Not Just A Game

Chapter 6

When I walk into the dining area, I'm the first one there. I sit down in a cushioned chair in the middle of the table. Dakota Ross emerges a few moments after I get settled and order a drink.

"Hey", she says, "how are you holding up?"

I actually stop to think about this question. How do I feel? Sometimes I feel strong, but others I feel terrified and nervous.

I answer as honestly as I can.

" You know, I'm scared." I begin, "sometimes I feel like I have no chance of surviving this. But I also feel confident and strong. Especially when I'll be up against career tributes, who have been fighting and looking forward to this their whole life. I mean, seriously! They train like animals! I've seen them."

She looks at me for a second, and tilts her head. Her brown hair falls to the side.

"Then think of the one thing you have that the careers don't."

Obviously she doesn't mean something physical, because they have the advantage in that aspect.

The careers train since they are young to fight like animals, and kill people left and right. They have everything given to them by the capitol.

I answer,

"They're spoiled and arrogant, but mostly...

They have no humanity."

She nods and asks why that gives me the advantage.

" Because I'll be able to outsmart them by not using physical force to kill them. I won't relish in the moment they die, because I destroyed them with my own hands."

"So what could you do, Ivy?" she asks.

" I could use poised berries, or drown them. Maybe I could put them in a trap, then kill them."

She nods once more.

"Now you're thinking, you see?"

Griffin walks in and takes a seat next to me.

He noticed Dakota and holds out his hand. She shakes it promptly.

"Griffin." he says

"Dakota."

Our drinks arrive on a shiny silver platter. A roast that could feed my family for a month is brought out.

An apple is lodged in its mouth. Dakota immediately cuts into the pork, and slaps a chunk on her plate. I do the same, eating like I've never eaten before, which wouldn't be too far off from the truth.

The meat is juicy and tender. It seems to melt in my mouth. Soon my plate is empty and I go in for seconds.

Dustin and Harley walk in.

Everybody seems to be taking advantage of these last few days. They all wear new clothes and have taken showers.

Harley wears a bright pink shirt and a pair of black shorts. Her hair is down and looks so different from the tight ponytail it was in at the reaping. Now it's wavy and beautiful. It's amber color reflects the light of the room.

There's no doubt that she'll be a favorite for the stylists as well as the Capitol.

Dustin is right behind her, wearing a plain gray shirt that has three small buttons at the top, and his sleeves scrunched up to his elbows. He has nice jeans, and is barefoot, like me.

He takes a seat adjacent to me and grabs a roll, green beans, and roast, and digs in.

Dakota tells us we should start talking tactics.

"So have any of you actually had experience with weapons? Knives, bow and arrows? Anything?"

Everybody shakes their heads.

Dakota wears a grim face.

"But do any of you have any idea what weapons you might want to try?" she asks.

"Knives." I say, "I've always had pretty good aim, so that might help."

"That's great." she replies.

Harley says, "Maybe I'll try a bow and arrow, because I'm not strong enough to have a close range weapon like a sword, so at least I'll have distance to my advantage."

"Smart." says Dakota.

She looks up at the ceiling, thinking for a second.

She grabs something from the roast, a knife sticking out of the top, and without warning, throws it at the wall. It lands right in the center. She gets up, in lodged it, and hands it to me. She says,

"Knives were my thing too, Ivy. Here, you try."

I take the knife from her, and it feels comfortable in my hands. I quickly throw it at the wall, it hits but bounces back, clattering onto the floor.

I retrieve it, my face glowing red.

Dakota says, " This time, I want you to focus. When you draw your hand back behind your head, I want you to inhale. Exhale when you swing and release. I don't want you to flick your arm. I want you to focus on throwing your knife from your shoulder. Keep tension in your stomach, to steady you."

I do as she says, drawing my hand back behind my head, and swing my arm forward, releasing a puff of air.

The knife sticks right where I want it with a thud. Elsie looks displeased, but says nothing.

Griffin, Harley, and Dakota look at me awe struck. Even Elsie looks impressed.

Although he tries to hide it, I see Dustin smiling to himself, and we make eye contact for a second before his eyes flicker away.

After dessert, we all walk into the living room, and sit down with a pen and paper each to watch the rest of the reapings.

From District One,

Bliss, Prism, Mink, and Blazer

District Two,

Indi, Raudo, Blair, and Talon

District 3

Flaze, Casper, Katie, and Preston

From District 4

Marina, Beacher, Sandy, and Triton

District 5

Celli, Chevy, Ella, and Flynn

District six

Fleece, Percy, Beth, and Greyson

District 7

Hazel, Carson, Fey, and Dennis

District 8

Ember, Ebony, Blaise, and Asher

District 9

April, Emit, Iris, and Fletcher

District 10

Benji, Vixen, Phoenix, and Jackson

District 11

Wolf, Elphias, Cora, ad Decklin

And of coarse from district 12,

Ivy, Griffin, Harley, and Dustin

After the videos, I walk back to my bedroom and collapse into bed.