Scarred | The Hunger Games

13.

This year, the chariot costumes for Eight were way better than last years. They actually had clothes on. The two were both in clothes with long sleeves and long flares, almost like a wedding dress train. Although it would draw attention to them, I also knew that District Nine would get annoyed and maybe put a target on them. 

Elektra was clearly more comfortable in acting for the crowds whilst Ledger seemed more shy. It was ironic seeing as Ledger would probably survive longer than Elektra but Elektra would be the one getting all the sponsors. 

"How many in the Career pack?" I ask Cecelia as the chariots were called out. 

She sighs. "All the Career Districts. One, Two and Four."

I wince, "Oh, this isn't... they're-"

"They're fucked." Johanna says, throwing her arms over both Cece's and my shoulder.

I stretch my neck to look at her, "but maybe-"

"Sorry doll, but have you seen Enobaria's tributes?" Jo laughs. 

"Not to mention District Nine's buffed 17 year olds." Finnick says, popping a sugar cube into his mouth. 

"Eugh, I don't even know how you stay so fit with how many sugar cubes you eat annually at these chariot ceremonies." Johanna says, rolling her eyes and getting off of me and Cecelia.

"I'm just that beautiful darling." Finnick winks at Johanna. 

She fake gags, "God, I take everything back, you're disgusting. Come on doll, let's go back to our tributes." She says, taking my hand and dragging me away. 

"So long, fishfuck!" I yell, giggling. 

***

"You like that, you like the water, the way it controls you, the way it lets me control you." Halima taunts, the bath water rippling with her hips. 

A sob escapes me, just before she pushes my head back under the water. I felt like gagging and throwing up again, terrified I would see the dead corpses of tributes at the top of the water. Her hand pulled me back to the surface to breathe. 

"Is she right? You like the water? Did you let it happen to me?" Otto's voice is muffled, like how it sounded when I could only hear his voice through the communication system rooted in the arena gear. 

"No!" I cry out. "No! No!"

"You liked it, didn't you. Killing children, watching them die." Ottiline said, her eyes hollow like she didn't know me. "You let the shark take Otto, like how you let it take you. You like the pain-"

I woke up, shortly screaming "NO". Waiting for a moment, I realised no one woke up because of me. 

Throwing my legs out of bed, I led myself into the bathroom, splashing my face with water remembering the nightmare. Reaching into a journal I had kept for bout half a year, I took out the blade I had hidden in there, pulling up the sleeve of my hoodie, remembering how hopeless I felt. I like the pain. 

***

"Alright, stick to survival training unless you think you are confident in weight training and clipping tools like knives or something." I tell Ledger. The first day of training is tomorrow and I had to prepare him for the worst. 

"What about allies?" He asks. 

"If you have a tribute you want to ally with, let me know and I'll talk to their mentor." I say a little less confident, seeing as I don't actually know many of the mentors here. 

Ledger sits up straighter, "Twelve. The tributes from Twelve." He puffs out his chest as he speaks. 

The male tribute from Twelve was a scrawny 15 year old, with  little bicep muscle which I assume is from mining. The female tribute was older and taller, and had a very similar build to the boy. It wasn't a great ally, but considering Ledger was only 12 and had more strength than Twelve, it did even it out a bit.