Sea Of Secrets [1]

Five

   "A lot of the tributes don't show their full potential when they get called for their private session. They want to show what they really have in the arena" Finnick sits next to me , turning on the television right as the scores from the other tributes are being called. "The Career tributes usually get a high score, they want people to be afraid"

   I am very afraid of the career tributes, they spend their whole lives training to kill. If they grew up with the kind of mindset that they do now, you know that they will hunt you down and kill you without a bat of the eye.

   Just as Finnick had said, a lot of the Career tributes have gotten scores that vary from eight to ten. When Sam's name gets called , he is given a five. He slumps back onto the couch and crosses his arms. You would have thought that he would be sad, or even disappointed in himself , but no, a proud smile is plastered across his face. He wanted to get a low score , he wanted them to think he was weak. I thought he was weak until he almost cut my ear throwing a knife at me.

   I turn my head back to the television right as my name is being called, I have gotten a nine. Finnick and Mags pat me on the back, and congratulate me, but all I'm thinking about is how I'm going to survive with Sam in the arena.
Hopefully I won't be his first target. As the scores go on, I only listen to three names being called. Rue, from District Eleven; one of the youngest in the group got a seven. Peeta from District Twelve got a score of eight, and his district parter ; Katniss, got the highest score which was an eleven. She will be hard to beat in the arena. First she volunteered for her sister, and now she has gotten an eleven. She is sweet and ruthless at heart.

{~}

   Sitting at dinner , I barely pick at my food. Tomorrow I am going to have to get ready for my interview with Caesar Flickerman, I will have to be dressed in a dress again, and will have to answer his questions with a smile on my face.

   "They will be so surprised when they see me slash everyone's throats in the arena, they'll think I was weak and small, just like you did Coral" Sam looks at me in the eyes when he says his promises , and I know that I will be one of the first on his list to kill. I made a big mistake opening my mouth at dinner the other night. "They won't even see me coming Finnick, they won't! Pure shock with be on their faces when I kill them, and I won't even be sad. I'll smile, and laugh at the sound of the cannon. Won't you Coral? Won't it be fun?"

   "I don't think killing people is fun Sam, and I don't think laughing at their death is respectable" I stab at the soft chicken on my plate and shove it in my mouth.

   "So you won't be fighting? You'll just hide out like a wimp?"

   "I don't want to kill anyone, and I don't want anyone getting hurt. Being in the arena is going to be traumatic as it is with the sounds of people's screams and cries. I don't want to die, but if it means saving someone else's life, I'll do it" I don't want to leave Liam behind, but I also don't want to kill anyone. I am so conflicted that it hurts me. "I don't want to talk about this anymore"

   "You will die fast" Sam laughs and his eyes twinkle with delight. His sick laughter makes bile go up my throat.

   "That's enough!" Finnick slams his fist on the table making the plates vibrate , and silverware fall to the ground. Everyone is staring at him with wide and curious eyes. Mags sips at her drink, like this is just another day for her. "We will not talk about what we will be doing in the arena at the dinner table. That is for your knowledge and Mags knowledge" his yelling rattles my glass and I excuse myself to my room.

   If I get scared of yelling, then I'll be mortified in the arena. As I close my bedroom door, I can hear Sam and Finnick yelling back and forth. I crawl into my bed , not thinking of taking my clothes off, or putting new ones on. In the background, I can hear plates and dishes being thrown around in the kitchen. I drift off to sleep to the sound of a loud crash and a scream.