The Demigod Games (PJO/THG)

33 - Getting #Judged

- Jason

Ah, the training session with the Gamemakers...

... what a mess.

We'd agreed on our ultimate goal with the others beforehand: we weren't going to just kill each other like dogs in a cage to the Capitol's contentment, while they clapped on eagerly from safely behind their TV screens.
The five of us had decided on one thing: we don't kill, unless absolutely unnecessary. If we wanted to refuse to abide by their terms, we needed to override their single rule - that there'd be only one left in the end. It was a sign of defiance to the games, but also the current political situation.

I mean, if we were stuck in here anyways, we might as well overthrow a dictatorial regime, just for kicks, right?

... Okay, granted, it was a pretty wack plan. But for our defense, the single wise person in our group had gone missing.

But to achieve in other tributes joining our side, we needed to make a solid impression - no one wanted to follow group of weak people. Therefore... we needed to absolutely shred in this training session.

And not to brag, but all five of us made pretty short work of that.

☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎☘︎

I crossed the dark room to the center under pale halogen lights, while the Gamemakers watched expectantly. Taking a second to breathe in the damp air, I closed my eyes and held my face down, as if deeply concentrating, enjoying the feeling of peak tension in the air as the dozen judges held their breaths.
In truth, this wasn't really needed, but I figured a bit of stage effect wouldn't hurt anyone.

Suddenly, breaking the imposing silence, I lifted my chin up in a direct glare at the gamemakers as I trusted my hands up in the air theatrically, feeling the winds around me pick up and swirl ever faster until they morphed into small funnel tornadoes. A collective gasp ran through the room, a mixture of excited and anxious murmurs sweeping accross the banquet.
A small smile formed on my lips as I knocked over multiple shelves with an exaggerated flick of my wrist - very unnecessary, mind you, because all this was done telepathically anyways... but I knew the Gamemakers had a knack for drama.

Releasing havoc on the training room, the gale overturned tables, ripped through fabric, knocked mannequins off their feet under my command. Most of the judges were either clapping excitedly or clasping their hands over their mouths in horror... but I wasn't done with them just yet.

Preparing for the finale, I directed the winds towards a weapon shelf full with combat daggers of all shapes and sizes. The gust picked up, floating a dozen curved knives in the air accross the room.... and right towards the Gamemaker's throats.

The knives hurtled accross the banquet at impossible speeds, dashing ever faster towards the judges. They were far too shocked to react or try to protect themselves - exhaling, I made the daggers abruptly stopp at a few inches from their bare necks... right in front of their carotids.

Retrospectively, it's pretty crazy they hadn't thought of protecting themselves.
I could've slaughtered them all, right there. And they knew it.
But I didn't.

The winds slowed to a stop, the knives dropping through the air and clattering on table plates, leaving the judges ungrazed. A united sigh of relief came from the banquet, as they wiped their glistening foreheads.

At that, I very slowly bowed, trying not to burst out laughing at their bewildered expressions.

Without a single word, I walked out of the room.