𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ 𝐧𝐜𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 - 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐮

⇛ 𝐂𝐇. 𝟑

the rest of the day, jihyun focused on her agility and strength because she didn't want it to be her weakness in the arena and to make a point to the other tributes that she could be relentless.

she was on her way to the ropes course and passed by the district one girl, copper. she noticed some knives strapped to her thigh and effortlessly snatched them and shoved them into her pockets.

as she continued walking, someone blocked her path, an axe in their hand. she took in his fluffy brown hair and muscled body that was hidden under his clothes. she knew he hadn't seen her steal from copper so she was confused why he had decided to annoy her.

jaemin na, seventeen years old, from district seven, responsible for lumber and forestry. he didn't volunteer for anyone and he wasn't happy to be picked as a tribute but hid behind a cheery personality. he was like her, hiding behind a fake persona, just in a different way.

he was strong and also cocky which was what jihyun picked up from the way he planted the axe on the floor and leaned against it.

"need something?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"just accustoming myself with everyone. so what's your name, foxy?"

"well, it isn't foxy." she retorted and he smirked. she rolled her eyes and brushed past him, towards the ropes course.

"if you don't tell me i'll just continue to call you foxy." he called after her and she only waved, not turning around to look at him.

she walked to the ropes and secured her hands around the nearest ones and hoisted herself up. she kept climbing while praying that she wouldn't tilt too far to one side and lose her balance. she made it to the top where the rope nets across the ceiling were and walked across, each step using careful precision.

she paused when her eyes landed on someone laying not too far away from her. she recognised him as the district twelve tribute, donghyuck, and got onto her knees to crawl towards him.

"hey." he said, noticing her presence without having to even look at her.

"what are you doing hanging up here?" she asked, laying next to him. he reached into his pocket and pulled out several knives, showing them to her.

"i'm not hanging yet, but watch this."

she gazed down at the floor below them as copper hurried into view. she stopped in front of the district three girl, bunching up the front of her clothes and dragging her towards her.

"you took my damn knives!" she bellowed in her face and donghyuck laughed quietly.

"you're sly. like me." jihyun whispered to him, holding out the knives she had also stolen from the girl.

"i know they all think that being strong is the best — and i am good at using weapons — but hiding and strategically getting away with things is just as important."

"you're right. they're dumb as hell." she mumbled as the trainers pulled apart the girls.

"they look down on me because i'm from district twelve, but they're never going to catch me in that arena." he said, twirling a knife between his fingers. he got carried away and it slipped out of his hand. "i spoke too soon."

he winced, quickly crawling away to hide in a blind spot for the tributes on the floor. the knife fell beside copper's feet with a loud clattering sound. she bent down and picked it up, examining it. when she realised it was hers, she looked above her at jihyun who was laying across the nets, one knife still in her hands.

"you're dead when i get my hands on you!" she yelled, pointing at her.

the other tributes all looked up to see who she was yelling at and some were impressed, especially jeno and jisung. jihyun waved the knife around and then dropped it with a fake surprised look.