Humanity- A Hunger Games fanfic

Part 7- Assessed Training

It's the assessment today. Oh no. What if I mess up? What if I get something like a 5? I'd be doomed. No, I can't think like that. I'll definitely mess up if I do. I shower, get ready, and go to breakfast,

"Training day!" Amanda smiles,

"Make sure you do well," Finnick says,

"Wow. Great way to put the pressure on," Bruce snaps. Everyone looks at him, startled, "Sorry, i didn't get much sleep last night,"

"That's fine. Just don't be like that with the Gamemakers!" Lena laughs. Out of nowhere, Annie leans over and hugs me and Bruce. She squeezes our arms, as if to say "Good luck,". We all smile at each other, until Amanda breaks the silence,

"It's almost 10! We don't want to be late, now, do we?".

We get to the waiting room where everyone's as worried as us. This comforts me a little. We sit in the district-assigned seats and see the other four all chatting. Lucky. They're from 1&2, so they're next to each other, but we're next to the kids from 3. The boy looks around my age, and the girl looks about 10. She can't be, though, so I guess she's about 12. She's a little chubby and he's tall, very tall, and thin. Both of them aren't making it past the bloodbath. Mars goes in first, confident as ever, as he's the boy from 1. Then it's Em, then Titus, then Evangeline. All four are extremely confident and I don't blame them. They may not be, though, they might be putting on an act. Bruce is definitely acting. He's smirking and squaring up, like he did at the reaping. The two from 3 walk in. Both are very shaky and the boy is about 10x taller when he stands. Then it's Bruce's turn. We smile at each other, and he goes through the door. A few minutes later, "Brianna Quinn, District 4," is called out. I stand up and go in, managing to look neutral, as all other 18 tributes are now staring at me.

I walk in and I see the Gamemakers looking at me. This is my time. I set up 7 mannequins in a circle underneath a low platform. I don't know why, it just feels right. I go to the knives and pick up one. I go to the opposite end of the room from my setup and turn to the Gamemakers, who are watching me quizzically.

"Uh- Brianna Quinn, District 4," I say. I don't know how this would help but i just feel like i should. The head Gamemaker nods at me, signalling for me to start.

I run to the frame, climb up, and jump down into the center of the little circle. I elbow the one behind me, and punch the two to my left. I kick two and bring my knife down on the middle one, before kicking it away and sinking the knife into the one originally behind me. I slit the throats of the two next to it and spin around, creating a deep cut in the neck of the mannequin in front of it. I throw the knife towards one mannequin and "beat up" the other before fetching the knife that landed in the top of the thigh, stabbing both in the stomach. I look around and all mannequins have deadly cuts, which would kill them. I then look at the Gamemakers as I catch my breath. They're all nodding approvingly so i guess the training paid off. The one I waved on the first day is smiling at me and I smile back,

"You may leave," one says.

~

The next day is a free day, no work to do. But we're all still tense, as today is also when the scores will be released. The day consists of mostly adding to the massive net and talking about home and family. Bruce is a triplet. His two brothers and him were always inseparable. His mother died in childbirth, sadly. He goes on lots of sea voyages and his dad's an amazing fisherman and he loves the games and was swelling with pride when Bruce got in. I tell them about my family, every little thing, trying not to cry as my nose prickles talking about them

After lunch, Amanda asks to learn how to make a net. We all show her and she's surprisingly good after about half an hour. Apparently she loves knitting. Makes sense. I remember my Grandmaam used to knit, and I have an old blanket by her. Bless her soul, may she rest in peace.

The whole day is pure peace and comfort. We have a massive, massive net by the end of the day and we all know a whole lot more about each other. Lena is a mother of 2, and a grandmother of 3 and Beaufort has 3 children. Finnick and Annie have Henry, but I already know that. Nothing much else happens, but I don't get bored at all.

It's the time. The mandatory viewing screen comes on, turning the TV on,

"Hello! Happy 87th Hunger Games! So here today, we have the final scores on our tributes!" Caesar Flickerman's recognisable, shiny smiling face appears as we all take our places, "Now, after a couple of days of careful assessment, we have the scores all here! So sit down, relax, and let's begin!" We all lean forwards.

"Mars, a 10!"

"Emerald, a 9!"

"Titus, a 10!"

"Evangeline, a 10!"

These are all very very good. The boy from 3 has a 5, and the girl gets 4.

"Bruce, 10!"

"Oh my gosh!" We all shriek happily, and he's swarmed with hugs and pats on the back.

"Brianna, a 9!"

"Yes!" I say. Again, I get the same treatment as Bruce. My score isn't as good, but it's amazing for a little untrained girl from 4. To everyone's surprise, the boy from 6 gets 9. I know everyone else will insist on hunting him first.

I can tell we all sleep well tonight. No reason, I just get the feeling. Today has been nice, it's gone too fast. Tomorrow is the main mentor day and the interviews. We've non-verbally agreed we'll be tutored together. Amanda will teach us presentation, and, more specifically, will teach me how to walk in heels. The mentors will tell us how to present ourselves, what to say, how to be likeable. Should be pretty easy. But the interviews are very very important, they make the biggest impression on sponsors, and I want those.