Sunshine - A Hunger Games Story

8| Sidekick

The next day at training, I stick to the survival section. The district 5 tributes are also there, chatting away.

"Oh yeah, I worked at the dam too. My dad was an engineer there, so was my mom," the girl, Faith, said following what Floyd, her partner, said about working at the dam.

"That's sweet, that's where me and my girlfriend meet."

"Who's the lucky lady? I might know her."

"Her name is Annabeth."

Faith's tone turns more serious. "In the games, how far do you think we'll last? Do you think one of us could win?"

"If we work together, stay on people's good side, then I bet we could make it far. We might be able to win."

The second place I stop is the water purifying station. How to extract the salt from salt water, how to drink radiated water, etc.. After that, I spot Rhett from 4 over by the challenge course and head over to him.

Rhett is struggling with climbing up the rock climbing wall.

"You know, if you use the tips of your fingers more, then you'll have better luck," I comment.

"I don't need your help 9. We are not friends."

"I get it, trident boy."

When lunch is over, I head to the hand to hand combat station and after that I head over to the rope tying station with the boy from 8.

"What's your name?" I ask him.

"Henri," he shyly responds, ripping a thin climbing rope in two.

"Wow, that was impressive. How'd you rip that rope so easily?"

"My mom used to teach me how to assemble some of the clothes in the factory."

"Your partner's very lucky to have your skills around."

"Katy's not working with me anymore," he says, glancing at the girl from district 8.

"In that case, do you have a plan for the arena," I question. I could help him. I could aid the twelve year old in getting back home. What if it was Isaak or Theo? Tyson would do it for my brother's, I would do it for his sister. Do what Tyson would do.

"I haven't really thought of it. Plus, I don't think I should tell you. You could kill me knowing what I'm going to do."

"You know, I don't have a partner either. I'm not opposed to the idea of teaming up with a certain young man from the textile district." I keep my focus on my rope as Henri gasps. A small smile tugs at the corners of my mouth.

"Really? Why me?"

"They always say two minds work better than one. But that only works if the second one agrees to work with the first one."

"Yes. Yes, that would be great."

"Okie dokie partner. You know of anyone you want on the team? Or just the two of us?" I scan the room looking at what everyone else is doing.

Both of district 5 tributes were working on quickly assembling a slingshot out of sticks and a hairband then undoing it and letting the other try. Engineers. Smart, be careful of their creation. Along with the boy from district 3. I see the older kids from district 10 eyeing 3, probably planning to kill him. He is one of the easier targets.

The big gruffy girl from 2 is smirking and nodding her head at whatever the boy from 6 is saying. The girl from 8 is hanging around them learning how to sharpen a stick for a weapon and how to sharpen a dull sword. The group from 7 hangs around the axes, both faces etched with worry.

On the other side of the training room is the girl from 1, who I learned was Mary (AKA: Scary Mary), Fred, the boy from 2 and the boy from 11. They are all racing to complete the challenge course, teasing some and taunting the others. Oh great, Fred's got himself caught up with the bullies.

Rhett and Sydney are both learning how to use a sword. I guess the trident boy's isn't perfect.

"I don't know. Both from 2 seem mean, the two from 5 are really smart, maybe even smarter than my dad!" Apparently Henri's dad is smart or he looks up to the man a lot. " 'Guess that boy from 4? He seems strong."

"I could make due with that." I drop my rope on the table and meander over to the fishers. Rhett's footing is off: one of the mistakes I made early on and had to fix to strike right. I walk up behind him and tell him, "Be careful of your feet. Once you fix that, the rest will come more naturally." I circle around the two of them, stopping to whisper in Sydney's ear. "If he comes at you, block him and kick him in the crotch. A guaranteed victory."

She giggles and nods her head. As I walk off back to Henri with a smile, I hear Rhett yell, "We don't need your help 9. Stay away or you'll be the first to die." My smile vanishes.

"I guess he doesn't want our help. Noted."

Later at dinner, I hear Fred yapping about joining the Careers and how the Careers always win so his chances are even higher.

"Did you make any allies, kiddo," Humphrey asks me.

"I can't stay in the company of traitorous ears."

"Oh, yeah. She was talking to that little kid from 8. The wimpy one. She also got the boy from 4 to yell out a death threat to her."

"That's out of context," I counter.

"Whatever you were doing doesn't matter. We need to talk about strategies." Elouise interrupts our bickering.

"Yes," Humphrey continues. "So, In the arena there will be a pile of weapons, supplies, food, water, and other items all in the center. It's a great way to get what you need to survive. But, every year about half the tributes die in what's called the blood bath. Everyone wants to grab the shiny weapons so they all run towards it and get killed by the first ones to arrive. On one hand, getting tools puts you at an incredible advantage. If you don't, you have to rely on sponsors to get you, say a water canteen.

"If you can run fast enough —honestly, don't get cocky— then you should try to grab something. Otherwise, spend extra time in the survival stations and weapon crafting."

Henri probably can't out run the Careers, but I can. I've run all my life from delivering messages to playing soccer, it's the only skill I'm completely confident in.

I imagine all of the tributes being raised up into the arena like they have been in past games. I'd have to find Henri. Hopefully he will be right next to me. I need to grab as much as I can from the cornucopia so we can survive as long as possible away from the rest of the tributes.

The next day I explained my plan to Henri. He's to wave his hands when he enters the arena, for me to see and then jog away from the center to give me enough time to grab some supplies and reach him.

We also make an alliance with the two from district 5, planning to find them in the arena after the bloodbath. If they make it out alive.

Now that I've got my sidekicks, I'm closer to my emanate death than I ever was before.