The Ninety-First Hunger Games

Chapter Fourteen

Ash

I stare around the Training Centre and the tributes. District 2 is staring at me with hatred. Mostly the girl. The one in the elevator, I figured. 

I try to turn my attention from her and look around the Training Centre. Obstacle courses, spears and knives to throw, bow and arrows of course, and swords. Tree climbing and survival skills too, but I can tell they're attracting far less attention from where everyone's heads are facing.

Then District 5 comes and the trainer starts talking. "You're going to want to listen because not all of you will die in battle. I'm assuming that all of you here have watched the Games since you were old enough to understand things," she says, looking around the room. "There was one year where more than half the tributes died from lack of water. Some went insane. But you don't want to pay close attention to the survival skills because another year, the arena was filled with mutts that you had to compete against: tracker jackers, sea creatures, monkeys, flesh-eating horses, birds that pecked your eyes out, and many more."

Her talking goes on and on and by the time she is listing the stations, my mind has drifted to the tributes and arena. My eyes travel across the face of each tribute. District Two is still staring at me. District Four seems to be trying to catch my eye. I avert my attention from them and search for the people I want to form an allegiance with. I see Leah and District Eight but where is Albus?   There. Partly hidden behind a few tributes. 

Then the head trainer releases us. The Careers stalk off to the weapons that look deadliest, as anyone could imagine. I consult the list in my head and decide to find Albus first. I find him talking with Rayel over at the knot tying station. "Hi," I say.

Rayel looks up. "I told you she'd come to find you," he says with disdain. His next words are directed at me. "So you want some foreign person as an ally, but not me."

"It's not like that," I say.

"And I'm not exactly foreign," Albus adds.

"Whatever," Rayel rolls his eyes.

"Hey, I moved here, like, two years ago. That's not foreign," Albus says, with the air of something being obvious.

"Anyway," I break in. "Do you want to be allies?"

"Both of us or just him," Rayel raises an eyebrow.

I blush stupidly. "Both of you."

"Alright," Albus shrugs.

"Fine," Rayel sighs.

"Hey, no one's asking you to join us!" Albus snaps.

"Actually, I think Ash just did."

"But you have the choice."

"And I choose to join you guys," Rayel said angrily. 

"You guys, don't turn into enemies before the Games even start," I say warily.

"Right," Albus says, breathing hard. 

"You going to get anyone else as an ally?" Rayel asks.

"Yeah," I tell him. "District Eight and the girl from District Seven."

"Why?" Rayel asks.

"What do you mean 'Why'?" Albus retorts.

"I meant, why them? Any particular reason?" Rayel says. I can tell he's trying not to get mad.

"I don't know, just -"

"Ash." Someone's voice comes from behind me. I turn around and see Finnick.