Reaper ~ THG AU

Ch. 12: Time

The last personal training was spent mastering what we could. Acacius and I both decided that we're as good as we're going to get before the games. I guess right now is the perfect time to prove that. We're about halfway through the Tributes in the private sessions. The girl from 6 just went in, the boy from 7 up next.

"This is taking forever..."

"What're you planning on showing them?"

I sigh, looking up towards Acacius as he digs into his pocket. I shrug before shifting into a somewhat more comfortable position.

"I don't know yet...I'll figure it out when I get in there. What about you?"

"Probably a bit of knives play..."

"You should also try and show them some of your strength...that will get their attention."

"Should I take off my shirt and juggle my knives? I bet that will also get their attention."

"If that's what you need to do, then go right ahead."

I sigh, looking up towards the clock on the wall. He laughs, pulling something out of his pocket. The sound of him chewing makes my head turn. My confusion grows as I see him eating a bag of mixed berries and nuts.

"Is food even allowed in here?"

"I don't know. I mean, at least one of us will be dead in less then a week so..."

"I thought we weren't supposed to make those jokes anymore?"

"What? You can but I can't?"

I shake my head, a silent laugh leaving me as I fight back my smile. This is the Acacius I'll miss the most, the one who can make me smile and laugh even on deaths door. I face the front again until I hear him speaking.

"You want some?"

I turn expecting him to be asking me. Instead I find him looking behind us towards the two from twelve. The girl, who is my age, shakes her head. She looks like a nervous cat, her head snapping around at every sound and movement. Her district partner, the twelve year old, slowly nods.

"Here...hold out your hands."

The boy holds out his hands hesitantly as I look towards my brother. Her offers a smile to the kid as he reaches over and pours a good portion of the mix into his hands. The kid manages a smile, moving to eat some of it as Acacius pops another berry into his mouth.

"My names Acacius by the way...this is my sister, Azalea."

"I'm Jenson...this is Maria but she doesn't talk that often."

"I don't think you talk that often either..." I hear myself say, offering a smile to the younger boy. "You usually stick to the shadows, do you not?"

He shrugs, looking like a deer caught in the bright lights of a hovercraft. Jensen clears his throat, moving to eat a little bit more of his mixed fruit and nuts. I clear my own throat as I face forward, feeling slightly offended that he didn't want to talk to me.

Acacius laughs, eating a bit more of his snack while side eyeing me. I give a look as if I'm saying 'what'. He wiggles his eyebrows at me before facing forward again. Rolling my eyes, I cross my arms before looking back up towards the clock.

——

"Bessie Butler."

The voice calls, making the young girl in front of me stand. Her district partner already went in about ten minutes ago. He either impressed the Gamemakers or was completely ignored. I grab Acacius's hand, squeezing it as I let a deep breath out.