STILETTO┃Finnick Odair

Chapter 6

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ:*✧

Ryder and I walk into the new and improved training centre. My eyes quickly scan the scene. Mags is over with Katniss showing her something at the table. Beetee and Wiress are in the forstation habit. Cashmere and Gloss are at axe & knife throwing. Johanna is focusing on her axe work. Finnick is swinging his trident around. And Peeta... painting on himself?

I leave Ryder behind as I walk towards Peeta. He senses someone coming and looks up.

He smiles. He has a familiar smile.

"Come to see an artist at work?" He questions. Smile still on his face.

I look down at his arm and it looks exactly like a log of wood.

"Where did you learn this" I ask curiously

"My family owns a bakery back in 12. I picked up a few skills from cake decorating" he's smile slowly fades. "I perfected it last Games when I camouflaged myself into a rock," he says proudly.

I let out a little laugh.

"You laugh? You actually laugh" he says smiling

I smile and I remember the last time I was like this. It was with Theo. We were walking home from school the day before the reaping, laughing about the bully that fell into a puddle at school.

I quickly revert my mind back to Peeta, avoiding the sadness.

"Can you show me?" I ask.

"Grab a paint brush" He says with a slight smile still gracing his face.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ:*✧

I pick up one of the swords and a few daggers and walk into the simulator. I walk over to the screen and press in the details. 20 kills.

I stand on the platform and tighten my grip around the hilt of the sword.

The timer counts down.

3

2

1

2 simulated targets are on my right and with three swift moves there gone, another 1 in front of me, gone. 2 to my left, 1 in front of me and 1 to my right in a matter of seconds there gone too. I look up and see a spear coming towards my face. I dodge while sheathing the sword at my back and unsheathe one of my daggers and with one swift throw across the simulator they're gone. In a millisecond 8 are surrounding me, I unsheathe my sword and get rid of them all.

4 left

They are in a diamond position around me.

I drop to my knee and spin on it, gutting them all simultaneously. The simulation ends. I stand up and turn towards the doors when I see every tribute staring at me there faces full of fear.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ:*

Exhausted from a rigorous day of training, Ryder and I trudge back to the apartment. I collapse onto the couch, letting out a tired sigh. Ryder, always brimming with energy, plops down beside me with his usual mischievous grin on his face. He seems unfazed by the exertion we've just endured.

"Phew! That was intense," he exclaims, "Calissa, I gotta say, you were pretty badass out there today. I mean, taking down those targets like it was child's play. Impressive."

"Just doing what I have to do." I reply with a dismissive tone, not in the mood to talk.

He chuckles, clearly not deterred by my closed eyes and unwillingness to reply. "Come on, don't be so modest. You've got this deadly aura about you, like you were born for this. It's intimidating, in a good way."