Author's Note: Enjoy! Haha, you must be like, "hey, why does Algar get all the interesting stuff?" Don't worry, I'll have more interesting things to come. Algar's gonna disappear for a little while and when he comes back...let's just say, it won't be too good. So yeah. You want your character getting consequences? xD Also sorry DeadlyHuggles, Mark's probably gonna have some trouble in the Bloodbath now. ;P BUT DON'T WORRY! HE WILL GET HIS JUSTICE. OR WHATEVER THE WORD IS.
Skyrah Labelle (D1 Female)
Mark was so annoying. He could be "charming", but on the inside, he was just another typical, confident Career. Nevertheless, he was still somebody, and if he didn't treat me as terribly as Ray did, I wouldn't be negative to him. At least, to his face. In my mind, well, I'd already observed a lot of things.
First of all, he would get a lot of sponsors. That part was evident in the long conversations between him and his mentor, talking about the best ways to make him appear vulnerable and in need of help- but at the same time confident and self-righteous. I wasn't allowed into any of these conversations, much to my disappointment.
My spirits were up the next day when we were to go to Training. I would meet my fellow Careers! Hopefully they weren't those cruel ones who only cared about killing the most opponents and winning the Games. What about friendship? What about actual humanity?
A knock was thrown stiffly onto my door and I sat up, in the middle of adjusting my training outfit. It was so large for me! They must've envisioned a two-hundred pound, six feet tall girl wearing this. "Come in!" I said, a shiver of excitement passing through me.
My mentor came in and said promptly, "It's time for your first day of Training, Skyrah!"
"Excellent," I said eagerly, bubbles of words coming to my mouth so fast I didn't know which to say first. "I'm so excited to be training at last. I bet I'll learn loads more things to add onto what I did back at home."
She nodded solemnly and we walked out into the hallway, going in the direction of the Training place. My nerves were tense, a knot of dread coiled deep inside me despite myself. I prayed that my fellow Careers would be nice. Please be nice.
The next few minutes passed in a blur, and before I knew it, I was standing there alone, the only person in the giant room. Uhh...this was awkward. Where was everyone else? Was I early? I dismissed this all and simply stood there, breathing in and out to calm myself.
A girl, boy, their mentors, and their escort trotted into the room, eyes squinting to adjust to the light. The boy I recognized- I had seen him on his chariot. His red hair had been easy to notice amid all the duller colors. His name was Tristan or something like that.
"Hello," the escort said respectfully, dipping a head of dyed locks. Tristan and the girl awkwardly shuffled into the room.
"Well we're early, aren't we?" I began, trying to sound friendly. "What are your names?"
Tristan and the girl exchanged glances. "Um..I'm Tyler," the boy said first. Oh. So his name was Tyler, not Tristan.
"And you?" I gazed at the girl evenly.
"Calamity," she answered stiffly, eyes staring straight forward. Her fingers were twisted within each other.
"Cool!" I complimented. "Calamity's an interesting name."
She raised an eyebrow but said nothing. I tried to strike up a conversation several times but Calamity viewed me with suspicion (probably because I was a so-called Career) plus a bit of not-paying attention (dreaminess?) and Tyler looked extremely nervous.
Finally I gave up and resorted to waiting for my fellow tributes. Surely they would talk more.
The other tributes filed in quickly after that, and I glanced around for Mark, finding him in the corner talking to a black-haired boy who had received a ton of flowers at the Parade. Algar, I remembered.
I wandered over to them and introduced myself politely. Algar looked at me with an intense blue gaze, so sharp I almost flinched. He had tanned skin and black hair, kind of like all the rest of Four's tributes.
"Hello," he said cautiously. He had a shifting aura, as if he had many different personalities at once and they were randomly appearing from time to time.
"So, we're Careers now, aren't we?" I replied. "Where's your District partner?"
Algar nodded over to where the girl was leaning against the wall, alone, smirking at the air.
"How about District Two?" I continued.
He shrugged. "Don't care."
"So...why'd you tell me where your District partner is if you don't care?" I questioned carefully. Ooh, I wondered what he'd say.
His eyes flashed and his lip curled. "I don't care about Two," he clarified, clearly trying to stay calm. "You know, Seashire, I'm just going to leave. This girl is driving me crazy with all her questions." He glared at me and strode off, back stick-straight and heels slapping the ground. I looked down at my feet, a worm of anger filling my heart. He was obviously one of those mean Careers...but then again, I'd seen that shifting attitude.
Maybe...and only maybe...he was actually nice on the inside? Perhaps he was just trying to pretend like he didn't care; his mask had evaporated when I had asked him about his District partner.
Cheering up a little with that conclusion, I decided to go talk to Azurine.
Felix Saunders (D2 Male)
I hoped Persefone didn't catch me mediating again. Last time was so embarrassing. At least I would have a fresh start with the rest of the Careers.
We arrived late because I had a panic attack and that almost caused my epilepsy. Oh, dear God, I hoped that didn't happen in the arena. I would probably die what with being starved and worn thin at the same time, plus without medical attention.
I had had a fitful sleep last night, for some reason, even though I was plenty nervous. I was grateful, though, because that meant tons of energy reserved for today. I wasn't so sure I wanted to intimidate everyone though...I thought it was better to hide my strengths until I used it in the arena.
I glanced around the place with interest. It was a big room, with stations for each skill- survival and combat combined. For right now, they were still waiting on a couple more people, and the tributes loitered to the side, some exchanging words with others.
Persefone, beside me, narrowed her eyes, as if she could already sense my weakness to the Pack. She already knew so much about me...what if she told them and they threw me out into the wild? They could get rid of me easily, I would be outnumbered at most five to one. And they didn't have much conscience.
I rid myself of these thoughts and focused on being the best I could be, a determined wave coming over me. If I won, my parents would be so proud of me. And that was what mattered, not Persefone. At least, not for right now.
I saw the other Careers almost immediately. The District One girl was talking excitedly with the girl from Four, while the District One boy was smugly standing there in the corner, arms crossed, and Algar was sweeping his flashing gaze over the tributes.
Persefone separated from me to go and interrogate the District One boy, who looked down his nose at her and seemed reluctant to speak, as if that would ruin his coolness. I wondered who I should introduce myself to and decided on Algar. He was pretty interesting, and I wanted to know how he had turned up at the Capitol. That button thing didn't exactly sound genuine.
"Hey," I said, approaching the seventeen-year-old. He turned to me, his whole body tensing, and I stiffened as his intense gaze fell on me.
He growled, "What the hell are you doing, loser?"
I shuffled in place for a moment, contemplating. "Why call me a loser? I think I'm actually a rather good asset."
He narrowed his eyes. "Everyone knows how you got beat up when you weren't even the actual chosen one- and, in everything unfair, you won the battle."
"Um. Yeah. Exactly. I don't see your point," I replied calmly.
He clenched his fists, muttering a bunch of swear words under his breath. "You weren't supposed to be here. You aren't supposed to be here. You weren't even the chosen one and that makes you a weakling."
"A...weakling?" I tipped my head, a smug grin landing on my face.
"Yes, a weakling. Do you not know what that is? Perhaps you should go back to kindergarten." There was a weird way he said the words, as if he were biting on every one of them. His icy, guarded expression shifted slightly but not enough to reveal what was underneath.
"Thank you for the advice. Maybe I will," I said softly, all raising eyebrows.
"Good," he rumbled. "Now leave me alone." Algar turned away, his armor impenetrable, eyes stony cold. I could sense that I couldn't get anything else from him and left, instead going to see the different stations.
Just then, the training instructor blew her whistle. Everyone gathered around her and she declared, "Training is now open!"
Algar Black (D4 Male)
The first thing I thought some stoic, uncaring person would do was go to the spear section and show off. After all, I had achieved my winning thing with the spears. Every sensible, superior Career would do that, I thought grudgingly.
I kind of regretted saying all that to the boy, Felix, for some odd reason, but I ignored it stubbornly. A couple minutes later, the whistle blew- and we all gathered in the center of the room. The woman from the Capitol said in a high-pitched voice, "Welcome, tributes, to Training! If you want to learn more about combat, they will be to your right." She pointed. "If you are having trouble with survival techniques, the left might be your choice.
"I hope you all have a wonderful time here and wish you all luck in the Games!" she finished brightly. The crowd began dispersing almost immediately, everyone pushing and shoving in their excitement to get to a station. I noticed that a large group was gathered around the archery section, eyes widening as a Career(Persefone probably?) released an arrow. It hit bull's eye, and she, a serious look on her face, padded off.
I decided to just join up with the rest of the Careers and create an intimidating wall. I had already pushed aside Skyrah and Felix, but maybe they would give me a second chance. Doubtful, I thought, a bout of fear passing up my spine at just the prospect. To be honest, I was quite scared of the Games, but of course I wasn't going to admit that.
I headed over to Persefone, who stared at me with no emotion in her eyes but fire. She said finally, "Mr. Black, huh?"
I almost winced. That was what they had called me before I was to be on the stage, used as a puppet. I steadied myself and said in a bored drawl, "I would prefer Algar, thank you."
She tipped her head slightly to the side, studying me, still that monotone fire in her gaze. She was muscular like a normal Career, like me, with a tall figure and long black hair put in a high ponytail. Her eyes were just regular green.
"Alright, then," she said finally. "I'll call you Algar." No humor at all in her voice.
"Good," I rumbled. "Now, where's the rest of the Careers? I thought we were to stick together as one group?"
She still didn't make any clear emotion pass through. I assumed she probably only did to her friends or something. "Yes, yes we were," she said. "Now I suppose we could gather them?"
I nodded stiffly, my heart aching to be set free, and we walked across the room to the others. Skyrah, Felix, and Azurine were hefting axes at each other, while Mark threw spears in the station right next to them. I went first to the girls and Felix, because I knew they were less difficult than Mark. Well, I hadn't really gotten to know Azurine all that well yet, but I was pretty sure she couldn't be as irritating as the District One male.
Skyrah popped her head up, a sheen of sweat running off her forehead. A small friendly smile stretched across her mouth and I found it quite welcoming, even though I didn't care to admit it. Algar... I growled to myself. Remember your wishes! Remember yourself!
She said respectfully as I got closer, "Hey, Algar." Of course she knew my name. Everyone knew my name by now because of that stupid thing on television. Ugh.
"Hey," I grunted back. Persefone picked up an axe and rubbed it between her palms. She had probably never used an axe before because they were Seven's specialty, and the trainers hadn't bothered to teach us about it.
"So, do you want to join us?" she asked. I hesitated, a knife cutting across my heart. Why had I brought up the "stick together as one group" part? I would only get close to them and I couldn't let my heart free. It must always be guarded behind iron bars.
"Why not," I said at last, letting the tenseness gradually melt from my muscles. I would train with them, but I would not get close to them. I had to promise myself just that.
She brightened slightly and handed me an axe. It felt gritty between my hands, like sand. It had clearly not been trimmed neatly, and now it interfered whenever I tried to hold it. "Ugh," I muttered. "How do you hold this thing?"
Mark smirked but said nothing, and it was Skyrah who rushed to help me. "Like this." She took the axe expertly and her fingers naturally curled around it, avoiding the pieces of wood sticking out. "There's a special hand-grip right here, it's just not very noticeable," she explained.
"Alright, alright," I cut in roughly, the lock coming back over the iron bars. "I get it." I snatched the axe back from her and did what she said. She looked a bit wounded but didn't speak. That's the way to close your heart, Algar, my inner soul whispered. Drive all else away..and your heart will never be damaged.
Everyone- that is, all of the Careers- were staring at me now, and I swallowed. I had never used an axe before. Could I do it? Nobody had ever taught me how to swing it and surely nobody would now.. I closed my fingers firmly against the grip and then said coolly, "Who's up?"
"Me," Mark volunteered at once, eyes glinting. He swung his sword in an arc before settling it comfortably in his hands, muscles rippling beneath his sleeve. I swallowed once more, swallowed all the nerves and let my cool, uninterested aura settle around me. He's nothing. Nothing at all.
Mark approached with calm, careful steps, graceful as a cat, calculating as a tiger. I slipped slowly to the right and he followed, nearing me every second. Reluctant, I began to back away, picking up pace in every step until I was full-out speed-walking, and he too. Finally, Mark let out an animal roar and charged, that confident, snarky smile on his face all the while. I leaped to the side, heart beginning to pick up its pace, and swung my axe without thought, my eyes shutting instinctively.
I heard a scream, then a crunch, and then a couple shouts. My eyes slowly reopened, filled with thoughts of, Oh, did I just slice his head off? and That's...good, certainly. I didn't let my heart leave my soul.
But Mark was alive, simply bleeding. Well, not simply. It was kind of gory, actually. My axe had cut into his chest, and his shirt was torn to reveal dark blood. He was panting heavily, his breath coming out unevenly as he struggled to look at his wounded self. A deep gash was in his chest and that was where the source of the blood came from. Flesh looked clean ripped from his body, and as I lifted my axe, I could see blood dripping off it.
Mark's blood.
Then I remembered something- the training instructor. My brain struggled to remember her words, but once I did, my jaw dropped. She had said, "You are forbidden to harm another tribute, by all means."
My heart seemed to quicken its pace, my breath came in ragged gasps as I realized what I had done. I had harmed another tribute.
So I did the only thing I could do.
I ran.
9/7/17