The Hunger Games Rue's Point Of View

Chapter 6

I spend the night sleepless and stressed for the day to come. I'm not sure I can handle being around the tributes I'll be in the arena with soon, especially as they all have to die, if I want to win.

And I might have to kill them.

I quietly watch the sun rise over the Capitol. Soon Cenia is at my room, knocking and telling me to get up. I stand up and trudge to the shower, rubbing the last traces of sleep from my eyes.

I quickly rinse off and dress for breakfast, done in 15 minutes. I eat quickly, and the second I finish Sariah is there, telling me to try on my training outfit.

 "How does it fit?" Sariah asks.

 "It's fine," I say simply. It's snug, but fairly comfortable. Easy to move in, as well.

 "Alright, Cenia will take you down to the Training Center. Good luck!"

 I don't have any time to worry about training as Sariah ushers me out the door to my mentor, the latter coming with me, Thresh, and Alex down to the Training Center.

The elevator takes us underground, sliding down the levels. It eases to a stop and the doors slide open, revealing the place.

"Good luck, Rue," Cenia says, planting a kiss on my head. I'm caught off guard for a moment, and wonder if we're that close yet. But she firmly pushes me forward and I quickly join the rest of the tributes.

Training isn't televised, so none of us have seen the Training Center, except for in person. It seems very gray and dismal, and the concrete walls echo eerily. 

The first thing to catch my eye is the net, stringing from the ceiling to the floor. After that, the weapons. Bows, swords, knives, spears, anything imaginable. It's hard to push away the image of myself being struck by one.

We're early, yet most of the other tributes are here, with the exception of Districts 3, 5, and 12. Five minutes to ten they come through the elevator, and Atlata, the head trainer from what I can tell, begins to give us instructions.

I get the general gist: Do not fight with fellow tributes, there's plenty of time in the arena for that.  Weapons are important, but survival skills are more important. Learn something new.

I'm only partially surprised she doesn't end her speech with "Have fun!" as our some of our teachers do in school.

I glance up at Thresh, and he begins striding towards the weapons. I'm not ready for that yet, so I decide to take a chance at the net.

Looking from the bottom, it seems easy to scale. Halfway through, I notice that the net burns my hands in a way that trees don't. It also seems higher, when there's only concrete at the bottom.

I keep pulling myself up, slightly surprised at how nimble I am. I watch at the top for a moment, just observing the other tributes. Careers are at the weapons, having their go at the knives. District 5 girl is at the edible plants test, passing it easily. Katniss is at the station for snares, tying knots with her district partner.

I'm trying to decide if I'm still angry with her, from the swirl of emotions last night. No, because it's not her fault, I decide. It's the Capitol. She seems like a good older sister, and seems happy with her partner. I take her as a bit of a role model.

During lunch, I sit alone at one of the tables. Chatter, laughter and yelling fill the small cafeteria. It's a lot to handle for me, I prefer the softer sounds of nature.

I take this chance to eat more and gain some weight. While I wasn't underfed compared to some of the families in District 11, there were some nights when I went to bed hungry. I never stole food, in fear of being punished publicly, or my family facing the same consequences.

 After lunch, I skip around stations, learning a handy knot here, or a good food source here. I feel more and more confident every minute, and by the end of the day, I think I just might have a chance at these Games.