The Capitol's Darling - The Hunger Games

thirteen: disasters

I walked over to all the dummies that were piled on top of each other and grabbed two at a time to line them up so they stood beside one another and were facing the weapons.

I gathered all the throwing knives and brought them closer to me and held one on each hand.

I looked up to smirk at Plutarch Heavensbee before throwing the knife that was in my right hand backwards.

I didn't turn my head to see if it had hit the heart of the dummy, but from the look on the game maker's faces, I knew that I did.

The smirk on my face remained as I repeated this another 6 times, grabbing a knife and throwing it behind, silently praying it hit the heart of each dummy each time.

I had laid out 9 dummies, but considering there was only eight knives on the table, for the last one i decided to choose a different weapon.

I walked over to all the spears and grabbed one. It took a moment to get the hang of the heavy weapon before I turned around to face my target.

Before I threw the weapon, I quickly inspected the other dummies. I silently thanked myself as all eight dummies had knives impaled in each of their hearts.

I closed my eyes and let out a sigh as I concentrated on hitting my target.

I turned around once again towards the game makers to show them that my eyes were closed before turning back around and preparing to throw the spear.

A final breath left my mouth as I finally released the spear.

Once the spear had left my grasp, my eyes immediately shot open.

Shit.

Shit.

Shit!

I silently cursed myself in my head over and over again as I stared at the dummy that was meant to have a spear impaled on it's heart, but instead the weapon had only hit it its left arm.

I was grateful it had even hit the dummy at all, but the game makers knew I was aiming at the heart.

And they knew I had missed.

My thoughts had taken over my head that I didn't even hear when Plutarch dismissed me.

When he called out my name a third time, that was when I finally snapped back to reality. I quickly nodded at them before walking away towards the exit rather quickly.

I was so mad at myself for not getting that shot perfect. That shot could've gotten me a score of 12 but I completely blew it.

I need to be the best out of everyone, that included having the highest score, so that meant being better than Katniss, Finnick, Johanna and even the careers.

I ignored everyone that I encountered on my way to our floor and Finnick and Pam's voices calling out to me as I headed straight for my room, slamming the door one I was inside without a single word.

I sat on the edge of the bed and just buried my face into my hands as I played the whole scenario back in my head. From the smirk I had when I walked in, to when all the light left my eyes as soon as laid eyes on the spear.

~•~•~•~•~•

It had probably been around 4-5 hours when a knock on my door woke me up from my slumber.

I hadn't even realised I fell asleep until my eyes opened. "Katia sweetie, you there?" The voice that had belonged to Pam called out from the other side of the door.

I groaned out loud before hopping out of the bed and walking towards the door.

"Yes?" I replied swinging the door open.

Pam looked at me surprised that I had even replied before she shook her head. "Their about to announce the training scores." She said before walking away back to the living room, indicating for me to follow her.

We arrived back in the living room in time to hear the end of Ceasar Flickerman's introduction so I quickly sat down on the couch, Pam on my left and Finnick next to her.

"-on a scale of 1-12 after 3 days of caref evaluation. The game keepers would like to acknowledge that this has been one of the hardest decision making they have done in a long time and would like to congratulate all the tributes for their hard work and efforts."

I scoffed and turned to Finnick, "Yeah right, they don't give two shits about our 'hard work and efforts'" I said as Finnick snorted and Pam nudged me, telling me to shut up and listen.

"Starting with District 1. Gloss, with a score of 10. Cashmere with a score of 10."

"Moving on to District 2, Brutus with a score of 11. Enobaria, with a score of 10." I smiled at my best friend's scores, they did absolutely phenomenal.

"District 3. Beetee with a score of 8. Wiress, with a score of 6."

"District 4." Once Ceasar had announced our district, I immediately fixed up my posture and listened in intently.

"Finnick, with a score of 10." Pam and I clapped and congratulated him as he had a grin on his face.

My breath hitched as I waited for my score. It seemed like time was going slower to torture me.

"Katia, with a score of..."

"11"

I finally let out a breath I didn't even realise I was holding as I leaned back on the couch, satisfied with my results.

Even though I was very much hoping to score a 12, considering I had messed up on my individual assessment, an 11 was just as good.

Finnick and Pam both congratulated me and I thanked them both before Pam started to tell us how proud she was of both of us and how this would help us.

When we turned our attention back on Ceasar, he was already finishing announcing the District 6 scores.

"-with a score of 5. Moving on to District 7. Blight, with a score of 9. Johanna, with a score of 9."

I didn't really pay attention to District 8 to 11's scores as I already knew they weren't going to be a threat. Now more than ever considering the majority got sixes and sevens with only two scoring a high of nine.

Once Ceaser announced District 12 though, my head shot up and all my attention was brought back to the screen.

"Peeta, with a score of.. 11"

"WHAT! HOW!?"

"And lastly, Katniss, with a score of... 11"

"YOU HAVE GOT TO ME KIDDING ME!" I yelled, grabbing a glass from the table in front of us and throwing it angrily at the screen.

Both Finnick and Pam flinched as the glass shattered all over the floor.

I ignored their attempt to grab my attention as I left the room without saying another word.

I didn't know where to go considering it was dark and we weren't allowed to go out of the building. I didn't want to go to the careers or any of the other tributes knowing they probably wouldn't want someone from an opposing district right after the training score results.

So instead, i found myself pushing the button in the elevator that lead all the way up to the rooftop.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

1222 words!

A/N: I have covid 😃

Also since i'm almost finished season 4 of stranger things, i'm gonna try and start updating this story more frequently 🫶