Into the Flames [Watty Awards 2012]

Chapter 17

The rest of the meal went by quietly. It was really nice being in such a low volume room after all the screaming earlier. After we finished, we went back to the training center. I gave Willow a smile as I passed her. I really would have rather worked with her, but if I did, I would be dead meat, literally.

Ethelreda immediately led us to the obstacle course. “This is where we will start. I would like to see all of your guys’ agility. Next we will go to the weapons area, minus the two from District One who will go to the first aid area.” Everyone nodded. “Ruby, you go first.” Ruby nodded and ran for the raised circles on the ground. She stepped inside each circle, still keeping her steady pace. She jumped onto a ladder and climbed up to a line of hanging vines. “You go now Emerald. You can be next Waterlily!” Yay.  I watched the two district one tributes as they ran through the course. “Go Waterlily.” I smirked and ran for the circles. They had cut outs in the middle which I stuck my feet in l jumped onto the ladder. I scrambled up the ladder and swung onto the vines. I jumped from vine to vine, overly surprised at my skill. I grabbed onto the last one and it started coming loose at snapped off from the ceiling. It felt like hours before my body hit the ground. Pain shot through by back as I hit the ground. I saw Willow coming towards me out of the corner of my eye. I shook my head towards her and she gave me a sad look as she turned away.

“Are you okay Waterlily?” called River from the ladder.

“Keep going River, your friend will be fine.” River looked at me sadly as I strained to get up. He jumped off the ladder and walked to me. “Get back on the course River, she will be fine.” Ethelreda sounded overly irritated.

“Go back River, she’ll hurt you.”

He shrugged and took my hand. He pulled me up to a stand. He gave me a little smile then walked back to the ladder and started to climb up again. I walked back over to the group. Ethelreda smirked at me, “Little too heavy huh? Don’t worry; I know exactly how to diet you. I’ll start you in the morning. But now, we will go over to the weapons. First, the throwing knives.” We followed Ethelreda to the knife throwing station and se handed out identical knives to each of us. “Same order and don’t wait to go.” She glared at River before turning to watch Ruby. Ruby threw the knife, barely missing the target. She frowned as she moved away to let Emerald throw his. Emerald’s knife hit the outside ring of the target. Emerald smiled a bit, but Ethelreda kept on smirking. I stepped up to the throwing line, knife in hand. I had no idea how to throw a knife, but I threw it and it hit the target. It may have been the outside ring, but I was excited. It was my first time to throw a knife and I had hit the target! I watched as River attempted to throw the knife. He made it closer to the middle, but it was obvious none of us were good at the knife throwing. You could tell Ethelreda wasn’t happy. “This is where we will meet tomorrow. You four are pitiful.” She looked up at the clock on the wall. “We have just enough time for one more thing. Let’s go to the spears.” I smiled as we walked to the spear station. I grabbed a spear from the rack and thrust it a few times to get used to the weight.

Ruby stepped up to the throwing line and threw the spear missing the target by a foot. Emerald gave her a pat on the back before chucking his at the target. The spear flew and hit the last inch possible on the very bottom of the target. I stepped up to the line putting myself into position, and threw the spear. I watched as it sped towards the target, hitting the very middle. I watched Ethelreda smile a bit as I turn to let River throw. River’s spear shot through the air, hitting the target a few inches away from the hole my spear had made. He smiled at me once Ethelreda had given him a small smile. Maybe I do have a chance at surviving until the end, I probably will never beat Ethelreda, but maybe I will be in the last five. Maybe, just maybe.