GLORY AND GORE ━━ F. ODAIR

07.

CHAPTER SEVEN
evaluation

" a bearer of bad news "

The second day of group training was just as bad as the first. If not even worse. It was bright and early in the morning, the sun had barely even woken up itself yet, and all twenty four tributes were down in the training arena in our matching training gear.

   Adon and I had found ourselves our own corner, away from the rest of our competitors to train in. In the end it only drew more attention towards us. I was constantly glancing to my left, checking to see where the careers were. After yesterday's incident I was completely paranoid.

   "Aaliyah."

   I snapped my head towards my brother, who stood a few feet in front of me with one of the blunt training swords in his hand.

   "What?" I sighed.

   "You know what," Adon said, "Focus."

   I nodded, getting into a fighting stance with one foot forward and the other behind.

   "Hit me," Adon said, nodding my way. I charged forward, swinging my sword diagonally across his chest, he brought his sword up in front of him, our blades clashing together. He pulled back before striking again, swinging the sword my way. And the process repeated, over and over.

   "You keep doing the same move," Adon panted, blocking another on of my hits, "there are eight lines of attack, use them."

   I nodded, taking a few steps back to regain my thoughts. I swung at my brother, across his body horizontally, he parried sharply, swiping my sword away with his own and slashing at my abdomen. I jumped back in time, holding my sword out in front of my for balance, Adon jabbed the sword out, just missing me.

   "Don't jab the sword, remember?" I grinned, catching my breath between each word.

   "Good. That's good, you're listening," Adon said, adjusting his grip on the sword, "Are you ready?"

   "Hit me," I nodded, repeating what he had said earlier on.

   Adon stepped forward this time, swinging the sword diagonally, slowly, I raised my sword in between myself and his blade, protecting myself from being hit. Side to side I dodged as he swung his blade down at me, keeping my sword slightly in front of my. I waited for Adon to raise his sword again before hitting his side and knocking him back a few steps.

I took the chance. While he was open, I hit him harder with the blunt sword, driving him back against the wall. I pointed the sword right up to his neck, "I win," I smiled.

   Adon let out a breathy chuckle, wiping the bead of sweat dripping down his forehead, "Yes, you win," he said.

There was a small clapping noise, Adon and I looked over to see district 2 standing right by us, smug looks on their faces.

"Nice work, Nine," the boy, Tiberius I believe his name was, said. It wasn't a sincere compliment, the malicious glint in their eyes gave it way.

"You want to keep showing off?" He asked, raising his eyebrows, "Or are you done?"

I pulled the sword away from Adon, letting it hang loosely at my side, "We weren't showing off. We were training," I said, furrowing my eyebrows.

The petite blonde girl beside Tiberius laughed obnoxiously, draping her arms over her district partner's.

   "Who are you?" Adon asked, I looked back at him, he couldn't keep the smirk off his face.

Idiot.