² SECOND CHANCE ─ the hunger games

seven - determination

— EUNICE —

RING! RING!

MY ALARM rings, waking me up, and I roll out of bed, rubbing the sleepiness out of my eyes, yawning groggily. 

Today is the first day of training. I look up at the wall clock. It's 8:30 A.M.

A blue training outfit is laid out on my bed. I silently put it on and slip out, joining Gwyneth in the hall. She's sitting on the couch, and I plop down next to her, remembering the old days we would tell each other secrets sitting cross-legged on the bed at sleepovers. Those days are over now, replaced by a wave of seriousness.

Shortly after, Zoey and Kunboss arrive, in red versions of my training outfit. Gwyneth faces us, diverting her eyes to the ground. "Guys, I have something to tell you," she says, turning on the TV.

A series of clips that I've never seen before plays, of the arena two months ago. I was probably dead for most of the action, but I recognize the peachy pink of the sunsets, the trees waving and shaking in the warm wind, and the magnificent view on the beach among others. Judging by the expression on Gwyneth's face, it can't be good. I face the TV once again, focusing on the clips. The last clip where Gwyneth is announced the victor shows, and Gwyneth turns the TV off.

"What have you noticed?" she asks, and Kunboss replies solemnly. "Acts.. of defiance," he says. "Rebellious acts."

When he says this, I recoil in horror.

I replay the clips in my head.

A salute, a kiss to the forehead. The berries fall to the ground. Attempted double suicide.

She didn't do this on purpose. She did it to remember us. To honor our sacrifice.

But Byrok didn't like it.

I turn to Kunboss, Zoey and Gwyneth.

Gwyneth struggles to say it, and we're left in a moment of silence. "Guys, you have to be careful. Myers, he died because of me. And I don't know if they will try to target you because of me, too."

A tear slips down her cheek.

"You died on me once, please don't die on me again. I'll try to protect you, but I'll be outside the arena and I can't really do much. Please try to protect yourselves."

Gwyneth's voice quivers as she swallows and fumbles for her words.

Rage is what I feel at this moment.

Rage envelopes me and the only thing I can see is red.

Why would Byrok do this to her?

A small voice inside my head answers, "Because they don't like her," but I ignore it. I don't care.

We are merely thirteen, for god's sake, and we are put into this arena just to suffer. Everyone wants to survive in the arena. Thinking that I will have to kill my friends and acquaintances to come home alive, my determination wavers. I think to back to my parents' words, and determined, I say, "Gwyneth, trust us. We will come back to you. We will be safe, okay?" 

Gwyneth seems like she desperately wants to believe my words, and her head drops in a nod of hesitation.

"I love you guys. Please try to stay safe."

We have breakfast, and I scoop down my eggs in silence, but when the clock strikes 10am sharp, I hug Gwyneth without saying a word. "Thank you," I say before pulling away from her. 

I know she needs no words of explanation. Gwyneth is extremely empathetic and understanding -  she has been since we were very little, but this comes with a price. She blames herself for things that aren't her fault, wanting the best for everyone, leaving her with heavy emotional baggage. I know her - that's why I opt for two single words, and she looks back at me with eyes of gratitude.

Her deep brown watery eyes look like crescents as her lips twit into a faint smile. She waves as the three of us walk into the elevator, which brings us 10 levels down to the basement for our training.

An awkward silence fills the carriage of the elevator as Kunboss, Zoey and I face each other.

"Look, guys," bursts Kunboss, breaking the silence. "This can't go on forever. We have people to get back to. And it'd be best to be together, or not at all. For Gwyneth. Allies?"

I look down at his hand. His palm, extended.

The elevator makes a ding. Before exiting, I smile at him.

And I shake his hand.

***

When we exit the elevator, the other tributes are gathered around in a circle, listening to the head trainer talk - the usual speech, "..more of you will die from starvation and natural threats than being murdered by a knife, so don't neglect the survival skills!". As soon as we are dismissed, I pretend to go to the bathroom and beckon Zoey and Kunboss over from the corner.

"We need a plan," I say. "Any idea what to do?"

Zoey nods. "Let's do anything we're confident in and don't make our alliance obvious."

I look over at the tributes who are training. Luckily, no one seems to have noticed us.. yet.

Kunboss seems to have another idea. "Let's just try new things that we didn't try last time. So we can use anything that comes our way."

I look over at Zoey and she replies with a yes.

"Okay then," I say. 'Let's go back separately."

And so, I stride out from the darkness and into the Training Centre.

I head to the archery station and pick up a set of equipment.

My hand finds its way across the smooth wood, caressing it.

I didn't do this last year, yet I have experience in archery. I participated in archery competitions from when I was 6 all the way until I was 10, and to be honest, I still sneak a miniature bow and arrow into my backyard to practice.

I could have been a professional athlete if Byrok hadn't invaded.

Last year, I only focused on survival skills, because I didn't want to kill anyone.

But if that's what I need to do to get back home to my family, I will do it. I will do anything this time around to ensure my allies and I survive. And at the end, I will win.

I can't help it anymore.

I pull the string and aim for the target.

And with a flick of my finger, the arrow slices through the air and straight into the dummy's heart.

I smile to myself and release another arrow which whizzes into the same target, repeating the process over and over again.

I'm determined.

I will win this and get out of these Games alive.