The 72 Annual Hunger Games

Chapter 9

The Training Center was overwhelming at first; swords and spheres in the center, mats everyehere and different stations lined up along the perimeter of the room. A women explains the rules of the Training Center, no fighting, and don't take a weapon out of the Training Center. 

"Do not overlook the Survival Skills, half of you will die by exposure which can kill as easily as a knife." And then we're off.

Everyone goes there separate ways. Kaden goes to the spheres, as well as Clinton, the boy from District 2. The two District 1 tributes are hacking dummies woth swords and CIerra is examining small knives in the corner. I personality just stand there for a while until Isee a rope. I climb the rope that leads to a mat made of rope that hanfe over the whole training center. I lie down on it and fall asleep to Cierra throwing little knives directly in the heart of the dummies.

The rest of the week went by the same, eating and sleeping/watching in the Training Center. Sometimes when I get bored, I hang out with the guy at the knot teing station, since no one is there. We talk and he taught me how to make simple knots and a knot that catches animals for food. I actually feel pretty proud of myself. I was about to go to climb up the rope to sleep when Chaff grabbed my arm.

"Let's go," He says.

'Where? And why?" I ask

"I have to show you something."

We walk to the lobby right outside the Training Center, rich Capitol people can pay to get tickets to watch us train, even though there are cameras in the Training Center filming our every move, no one will see the film until the morning of the first day in the arena. When we're going to the arena they'll see everything. 

In the lobby, there is a huge screen with every tribute's name and picture on it.

"What's that?" I ask pointing to the screen.

"That is the Tribute Information Board. It tells you everything you need to know about each tribute in the Games."  Chaff response.

"So why do you want me to see it?"

"Look at your column Iris," I see it. There's a picture of my face and my name is on top of it. My height, weight and age are stated. There is also a weapon of choice section, but my box is empty since I haven't touched a weapon all week.

"You see those numbers under you picture?" Chaff ask, I nod.

"Those are your odds." I look at him confused.

"Iris, your odds of winning are 61 to 1. That's not good." Chaff explains.

"I'm not going to win though." I sigh looking at the Careers' odds, which are 7 to 1 or better. 

"But I have an idea,"  Chaff says, "we pretend that you gave up before this thing even started. Pretend to be that little, innocent girl that I though you were."

"But I am a cute, little, innocent girl Chaff." I reply.

"Not for long kid!" He snaps and signals someone who walks towards us. I recognize him at once; he's the knife throwing trainer. I watch him and Cierra all the time. 

"Iris, this is Darell and he's the knife throwing trainer. He is going to train you for seven hours a day on throwing knives and combat training." I look at Chaff and then at Darell. He is light skinned, short, and skinny. He had blond hair and blue eyes. I look into his eyes; he's very excited and anxious to teach me, like I'm his challenge.

"Okay, but what if Cierra yells at me because she's always there?" I ask. This was true, Cierra always throwing knives. She never leaves the station and I don't want her to get mad at me if I take her spot in training. She might want to kill me herself in the Games.

Chaff and Darell just laugh. "She won't Iris! Darell will train you only at night." 

"Is the Training Center even open at night?" Darell and Chaff nod. 

"No one really knows that the Training Center is open twenty-four-seven because the cameras turn off when you guys are dismissed." Darell says.

"So you'll train at night and sleep during the day when everyone else is training." Chaff explains.

"So I look innocent and weak during the day and for the rest of the month." I say catching up on the strategy.

"Exactly, so lets get started." Darell says.

This is how the Training Month went, throwing knives at night and sleeping during the day in training. In fact the only thing I did in the Training Center during the day was sleep. By the end of the month, two days before the interviews, my odds were 79 to 1; but my hand-eye corrdinations, hearing, aim, and sight all improved a great deal.

Kaden and I have been training separately for three weeks; Chaff doesn't really talk to Kaden as much as he does to me. Kaden knows what he's doing. I'm like a deer in headlights.

"So, today is the Private Training Sessions when they'll score you. Iris, you'll go first followed by you, Kaden. Since we're eleven, you guys will go second to last." Chaff explains.

"Okay.: Kaden says and I nod. 

We all sit in the dining room waiting for our name to be called. Hours go by as the tributes go into the Training Center and never come out. About seven hours later, Kaden and I are alone with District 12. 

"Iris Foxx." A computer graphic vocie sounds over the louldspeaker announces.

"Good luck Iris.: Kaden whispers and gives me a hug. 

"Thanks adn same with you." I reply.

I walk into the Training Center and see the Gamemakers and Sponsors sitting where they normally sit, up in a balcony overlooking the entire Training Center. There is a lot more of them now, and a lot more food; they don't even notice me walking in.

"Seneca, District 11 is here." An elderly man said to the new Head Gamemaker, Seneca Crane.

"You may begin." Seneca instructs.

I nod and climb the rope, about three Gamemakers are watching me. I pick a spot that is commertable and fall asleep intensely.