The Capitol Games

Chapter 3

Finally, we're in our rooms. They're really big, and they're beautiful! There are showers and a TV and a really fluffy couch...

I go to the showers first. I need to wash off the smell of blood, which I think was from the dress. Yech.

When I step in, there's a ton of knobs and buttons to push. I don't know which one tirns the water on, so I flip one random one and water comes out, but it smells like strawberries. Delighted, I try another one. Roses. No. Next one. Marshmallows. Lavender. Cinnamon. I choose my favorite, citrus. It smell like oranges and lemons and limes.

I've only had an orange once in my life. They say that smells help you recall memories and past events, and I find that that's true as I inhale the sweet scents.

*Flashback*

"Scarlett, wake up! It's your birthday!"

It was my tenth birthday. It was another average day, nothing special, nothing strange. I hopped out of bed and bounded to our small kitchen table.

"I have a special surprise for you," my mom said, and she handed me something orange.

"What is it?" I had asked, caefully handling the strange object I had never seen before.

My mother sighed. "I'm sorry you don't know. It's called an orange."

"Creative," I said sarcastically, and my mom laughed.

"It's really yummy, though. Here, let me peel it and you can try it!"

Once my mother had finished peeling the fruit, I took a bite, and immediately, I knew it was my favorite food. The sweet, tangy taste and the sweet juice on my tongue was perfection.

"Can I have another one?" I asked when I was finished.

Mom's eyes had filled with a few tears. "Oh, Scarlett, I wish, but we can't afford oranges all the time. I'm sorry," she said and hugged me.

That's when I realized that we were poor, and I would probably never be able to eat another orange again.

*End of Flashback*

I turn off the shower and dry myself off, slippng into the clothes I had on before. They are all washed and everything, and they smell like vanilla when I put them on.

I can't help but keep fiddling with the different scents though. Apple, chocolate, ocean, pumpkin...

Actually, the pumpkin is gross. As I smell it, I find that it's really strong and I don't like it one bit. I reach for the handle to chamge it again, but I'm feelong really dizzy. My vision slowly starts to black out, and my last sensation is falling to the floor before I can't feel or see anything.

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"Scarlett? Scarlett?"

My eyes slowly open to see a fuzzy outline of a person. I can't tell who it is, though.

"Scarlett! Scarlett! Come on, wake up! You've been out too long..."

I finally fight off the drowsiness and open my eyes cpmpletely. "Wha... huh? Where am I? What happened?"

My voice comes out raspy and hoarse. I'm able to make out who's over me. There's actually two people. Darla and... Sara? Really? Sara hates me! Everyone except Darla hates me! And Darla doesn't hate anyone!

"It's all okay, sweetie. Don't worry," Darla says.

"How long?" I ask. I need to get tp training. Darla remains silent.

"How long was I out?" I say, louder. Darla sighs.

"Two days. You missed two out of three days of training."

I look down in horror. No, this can't be! I passed out because of stupid pumpkin water! I mossed two days of training... last day and then we get scores...

Holy crap. Scores.

I jump out of my bed. "Get me to the training room," I say, panicking. Darla nods and leads me there.

Training has already begun. I look around the place in awe. There's several stations, with weapons, survival skills, hand-to-hand combat, all that stuff.

I don't know what my special skill is. I don't know what I'm supposed to do for the private training sessions. I'm terrible with knives. I've never even touched a bow and arrows. And I'm too skinny for hand-to-hand combat.

Plus I haven't been able to try all this stuff!

I go over to the knives station anyway, just because no one's there. I try throwing a few, but they all bounce off of the dummy. Scratch that off my list.

I try archery for the first time. It's pretty cool actually. My arrows have speed and reasonably good aim. I may not be able to kill my opponents, but I can wound them.

Then I find some spears. Cool. They feel good in my hands, and I get a tingle in my spine. Something tells me I should try it.

I jab the spear into the dummy. It pierces the heart, more than enough to kill it. Hm. Maybe I can try that in my private sessions.

I avoid spears for the rest of the day and move on to survival skills, learning about edible plants and bugs and how to make fires and all that. No one usually likes to go to these stations because they think weapons are more important. Well, I think it's important. I've never learned any of this before.

I'm in the middle of learning how to make sure if water is clean when we're starting our private sessions. I thank the instructor and wait, rather impatiently, for my name to be called.

Somewhere around the middle, I hear it. "Scarlett... Snow..." the District lady says, trailing off when she sees my last name. I go into the room and see a familiar face.

Katniss Mellark.

She's sitting there, along with a few other District people. When she sees me, she has a bit of surprise in her eyes, but otherwise, she has no emotion.

I pick up a spear and take a deep breath. I twirl it around and make several jabs at the dummy, whirling around and pretending to dodge the dummy's defense and attacks. I probably look terrible. But whatever, right? If I die in these Games, then it's better for me and the world. No more Snows.

I twirl the spear one last time and nod respectfully, signaling that I'm done. I catch Katniss's eye and she stares at me. Neither of us back down until a different District person speaks up. "Alright, Scarlett, you are dismissed."

I turn away and march out the door, trying my hardest not to look back.