District 10 - The 136th Hunger Games

4 - Training: Days 2 and 3

I wake up to the padding of feet outside my room. I cover my head with my pillow to protect my ears from the inevitable. Like clockwork, a sharp rap rap rap sounds throughout my room. If it weren't for my crazy situation, I'd think my life was on repeat.

Throwing the ridiculously soft, thick covers off of me, I get dressed in my training outfit and go get breakfast. While eating, Marcus walks Jeremy and I through what we should be doing, which is basically just keep up the good work from yesterday. After the meal, Jeremy and I go down to the training level in the elevator. However, just before we hit the basement floor, the elevator stops at 1. We share a worried look right before the door opens.

Caleb and Diamond, the District 1 tributes, look slightly surprised at seeing the elevator already occupied, but that doesn't stop them from getting in. I look at the floor to avoid eye contact, and try to seem weak and insignificant. Turns out, I don't need to do much for them to believe it. Caleb nods at Jeremy, who stonily looks back. I'm not surprised, seeing as Jeremy is a real contender. Of course the Careers would want to butter him up.

Although, I am surprised when Diamond starts talking to me.

"That's a pretty necklace," she says, gesturing at the gold heart Ivy gave me.

"Thanks," I murmur.

"Where'd you get it?"

"My best friend gave it to me when she came to say goodbye," I say.

"Oh."

The elevator dings, and the Careers step out first, as if everything they do has to be a show of dominance. As they leave, I hear Caleb talking to Diamond.

"What was that all about? Asking her about her necklace?"

"I thought it was pretty," Diamond shrugs, like she doesn't care what anyone else thinks. Somehow, it makes me like her a bit more.

Today is my weapons day. I go to the trident section first, before the District 4 pair do. I want to practice a bit with it, seeing as I've never held one in my life. I get the hang of it pretty quickly. While I'm by no means an expert, it's basically the same as a spear, if a little off balanced due to the extra prongs. Also, stabbing things is a little different. My stomach twists a little at the thought of stabbing things.

The District 4 tributes, Jordan and Pearl, show up before I'm fully comfortable with the trident, but I leave anyway, just to put some space between us. I debate with myself a bit before going over to the throwing knives station. This is the thing I'm best at. Picking up a knife, I aim, and release. It sails through the air, hitting...the wall, a foot away from the dummy. I try again and again, each one hitting somewhere else, some feet away from a target, some mere inches from a heart. After an hour of this, I leave.

I can feel the Careers watching me, probably laughing. Once they're out of sight, I let myself grin. Each knife had hit exactly where I was aiming at, down to the centimeter. A target only shows you where to aim. It's not a rule, more of a suggestion. So, as long as I'm hitting where I'm aiming, I'm getting some good practice in.

I go over to the axe station and try my hand at swing one around. I get in some good hits on the dummy, but every so often I get a little off-balanced. I had better hope they have swords or knives in the arena.

During lunch, everyone eats in the same place they did before, either alone or with their district partner. I help Zach carry Tulip's tray over to their table again. I don't know why I do it, but it makes me feel good, like the Capitol can't make me change, even by throwing me into the Hunger Games. I get a thank-you smile in return this time.

After lunch I go to the spear station. I have pretty good aim on this, hitting a dummy almost every time. Soon, two other tributes join me at this station: Flint and Electra, the District 3 tributes. Each look about my age, with Flint being maybe a year older. Without saying anything, they each take a spear and start throwing at the dummies.