The Story of a Career

Day 1

Tullius Slade just happens to be the biggest, tallest, strongest, and best looking guy this district had to offer. He has sun bleached hair and pale skin. He must tower over me. I think he's 17 or 18 years old, and of course I get stuck with him.

What am I thinking! I can't let this discourage me. It's nothing but a mere dilemma. But I will have to rethink my whole strategy on how to win. I thought I could easily take out what other careers were left when it came down to it. I'll have to watch him in training because no doubt I will have to take him out. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I have to remember presentation. I can't look phased by this turn of events. I even put a slight grin on my face for extra measures. I'm sure the sponsors will love that. Ptawny ushers Tullius to his spot on the stage. He easily towers over Ptawny. He's still tall compared to me, but not as imposing as I thought. We turn to face each other and shake one anothers hand. I look into his eyes and he stares right back.

It's a stalemate. I know that by looking at him. We won't be able to kill each other. That doesn’t mean I won't try, though. I'm in it to win it.

As my brain goes on overload, peacekeepers escort us in to the justice building. I am put in a small room that is lightly furnished and the door is shut and locked behind me. I plop down on the couch and put my hands behind my head. Not a bad first impression for me.

A few minutes later I hear the click of a lock and my mother and father walk in. My mother gives me a quick hug. “Make a good impression in the Capitol, Blair. We wouldn't want people to think that our family is ill mannered” my mother says. I disregard this. It's always about her. No “Good luck staying alive, Blair,” or “I hope you do well, Blair.” Just “Make me look good, Blair.” My father comes over and puts his hand on my shoulder and says “Good luck sweetie, we know you'll come back with the crown.”

We don't say a whole lot more and after another few minutes, the peacekeepers usher them out. A few of my friends come to visit me, but I can see the jealousy in their eyes so I don't push conversation. After my few goodbyes, the peacekeepers come back yet another time to take me to the train. We stop in the entrance of the train and I turn around to smile and wave for the cameras and Tullius does the same. The door closes and we're off.

It's nothing impressive on the inside. Just usually decorated on the inside. Bells and whistles. I'm told where my room is and automatically go there to get my dress off. I hate wearing fancy clothes and dresses. District 1 is the worst district for someone like me.

When I get to my room I take a quick shower and start digging through the drawers. I find a pair of pants and tank top to throw on. I start pacing and loose track of time.

My concentration is broken when I hear Ptawny knock on the door and tell me it's time for dinner. I briskly walk to the dining room and find Tullius, Ptawny, and Zander. It turns out Zander is our mentor's name. He only won a few years back so he is pretty young. He's one of the best looking guys I have seen. Perfect features, dimples, and deep eyes. I'm actually quite happy that he is our mentor because he is one of the most renowned and skilled victors that is still alive. Near the end of his hunger games, it came down to him and two other careers. It was a gruesome and bloody battle, and he came out of it virtually unscathed and a victor.

We make small talk about the Capitol until our food is served. Succulent steaks covered in various spices, a stew with some sort of very lean meat, and other foods that I don't pay much attention to.

I eat until I've had my fill and Zander starts talking. “So, about training, what are your favored weapons?”

Tullius answers in his deep, smooth voice. “Mostly battle axes, but I'm good at handling a spear, too.” My answer quickly ensued. “I am good with all types of swords. I prefer two handed blades, though.”

“Good,” he answers. “We've got a basis to work with. I want you guys to appear as scary and imposing as possible. Show them right off the bat your on top and won't take any crap.” He was speaking my language.

I assumed we were going to talk more, but we are interrupted by Ptawny. “Come now, children. Let's watch the recap of the recap of the reaping.” she says in her stupid accent. I don't know how I'm going to stand the people of the Capitol if they all talk this way. I might end up putting a blade to someones neck even before the games start.

We all step into a car with a few chairs and a couch with a large TV dominating most of one wall. I spread out on the large plush couch and get comfy. Everyone else takes their seats and someone turns the TV on and the reaping begins.

From district 2, there is a stote boy with dark hair named Lanthe and a girl with dark brown hair and amber eyes named Halona. She looks like trouble. We move on to district 3, and they both look like weaklings so I pay no mind to them. In district 4, a tan girl with light hair girl named Glade and a tall boy with beautiful eyes named Fen were picked. Fen looked like a formidable opponent. There were only another few tributes that stuck out, like a boy from District 5 that was quite large.

It quickly ends and Zander begins. “So who did you guys see that popped out to you?”

I am the first to answer when I say “Fen from four and Halona from two, oh, and maybe the boy from five.”

“I second that,” Tullius says.

After chatting a bit more about our opponents, I head to bed. I'm exhausted from the long day and I'm ready to crash. I reach my car and change into silky pajamas and hop into bed. Soon I fell into a peaceful sleep

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hello peoples. Aislinn speaking. Thank goodness my best buddy Grace is helping me along and proof reading my horble spelling. I'm going to make my chapters pretty short so yeah...OH! And I'm writing this for you, 12 people who read my book! Please comment. If that picture dosn't want to make you keep reading I don't know what will.