Becoming Adamant [#1]

Chapter 8 - Targeted

I’m not the one that gets scared…usually. I’m a really tough act so people have to work their asses off to make me even consider being scared. But this time it’s not just anybody, it’s the President ofPanem. Well, if there’s anyone in the districts that gives me the creeps, it’s him, especially now. He’d scare the crap out of anyone…well, that goes to show you if I get scared.

After Blight’s shouting yesterday I’ve been left more scared and skeptical. But something’s very ironic in here as well. I’m just a 14 year old girl, which nobody thinks will make it far, and yet, I’ve managed to get the President’s attention. Sure, there’s got to be something to it though. He’s scared…of me! Well, somehow he is. He’s not gonna tell me of course. That would be too weird even for him. But then again, he knows and I know that I’ve got something to lose. He knows that with a fair warning, I’ll shut up and basically do what he says. Well, almost anyways.

I haven’t actually slept much. With Blight all over me it was kind of hard to ignore all the thoughts whirling around in my head. I see the time and I’m like not getting out of this bed just yet. As I turn though, I see something on the chair that wasn’t there yesterday. I look closer and I see that it is a training uniform. Right, the first session is today! Wait, did they bring that in here while I was sleeping? That’s just downright creepy if I might say so. I get out of bed as they’re probably expecting my shining personality out there any minute.

For some reason my every nerve in my body is tensed when I walk out to the living area. I’m not quite sure how that appears on the outside, it probably does cause I’m pretty much a wreck from yesterday. My bigger question is probably more in the lines of: will anybody comment on it? Sure, when Blight comes in he’s got to see it. If he doesn’t, I’ll be wondering what the hell he was doing last night. But both he and Dess better leave me alone though. Perhaps they will? No, it’s Blight and James Dess. They just have to interfere with me and my thoughts. It’s been like that up to now, what’s to change that? It’s just that when I’m scared, I’m even worse than when I’m feisty.  So you know what? If they knew their own good, they better just keep their mouths shut and let me be. I know how to make them do it…and so do they.

I’ve already sat down and I’m stuck in the middle of my thoughts. Talon doesn’t say much, but he observes me. I don’t seem to be the only one with bad sleep last night. The poor boy looks like a ghost…good thing we’re allies. For him I mean. It’s like I sense that he wants to say something, but he doesn’t. He keeps his mouth shut for a little while. Way to go, brainless. Just keep it that way. But of course, he doesn’t. “You didn’t come back last night. Is everything alright?” He then asks me. I look over at him as I can tell he’s waiting for me to answer. He doesn’t take his eyes of me as I stare back down on my plate. I’m not gonna talk to Talon Branch about me being scared. I’m not giving him that satisfaction. “I know I said we didn’t have to be friends here, but it doesn’t hurt to talk.” Brainless boy…as if I want to talk to you! “There’s nothing to talk about so just mind your business.” I answer back, still staring at the plate. “In case you need to talk someone else than Blight…I heard he was screaming pretty good at you last night.” Talon just lets out.

It’s like I actually want to talk for a moment, but then the main reason to my silence walks in the elevator door: Blight. “Good morning, tributes!” He says as he gets himself some coffee and sits down. I barely look at him and he can probably tell that I’m not too happy about his choice of words last night…no matter how true they were. “So plan for today is to play your ‘games’. Little Miss Feisty over here will do something teeny tiny, barely noticeable.” He says as I can feel his eyes on me. I simply nod. “Make sure you stay out of the Careers’ attention and you’ll be all good.” Blight adds to it as he turns his attention towards Talon. “Talon, you can circle around the field, but stay away from any station containing a Career. Avoiding their attention is also a part of your plan. We don’t want any of them to target you yet…” He says as I look up and I catch Blight looking at me. It’s really intense, just there and then. Talon catches our interaction as the clocks ticks closer to nine. Come on, time work with me here!