Chapter 14

NARRATOR | Dina Phillips, District 6

I grunt as one of the trainers strikes me with a fake sword. The beam slams into my side - it may not be lethal, but it'll definitely bruise tomorrow.

"Keep your guard up and pay attention," the trainer says, returning his blade to the starting position. He hasn't been easy on me today, but that's the way I like it. Back in Six, I ran my squad the same way, and it's my leadership style that made me one of the youngest site managers in the hovercraft construction sector.

I nod, preparing for our next run-through. This is the best training I can try to get - practice makes perfect, as they say, and I want to be prepared for the Arena.

As I try to defend myself from the trainer's quick attacks, a nearby conversation drifts within earshot.

"We have a good thing going here with us three," I hear Violet say from behind me. "We just need to think about expanding. One more would help us, I think."

I glance to the side to see Violet sparring with the girl from Four. The girl's District partner is sitting on the ground next to them, adjusting his glasses as the girls exchange blows.

I feel something hit my stomach, and I let out a string of curses. I got distracted, and the trainer made me pay for it.

"Come on," the trainer sighs, exasperated. "Stay focused - these tributes won't have fake swords!"

"I know," I grumble. Maybe it's Violet's presence nearby, but I'm suddenly very irritated. "Sorry."

"Let's go again," the trainer says, but I just shake my head.

"I'm done for now," I sigh. With these other tributes around, I won't be able to focus enough to learn anything right now. I'd be better off trying something else.

"Set your sword down on the rack," the trainer orders before turning to another boy behind him.

I walk as slowly as I can to the weapons rack, keeping my ears open as the other tributes continue to talk.

"Ideas, Declan?" the girl from Four says as she continues to spar.

"The fact that Corbin hasn't been claimed by either of the Careers is a big opportunity," Declan points out. "He's really strong. Or Verity from Five, maybe. She's supposedly a genius."

"You're the genius," the girl says. "We don't need another one."

I shake my head as I slide my sword into its proper place. Violet would never agree to an alliance with Verity or Corbin - she's too scared of Verity's smarts and Corbin's strength. I know people like her from back in Six. Some of the other squad leaders, especially. Never wanted anyone too strong or too smart on their teams, because it made them look worse in comparison. That's something I've never been able to understand.

"I need someone loyal," Violet says. "I've already had to deal with enough backstabbing in the last few days, and I can't handle any more. Corbin and Verity won't be loyal."

What Violet means to say is: I don't want anyone who will compare to me. I don't want anyone on my team who is nearly as strong as me. If all of her allies depend on her, they'll be her minions all the way through the Games.

"If we can find someone desperate, someone who really wants it, they'll be grateful to us," the girl from Four suggests.

"Someone like..." Declan says slowly. "Him?"

"Who, the one from Six?" Violet asks, and I whirl around. They can't possibly be...

Oh, yes, they are. They're pointing right at Lucas, who is currently struggling to fire an arrow. I can't help but stare at Violet, one of the strongest tributes here, as she scopes out my lame District partner.

"He could be solid," Violet says. "He's not strong, but we don't need him to be."

Sure, Violet. You don't need anybody strong, you just need someone to use as a meat shield when the time comes. How disgusting.

"Let's talk to him later," Declan says, and I know what I need to do.

I set my sights on Lucas, crossing the Training Center and grabbing a bow to stand next to him.

"I think you have to put the arrow at the center of the string," I say, directing Lucas' arrow to the right place.

"Thanks," Lucas sighs, holding the bow up to his face and firing. The arrow goes nowhere near the target, sinking into the wall behind it.

I cringe at Lucas' effort. Bless him, he's trying. He's always been like this, even when I met him back in Six.

Lucas is something of a laughing stock back in Six. He works hard, and I respect him for that, but he just isn't good at anything. From what I've heard, he tried to enter the District's engineering sector to avoid manual labor, but that plan fell through when he failed the exams. Since then, he's been passed around to nearly every sector of Six. At one point, he was passed to my squad in the hovercraft sector, and I passed him right along to the next team.

Still, Lucas has a good spirit. I've been trying to be his buddy in here, teaching him skills that will keep him alive, but it's a lost cause at this point. Eventually, I had to look out for myself, which is why I was sparring with the trainer alone this morning.

I'm only a few years older than Lucas, but I still feel like an older sister to him. I was his boss for a short time back in Six, after all. The fact that someone like Violet might try to use him for their gain makes me sick, but Lucas is his own person. He can make his own decisions.

That doesn't mean that I'll make it easy for them, though. I'm going to attach myself to Lucas all morning; if they want to talk to him, they'll have to do it right in front of me.

It seems that I've underestimated Violet's determination, though. After a few hours of Training, she finally approaches us when we're in the corner reading survival guides.

"Lucas," the girl from Four calls from behind her allies. "Can we talk?"

Lucas looks at them with pure terror in his eyes, like they're pointing a gun right at his face. He seems awestruck by the fact that they're even talking to him; to be fair, most of the other tributes have ignored us since Training started, so this is a rare occasion.

"Uh..." Lucas croaks out, staring up at Violet.

"Alone," Violet says, her eyes flickering to me.

"Lucas is my District partner," I speak up, not backing down from Violet's intimidation. "Whatever you need to say, you can say it here."

Violet tosses her hair over her shoulder with a shrug. "Okay," she mutters, turning her gaze back to Lucas. "We want another member in our alliance, and we think you'd be perfect. If you want a good chance at surviving in the Arena, this is your best shot."

Lucas' eyes widen, glancing between Violet and me. I can tell that he's torn - this is an offer too good to refuse, but will he abandon me, the person who's stuck by his side for the last two days?

"What do you think?" the girl from Four prompts, and I watch as Lucas spirals in front of my eyes. His eyes dart back and forth between me and the others, and I can see him start to crumble.

I already know his decision before he makes it. Lucas is weak-willed, and this offer is too good to resist. Whether or not he's abandoning me, the temptation is too great for him to ignore.

"Okay," Lucas says. "I'm in."

And there it is. Violet grins, reaching down and helping Lucas to his feet.

"Perfect," she purrs. "Let's teach you how to actually use a bow and arrows."

Lucas glances back at me, but he's already made his decision. I turn away, not giving him the satisfaction of seeing my face. Two days of protecting him, and this is what I get in return.

I should've known better than to rely on Lucas. I couldn't depend on him back in Six, and I can't now. Some things never change... in these Games, the only person I can truly rely on is myself.