The 25th Hunger Games (fanfic)

Chapter 9: Training Begins

I wake from my nightmare, feeling cold and sweaty under these heavy covers. I have an awful feeling in the pit of my stomach. I just can't seem to understand what's happening. I wrap my mind around what's happening.

I am Zac Brennon. I am from District 11. I am going to the Hunger Games. In two weeks, my sister and I will be flat out dead, and there's nothing I can do about it.

I feel scared, trapped, nervous, terrible. I cannot believe what's happening. It's the worst feeling in the world, knowing that in two weeks your life will end, as well as your sister's life, and you can't do anything about it. I just wish I could live longer. I realize I only have two weeks of life left. And I'm trapped. Suddenly, I hate the Capitol. I hate my father. I hate everyone who put my name on that voting slip. I hate everyone who put Crystal Brennon on that paper. I hate anyone who decided to bet on me, to sponsor me, and not Crystal. I want her to live the rest of her life, even if it means my death. I finally drag myself out of bed, sweaty. I hop into the shower and clean myself, wiping the sweat away. I don't want to go outside, where Crystal waits with her fearful eyes. But I force myself to go out, where a world of food awaits me. Just like on the train that first morning, except even more food, if at all possible. I am stunned, never seeing so much food in my life. I hop around like a little kid, trying things I've never seen before. I get plates and plates of food, piling each one up to the sky. I eat every plate, and I could just about throw up afterwards. But I make myself get one more plate full of the most delicious cinnamon rolls ever, topped in icing and butter. I know it can't be healthy, so before I throw up, I cram fruits into my mouth. I force myself to swallow and wash it down with orange juice. I find that I cannot get up, because I'm so full with food. So I just sit there, and I realize that I'm in sweats. I force myself up, but find that I need to crawl to my room. I put on some nicer clothes for Carly. Even though my life is over, I want to look good for the love of my life. I am surprised in the mirror to see that my bizarre hair has survived through my reckless sleep and the shower. I flip off the light, just to stare at myself. The ointment is still perfectly OK, just like when I first got it. I put on some nice clothes, a long sleeve-button down shirt that makes me look like a man with my muscles and hair and all, and some skinny, dark blue pants that are very stylish. It's a simple outfit, something that not a single Capitol citizen would wear. Just not showy enough, even though the outcome is just gorgeous. I am a little more flexible. I walk, with much effort, to the table, where I find Carly, Jannie, Rhett, and Grace have joined Crystal. I feel another stab in my stomach as I realize that I will be dead in two weeks, and whe'll be going to District 11 without me. But I force myself to smile and sit down. But I realize Crystal's not happy at all. I look at her curiously, and even though I didn't say anything, we've known each other other our entire lives, so it's easy to tell what the other is thinking. She hands me the sponsor list. No, 3 sponsor lists. I hope that what I'm thinking, that I have hogged all the sponsors isn't true. But I am very disappointed as I look at the list. I see the other tributes have not gained any sponsors since last night. But of course, there's my name. And 41 sponsors, an enormous lot, seems like a bug next to this new number. Way more than 41. 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91, 101, 111, 121, 127 sponsors! I gasp as I see I've collected $12, 675, just in pre-payment! This has to be a record of some sort, and it hasn't been a day yet! I almost pass out, because I find Crystal is clutching my arm. I flip the two pages over and see Crystal's name. I am eased as I see she has more than an average Career, 32 sponsors. Not bad. In fact, I would be greatly impressed if I didn't have 127. But I feel great grief, thinking of my dream last night. But I also know, deep in the back of my mind, that even though I have four times as many sponsors as her, she will also have many gifts, even though I have an ENORMOUS amount. Gigantic. More than anyone could have hoped for. My distress must have shown on my face, because everyone, even Crystal and Carly, try to change the topic and cheer me up.