Becoming Adamant [#1]

Chapter 5 - The Competition

I sit down on the bed as I walk back towards it and the hologram. Although I see a control-thingy lying on the bed, that’s not the first thing that I notice. It’s this bed. Holy crap this is the real deal! It’s so soft I could sleep through a thousand lifetimes on this. I’m sure I could. I rest my head on the pillow and I almost fall asleep just by closing my eyes for a little minute or two. But as I lie there staring at the control, my curiosity gets the best of me and I sit up. I pick it up. I barely touch it and I see the screen go on. Okay, how do I do this? But it goes straight on to a report on the tributes. Oh well, I guess I just don’t need to know. Might as well just get to know my competition if what Blight’s saying is really true.

Now, obviously they start with their darling, beloved tributes from District 1. Oh yes, the Capitol adores them I tell you. They or the ones from 2 win it pretty much every year. They didn’t win last year though…that was that boy from 4…Odair I think his name was. All the girls were on about him, but I just saw a boy, nothing more. Back to the point though, District 1’s had a good pick as usual. A blonde chick at around 16 I think, and then the boy around 17 or 18. What really gets to me though, is that blonde’s fake façade. Ha-ha, she already painted a target x on her back. I’m gonna enjoy killing her, that’s for sure! And then there’s the other two…from District 2, with the same tendencies: all too overly honored to represent their district. It’s all about pride for them…blind fools. I’m gonna rip all of their throats out and show them they’re not the only ones with attitude. I almost sound like them, picking my targets already. See? I want to be in their group, but that’s not gonna happen now with genius Blight at the wheel.

Further ‘down the line’ the next ones to catch my attention are the tributes from District 4. They’re the defending District I suppose. They won the Games last year, and they could do it this year too. By my reckoning, just by looking at them they could already be a part of the career-pack. My luck! Six careers…that’s like ¼ of the tributes in the Arena! And I thought my life was hell already being reaped with Talon and having to nurture Blight on how to mentor me. As I finish watching the report on all the reapings, I can tell the rest aren’t much to look at. They’re probably going down before I do…if I ever go down that is.

The two hosts comment on each of the district’s tributes. I hear them talk highly of the ones from 1, 2 and 4, while they completely dismiss the ones from 3, 5 and 6 before they get to me and Talon. I sit further up to hear them out.

“And now to District 7…let’s start with their female tribute…what as her name?” Kellerman asks his co-commenter. “I’ll give you a damn good reason to remember it, brainless!” I mumble to myself as the other one finally reads it up. “Ah, yes, Sylvia Mason, 14 years old…by first look she could seem very fit for her age, but she seems a little weak when you look at the reaping.” He then says. I roll my eyes at that comment. “That tends to happen when you’re caught off guard, brainless x2!” I say to myself once more. “So how do you view her chances?” Kellerman then asks his co-commenter. He quickly dismisses me. He actually dooms me in the bloodbath. Hah! I can’t wait to prove them wrong once the Games actually begin!

“And how about the boy tribute…Talon Branch, was it?” Kellerman asks his co-commenter as he nods. Oh, you remembered his name, but not mine?! I’m so gonna hand it to you later. “The boy tribute from 7, Talon Branch, 16 years old…he seems fairly muscular. Could he stand a chance?” Kellerman then asks. Well, Talon does look muscular. I’ll admit, when I saw the reaping photos, I understand why they dismissed my chances, and actually give Talon a second thought. He managed to keep his stature way better than me…for once. “I’m insecure on him, Kellerman. I might find him too light considering the tributes from 1, 2 and 4.” They deliberate a little further before they decide to give him the benefit of the doubt…a challenger in other words.