games → CATO HADLEY ✓

e i g h t

| " A R G U E . " |

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I guess breakfast was super important the next morning, because I was woken up extra early.

"Ross, can I please go back to sleep?" I ask, rubbing my eyes.

"Nope." He says, throwing my training outfit at me. "Private sessions are tommorow, so you need to get to training early."

My eyes widen.

"Wait, so all of the tributes are going to the training center early?" I ask. If Ceneca sees all the tributes training early, he would probably think I told them about my morning training.

"Not exactly." Ross winks. "I know where you go every morning."

"W-what?" I question, and fake a look of confusion.

"You go to the training center early every morning. Ceneca Crane asked you to, correct?"

"How did you find out?" I huff.

"I know everything." He says, and shoves me in the bathroom. He locks the bathroom door after he exits. Is it really that obvious that I'm going to the training center every morning?

I guess so . . .

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With my normal schedule of leaving breakfast early, I head to the training center, being careful so that no one will see me. By now, all of the careers, mentors, and escorts are in my living quarters, discussing useless strategies.

I shove the doors open in a quiet manner, and walk over to the axes. I look right up at Ceneca, and a smile tugs at the edge of his mouth.

"What're you doing for private sessions tomorrow?" He asks.

"It's a secret." I point, and pick up two axes.

"I'm sure you'll impress." He pauses. "But before you get started with your axe throwing, we need to talk."

"About . . . ?" I trail off, and set the axes back on the weaponry table.

"Private sessions, of course."

"What about it?" I raise an eyebrow, still looking up at him.

"Your score." He replies.

"Okay, well I'm hoping it'll be pretty high." I shrug.

"I don't think that's necessary." He cuts in.

"What's not necessary? A high score?"

"Exactly." He snaps his fingers, and places his hands behind his back. "A higher score will only make you seem . . . stronger, more capable."

"I don't follow." I shake my head. "I have no idea what that means."

"It means that you need a medium score. Getting a twelve just means that people will watch out for you. If you get a medium score, people won't count you as a threat. They won't see it coming when you attack them." He fills me in.