The Capitol Games

Chapter Seven

**Celestia**

Bryony didn't turn up at the time we arranged, and after waiting half an hour for her I gave up, guessing she was busy with her mentor, or had forgotten. Although it doesn't really seem like her to flake out on me.

I wake up before the sun does the next day. It's training day two. Bryony told me today was weapons - and I have to admit, I'm excited. I may be rich, but I haven't even tried half of the weapons tributes are allowed in the Games. Who knows, there might be even more in the Training Centre. I might find some undiscovered talent buried inside of me that will help me win.

Or I might not. But let's be optimistic.

My plan is to avoid the Careers. There are about five of them - I saw them group together yesterday, not even going near the survival stations. No doubt they will stick with weapons again today. They are always so confident that they won't need any survival skills, but normally in the Games that is what causes the Careers' downfall. Being from the Capitol, and watching the Games every year, they should have learnt that by now.

Actually, I shouldn't be complaining. If they die in the wild it's one less tribute to worry about.

The thought stops me short. One less tribute to worry about. I hate myself for even thinking it. I'm turning into a cruel, heartless monster, like one of the Careers. I mentally slap myself for being so cold-hearted. I will not let Katniss and these Games turn me into something I'm not.

The elevator stops. I nod at Joe, wish him luck and race straight to Bryony. I can see her hanging around with that cute boy she is partnered with, away from the Careers (thankfully). Out of the corner of my eye I can see Grace wave to me, then point at Bryony and shake her head. That girl is weird.

Bryony is at the archery station, watching the boy take aim and fire - a perfect bullseye. When she sees me she narrows her eyes. They are like ice.

"What are you doing here?" The words cut me inside. It's incredible how just five words can change a relationship forever.

"We're going round the stations together, aren't we?" I ask, concerned. Something is wrong - something happened yesterday. After training, something changed.

"No, we're not. Go away." She turns back to her partner. He just smiles at her and goes back to shooting, showing her how to hold the bow properly. He doesn't even glance at me. When she almost hits a bullseye he lifts her up and swings her around. Bryony is grinning like an idiot. It makes me feel sick.

I stand there, wounded, staring as the boy guides her over to the Career pack. Bryony looks at ease with them. There I was, worried about me turning into a Career, when this whole time I should have been thinking about Bryony. I'm so hurt I can't find words for it - I know I haven't always been the greatest friend, but do I deserve to be cast aside, to be abandoned just like that? Does anyone?

A gentle hand taps my shoulder. I turn around, surprised. It's Grace.

"I don't know what's wrong with her today. She doesn't seem right. I asked her if she was okay, but she just ignored me. She almost punched me when I told her she was being rude. Do you want to go over weapons today?" Grace is right - Bryony definitely isn't acting like normal. I've known her since we were babies. Bryony was never rude. And she would never, ever punch anyone - she could barely hurt a fly.

I nod. We head over to the throwing knives, which is almost empty apart from two young boys. They look like twins, and can't be more than twelve. Although I'm only two years older than them, it makes me sick that Katniss Everdeen is forcing kids like that to kill each other. It's just cruel.