Survivor of the Games (Hunger Games Fanfiction)

Chapter 3

I step into the elevator that will bring us down to the heart of the Training Center, the Training Room. It will be the place where we will spend the most of our time for the next three days. It is completely silent in the elevator, they are probably silent because of the stress. I also didn't know what to expect during my Hunger Games. The elevator door opens and we all step out. Only a few other District are already here. We are ten minutes early so I sit the next five minutes on an elevated platform. After waiting for another five minutes everyone is finally here. A big bold man with a white beard comes out of one of the staff entrances. 'Hello everyone, my name is Artorius and I am the Head of Training. Listen carefully, because what I'm about to tell you can make a huge difference in the arena. Everyone got that?' Everybody nods. He is quite intimidating. 'Good. First  rule. No real fighting, you can only fight with each other for training. And you have to ask permission for that. Everybody got that? Alright, the second rule. Don't break the first rule. That's it. Go.' He walks off and so does the tributes. 'What a joker.' Marcus says 'I have to give it to him tho, he at least try's not to be someone who want us to kill each other.' I reply calmly. 'Mmh, true.' 'So, what do you want to do first?' I ask Jayden. 'I don't know, you can choose.' 'You wanna train together?' Marcus asks me. 'Sure, why not?' 'I suggest we start with sword fighting.' 'Alright, that's a good warm up.' I reply. 'Jayden, are you ok?' No answer. 'Jayden? Jayden!' 'What?' He asks confused. 'He said you name three times boy.' Marcus says. 'I understand that you are confused but you have to focus. Ok?' I say silent. He nods at both of us. 'That's better, let's go sword fighting.' We stay at the sword fighting station for the next two hour, a staff member teaches Jayden how to use a sword and I train, with permission from the Head Trainer, with Marcus to improve my skills with all kinds of sword. After that we go spear and knife throwing. We do that for the rest of the day. And by the end of the day Jayden can fight with a sword, trow a spear with good accuracy and use throwing knives. 'It was a good day.' Says Marcus with satisfaction. 'I'll see you and your brother tonight.' Jayden and I both nod to him and we walk to the elevator. 'One more thing!' He shouts. 'Do you bring the little girl with you tonight?' 'No, we don't think that she will survive so we're not going to pull her in. It's just me, Jayden and the other girl.' 'And probably Two.' He says. 'Of course.' I reply. I turn around and go to the elevator. 'He is quite intimidating.' Says Jayden when we are in the elevator. 'He is, but he's a Career. He trained for the Games. And after he won, he became a trainer in the Training school from District 1. Actually he's pretty ok, but Careers stays Careers.' I say. 'Aren't we Careers as well now?' He asks. I don't get a chance to answer because the elevator door opens and we walk inside our big apartment. 'How was the first day of training?' 'Good, Haymitch, it was good.' 'Just good? You need to give us more information Thomas.' Jackson says. 'Ok, you're right. Jayden and I trained with Marcus. I trained with a sword and practiced with spears and throwing knives.' It's very annoying that I'm here, in a training suit, and that I am the tribute once more. I can't help the rest of the tributes in the way I'm used to. The only way I can help Lara and Jayden is by making an alliance with the rest of the Careers. But I have to make a choice. With who do I want to win The Hunger Games, if I even win at all. The logical thing to do is to choose my brother, but I also don't want to try to save someone who will not make it. 'What did you do Jayden?' Haymitch asks. 'I can fight with a sword now. And I trained with throwing knives as well as with spear.' Jayden replies. 'I'm going for a swim.' I say. 'Is there a swimming pool?' He asks. 'Yes, little brother, there is.' I leave the main room and go to the pool. 'Don't forget that we have a meeting!' Haymitch shouts. The meeting is at eight o'clock, so I can spend half an hour in the pool. So that's what I do. I try to relax but that's difficult because I know that I'm in a city that wants to see me kill. And the sponsors are divided because they only want to sponsor the future Victor, or in this case maybe Victors. I change my clothes and I let my body fall into the water. For the first time since my arrival I am really tired. It feels like I don't have any energy anymore. I'm not a sensitive person but I really want to sit in a dark corner. I don't want to talk to anybody, not even Jayden, or Jackson who helped me process the things that happened in the arena during the 68the Hunger Games. But I have to stay focused. I can't let my emotions stop me. I will use my head! My emotions don't matter! I need to stay focused, otherwise it could become my death. I stand up and dress myself. My feet bring me back to the main room where Jackson and the others are waiting for me. Everybody is here, everybody expect Samantha. 'Samantha already went to bed. She's tired.' Jackson says. 'That makes it easier for us.' I reply. 'Let's go, we are late.' Haymitch says to us. He brings us to a room behind the Training room. 'They made a special meeting room behind this place. For things you cannot discuss in public, for alliances for example.' He explains. 'Haymitch! You are late.' 'Not so late as 1 I see.' Cato laughs. 'That's true. Good to see you all.' Haymitch and I nod. 'Aah, Thomas!' A Familiar voice. I turn around. 'Abigail! Good to see you!' I shout. She steps towards me and we hug each other. 'I missed you old friend!' She says . 'You're only two years younger!' 'But I'm already 20.' She smiles and lets go of me. 'Is that your brother?' 'Yes, this is Jayden. Jayden this is Abigail. We lived in the same street.' 'You did?' 'Yes, when I moved to the Capitol for six months. Right after the 72the Hunger Games.' It's a tradition that one mentor from each District moves to the Capitol for one month after the annual Hunger Games. Each District has a villa in the so called Capitols Victors Village. You have to stay for at least one month, but you can stay longer. The new Victor stay at least six months. That year, the year after the 72the Games, everyone stayed for six months. Nobody except the Victors and the Government know the real reason we stay one month extra, tradition. The District and Capitol citizens thing that we stay because of the after Games, that are all the events that happen after the Games have ended, a partial truth. 'Aah, finally. Who decided to show up?' Cato says. District 2 enters the room. 'No need to be rude Cato.' He stays silent for a while. 'You're right Cashmere, I'm sorry.' He says with an arrogant smile. 'But let's discuss business.' He doesn't mean it, he just belittled her, a fellow Victor. He is arrogant, and even Victors themselves don't like arrogance.  Gloss is the first to say something about it. 'I don't think we can start yet.' 'What do you mean Gloss, do you want something to  drinks first?' He says with a grin. Gloss and Marcus step forward. 'Just because you are Victor now doesn't mean you should mock everyone.' Gloss says with a threatening voice. 'I think you should apologize again.' Cato looks to the door. Does he consider running? 'I'm sorry Cashmere. It wasn't my intention to belittle you.' He says. Gloss nods to Marcus and Cashmere and they nod back. 'Now we can start.' He smiles. 'First of all. District 1 accepts your invitation. You have yourself an alliance, Cato.' 'Ok, and you 12. Do we have an alliance? ' He asks. 'Yes.' Jackson says. 'Good. I think we should stay with our tactic. You will train together and we will evaluate everyone to see if they pose a treat.' Celest says. It's the first time that she says something. 'Great that you finally said something Celest.' Cato says. She gives him a dirty look. 'And thanks for explaining. Now 12 knows what to expect from being a Career. Pretty ironic, the lowest District is a Career together with the highest District. That sounds impossible.' What? Did I just heard him mock our District? Suddenly I'm filled with anger! I step towards him, grab him and push him against the wall. 'Listen carefully! Listen!' 'Thomas!' Jackson shouts. 'No, let him do it.' The voice from Celest. 'You can ask us for an alliance, we can be your ally! But the moment you mock me or my District as an ally, I will kill you, you understand me? I shout at him. 'Thomas, we are already friends for a long time so I think that I speak for District that we will not have an alliance with 2 if he keeps mock our mentors and our Districts.' Marcus says to everyone with a loud voice. Cashmere and Gloss both nod at us. 'Do we have an alliance if I speak for District two?' Celest asks us. 'I think we do.' Haymitch says. She looks at Gloss. 'And District 1?' 'District 1 accepts your invitation once more.' He says. She looks satisfied. For the rest of the evening and Cato doesn't say anything, we discuss our tactics and we agree to meet again the night before the Games to discuss our strategy for in the arena. When we are back into our apartment I go straight to bed. This day was exhausting! I only sleep for five and a half hour. Jayden and I train together with the rest of the Careers for de next two days. We use the swords and the spears to improve our skills. Jayden and I even go to the survival station for a few hours. That could be useful if we split up at the end of the Games. And then it is the show moment. This is a very important moment. Because if you get a low score you don't get Sponsors, especially with this Games. 'You know what to do, all of you.' Jackson says. 'Do your best, your life depends on it.' We all nod. The Victor goes first. Jackson and Haymitch with us good luck, even Katrina comes out of her room to wish us luck, which is exceptional because since our arrival she has been really sick. When we arrive at the Training Room, Peacekeepers escort us to a waiting room. Nobody says anything. One for one tributes go to show their skills. 'Thomas Blackwood, District 12. Please go to the main room.' Says a female voice. I obey and go to the main room. The Game Makers nod at me and I go to the station with the throwing knives. I take five in each hand and I trow the first five with perfect accuracy to the heads of dummies, right between the eyes. I have the attention from the Games Makers. I asks a trainer to let the dummies move. Curious eyes wait for me to throw the first knife. I throw al of them to the knees and elbows of the moving dummies. They all hit their target. I don't look to the Game Makers but I know that they are watching. I take another ten knives and I throw them at random things. I cut a rope in half and two knives get stuck in a tree on the other side of the great hall. Two knives hit the dummies in the bow and arrow station, and the rest get stuck in objects scattered around the room. I look at the Game Makers and they all look at me with satisfaction. They give the signal that I may go and I once more obey. When I'm outside I take a seat on the floor. I promised Jayden that I would wait for him. So that is what I do. I wait for over ten minutes until the door opens and Jayden walks out. I stand up and hug him. 'How was it?' I asks. 'You were nervous?' 'I was, but I think that it didn't stand out.' 'Good. Did you do what we discussed?' I asks. 'Yes, I went straight to the bow and arrow!' He says excitedly. 'I shot at moving targets and they all hit. I shot at robes and at the trees from the survival station. The Game Makers looked satisfied.' 'Very good. You will probably get a good score.' I reply. 'Lets go back to the apartment.' We walk back to the apartment in silence. I realize that I have to do everything to save him. He has to survive, whatever it takes. When we are back in the penthouse I go straight to my room to change my cloths. The training suits aren't that comfortable. Then we wait for the results. During dinner the tv goes on and Caesar Flickerman tells us the Training scores. Marcus and Abigail both get a 12. Tobias Zamba from District 11 also gets a 12, which makes him probably our main target. Samantha gets a 6 and Lara an 9 which makes her one of the higher scoring tributes. 'And then, from District 12. Thomas Blackwood, who won the 68 the Hunger Games, with a score of 12.' 'Well done Thomas!' 'Excellent.' 'Very good big brother.' I smile. This makes a huge difference. 'And then, last but not least. Jayden Blackwood, with a score of 11.' 'What? Eleven? That really good.' 'Amazing!' 'Well done little brother. I told you that you would get a high score.' I say. After the scores we go to bed. We have to rest well for the arena. When I wake up the next day I take my time to dress myself because this will be our last full day in the Capitol. Normally this is the day from the interviews but they gave us more time to discuss our strategies and to built our alliances. I don't mind to be honest, I didn't like them anyway. It is the worst thing during our stay in the Capitol before we go into the arena. Instead of preparing for the interviews we go discuss our strategies for tomorrow. After breakfast we go to the apartment from District 1. 'Welcome to our apartment!' Gloss says. 'Lets begin.' We begin with our main targets. We agree that our first targets are Tobias Zamba, de Victor from District 11 and the other male tribute, Kain. Zaya and Rolf from District 4 and Asha and Zac from District 7. 'Ok, who is going to kill who? We have six targets.' Abigail says. 'I want Zamba.' Marcus says without hesitation. 'I want Zac.' I say after him. 'Ok, then I will take Rolf.' She says. We divide the rest of out targets and discuss our strategy. After three ours everybody finally agrees with the plan and we go back to our apartment for an important night of sleep. I wake up the next day on eight o'clock. The Games start at half past nine and we leave to the arena at nine. I dress myself in comfortable clothes and eat a healthy breakfast. Everybody is silent. At nine o'clock we fly to the arena in twelve hovercrafts, one for each District. Before we go to our room Jayden hugs me. 'We'll be together in a few minutes, follow the plan, ok?' He nods and we go to our rooms. We get dressed in rain pants and raincoats with waterproof shoes. 'One minute.' The voice in the wall says. 'Trust the plan, Thomas.' Haymitch says. I nod and step onto the platform. 'Good luck.' Seconds later the platform rises. The sun is shining brightly and I look to the arena. The cornucopia stand on a platform surrounded by large circle of shallow water with a few big rocks scattered widely across the water. Behind me there is a thin forest that thickens the farther it is from the center. I look to Jayden the others and we nod. The countdown is approaching zero. Focus. Focus. Focus. 5... 4... 3... 2... 1.