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Chapter Eight: Wishing I was Ugly.

Sitting at breakfast we were all silent. I wasn't really hungry. Nervous had taken over. District one is a career district, and here I am shitting myself over what I am going to show the Game-makers for our private score. Marble on the over hand is sitting confidently eating his bacon and eggs.

"So, are you both prepared", asked Granite addressing us both.
Granite went into a full description about how he is going to blow the Game-makers away, but I merely smiled. Granites eyes burned into me, but I just shrugged, and was thankful when he didn't push on the matter.
I couldn't help but wonder what Gloss would be doing if he was here with the game makers today. What talent would he share with them.

Granite and Marble got up and started to make there way over to the lift, which was my cue that I am supposed to get up and leave now. But Lumos pulled me back. "Are you okay?", she asked me soothingly.
I shrug again, like I did moments ago. "I guess so".

"Just try your best. Your a career girl. You can do it".

I sighed and blew my breathe. "Yeah I know. I shall do my best I assure you".
Lumos smiled. "Give them sexy", she whispered.

All the tributes were congregated at the training room door, obviously we couldn't go in today as it was private.
A capitol official was outside rounding us up, and getting us in district order.

"Welcome to your private training. I hope you are all prepared. You will be called in by District. Boy, girl".

That means I wasn't first. Marbles was. It was kind of a relief I guess. I don't think I would have liked to have gone first. However, being second isn't much better either.

Marbles disappeared into the room, and was gone for about 20 minutes before the door opened and I was asked to enter.

The game-makers were all up on the balcony.

I waved at them. "Hello everyone. I am Cashmere Hazelgrey. District one", I introduced myself.

I could easily point out who was the head game maker as he was the one who was centre of them all.

"Please, begin Miss Hazelgrey", he called down to me.

I moved my blonde hair away from my face and pouted at them. I then took of my cardigan to show of my low cut top, highlighting my breasts.

I moved over to the knifes and picked up a handful. Pulling out some mannequins, I lined them up in the centre of the room.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, what I am going to show you, at the moment, is a demonstration of my knife throwing skills. I will be hitting the same target on each of these five mannequins at different distances. Right in the forehead, where it would be able to corrupt, and breakdown your brain".

I saw a few of them raise their eyebrows. Obviously they didn't expect this blonde bombshell to have brains.

I threw each of them knifes, each of them moving back further and further away from my targets, and thankful enough I managed to hit each target each time. I pouted with pride as I knew I had down well, I had one knife left, so I put it down my top and in-between my breasts and made my way back over to the game-makers.

I would like each of you to know, that I am quite clued up on the poisonous fruits, I can quite easily identify which fruit will kill, and which one could heal you in any given circumstance. I went into some detail about how I could use the knowledge to my advantage, stating that I was pretty sure none of my allience knows what I do, and could pretty easily kill every single one of them, by supplying them with the wrong food.

They all seemed quite impressed with me. But one asked if I had any other talent with any of them other weapons.

"I can use most weapons, but I am best with a knife. Give me a sword, I can use it, give me a spear, I could use it, give me something Sharpe, and I most likely can use it".

"Did you have any training back home".
I smiled, everyone knows training for the Hunger Games is strictly forbidden, but everyone also knows the capitol turns a blind eye to it.

"You know that is illegal mr game- maker", I blush giving him a cheeky wink.
The panel laughed and I was eventually allowed to leave.

I left the room through the side entrance and made my way back to my level.

Marble was sitting on the sofa with Granite and nodded on my arrival.

We all sat around on the sofa, on demand of Lace and told to discuss what we had just done".

Marbles went on into full detail saying how he ripped to pieces the mannequins and how he completely destroyed one of them that he is sure it is irreparable.
I then got my chance to explain what I did. I missed out the poisonous plants bit, because I didn't really want Marbles knowing that I could easily kill him given the chance. But I made a mental note to tell Lumo's.

Lunch came and went, and it was the first time I really got a glimpse of the helpers putting out the food. "Is it good pay? Serving up the Tributes?", I asked Lace as I sat down.
Lace let out a stupidly over the top laugh. "You mean the Avoxes, dear", she said pointing to the nearest one.
I frowned. "Avoxes?", I questioned.

"Yes dear. They are slaves to the capitol. When you have done something extremely bad, or have betrayed the capitol government somehow, you tongue is cut out so you can no longer speak and you are forever serving your capitol until death. You do not speak to an avox unless it is a command".

My mouth dropped open, and I saw that Marble was equally disturbed by what he just heard.

"Enough talk about them though", said Lace sternly looking at us both.

I nodded, but found myself staring that them. I wander what crime they committed to be punished like this. It was clear they were originally from the capitol as they have tattoos on their arms. It shows, that even capitol citizens aren't safe.

Time flew by, and soon I found myself sitting on the sofa, with an over-excited Lace as the tribute scores were about to be played.

Marble first came on the screen, with score of 9. Then my face appeared, also with a 9. My heart jumped. I did it. I scored high.

Marble scowled at me. "I thought you only threw knives".
I smiled. "I guess there is more too me then meets your eyes".

District two came on, and Jaret bagged himself a 10, while Delia went and scored herself a 9.
District 3 boy only got himself a 5 and the girl got a 7, which is quite high for district 3.
The girl from 4, the non-career also got a 6, while Marty scored a 8.
"The rest ranged from 4-7, if you don't include district 7 boy, with his impressive 9, and a surprise from the girl from 12 scoring an 8.

"Handson did well then?", Marbles said bluntly as the scores finished. I raised my eyebrow at him and frowned. "Who?".

"The boy from 7", he answered as if though it was obvious.

"Oh", I blushed. "I didn't learn his name".

Granite grunted. "The less names you know the better Cashmere. Good for you".
Marble looked annoyed, but didn't say anything.

"Whats happening tomorrow again?", I asked trying to remember schedule.

Lace jumped up, knowing this was her job. "You get a bit of a lay in tomorrow as there is no training in the centre, however, in the morning you will be with me Cashmere, and Marbles will be with his mentor, then in the Afternoon Marble will be with me and you will be with your mentor. With me you will be learning how to properly conduct yourself in front of the camera, and with your mentor you will learn how to present yourself in personality and what kind of role you will show".

Spending the whole morning with Lace isn't what I would have choose for myself if I am brutally honest. But if she can help me look sexy on the stage, to woo the capitol audience then surly it is all worth it.

I took myself to bed that evening, and laid looking at the ceiling. I really missed my Mother and Gloss and really wished I was back in District one with them. I don't regret volunteering for the Hunger Games. I am only trying to improve the shit life that was forced upon me, but I am starting to wonder if this really was the right route to take. I am going to have to kill other innocent children, and why? Because I couldn't bare my fucking father? Because I wanted a better life for myself? Is that really a good plausible reason to do so? Does my selfishness really pay off as a good reason.
Maybe I should die in the arena? If I didn't have Gloss to go back too, to care for, a my mother I think I probably would accept it, step off my plate a second to early and just let the capitol blow me up.

I go to sleep crying again tonight. Tomorrow I have to impress the capitol with my looks and my personality. Its all an act of course, because inside I am crying wishing I was an ugly girl.