𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋 | Hunger Games

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   THE next morning, Aella was one of the last Tributes to arrive to the training centre. She had spent her morning arguing with Flax about how he wanted to style her hair into three ponytails with braids and plaster her face in makeup. When Daniel left with Drew all the pair could hear was Aella, Flax and Clio arguing with one other loudly though it sounded like Aella was winning.

She was itching to get her fingers on a set of throwing knives and a machete to unleash some of her pent up anger but Flax was the only thing standing between her and those weapons. She was irritated and she snapped before getting up out of her chair and storming out of the apartment with her hair still down. Clio followed, shouting after her, but the elevator doors had closed before she could catch up in her outrageously high heels.

When the doors to the training centre slid open Aella walked out with her chin up and her back straight. She glanced around fleetingly to see the majority of her fellow tributes training, already occupied to notice her but up above where Plutarch Heavensbee and other rich Capitol benefactors stood, silence crept over them. Their eyes drew to her like a moth to a flame and she merely glanced up at them as they gathered with expensive drinks in their hands. They spoke to one another in hushed tones and whispers.

She recognised some of them. She had been forced to meet them at the last Presidential Party she'd attended the year Johanna won her Games. She remembered the way their eyes focused more on her body than they did on her face and her jaw clenched in sheer anger. President Snow had already sold her to them, without her ever knowing, but when she declined his offer they lost out on the opportunity to spend the night with one of the most desirable women in Panem.

Unfortunately for both her and President Snow, it only made Aella even more desirable than ever before.

Her eyes found Heavensbee's and she held his gaze long enough to see him tip her head toward her in greeting. He lifted his flute of expensive champagne with a knowing expression in his eyes. Aella nodded once in a way that was so subtle only Heavensbee recognised it. It was his way of asking if she was on board and her way of confirming that she was. She had no doubt Haymitch would inform the man of her conditions, they both knew what she'd do to him if he didn't.

A shudder overpowered her and her fists clenched tightly. Her shoulders and her neck were tense with anger and she tried to roll them out as she walked straight over to the simulation centre. Her heart created a drumming tune. She kept her breathing steady but the slight tremble of her right hand was enough to give her away. The rage was almost overwhelming but she forced herself to not become blinded by it. All she needed was to feel the weight of a balanced machete in her hands and she'd be sated.

She looked to the starting screen outside the glass doors and picked her weapon before she entered her difficultly to the highest setting. The simulation centre was entirely new to her but she doubted it would be hard to master. She needed a challenge, something to take her mind away from the prying eyes of the middle aged men devouring the way she moved above her.

She picked up a holster belt and equipped six throwing knives into the slots. She felt the way they laid against her waist and took a deep breath. The familiarity of it all punched her in the gut but she did well to ignore it. Instead, she reached out and grabbed a machete from the rack and held it lightly, examining the matte black weapon.

With a deep exhale she walked through the sliding glass doors and they closed behind her, blocking out the noise of heavy breathing and strenuous movements created by everyone else training. She was trapped inside and her body readjusted to it's new circumstances. Her eyes narrowed gently, ears attuned to hear the quietest of sounds and she readied herself.

She stood on the platform and waited. Waited, waited, waited. Bright orange strobe lights pounded down against the floor and they moved in unison as the floor to ceiling glass walls frosted to prevent her from seeing outside. She rocked on her feet, fingers readjusting their grip on the handle as she waited.