The Tribute From the Ocean (A Hunger Games Fan Fiction)

•9•

The next day practice knives with Gunner. He said he needed help with them and Juvel told me to help.

I knew I was good with knives. But not that good.

"I can't aim well." I tell the other careers. They just shrug and watch intently. I pick up a few knives and hold them in my left hand while I planned to throw with my right.

My first throw was weak, but accurate. I twisted once to distract the people watching from me grabbing another dagger and throwing it hard ride across from the last one.

I think of how much I hated the Capitol and the stupid games. I think of Keyon and how his cold stare could break me. I think of my mother and how much I hated her for leaving me with him.

I had three more knives and threw two at once then pivoted my right foot and threw the last knife as hard as I could.

I imagine the knife cutting through the people I hate. A sharp crack punctured the air. The board was cracked.

I turn toward everyone else. They were shocked. I step back to the side of the room and let Gunner practice. I didn't like the attention at all.

•••

"Are you two ready for assessments?" Finnick says distractedly while he picks at his food.

Brandon snorts. "Kya is."

"How come?" Finnick says looking up from his plate. Why couldn't Brandon keep his mouth shut?

"She cracked the board Finnick." Brandon tells him.

"It's just wood. I've cracked plenty of wooden targets, I don't know why everyone cared so much." I shrug.

"Those are the capitols targets, Kya. Impenetrable, until now of course. The most it'll do is let the knife stick to it not even an inch. You can't even tell there's been knives there." Finnick tells me.

"I don't know." I shrug.

"Congratulations." Finnick tells me. "Both of you, go get cleaned up and in the bed. Early morning tomorrow."

"Since when do we have bedtimes?" I ask as I stand with my glass of water.

"Since you got me as a mentor." Finnick retorts, but amusement is bright in his eyes so I just laugh it off. I head off to my room and take a shower. It may have been the longest shower I've ever taken.

When I get out, I make sure my door is locked and crawl into bed naked. I slept okay that night, but was aroused early by a hard knock at my door.

"Personal assessments tomorrow get up!" Finnick says loudly in the hallway. It takes me a few minutes to eventually roll out of bed and put on my training outfit.

I walk out into breakfast and only Annie and Brandon sit at the table.

"Are you ready?" Annie asks me

"Nervous." I answer her.

"No need." She shakes her head. "Both of you. You'll do fine, just don't do anything stupid."

It would be different if we were in a career pack, then if we got a low score no one would worry about us, but we are. And if we screw up, we'll be first on their kill list.

Just like Gunner is now.

•••

"Kya Akers." The monotone voice echoes throughout the hall. I walk straight into the Training room and all the eyes of the game makers are on me.

I start toward the knives and pick up a handful of knives. I knew my aim wasn't great, but I had great force.

I had practiced a move before with Keyon a year or so ago. One of those basic rolls. But first I throw two of the knives, do the roll throw one of them and then throw two at the sides of the board, then do the same I did at training. I puncture the board and a crack forms, though smaller than the last.

"You may go now, Miss Akers." A voice says. I turn on surprise. I was supposed to get ten full minutes. And they just told me to go.

"Thank you." I tell them and leave. I see a camera and jump, I didn't know there were supposed to be cameras here. I see more and soon it was a flood. I have to change my facial expression and smile and wave until I push myself onto the elevator, finally alone.

I sigh and while back the short hairs that outlines my face. Maybe it was because all I could do with my hair was pull it back and break off the front line of hairs. I didn't care though I've never cared about looks, but apparently in the Capitol that's important.

When I'm up on the fourth floor Finnick and Brandon were talking right outside the elevator. I cover my mouth to catch a sob in my throat.

"Kya–" I run away from the voice and slam my door shut. I ruined it. I did something wrong and now the game makers hate me.

Nobody came after me, after that. I heard people talking outside my door, but not to me. One voice said to leave me alone but all the voices merged in my head.

"Kya." A soft voice says outside my door. "It's on." I hadn't moved from right inside my room where I collapsed against the wall.

I push open my door to reveal Brandon. Could he see the redness in my eyes from crying. I felt it.

"Come on." He whispers gently and takes my hand. I don't think anything of it, just a simple act of kindness, but he kept my hand wrapped in his as we walked into the main room.

A grey cloud had set over us all. I wasn't going to make it. I had no chance now and maybe the only chance I had at being okay was knowing Brandon would walk away alive if I couldn't.

The TV turns on at the exact time the Capitol set it to. Brandon sets me down on the couch next to him.

The first for careers go and their scores start from 8-10. I'd never get that. Then Brandon goes.

9.

"Good job." I tell him. But, I wasn't as lucky. I knew I'd never get that.

6.

Nothing else escapes my lips and I don't see the rest of the numbers on the screen. I just bury my head in between Brandon's shoulder and the couch.

"It's going to be okay." Brandon whispers. "The other careers won't care." But they will. I know it. He knows it.

"Most of the other tributes got lower anyway, Kya. I don't see the issue." Gabrielle snorts, but she keeps going. "It's so low people might just overlook you."

It was a comment, that made by any other person, would've sounded hopeful, but in her voice it sounded everything but.

I was dead.

For sure.