Not Just A Game

Chapter 14

The next day in training we decide to try out a few weapons. While Harley heads over to the bow and arrow station, and Griffin to the spears, Dustin and I try out the knives.

A few careers are at this station also. Indi, Sandy, and Prism are throwing knives that pound into the center of the target.

Dustin steps up to the throwing area, and I hand him a knife. He concentrates, and throws it, but it falls short and only hits the human outline target in the foot.

The careers smirk and laugh at his poor aim. Dustin, obviously embarrassed, just backs up and stares at his shoes.

I fume on the inside. I grab a handful of knives and step up to the plate. I position myself in front of the target, and draw my arm back. I focus solely on the head of the target. I absentmindedly imagine Indi's face smirking at Dustin. Rage grows inside of me and I throw with all of my power and launch the knife at the target.

It sticks right where I want it with a hollow thud.

I glance at the careers out of the corner of my eye and see that they aren't smirking anymore. Their arms are crossed and they look angry being showed up by a small girl from District 12.

I narrow my eyes and smirk at them.

I grab Dustin's hand and pull him to the next station.

I stop at the dummy station where you can practice hand to hand combat.

I grab a knife and so does Dustin.

He releases my hand with a frown on his face.

"Why'd you do that?" he says angrily.

"What do you mean? I was saving you from being just another weak tribute for ten to pick off! You should've seen the way they were looking at you!" I argue.

"I don't need them coming after us now because you threaten then. You could have just left it alone." He says quietly.

"Well I'm sorry then." I say in a huff.

He turns away from me and just starts pounding away into his dummy. He's fast and strong, which helps, I guess, with close range combat.

He's blocking me out. He won't even look at me. Why is this such a big deal to him?

He sticks his knife in the dummy's forehead, and he stares at it, but just leaves it there.

I approach him, and grab his arm. He tries to shake me off, but my grip is firm. He stops struggling and looks me in the eye.

"I'm sorry, Dustin. I was mad. I was just trying to help." I plead.

His eyes soften and lose the angry edge they held just a moment ago.

"I just... I don't like other people to fight my battles." he says softly.

"I would never in a million years think you're weak, Dustin. I was just trying to help out our whole group." I say.

He nods in understanding.

"Come on. Let's go see how the others are doing, then maybe we'll go to that practice cornucopia." I say.

"Okay, let's go." he replies.

On the way over we pass other tributes training. I melt on the inside when I see twelve year old Hazel from District 7. She's small and thin, with dirty blonde hair. She has hazel eyes to compliment her name. It's sad to think that if I'm to survive the games, she'll have to die. So young and innocent.

No family deserves this.

I walk fast toward the bow and arrow station. I watch with interest as Harley loads a sleek arrow with silver feather and pulls the bow's string back to her cheek. After a few seconds of aiming, she releases, and the arrow flies and sticks in the target.