Just A Game (SYOT CLOSED)

Chapter 10

Time continued on in the Capitol, and Elodie only became more nervous, she had no strategy really, just running and hiding. Her aim was ok and she could sort of throw knives. But she knew she was nothing compared to the careers. She watched them in training, every move they made was precise, elegant, deadly. They were the real threat.

Elodie watched them all, the little group of twelve year olds that followed a dark haired boy. They were only a couple years older than her sister. Probably with poor families, their names entered many times for their young age. She herself had never taken a tessera, her and Coralie had always been fed enough, for district eleven. They just had other problems.

Elodie could imagine the poor children, bodies emaciated, faces sickly, dying of starvation. She wouldn't be able to bear Coralie looking like that, and for the first time, she felt lucky. It must have been a miracle, the day they'd turned twelve, finally able to get more food.

Great sorrow burrowed within her, no she'd never forget what the Capitol had taken. And she wouldn't let them win.

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McKinley tried to train, truly. But he was just so distracting, and he was everywhere. Flashing a sly smile when she'd hit the target straight on. Cinocca Trench infuriated her, yet fascinated her as well.

"You're getting pretty good at that" he whispered into her ear as she tossed a spear into a dummies' heart. Spear throwing was not her strong suit, but she was ok.

"I can't tell if you're joking" she replied.

"I'm certainly not, Angel" he purred.

"What's with the nickname?" she grinned.

"It's the hair" he pointed to her golden locks. "Forming a golden halo around your head"

"Irony, we all know that everyone around here is far from angelic"

"Of course" he twirled a strand between his fingertips. "But might as well pretend" his eyes narrowed, as if he were examining her. "But now... We better start training for real"