiiiiv!" Theo moans, twisting his head from side to side. "It hurts! My head huuuuurts!"

"You shouldn't have drunk so much then." I say, hitting him round the head. That earns me another cry of pain. In dismay I leave the room, slamming the door. I then scurry to find an Avox to give Theo some pills so he sleeps alright.

I tell myself it's because I need him to be the best he can be for the interviews.

I strip naked and slip under the covers, not bothering with a shower. I fall asleep the minute my head hits the pillow.

I wake up with a shock to see May squealing at the end of the bed. I sit up so fast and begin screaming at her that I don't even feel embarrassed that she's seeing my breasts.

She too, screams in horror and scurries out the room.

"I'm going to teach you how to be a proper lady!" she shouts as she shuts the door.

I fling my head back onto the pillow with a moan. Today was going to be a long day.