Torn: Sequel to Ruthless

Chapter 6

Octavia

The rest of the training is quite uneventful. The same cannot be said about the day of Private Training. Like always, I wake up to Arachne's awful voice telling me to wake up. Instead of choosing an outfit from the wardrobe, though, I'm given a sleek black unitard to wear my District number pinned on the back. Arachne does my hair, pulling it into a neat bun with a bunch of braids before sending me down to breakfast. 

No one is there when I arrive. Snatching a plate from the pile, I fill it with a variety of mouthwatering delicacies. It doesn't take long before everyone else comes into the room. I can tell without looking up, because the formerly silent room is filled with chatter. 

After breakfast, Apollo and I run down to the training room, a bit hurried because of Arachne. Of course, we're early. Only the District 9s are there. A half hour later, all of the tributes have arrived. We're all ushered into a side room to wait as the other tributes do their private training. A robotic voice calls out the names, starting with Rubie. After Wonder, the boy of District 1 returns to the room the rest of us are waiting in, it's my turn. 

"Octavia Meyer," the robotic voice drones. 

"Good luck," Apollo says softly as I leave the room.

I breathe out and step into the significantly larger room. 

"Octavia Meyer," I announce to the Gamemakers.

Grabbing a sword, I start a simulation. The hardest one. Orange figures immediately run at me. As the figures circle me, I hack away at fake arms, legs, heads, bodies. I get hit by one fake arrow and a spear, but otherwise, I'm untouched. For the finale, I wait till they are so close to me that I could touch them if I wanted before swinging my sword all the way around. Piles of orange blocks surround me. 

"Thank you," I say before waiting to be dismissed.

Then I take the elevator back to the second floor. Arachne's waiting, hands clasped in nervousness. I ignore her and walk to my room, slamming the door in her face. In desperation, she knocks over and over again. She only stops after I hear Apollo's voice. I eat lunch in my room and spend the next few hours sparring against the air, practicing hand to hand combat against no one until dinner. I only come out because everyone insists on me being there. 

"Finally, I get to see your beautiful face, Octavia," Arachne exclaims. 

Dinner is vegetable soup and duck, covered in a pineapple sweet and sour sauce. I've lost my appetite, so I pick at my food, thinking about the training scores. Will I get a 10? An 11? A 3? A 7?After dinner, I retreat back to my room to take a warm shower. When I come out, I smell of the sweet and spicy smell of carnations. 

"You smell nice," Apollo compliments. 

"Thanks," I reply boredly.

The program begins, revealing Caesar Flickerman's face on the screen. 

"Good evening," he begins. 

After a bit of introductory commentary, he begins on the scores. Hysterically, Wonder, the boy from 1, gets a 7. Rubie gets a 9, like a usual Career, and Apollo gets an 11. Then, Caesar announces my name. And I suck in a breath. The screen flashes a 9. I let the breath out. The rest flies by, with the rest of the tributes averaging a 6. I don't see many threats in the list, but I do notice Ashlee from 7 gets a 9 like me. 

I collapse tiredly into bed after the program ends, falling asleep almost instantly.