Beta-Read by: gkmoberg1
The Devil Within by Digital Daggers
I will keep quiet
You won't even know I'm here
You won't suspect a thing
You won't see me in the mirror
But I crept into your heart
You can't make me disappear
Chapter 9
Winnow heaved a sigh, glancing over to Kai. He was still avoiding her after their conversation about Cato yesterday. She was practicing her knife-throwing as Kai talked animatedly with the tribute girl from district 6. The pair seemed to share an enthusiasm for the medicinal herbs- talking over it and working together over the Medical table.
She turned the knife over in her hand, shifting her gaze to the target in front of her. With one swift flick of her wrist, the knife embedded in the target slightly off-center. Winnow grimaced at the poor throw. She felt a sudden current of air sail by her left cheek, another knife piercing the target perfectly in the center. Winnow glanced back to see Clove approaching her.
The petite dark-haired tribute had a smug look on her sharp features as she slunk forward and past Winnow, yanking both knives from the target before turning to face her. "Care for a friendly competition?" Clove asked with a playful tone that surprised Winnow.
Clove walked back to the other tribute, holding one of the weapons out to her handle-first. "Friendly?" Winnow asked dubiously.
Clove nodded. "Ten throws. Whoever has the most accurate shots consistently wins," she suggested.
Winnow merely nodded as answer. "Shall I go first?" she asked. Clove gestured for her to go ahead. Winnow turned to the target, carefully rolling the weapon in her hand to mentally prepare herself for the competition. She shifted into a knife-throwing stance, letting her weight fall back onto her right foot before she actually started to take aim for the throw. Winnow finally pitched the knife at the target forcefully.
The knife landed dead center of the bullseye. Winnow couldn't help but let out a little cheer at seeing her good shot. Clove laughed at the other girl's antics. The smaller girl moved to set-up her shot while Winnow moved a few paces back. "I have to admit – my knife throwing skills aren't as good as my trident ones are. Knives are more of a hobby for me," Winnow remarked.
Clove turned with a smile – or a small upturn to her lips to be exact. "You're not half-bad, especially for just a hobby," the petite tribute retorted nonchalantly.
"From you, I take that as a compliment." Winnow said, placing her hands on her hips.
Clove smirked. "You should," Winnow snorted – standing back to watch the other girl make her throw. Clove's throw was beyond perfect. Just as Winnow had expected. Her first throw landed dead-center too – the blade striking the pommel of Winnow's knife. "Your turn." Clove said.
Winnow raised her eyebrows – striding past the other girl to yank both knifes from the target. Moving back to the throwing line, she handed the other knife to Clove. "Why am I not surprised?" Winnow asked, shaking her head. Clove rolled her eyes – gesturing for her to go on.
Winnow made her throw – and then so did Clove. After five throws, Clove was clearly winning – but Winnow wasn't so far behind. "How about we switch it up? Lightning round – no preparation – just throw." Winnow suggested.
Clove sucked in her bottom lip, worrying it just a moment before nodding. "Side by side." She added. Winnow raised her eyebrows before nodding in return. The pair of dark-haired girls took their stances behind the throwing line – a safe distance between the two.
"3…2…1." Winnow counted down – both young women throwing on the final number.
Clove's throw was still perfect – and Winnow's was just about flawless as well. "Interesting. You're better on the fly, eh?" Clove remarked.
The taller girl smirked and merely shrugged her shoulders. "Well, when I learned to throw knives, I was aiming at moving targets on a moving vessels, you see. There were no targets to be had where I lived in District 4," Winnow said in reply.
Clove quirked an eyebrow. "And what were your moving targets, then?" she asked as the pair of them moved to set up another shot.
"Rats." Winnow answered with a waggle of her eyebrows. Clove shot her a look of disbelief before looking back to the target. "3, 2, 1!" she said quickly – two knives hurtling through the air at the target.
Once the pair of them had finished their 'lightning round' – Clove had still come out on top. They had scored evenly on the lightning round, so it had been Clove's lead on the first half that had given her the win. "It was a closer contest than I expected." Clove said – holding her hand out.
Winnow grinned – reaching out to shake the other girl's hand. "Well, it ended just how I expected." She retorted, making the other girl snort.
"You're good, Winnow." Clove said suddenly. "I hope Cato's…stubbornness...hasn't dissuaded you from joining us." She said.
Winnow scoffed, twirling a knife in her hand. "Cato is the least of my problems. Don't worry, Clove. I'll talk to Cato before the end of the day," she responded.
Clove quirked an eyebrow. "Does that mean you're a Career?" she questioned slowly.
The taller girl shrugged. "If you don't tell Cato and ruin my fun," Winnow answered. Clove smirked.
"Fun like this? Never. Glad to have you on our side," the District Two tribute replied, clasping the other girl's arm. With that said, Clove left her to return to the other Careers. Winnow watched from the corner of her eye as Cato began to question his district-mate immediately upon her return.
It was so very funny to Winnow –every single one of Cato's Careers had come to speak with her and tested her in some way. Clove was clever enough to know that was what she was doing - as for Marvel and Glimmer, Winnow wasn't so sure.
Winnow couldn't help but chuckle, turning to place the knife on the equipment rack with the intention of getting a trident. When she went to move to the rack of tridents, she found the big, dark-skinned tribute from District 11 in front of her. "Well, I'm feeling popular today," she muttered – earning an odd look from the young man.
"I'm Thresh." He said, offering his hand.
"Winnow." She said in response. "Can I help you?" she asked.
"I noticed you saw Rue…making trouble yesterday," Thresh remarked. "And I wanted to thank you for not saying anything," he added.
Winnow smiled. "Why would I? It's just harmless fun," She replied.
"Cato's not so harmless," Thresh responded with a frown.
Winnow rolled her eyes. "You let me worry about Cato, and you just focus on Rue." She said.
"Alright." Thresh scratched his head. "I'm offering you one, Four. If I see you in the arena – and you need help, I'll help you." He offered.
Winnow raised an eyebrow, but shook his proffered hand anyway. "Thank you." She responded. Thresh just nodded and then walked away.
Winnow then managed to get hold of a trident and practice undisturbed for an hour before she was interrupted again. This time it was the boy from district 12. "Hi Winnow, I'm Peeta," the blond greeted her.
She merely flicked her eyebrows up. "What's up, 12?" Winnow responded.
"I, uh, was watching when you and Clove were practicing together. You're pretty impressive," Peeta remarked, running a hand through his hair.
It was clear he was nervous to talk to her. Winnow had dismissed the boy as no threat when she first met him – just like the others had. But she had quickly recalculated when she had seen his strength when he threw the weighted ball clear across the room. "Thank you," she said – not sure what else to say.
They stood in silence for a few moments before Peeta plucked up the courage to get to the point. "I don't want to waste your time, Winnow. So I just want to ask you who you're thinking of allying with." He said quickly.
Winnow sighed, shifting her weight from one foot to another. "It's not really any of your business, 12. But if you really want to know…I will be allying myself with the strongest competitors. Something you should do, too." She responded.
Peeta gave her a look of confusion. "It's obvious who you're going for, 12. And let me tell you, every single Career has it out for Fire Bitch. It'd be in your best interest to steer clear." She advised him.
Understanding dawned on Peeta's face. "I appreciate your advice, Winnow." He said reluctantly. It was clear that he disagreed with her advice – but he was polite enough not to actually say so.
Winnow turned away from him, rolling the shaft of the trident in her hand. "Just a piece of advice, 12…sometimes the work you want to accomplish can be done from the opposite side you expect to be on."
"Thank you again, Winnow." Peeta said again in response, leaving the other tribute to her own devices. And to her glee – she wasn't disturbed again until training was just about done at lunchtime.
"So – Winnow, do you actually have an answer for me, or are we going to keep playing this game?" Cato asked as Winnow set the trident back on the rack.
She turned towards him once she had finished that task with a smirk on her lips. Cato's smug look faltered at the sight of it. So he thinks I will reject him again, Winnow thought. Interesting. "Yes. But we also have a slight hitch," she answered him.
Cato took a step forward. "And what hitch is that?" he breathed out quietly – clearly he was eager for a yes – and Winnow thought he might just agree to anything in order to get her on his side.
"Kai." Winnow remarked. At the name, Cato's expression twisted – like he had eaten something sour. "I want your promise that you will not lay a hand on him. Ever. When the time comes, I will take care of him." She continued.
Cato folded his arms over his chest. "And until then?" he questioned.
Winnow settled him with a deadly glare. "Until then, he is under the Careers' protection. He knows medicine, Cato. He's quite valuable." She informed him.
"Fine. I promise." Cato said reluctantly.
The corners of Winnow's lips tilted up at that. "And one last thing." She added. The big, blond tribute groaned almost dramatically. "When I join, I am not your subordinate, Cato. I am your equal. And I will only be talked to as such," Winnow remarked.
Cato merely nodded, holding his hand out for her to shake on their agreement. Winnow took a deep breath, and then took his hand.
At first, such a look of elation crossed Cato's face – making a sudden warm feeling to blossom in Winnow's belly. Then his expression quickly turned smug, which made her quite irritated with him. "I know, I know. You've gotten what you wanted." She muttered.
"Not quite," Cato retorted, leaning in to whisper in Winnow's ear exactly what he wanted.
"Oh, dream on, Two. Just because we have to play at romance, doesn't mean we actually have to do it," Winnow said, pushing away from him.
"You didn't seem to mind before." Cato remarked.
"Well, that was before. I don't like an audience, Cato. And there is nowhere in the Capitol that we won't be watched." Winnow retorted. Cato sighed before nodding. "I have to go talk to Kai." She told him – glancing around to see Kai heading for the cafeteria where they had eaten lunch for the past few days.
"Alright. You should come sit with us, though, if you can." Cato conceded before walking off towards the cafeteria.
After a moment, Winnow followed. She found Kai sitting at a table with the girl from District 6 that he had been talking to in training. "Excuse me," Winnow said. "I don't mean to be rude, but can I have a moment alone with Kai?" She requested.
District 6 looked up at her with wide eyes, while Kai pursed his lips at the sight of her. "If you don't mind, Kiva, Can we have a few minutes?" Kai added.
"Sure, Kai," Kiva- assumedly the district 6 tribute's name – answered, taking up her tray of food and moving to another table to sit with her district mate.
Winnow sat down beside Kai, who turned to her with an expectant look. "What is it, Winnow?" he asked.
"I spoke with Cato and the other careers. You're safe, even if you don't want to stick with us." She told him.
"So it's an 'us' now, huh? You and Cato." Kai retorted quickly.
A frown tightened Winnow's features. "I don't know what you want me to say, Kai. Finnick told me I had to partner with the Careers. And I did what I could to get you in. We're allies, aren't we?" She informed him.
Kai shrugged. "I don't care about that. I want to know why Cato wants you so bad. I want to know how it became 'us'." He said spitefully.
Winnow exhaled loudly in exasperation. "Fine. You want the truth, Kai? The whole truth? You got it." She exclaimed. Leaning in close to Kai, she whispered in his ear. "You wanna know why, I'll tell you why. I fucked him. And I was damn good. And just like any other man, he wanted more. So I got him interested, and when he saw I had skill, I was in. And the fact that I told him no made him want me even more."
Kai blanched white and he turned his gaze away from her. "You shouldn't have had to do that, it's not right." He muttered.
"I wanted to." Winnow retorted. "I'm sorry if that hurts your delicate sensibilities, Kai, but I'll do just about anything to protect you and me."
Kai shook his head. "Why? Why, Winnow, I just don't understand. Why are you trying to protect me?" he questioned her – his anger suddenly gone, he just felt empty – and confused.
"I told you I would. And I keep my word," Winnow responded simply.
"But I don't want you to do things like that for me!" Kai exclaimed. "It just makes me feel worse!"
Winnow couldn't believe he was still arguing with her. She had procured his safety and her own, but all he could do was question her. Even when she told him the truth, he couldn't stop. "Fine," She hissed, "feel worse. I don't care anymore!"
Kai's mouth opened and closed as Winnow stood and strode away from him. With one last dirty look flashed in his direction, she took a seat between Cato and Marvel. Kai watched as Cato turned to her with a question on his lips.
There was no look of tenderness passed between the two, Kai noted- but there was heat and a certain hunger in the gaze shared between them. Winnow merely shook her head at her ally and apparent lover – then Kai saw as Cato nodded and dropped the issue – something that Kai apparently couldn't do.
"Winnow Fontanne," a robotic female voice said over the intercom. Winnow glanced at Kai – who was sitting next to her.
"Good luck," he said quietly. Winnow flashed him an uncertain smile, rising to her feet reluctantly. She was the last Career to be assessed by the Gamemakers – and she wanted to make a good impression.
She waited before the automatic doors for them to open; careful to school her walk, expression – everything into the tribute Finnick wanted the Gamemakers to see. Winnow entered the room slowly, swinging her hips with every step – her gait entirely predatory. Her expression was blank, all except for a smirk pulling at her lips.
Winnow came to stand before the panel of Gamemakers – her smirk expanding as she saw she had all of their attention. "Winnow Fontanne, District 4." She remarked in a low tone.
"Ah, Miss Fontanne, we've been looking forward to seeing you all day," one of the Gamemakers remarked. Winnow recognized him as the Head Gamemaker – Seneca Crane.
"How flattering, Head Gamemaker. I'll try not to disappoint you," Winnow said with a charming quirk to her lips.
"From the way Reed's been peddling her, our expectations couldn't be higher..." one of the other nameless Gamemakers remarked quietly – but his words did not escape her notice.
Winnow moved to the rack holding a trident first, before moving to the target. She stood a full ten yards back from the standard throwing mark – and heaved the trident at the target with a ferocious yell. Not unlike her throw back in training – Winnow's trident embedded into the torso of the dummy so forcefully it pinned the dummy to the wall behind it – the dummy's torso splitting and exposing the foam interior - the lower half of the dummy's torso dangled by a few rubbery threads.
Without looking at the Gamemakers, Winnow continued to the knives rack – plucking one knife off the shelf and moving to set up a shot. Again, as was Winnow's habit, she rolled the hilt of the knife in her hand before pitching it at the destroyed dummy – severing the barely attached lower torso with one well-aimed throw.
At that, Winnow turned to face the Gamemakers, finding them watching her with interest. "And how did I do, Head Gamemaker?" She called out to the group of older men.
Crane smirked at her, turning in his chair to face her fully. "Miss Fontanne, you couldn't disappoint me if you tried,"
Sorry about the delay guys. Hope you liked the chapter. Please Review - the real exciting stuff is coming up.
chapter 10: Winnow and Kai get their scores, Interviews...and is there a plot afoot?