Romani caught in an arena.

Chapter 2.

How could he have possibly survived? Seriously, it seems unbelievable how he managed to live through this. Turns out, Tryst spent a few weeks living in the woods, with his family, after their house had flooded with rain. I remember the rain had caused damage to more or less every house and building in District 8. The capitol’s main focus was the many factories they had here, all filled with textiles. You obviously would think that though, because at the end of the day, the capitol needs their clothing and such. And with them knowing there was factories here, filled with textiles for them, they just had to make sure that the factories came first. And make sure they did. It was only a year ago. My house had partially survived, well, enough for me and my family to live in. Tryst's family was not so lucky, as their house was totally broken and damaged from the hurricane that the capitol was unknown too.

As I sat there, I didn't really take notice of Tryst's story, and carried on with my food. There was so much of it. Too much to choose from. I only took in some parts of his story. He lived in the woods with his family for a couple of weeks. They had no choice, the capitol wouldn't help their family, and their house needed to be left alone for a couple of weeks, so the rain and smell, could escape. Ah yes, the smell. Turns out, their house was right above the sewerage, and the extra amount of rain that came, caused pressure on the sewerage, causing it to rise into the house. This caused more damage. Eventually, they went back to their home, but he had gained many skills out in the wilderness. He knew how to make fires, choose the right bushes to keep them going for a while. He also learnt which bushes would cause more smoke than others. He learnt other things as well! What plants you can feed on, how to be able to find a source of water. He said he knew this as he took walks everyday around the area he lived in. He kept talking and talking. All I was thinking is if he has so many skills like these, then he has a chance. Well, that is if he can use these skills in the arena. The arena changes every year. I hope this year they've created an arena that has some sort of forest. It's better than a desert.

"This is wonderful! A real chance! If you have skills like these, then there is a chance for you!" Uvuar speaks with a slight squeal in her voice, it annoyed me. No one likes squeals.

"Blah, Blah, Blah! Yeah, I know. I haven't got any skills. So no chance for me!". I actually do feel annoyed I haven't bothered to learn anything in my life to help me in these games. I never really thought about the Hunger Games, and my name being picked. Mind you, what exactly could you learn in my district? Exactly. Nothing. Quietness fills the room, and everyone carries on with their food. No one is eager to say anything. Blair breaks the silence. I guess he actually wants us to have a chance. I don't know why.

"It doesn't matter if you don't have any skills right now. There’s training. You can gain the skills you need in the training rooms. That's what the training rooms are for. Well, that and the game makers need to give you a score." He pauses, shooting looks at me and Tryst.

"You listening to me?" I nod, but carry on with my food, not really wanting to talk, but more like wanting to listen. Blair explains about how we need to get a good score in the private sessions with the game makers. He says that the higher score we receive, the more chance we will have of gaining sponsors. I know sponsors help a lot in these games. They could give you something in the arena that could mean saving your life. So, it’s important for me to gain a good score. Well, it’s not like my own skills are going to help me, because as you already know, I have none. But, then again, if I want to gain a good score and get some sponsors, then I have to do well in training and learn skills. I need skills. I need to get those skills in the training time.

My mind is all over the place. One moment I’m thinking about not having any chance of survival, and thinking that I will instantly die. The next moment, I’m thinking I need to learn skills, do my best in training, and get a good score. I really don’t know what to do anymore. Anything could happen in the arena, anything.

But I try not to think about it for now. I have a few days left of thinking. We still need to arrive at the Capitol, go through the tribute parade, and spend those days in training. Then, it’s the interviews. Then the next day, time for the arena. The arena, the place I will either spend the last day of my life in, or will be the place that makes me famous. I don’t want to be famous. I want to live.

As I plummet onto the bed in my room, I think about the capitol. We’re arriving tomorrow. All these people are going to be watching my entrance. Well, they’re going to be watching all the tributes and their team’s arrival. They will simply know us as the tributes from the different districts. Tomorrow, they shall see me. Tomorrow, they shall see all the tributes, for a brief moment until we are all taken away to be made for the tribute parade. I think about the tribute parade. I have seen so many of them on the television at home. It shall be different seeing it in real life. The tribute parade, filled with colors and people. And with this in my mind, I slowly drift away from the world, and into a deep sleep...