That morning I wasn't woken up by Peeta, instead I woke up to the sound of buzzing coming from the clock on my bed stand, 7:55 am. The sunrise was over and I had missed it, I prayed that Peeta hadn't waited all morning to come up. I shook my head, no if he had wanted to see it with me he would have woken me up himself. I flexed my shoulders to get out all the kinks and dragged my body out of bed, straight into the shower that awaited me.
I sighed contentedly as the water flowed over me, as I showered a thought occurred to me. I realized just how comfortable I was becoming with the luxuries I had never had before in District Twelve. Showering every day, wearing clothes that weren't stained by soot or had patches on them, eating a large breakfast every morning and dinner every night. Even the training was something that I had never experienced before.
I looked down at the draining water, I didn't want to be used to it. I wanted to hate it all, since I knew it was all to keep those who watched the Games happy. They wanted to see the children they were betting on being treated like kings and queens before being sent into the arena. This was all their way of redeeming themselves for sending 25 unlucky children to be killed by the hands of other children. No one liked the Hunger Games. There had been at least two revolts in the Districts in response to them. Each one was caused because of the guidelines for Quarter Quell Reapings.
For the first it was due to many of the poorer Districts refusing to vote for which children they wanted to send into the Games, though District One, Two and Four were perfectly fine with the idea. The up roar caused production of some food, clothing and other goods to be put on hold. However because the Capitol since had the Career Districts supplied to them they were able to withstand the revolt.
A month before the Games where to begin President Glass himself went to each of the Districts involved and proclaimed that if the Districts didn't follow the guidelines of the Reaping he would choose 20 people from each District to be shot at random. This ultimatum stopped the revolt and unfortunately the Quarter Quell went on as planned with Victoria Lexington being crowned victor of that year.
The second revolt happened due to many families with multiple children having to lose one or both of their children to the Games. This revolt was stopped quicker than the last because President Glass, with the assistance of the future President Snow, sent out a new ultimatum for this year. If the Districts continued to revolt then he would have all remaining children in the reaping pool executed with the tributes still having to enter the Games.
Once again the revolts stopped and the Games went as scheduled with many families losing two, and some all, of their children. 25 years ago when the guidelines for the Third Quarter Quell were revealed, President Snow had added the minute after that if there was anyone who revolted in regards to these guidelines they would be executed on the spot. This had stopped any thoughts of revolting to happen and once again the Quarter Quell was held with Haymitch winning the Games.
I clenched my fists, every time a revolt began in Panem, the president would crush it with the promise of people dying for their actions. In each revolt the Capitol felt no repercussions since the Career Districts still supplied them with everything they needed to live their luxurious lifestyles. I punched the wall, I wished there was a way to stop all this torture from happening, but if I tried I be dead faster then if I went into the Games.
"Katniss, are you coming for breakfast?!" Effie Trinket's word broke me for my thoughts and the sound of her sickly sweet Capitol accent made me want to vomit. I turned off the water and tapped the button by the door to the bathroom.
"I'll be out soon." I said, steel hinting in my voice, "I was taking a shower."
There was a slight pause before she answered, "Alright, hurry and change."
I closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath. The only way to change was to win the Games and destroy the system from the inside. I knew that if I was to win, I had to push my feelings for Peeta aside. The idea of just telling him made my heartache but it was the only way to get through the Games without my heart breaking.
Stealing my resolve, I dried off, put on my uniform and exited my room to where breakfast awaited me.
POV Jérémie
"Of course I understand the implication of agreeing to this Seneca, but I believe it would be more beneficial to agree to this change in their sponsorship. It would give them both peace of mind before they enter the arena." Jérémie was sitting on a lounge chair overlooking the outdoor patio of the penthouse belonging to Seneca Crane, Head Gamemaker of the Hunger Games for the past three years.
Seneca Crane himself sat beside Jérémie with his breakfast, a spread of meats, cheeses, fruits and bread rolls, on a table beside him, "Jérémie, you and I have been good friends for the past three years and that friendship means a great deal to me," The ambassador's eyes became a light with a glimmer of hope, "But, this change your suggesting is unheard of. This recruit, Peeta Mellark, right?" Jérémie nodded slowly, "He is not related to this Gale Hawthorne. They're not cousins, or brothers, and he certainly isn't his father. There's no blood tying them to each other and as you know the rules behind ambassador sponsorships state that the year allowance will be transferred to any living blood relations of the recruit in question."
Jérémie lifted his hand slowly, "Actually it says something quite different." he stated tapping a screen in between them. A document lit up on the screen with the title Guidelines of Ambassador Sponsorships. He scrolled through the document and stopped on the line he wanted, "Will you read this line out loud for me?"
The Head Gamemaker looked curious, leaning in to read the highlighted line, "If the recruit in question perishes during the Games or at any point after, then the allowance of money specified in paragraph two, subsection eight with be transferred to the recruit's chosen next of kin. Chosen next of kin? It really says that." The dark hair man looked surprised as he reread the line.
"I looked into this clause and apparently during the time when this document was first drafted, it was common for tributes to have no parents. So the money was to be given to their guardians or the people they saw as parental figures. You people really need to update the clauses of your documents, this one was sent out this year and has not changed since the year 25 ADD. It will be 75 years old next year."
A light chuckle came from Seneca, "Well well well, my friend. You truly are a worthy opponent. Alright, since it doesn't go against the rules I'll agree to it."
"You are always one to bend the rules, mon ami. It is a rare trait for someone of your stature." Jérémie sipped at the warm tea Seneca's Avox had given him.
The other man chuckled, looking through a different document on the screen, "You are a strange man, Jérémie. You've been the ambassador of Eastern Canada for the last five years. Now in the final year of your posting you decide to sponsor not one but two tributes. I thought you said sponsoring a tribute was a waste of time and money for children who will most likely die?"
Jérémie took a deep breath, and turned to look Seneca directly into the eyes, "Mon ami, do you know why ambassador sponsorships exist?" The Head Gamemaker shook his head, remaining silent as he assumed Jérémie would explain, "The sponsorship exists to give other countries a reason not to interfere with this, frankly barbaric way of punishing your citizens for a crime that happened over a hundred years ago. If my country or any other tries to stop the Hunger Games, the Treaty of Peace will be void and other countries will start war on each other. No one wants to break that peace, so when your country brought these games into existence, countries across the world tried to figure out a way to stop it without violence. That was impossible, so your President Glass gave the countries a way to help children in these games, by becoming sponsors."
"But he added that loophole that made few ambassadors want to sponsor anyone. So why did you?" The question was pointed but valid.
"I do not want to see more children die when I have a way to help them survive. I wanted to choose the best recruit, not one from a District known for its victories but someone who I truly believe can change this country if they win. And her only condition; was that I sponsor her fellow recruit. I believe that girl has something we rarely see nowadays."
Seneca looked amused, "And what would that be?"
"True drive to succeed." The two men exchanged looks, they seemed to be speaking without words for some time until a loud buzzing sound came from the screen between them.
"It appears I have to head down now. Care to join me?" Seneca rose from his seat, a smile on his lips, "I wouldn't ask anyone else, but you have already picked recruits to sponsor so the rules don't really apply to you. You will need to change first. I have suitable clothes that will fit you." Jérémie was hesitant at accepting the offer until Seneca added, "I'm having a roast pig brought in for lunch."
Jérémie smirked at the thought, "I cannot say no to roasted pork."
POV Katniss
The elevator down to the gym this morning was Effie Trinket free, just me, Peeta, Trevor and Diane standing in awkward silence. I could tell by the glare Trevor that shot at me that he still didn't like me, in fact I'm pretty certain he despised me. Though I still wasn't sure why. I had done nothing to incur his hatred, all I did was try to be polite to him and Diane, we were sharing a floor after all. Then again Trevor had the air about him that was on par to that of a Career. He seemed determined to win the Games, and playing nice was not in the cards for him.
Once we reached the bottom we found Atala waiting for all the tributes to arrive, her army of trainers behind her. She directed each of us into the mess hall which had been divided into thirteen separate sitting areas each with a number on top of the table, "Please sit at your District number." Peeta and I took our seat beside District Eleven. It appeared as though they had seated us accorded to the order of when we would be called, since Trevor and Diane's table was in between District Two and Three.
Atla nodded her approval at our quickness to sit in our respective seats, "Good. Now please give your attention to Commander Athena Ignatius." Wait, she wasn't going to explain the rules of the assessments? How odd.
The beautiful dark skinned woman stepped into our view, she wasn't wearing a peacekeeper uniform today. Instead she wore a similar uniform to Atala's only with red trim along the edges instead of white, "Good morning tributes. Today is your assessment day. I am sure many of you have been told what this entails by your mentors. I will still explain for those who haven't received that luxury. Through those doors," she pointed to metal doors beside Marvel and Glimmer's table, "Await the Gamemakers. Each of you have fifteen minutes to show your skills. You may show any skill you wish, this includes attacks on a living person. A trainer will be at your disposal. You have permission to strike the trainer, but that attack cannot be lethal or life threatening. If it is, you will be docked points that culminate into your overall score. Introduce yourself by name and district before starting and remember, your goal is to impress the Gamemakers. Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favour."
"Marvel Stanford." a mechanical voice said over a speaker, starting the assessments. One after another, the boys, then girls, of Districts One, Two, Thirteen, Three, Four, Five and Six were called into the assessment room. They didn't come back the same way, so I assumed they left to their floor through a different exit. After Palia's assessment there was a one hour break for lunch of a green pasta with tomatoes, chucks of chicken and cheese, and a tangy sauce paired with juice and more bread rolls. Peeta and I, along with the rest of those waiting, ate in silence, all dreading their assessment or deciding upon which skill they planned to show.
I thought about it a bit, the whole point of this time was to show your best skill in order for the Gamemakers not only to give you a high score but also so they might add your preferred weapon into the arena at the start. I remembered a game a few years back where the tributes were only given wooden spikes as a weapon. I prayed this year wouldn't be like that. I could make a bow, my father had taught me how before the mine collapse, but they were never as good as his. Of course any bow I made would be better than those metal ones they had. I can still remember the weight of the bow and arrow in my hands, heavy and hard to control. I guess I was too used to using a wooden one. The metal just felt strange in my hands. I would still be able to use one but I knew I would always feel off when handling it.
"Lunch Period over. Gunnar Sequoia please enter the gym for your assessment." the mechanical voice informed us, whilst a group of Avox came in to clear our plates. And so the wait continued as the next ten tributes were called in. After Rue headed in, giving a shy smile and a soft, "Good luck." Peeta and I were alone, if you didn't count the four cameras watching us.
"What do you have planned?" I asked, I moved closer to him, our hands almost touching. Yes, my resolve to end our relationship tonight was still in effect but I still wanted to use that time with him as much as I could.
He stroked a finger against mine as he answered, "I think I'll just throw weights around after I get their attention, and you?"
"I was thinking of starting with a few headshots and then shooting a few unreachable objects. Should give them a show." I smirked, sighing softly at the feel of his skin on mine. I really didn't want to do what I planned tonight, but it was good for both of us. We couldn't have our relationship being a problem in the arena, "I would suggest wrestling with a trainer too. Show them how you can win a fight along with how strong you are. Start with the weights and then ask for a trainer."
"That sounds like a good strategy. Thanks." He whispered softly, leaning in close.
"Peeta Mellark." the damn mechanical voice said interrupting a plausible kiss. Peeta sighed as he rose from his seat heading to the door.
"Peeta." He stopped, turning to me, "Show them just how strong you are." With a wordless nod he entered the doors.
POV Peeta
As the sliding door closed behind me, a voice from out of nowhere spoke to me, "Please look at the red dot on the wall to your right and try to act natural." I looked around, before seeing the red dot and stood the way I naturally would, looking away from the camera a little. I knew a camera when I saw one, Rye had gotten one from mom after she knew he was free from Reapings. He used it for every occasion, even before I left. He had taken a photo of me just in case. That had left me a little anxious on the way to the train station. It seemed no one in my family, apart from my dad, saw me even remotely winning this.
I didn't let the pain I felt show as the photo or video was taken, "Alright go on in." the disembodied voice said, opening a second door for me to walk through. I walked into the gym and the first thing I noticed was that the platform the Gamemakers lounged on had been lower, giving them a better view of the different stations. A few saw me enter but most were talking among themselves preoccupied with their food and drink, and possibly the 24 other tributes who had come before me. I looked around noticing the weights were set out near the archery stand. Ironic.
I stood in front of the largest weight and said loudly and clearly, "Peeta Mellark, District Twelve."
The men all turned to look at me and I was a bit surprised to see Jérémie sitting near the Head Gamemaker, dressing like those around him. Ok, you can do this, I thought to myself as I went over to the heaviest weight and threw it at the closest dummy. I glanced over at the platform to see a few more heads looking my way. Good, I've caught their attention. I grabbed another of the heaviest weights and threw it straight into the farthest target.
"Excellent throw." I heard from above.
"I do hope he can throw more than just weights." another voice muttered.
That was my cue, I turned back to the platform, "I'd like to request a sparring partner."
Seneca Crane nodded, waving his hand for a trainer, the one from the club station, entered through a concealed door. He stepped up to me, asking in his deep but calm voice, "What skill did you want to demonstrate?"
"Wrestling."
With a nod he got into position, readying himself for my attack. Without a second pause I rushed him, our bodies locked in that violent struggle that never lost that popularity. I hit him in the side gauging his weak point. Found it, I thought, hitting him in the right side just below his rib. The second he reacted I grabbed his arm using his weight with mine and throwing him over my shoulder to the ground. I pinned his arms and legs until he tapped the floor surrendering the fight to me.
"Good show." several voices said from above, a few clapping as I got off the trainer.
I nodded to Jérémie who looked impressed, "Thank you gentlemen." I said, leaving through a door that opened on the opposite side of the gym.
Next chapter we'll see Katniss' assessment which has a few new twists and we'll see what Peeta has planned for on the roof. Warning it gets emotional :"3