Chapter 4 – Mad World
Making my way to the dining table I doubt I can eat with the knots in my stomach, but appearances must be kept. As I sit between Brand and Garner, I reach towards my cup and hear a shriek from across the table. "What have you done to your hand!" inquires Zelena. As I glance at my hand, I realize it is bruised and cut from when I punched the mirror in my bathroom. Glancing back up at Zelena I simply shrug and bring my glass of water to my mouth taking a large drink. "Leave the girl alone Zelena '' announces Bran as Garner leans towards me and whispers "I would hate to see the other person". I send a smirk towards Garner and continue drinking my water as others eat and talk amongst themselves. Looking around and seeing that no one is near ready to leave, I get up from my seat and walk towards the elevator intended to get to the training rooms early. From behind me I hear Bran yell "don't forget the plan Zea". Throwing my right hand in the air I wave him off and step into the elevator, I know what the plan is. Once the elevator dings announcing its arrival on the training floor I step out and pause. "Looks like you have some brains after all, golden girl" sneers Cato as he steps towards me. I take note of his overwhelming smell, leather and sandalwood. Standing in front of me raises his hand and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear whispering "take all the help they give you golden girl, looks like you will need it". Throwing a smirk onto my face I respond "Is this you trying to scare me Cato?". A laugh escapes him as he states "no, just me trying to figure you out". In the near distance a cough breaks our conversation. Turning we see what appears to be trainers "We are ready to let you in, please find your designated spot on the floor and wait there till everyone arrives and we review the procedure". Stepping away from Cato I nod towards the trainers and proceed into the training room.
48 of us stand around a circular podium where the head trainer Atala explains the stations and expectations of the training room. Glancing around at the other tributes I notice the majority of the victors look like they want to be anywhere else but here while the careers look excited to get started. "Now remember, for these games training is being observed by not only the game makers but portions of it will be recorded to be shown to all of Panem. Train wisely. Now get to it" announces Atala. Glancing to my left I see Garner wander off towards the weapons with the same pep in his step as the careers. Let's head to a survival station and keep an eye on some of the tributes I think to myself. Looking at the survival stations I decide to go to the fire station, something I can do in my sleep while I watch what these tributes can actually do. Sitting on knees I start setting up my fire. Glancing to the far left of the room I see the siblings, Cashmere and Gloss, and well as the girl from District 4, Crest, practising with throwing knives. Hmmm Cashmere and Gloss could be an issue but Crest hasn't hit a bullseye yet. To the far right of the room are the tributes training in close combat. Cato, Enobaria, Peeta, Garner, and Royce are practising with swords on dummies. While Garner and Peeta look like they are going full out, the rest are merely warming up. Note to self don't get too close to district 2 if they have a sword in their hands. In between the two sides are the rest of the long-distance weapons. Archery and spears mostly. Katniss and the girl from district 2 have taken up post at the archery station while some random tributes and the Blaze the boy from 2 are throwing spears. "I think your fire is too big" states a small voice behind me, breaking my concentration. "shit". Looking down I see the flames had gotten too close for comfort to my left leg. I glance towards the small blonde "thank you". She smiles and extends her hand "I am Pri-" A figure steps between the girl and I, facing the blonde. "What did I say about talking to these people without me Prim!" The small girl looks down at the floor and apologises to her sister. Sighing I stand up and face Katniss's back. "Did you have a problem twelve?". Katniss whips her head towards me and glares, as though she is trying to punish me for daring to speak. Placing a smirk on my face I repeat my question while crossing my arms. "My issue is that you all want to target me and will do so by targeting my sister. I might not want to but I will kill each and every one of you with an arrow through the back." Sneers Katniss. From beside us Peeta walks up and gently grabs Katniss and Prims arms while leading them away from me. Fuck this shit girl on fire needs a lesson in manners. Turning on my heel I march towards the archery station. The trainer at the archery station attempts to speak to me but I wave him off grabbing the closet bow and arrow to match. Notching the arrow I turn to the direction I came from. Think fast twelve. Pulling the bow up and string back I release the notched arrow in the direction of Katniss. Gasps sound around me as the arrow pierces Katniss's braid on the right side of her head. Putting the arrow down as trainers swarm towards me I yell out "You have no power here twelve, you're also not the only one with a halfway decent shot". Trainers grab my upper arms as they lead me out of the training room. Planting a smirk on my face I glance around and immediately find Cato staring at me with a surprised yet questioning look in his eyes. Watch your back Cato, you might be next.
After placing me into a separate room Atala enters and informs me I will remain in said room for at least five minutes or until I calm down. With a brief sarcastic laugh, I respond "I am calm". Shaking her head, Atala walks out of the room and locks the door behind her. The moment the door closes my thoughts come alive. Weak. You should have killed her. You are too weak to kill anyone. Useless. You will die in the arena. USELESS. WEAK. RUN. Gasping for breath I start clawing at my throat as the edges of my vision begin to darken. I sink to my knees in the middle of the floor. Breathe just breathe. You are okay. You are alive. You are not weak. A knock on the door jolts me from my inner thoughts. "Your time is up; you can leave the room and re-enter training when you are ready. If you are ready to leave now, head to the lunch room as lunch has begun" announces an unknown voice from behind the door. Taking a final deep breath, I stand and face the door. Show them how strong you are. Opening the door, I clasp my hands behind my back as I walk into the lunch room with a smirk planted on my lips.
After I grab some food, I find myself an empty table to eat so as to not have to speak with anyone. As I am eating my food a figure sits to my right, without glancing towards the figure I know it's Cato just by his smell. Sighing I ask "What can I do for you Cato?" "For you to join the careers" he replies. My hand stalls mid-way to my mouth and I turn my face towards him. Is he serious I think to myself. Raising an eyebrow I ask "what makes you think I would want to join you?". Almost immediately Cato responds by leaning towards me with a slight growl. As I smirk at him, I shrug and nonchalantly state "I will have to discuss my options with my mentor". Cato's hand reaches out and wraps around my wrist still in the air holding my fork and tells me his offer will expire in 24 hours. With a brief squeeze to my wrist, he leans even close and eats the food off my fork. "Hey" I shout as he lets go of me and walks back towards the career table.
Once lunch is over, we all head back into the training room. Rather than go back to the survival stations where Katniss, Prim, and Peeta have set up shop I head towards the archery station. I sheepishly glance at the trainer who glares at me but waves me forward anyways and states "well I know you have good technique, let's see how you do on moving targets" pressing a button off to the side the 7 targets begin to move around. Smirking, I grab a quiver of arrows placing it on my back and I grab a bow from the stand. Facing the target, I take my stance and notch my first arrow. Between the eyes. Right in the heart. Through the eye. Jugular. Headshot. Middle of the chest. Jugular, again. Stopping once I hit all seven moving targets I hear clapping behind me. Turning around I see the careers staring at me with curiosity and surprise. Cato, Enobaria, Cashmere, Gloss, Livia, Blaze, Royce, and Opal. To their left is Garner, who is clapping while also glaring at me. What is his problem I wonder to myself. Glancing back at Cato I raise my eyebrow and smirk before turning back to the trainer asking to go again. Throughout the rest of the day, I train at the archery station and eventually make my way back to the survival station once district 12 moves away from them.
Seeing the rush of figures towards the elevator at the end of training I hold back and place myself against the wall facing the elevator. I feel a body beside me do the same, Cato. He turns his body so that his one shoulder is against the wall and his chest faces me. Leaning his head down towards me ear he whispers "you do realise that if you don't join the careers, you will be the first one, we come after, right?". Without turning my head, I whisper back "what makes you think I won't kill the careers first". Before I can react, Cato leans even closer and kisses the side of mouth before whispering "you might be golden but you won't be able to get that close". He suddenly stands and pushes his way to the elevator leaving me leaning against the wall for support.
What have you gotten yourself into this time Zea?
Michael Andrews– Mad World
All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for the daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head, I wanna drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles, it's a very, very
Mad world, mad world