Welcome to the fourteenth chapter of the Untold Hunger Games.
I decided to make this chapter a bit shorter than the one before. There's a slight change to the score for the individual assessments that I think fit the last chapter better.
But I digress, now let's move on to Chapter Fourteen of the Untold Hunger Games.
"Katniss, dear are you up yet? The scores will be televised soon." The bubbly, excited tone in Effie Trinket's voice made me think she was far too excited to discover what our scores would be. I was not excited at all. I figured despite my skills with the bow, I would definitely be docked points for shooting at the Gamemakers. Especially with Jérémie being present, that had to be an automatic 1, which was the lowest score of the 1-12 scores a tribute could receive. 12 was the highest and no one in the history of the Games has ever received a score that high, although there have been seven 1s given out since the start of the practice.
I quickly jumped out of bed, walking a little too quickly to the sitting room were all stylists, mentors and escorts from both sides of the floor had gathered to watch the reveal. Diane was seated beside her mentor and stylist looking worried as the two women chatted between each other. Effie Trinket and Jerikan were seated with poor Jérémie in between them. The Eastern Canadian didn't look too uncomfortable between the two most flamboyant people in the room. Trevor sat on a lone chair while his mentor and Cinna sat near him. I spotted some free space between Portia, Trevor's stylist and Peeta and made my way to the available spot on the middle couch.
"She did what?!" I heard Effie Trinket cry just as I sat down. My escort shot up like a rocket and marched over to me, "Katniss, did you shoot an arrow at the Gamemaker box?!" She asked, a little too loudly.
"Yes…" I muttered not looking at her, she did realize that we weren't the only ones in the room right?
Cinna smirked at me, "Why did she shoot an arrow at the Gamemakers box, Effie? She must of had a reason."
"I got mad." I stated still not looking Effie Trinket directly in the face. I knew she wouldn't be pleased, seeing as it was a reckless decision.
I could feel Effie Trinket's anger on the back on my neck, "Mad?" she almost screeched, her heels started to pace across the ground with her in them, "You realize your actions make not just yourself look bad, but the rest of the people on your team?"
"Ma chérie, no harm came from her arrow, in fact the Gamemakers were quite impressed by her shooting and her knife throwing was formidable. I have my doubts that she will be reprimanded for her actions." Jérémie explained with a gentle tone.
I turned my head to look at him with thankful eyes, seeing Cinna nodding out of the corner of my eye, "Jérémie is right Effie. They just want a good show and Katniss gave them one."
Effie Trinket who had a fan in her hand glared at both her suitor and my stylist, "It's still bad manners, she needs to understand that. Haymitch, where have you been?"
"Effie please calm down, you'll get wrinkles." My mentor stated as he climbed on the couch between Cinna and Wes. He looked to me, "I heard what you did kid." A smirk suddenly came to his lips, "Nice shooting, princess." The group, apart from Effie Trinket and stoic Trevor, chuckled, "How did they react when you shot the apple?"
"They kind of just stared at me, Jérémie looked a little shocked." I blushed, looking down at my hands.
Haymitch started laughing looking at Jérémie as he did, "I bet he did." the Eastern Canadian blushed at that comment, "What did you say at the end? 'Thanks for…'"
I smirked and abashedly chimed in with him, "Thanks for your consideration."
"Beautiful, true poetry." He laughed, I could tell now he had had a bit too much alcohol before coming to join us.
Effie Trinket glared at him now, "Will you try to take this seriously? What if the Gamemakers decide to take this out…"
"Effie, Effie, Effie, the Gamemakers can't do anything to her or him," he pointed to Peeta, "They're already being punished for not doing anything. Loosen your corset and sit down. Everyone here has heard enough of your voice for one night." Effie Trinket huffed, but eventually sat back down in her previous spot. After she did Haymitch looked back at me, "I wish I had been there to see it."
Jérémie chuckled, "It was an enjoyable sight. Seneca nearly fell into the punch bowl to get out of the way." He coughed then when Effie Trinket gave him a look.
"Can we please just watch the scores?" She hissed, just in time for the screen to light up with the Panem flag and national anthem playing in the background.
Caesar Flickerman soon graced the screen with his custom powdered wig, a dark blue tonight, a bedazzled suit and bowtie, which were black with onyx sequins. He wore a frilly collared shirt underneath and way too much makeup, his face was almost as white as his undershirt, "Good evening citizens of Panem. During the past three days behind closed doors and camera free, your tributes were busy training for the arena. The Gamemakers, under careful evaluation over the past three days, have deliberated on what scores each tribute has received based on their time and skills during this time. As all know the scores can be as low as 1 and as high as 12 and are final. The footage of each tribute was taken before they entered the last phase of their training. Their individual scores were finalized before being sent here to the screen before me." A screen with a covered backing lifted so that only Caesar could see the scoring before he had the pleasure to read it out. And he always had the pleasure to read it, from what I would see in his excited expressions over the past few years of watching him.
"Let's begin." He looked down at his screen, "From District One, Marvel Sanford," Marvel's video photo appeared to the left of Caesar on the screen. His face was smirking with a smug look, "with a score of," Caesar paused, looking at his screen, "9." a number nine rotated around Marvel's head, getting larger as it moved in front of his face and smaller when it rotated away.
"Not bad, a nine is a pretty high number." Cinna muttered enough for us all to hear.
"Glimmer Azura," Glimmer's smug smiling video came onto the screen to the right of Caesar, this was common. Boys were always shown on the left and girls on the right, "with a score of," dramatic pause, "9."
"The Shines will not be happy about that." Wes stated, he obviously knew Glimmer's family background.
"From District Two, Cato Hadley," Caesar paused, "With a score of," soon a number lit around Cato's stoic face as if he was rolling his eyes, "11."
Haymitch chuckled a bit at that, "Pretentious little bastard, ain't he?" he asked, a wide, knowing smirk on his face.
"Shh." Effie Trinket hissed and all of us were silent as Caesar continued down the line, pausing with dramatic effect each time.
"Clove Kentwell, with a score of, 10."
"From District Three, Sextus Wirre, with a score of, 6. Cida Elect, with a score of, 5."
"From District Four, Wade Fairtide, with a score of, 9. Auricula Poole, with a score of, 8."
"From District Five, Haynes Graft, with a score of, 6. Finch Swift, with a score of, 5."
"From District Six, Jason Turf, with a score of, 6. Palia Rayle, with a score of, 5."
"From District Seven, Gunnar Sequoia, with a score of, 8. Eunia Pine, with a score of, 7."
"From District Eight, Crucis Tack, with a score of, 6. Saffie Yarn, with a score of, 4."
"From District Nine, Kern Plough, with a score of, 5. Tule Fallow, with a score of, 4."
"From District Ten, Canwarn Raysh, with a score of, 5. Thea Herding, with a score of, 7."
"From District Eleven, Thresh Gunthorn," My ears perked up at this one, eager to see what Thresh and Rue's score were, "With a score of," Damn it Caesar stop pausing, "9." I looked at Peeta smirking at the good score Thresh had got, but my attention was quickly pulled away by the next name, "Rue Calla,"
Yes?
"With a score of,"
Get on with it Caesar!
"7." A smile came to my face once again, good for Rue, that would help her get sponsors, but keep her out of the radar of the more higher scoring tributes.
"From District Twelve" Our turn. I held my breath as Peeta was first to have his score announced, "Peeta Mellark," Peeta's photo video looked at the camera before turning away, "With a score of," the real Peeta leaned forward in his chair, "11." I stared in amazement at the score. I looked over and saw those sitting beside him were congratulating him, as he fell back, staring at his number in shock until my name was spoken and he sat up again,"Katniss Everdeen," My heart is pounding against my chest, my video photo was disinterested and slightly annoyed, "with a score of," I lean closer, "Oh my, this is a first in the history of the Hunger Games." I look confused, "Katniss Everdeen, with a score of 12!"
I stare in shock at the silver 12 that comes up to circle my photo. Everyone in the room is silent before cheers erupt from those on my team, congratulating me with great enthusiasm.
"That's our girl!" Effie Trinket squeals happily, "Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire!"
"Wait 'til you see the interview dress. I'll make sure to reflect that score in it." Wonderful, more flames, I think with a laugh.
"From District Thirteen, Trevor Kelly," Caesar continues after the shock dies in his voice, "with a score of." I watch Trevor lift up in his chair a little, "11."
Once more the room is cheering and congratulating Trevor on his excellent score. So far all on the top floor have excellent scores, "And finally Diane Boyle, with a score of," I notice that Diane is sinking in her chair, nervous about her score I suppose, "10."
She breathed out a sigh of relief as Twill hugs her, "Good job dear, I told you, you could get a good score if you set your mind to it."
I walked over to Haymitch and sat beside him, "A 12." he muttered with a smile.
"I was sure I'd get a 1." I whispered, not sure how to handle my high scoring.
Haymitch patted my shoulder, "They must have seen something in the stunt you pulled."
"To our wonderful tributes!" Cinna said, raising his glass, "And their magnificent scores!" All the adults nodded, lifting their glasses.
"To our tributes!"