Because I'll Win

Chapter 9

Huntress POV:

I walk briskly over to the hand to hand combat area and after about one minute of fighting I take the trainer down. That earned stares my way. After a couple more runs, none of them lasted longer than three minutes, I headed over to the archery section, where Lake was demonstrating his expertise for a twelve year old girl. I forget what District she is. Lake seems so kind towards her and I smile at his gentleness. The girl may not make it out, the eldest tribute here is eighteen. Then again, I'm twelve, and I might not make it out.

Soon lunch is called and I am satisfied with myself. I have showed up almost every tribute in here. I was getting smirks and glances like I was a weak, pathetic little thing but I don't get them now. After lunch is done Lake and I head over to the memory tests. Lake aces one without even blinking and I only take 5 minutes. Soon we head over to the axe throwing station. It turns out that no matter how hard you chuck a blunt axe it will not kill a gamemaker.

"Ok Huntress, the dummy is dead." Lake smirks my way while he hits the target head on as I am beating a dummy repeatedly with the handle of my axe.

"Eh shut up. I'm fabulous and you're jealous that I showed you up in the hand to hand combat area."

"The jealous part is true, but I'd like to come back to the fabulous part." He laughs and I smile. We continue throwing axes and I decide to try a sword. Yeah, bad idea.

We headed over to the sword training area and as soon as I picked up a sword I immediately hurt myself on its blade. I curse and move on, sucking my hand to stop the blood flow. Lake laughs and we go to the knot station. I can tie a knot, but barely undo them. Eh, that's what Lake will be for.

-time lapse to singular assessments-

"Huntress Donner, please make your way to the gym for individual assessment." The computer rings out as I am the last person to be assessed. I quietly rise from my seat and walk to the gym. I can hear my footsteps echoing down the eerily silent hall and pass Lake, who was walking out. As I walk in, all the gamemakers fall silent, for they have seen me in training and seem eager to see what I can do.

When I walk in all the game makers put down their drinks, put down their food, and watch me do my thing. "Huntress Donner, District Twelve." I announce to the crowd for people. After that is finished I head over to the hand to hand combat area where the instructor is already waiting. I take him down in one minute, so I heard over to the axe throwing station and get a dummy right in the heart from thirty years away. I smile to myself, knowing that I am fairly good at everything in here, except camouflage and swords. Soon after the axes I go to archery, it takes me three tries to get the dummy in the heart but they are all fatal hits. When I look up I see the gamemakers nodding approvingly. Good. I put my bow back and stand there while they take final notes and wait to be dismissed.

"You may leave now."
"Thank you." When I get back to the penthouse everyone is trying to pry what I did put of me. So I tell them. When I finish everyone looks shocked.

"You showed the gamemakers three skills that you have mastered?" Asks Haymich.
"Yeah. Does it improve my score any?"
"Tremendously." Haymitch looks grim. "But the higher the score, the more pursuers you have." He leaves it at that because the television turns on and we all rush over. As Caesar is going through the scores for each district I can't help notice that the one other twelve year old girl got a five. Eesh. That's not that great. Apparently she was from District Eight.

"District Twelve. Lake Paterson: Ten." We all cheer for Lake because he did a really good job, mine won't even be half that. I wasn't prepared for what was coming, I know it will bring me trouble either way though.

"Huntress Donner: Nine."