Scars That Never Fade- A New Generation of Hunger Games

Chapter 13

The next day passed by quickly. Wake helped me significantly with my weapon usage. I felt as if I was improving, even though we had only been working a short while. I felt bad for not spending as much time with Volker, but he didn't make much of an effort to see me either. It seemed as though he trained better alone. Before I knew it, Day 2 had concluded.

As the bell rang, Romy caught my attention as Wake walked off. She had a worried look on her face.

"Fern, why are you with that District 4 boy?" she asked nervously. "I thought we were allies."

"Wake?" I asked surprised, "He's super helpful to me, and he's in our alliance, with Volker. Maybe a couple others."

"Fern," Romy said in a warning tone, "he's a career. He volunteered! He knows the Capitol loves you. He probably wanted to stick with you the first few days to get sponsor gifts. Then he'll just finish you off!" I just stared in shock and disbelief.

"He told me he wasn't a career," I said quietly, confused. But what Romy said made sense. Why else would he be helping me out? Just to earn favor with the Capitol. But he seemed so earnest. I was very angry, why would he do this to me?

"It's okay," Romy tried to assure me, "We have Volker, right? He's pretty good." I nodded my head, but I was still in denial that Wake would be cruel like that. Romy gave me a hug, and said, "thanks for being my ally, Fern. I know I'm only dragging you down, and I probably won't make it far, but I'm glad I have a friend like you on my side." I looked down at her, so young and innocent. How could a little girl like her be forced to fight to the death? Why? It wasn't fair.

"No, Romy," I said, determined, "I will do everything to get you home. You need to tell my dad that it's okay." She shook her head as her team called her over. Poor Romy. I hated the Games. I hated them so much.

"Fern!" called a familiar voice. Wake. He didn't know that I knew his little secret. If I kept it that way, then maybe I could outsmart him later on.

"Hi, Wake," I said.

"Are you ready to show them your archery skills tomorrow?" he asked eagerly. Almost too eagerly.

"Mhm. They're gonna be in for a surprise. Everyone is."

"Well, I will see you then," he replied, and walked off. I huffed angrily, and walked to where Volker was. To my anger and surprise, he was in a circle with what looked like the careers, and their friends. There were quite a few of them. There were Cassian and Phoebe, of course. I knew where I stood with them. The others I recognized to be Althea, a snobbish girl from 5, and both tributes from 8. And Anaïs, whose eyes darted around the room, crazed. They all gathered their attention towards me, and I tried to ignore it. But even as I walked over to Lina and Haymitch, I felt them continue to look.

Later, back in our rooms, Volker wrote me a note. It read, simply, "I am not joining the careers." I breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing I needed was another enemy. It wouldn't be good for me, and definitely not for Romy.

I wrote back to Volker, "I can't say thank you enough times." He smiled, and I headed off to bed, thinking of ways to not die.