Chapter Four

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Absolutely love this song. First discovered it in an Atsushi & Akutagawa AMV by Beast Beneath the Moonlight, but I feel like it could go with any special friendship or romance, so had to include it here! :-D

Trigger warnings for this chapter: Panic attack


I rub the sleep from my eyes as I head blearily over to the Training Ground. The streets are empty and quiet, especially so as I turn off the main street and into a side avenue. Training for the Hunger Games is actually prohibited by Panem Law but it isn't exactly a secret that it happens in District One. As long as we don't flaunt it in public, the Peacekeepers turn a blind eye.

I slip into the yard that serves as the Training Ground to find it already packed. Some teens are on the ground doing squats, push-ups or sit-ups, but most are over the side where a selection of weapons are laid out. The most popular are the swords where trainers are supervising various fights with wooden and metal swords, whilst targets are laid out for knife and spear throwing and archery.

I head over to the archery where Sparkle is already waiting. As deemed the worst weapon by the trainers, there are far less allocated targets, but it's still popular, and we are encouraged to fight over who gets to use the weapons. Seeing me approach, Sparkle feigns annoyance, and shoves me hard, and I stumble.

"Wait your turn," She hisses.

I grab her by the shoulders, "Well?"

She goes to kick my feet, so I knee her in the stomach. She winces and there are appreciative 'oohs' from onlookers. "Sorry."

"I snuck into the Justice Building yesterday morning and had a look at the Reaping Balls."

I frown, twisting her so that her back is to any trainers who might be watching, "That was stupid. You promised not to do reckless things like that."

"I know, but there were no Peacekeepers around and I don't think anyone saw me."

"When did you-" Then realisation dawns, "The pancakes. You needed an alibi."

"I also wanted to make you food."

She grabs me and forcefully throws us both onto the dusty ground. Again, more cheers and murmurs from teens who are around. I grunt from the impact, and she straddles me, grabbing my arms, whilst I reach for her throat, pretending to strangle her.

She leans in, "It's rigged."

That doesn't surprise me. "So Splendour is reaped?"

"No. Sapphire." She gulps, "And me."

I blink and release my hold. She throws back a hand to punch me, and I grab her and twist us over so I'm the one trapping her.

"Why?" I hiss.

Up close, I can see the tears and fear in her eyes, "Because of SPARK. I think they suspect us still."

Because of their shared connection to Amethyst.

"Glimmer," She whispers, "I don't want to die."

I grip her shoulders, "You're not going to," I murmur, "Splendour will volunteer. It's going to be okay."

"But what if she doesn't?"

"She will," I respond fiercely.

I start to get up, but she grabs me and pulls me close, "Glimmer," She is crying now, "Marvel is going to volunteer."

I still, "What?"

"Marvel. Mother's been training him all year. He's going to enter the Hunger Games."

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