The Hunger Games: Kill or be Killed.

Chapter Six: Skills

6

The second day of training goes by quickly. Instead of focusing on fighting skills, I stress on survival. Camouflage is my favorite location. Covering my arm with a mixture of mud and berry juice is actually, well, fun. I didn’t think it was possible to have fun in a place like the TrainingCenter.

Tying knots at the knot station is my second favorite. It’s nothing like dribbling sticky mud and colors onto my arms to transform them into branches, but I can actually tie and form knots unlike a lot of tributes who have come here. Both of the tributes from District 6 had trouble with forming a knot. They could barely tie a simple knot that was performed to tie a shoe. When I began knotting intricate knots they stopped and stared. Their eyes were on my hands the whole time. I’m good but I do not compare to Bryson and Lewsha, the two from District 4. They completed a knot that took me five minutes to do in only a fraction of a minute. It’s like they don’t even have to think about what they’re doing. Tying knots must be something from their district.

A girl from District 11 stares at the station but doesn’t walk up. I’m not sure if it’s the wisest decision to ignore a station, but then again how often will we need to tie things in the arena? If anything, I should be stressing my fighting skills more.

Rain and I ride back to the 7th floor after the end of the day. He is drenched in sweat from running through obstacle courses all day. I haven’t even set a foot near the courses. I’m planning on taking them on as soon as I am confidant in my skills. Running through large courses seem less difficult than trying to learn, perfect, and master over ten survival stations and even a number of fighting stations. I sigh with relief when the doors open to reveal our temporary home.

“How was day two of training?” Néemet asks during dinner. I don’t feel like speaking because the chicken we are served is amazing, but I can’t ignore her. Celina tosses me a handkerchief. I wipe my mouth and then look up from my plate.

“I worked on tying knots.” I answer.

Néemet nods her head as she drinks her wine. I wait for her to make a comment on how I should be worrying about other things that are more important but she doesn’t. Instead, she asks how well I did and then continues to eat. Maybe knots are more important than I thought. Rain stays quiet.

“What about you,” says Celina. I look up and over at Rain. His shoulders shrug. I don’t know why he seems so nervous to answer. The obstacle courses are good training for endurance and speed. If anything, I bet Néemet will make a comment on how I should spend more time there.

“I was in the courses all day.” He says quietly.

Néemet chuckles and then points her fork at me. “You know, you should spend some time in there as well.” I do my best to hold back a laugh. We have all spent so much time together we’re becoming predictable. I open my mouth to speak. No words come out. Instead, a little laugh escapes.

“I should.” I simply reply.

She wrinkles her nose.

Its day three and I’m already tired of training. I’m sick of putting on the same outfit every morning. I’m sick of spending my whole day training for things that will probably never benefit me. If the actual games go as I see them in my head, I’ll be dead within the first hour. Actually, an hour is pushing it. If I survive the first 30 minutes I’ll be surprised. But whether it’s only an hour or half an hour, I’m not going to make it. Nor is rain or the nice girl from District 8 who spent the morning rotating around the gym with me. Like every other year, the winner is going to be from District 1, District 2, or District 4. Everyone knows it, especially the Careers.