² SECOND CHANCE ─ the hunger games

eight - myers

— EUNICE —

THREE DAYS OF TRAINING pass in a blink of an eye as I practice archery, train my agility and speed, and touch up on plant knowledge. 

Kunboss, Zoey, and I line up outside the Evaluation Room. I'm the first in line, Zoey is behind me and Kunboss is the third. 

"Good luck," Kunboss notes as the horn blares and I'm called into the room.

With wavering footsteps, I make my way closer and closer to my fate.

As I enter the evaluation room, the Gamemakers turn to me. "Eunice Seyfield," one says, "how wonderful to see you again." I nod politely and pick up a knife, preparing to fight the dummies.

A man dressed in black suddenly jumps out of nowhere and tries to slash at my chest. I step back in shock but quickly regain my balance. Flinging my left leg at his face as a distraction, I drop to the ground and sweep my right leg across the floor, knocking him over. I immediately stand up with one foot on his chest and I place my knife on his neck, looking up at the Gamemakers.

I then head to the archery station, picking up a bow and arrow and aiming for a dummy. I let the arrow go as it quickly flies through the room and impales itself in the dummy's heart, making a thud as it hits. 

The Gamemakers nod in contentment, making "mm" sounds, and gesture for me to continue, and I move to the forest simulation after putting my weapons down. I sprint through the "woods" and avoid all sorts of people with weapons. As a girl with a sword sprints towards me, I tuck myself under a bush and roll away from her. The bell rings, signalling the end of my evaluation, and I excuse myself, wishing luck to Zoey who's next, and taking the elevator back up to the 9th floor.

— ZOEY —

As Eunice exits the evaluation room with beads of sweat on her forehead, my name is called over the loudspeaker, and I enter the room, bowing to the gamemakers. "Zoey Sinclair." I say, and the gamemakers give a slight nod as I start my evaluation.

Heading to the obstacle course, I climb through monkey bars and hang from ropes. As I drop from the last bar panting, I look up at the clock. 10 more minutes...

I grab a moving dummy and start to camouflage it. I throw it into the forest simulation as I walk through the woods with a spear. The gears start clicking, and I sprint towards the dummy, who tries to attack me. 

I jump onto a tree and thrust my spear through its brain, and it shortly collapses to the ground. 

I drag the dummy out into the open and bandage its wounds. I look up at the Gamemakers' bench - they're already not focused on me after a plate of steak that makes even my mouth water has arrived. Pissed, I take a slingshot and some darts from the weapons station and pull the string back, aiming for the lights.  

When I gain enough momentum, I let my dart fly, where it hits the largest bulb. With a bam, specks of fire fly to the ground, accompanied by shreds of broken glass as it breaks from the force. 

Only now do the Gamemakers look up at the loud sound, wondering what caused it. I bring the slingshot above my head and hurl it to the floor with all the strength I can muster, and take another knife from the table. 

I then point towards the dummy and turn it, showing its back with "Myers" written on it and decapitate it with my knife. Cue the gasps and murmurs from the Gamemakers. 

I go to the camouflage station and lift the small table up, starting to work on my piece of art. See, drawing is my passion. And I'm using it to do Gwyneth justice. The contorted face, head severed, shrubbery all around. I trace the scene with shades of reds, greens, and yellows, until I'm satisfied. I stand up, brushing my hands on my jumpsuit, and look down at my masterpiece - Myers' decapitated head sitting in paradise of heaven. 

Cue even more gasps from the Gamemakers. I smirk. "Thanks for your consideration," I say, and leave without being excused.

— KUNBOSS —

I enter the evaluation room to a strong scent of cleanser. The floor is covered by a carpet, and the smell of bleach fills the room. I bow with respect to the gamemakers and begin my evaluation after introducing myself.

Grabbing a sword and some knives from the shelves, I order some moving dummies and charge straight at the green hologram that appears with a mace. I chuck the sword into its leg, slowing it down, before moving back and throwing all my knives into it. The hologram slowly fades away as I grab some rope and build a shelter on the monkey bars. I pull myself up onto the bars and jump around the ceiling of the entire training centre before jumping off and heading to the physical combat station. I punch the dummy that appears in the face before picking up a sais and stabbing it in the stomach.

I accidentally twist my hand whilst wielding the sais and it clatters to the floor. I quickly head to the plants quiz and pass with a score of 99 and leave the evaluation after I'm excused.

— GWYNETH —

I sit in the hall with my friends, anticipating the results of the evaluation. The screen lights up and a picture of Eunice appears on the screen. "Eunice Seyfield, 13, received a score of 10 in the evaluation." 10 is a pretty good score! Eunice high-fives me and we continue waiting.

Zoey gets an 11, the highest score among all the tributes. What could she have done to achieve this score? I really hope it's not because of me that the Gamemakers want to target her in the arena with the high score.

"Kunboss Bailey, 14, received a score of 9."

All of my friends did pretty well in the evaluation, but I'm worried about Zoey. Tributes will target her in the arena with her shockingly high score, especially since she got a 7 in the previous Games...

I look at Zoey with worry and find a mischievous glint in her eyes. 

I hope it isn't what I think it is.