Battle Scars

Chapter 6: Zero Attention Plan

Chapter 6: The Zero Attention Plan

Chapter six: zero attention plan.
Training began for us the next morning. Everyone had to be in the gymnasium at 8am sharp. I awoke at seven, and came face to face with my sister, who had apparently arrived at the training complex only a few moments earlier. She embraced me tightly.
"Better get moving," she said. "Training starts in an hour."
"Bossing me around already, are you?" I laughed, sitting up in bed and rubbing my eyes.
"I've been bossing you since I could talk," she countered, smirking. "Now come on."
After she finally dragged me out of bed, I was swamped in loving affection by Anna and Daniel, my prep team.
"Abby you were WONDERFUL last night," gushed Anna, paying no attention to Em, who was still beside me. "And the horses! Didn't they behave perfectly! I was half afraid you might fall. Oh, you looked fantastic out there."
"And now we're here to help you with your wardrobe today," added Daniel excitedly. "Have you spoken with your mentor about what you will be doing today?"
"Not yet," I replied. "This is Emily, my mentor, by the way."
"Oh, Emily, there you are!" Exclaimed Anna as if she saw her for the first time. "Welcome, welcome." She looked at me. "Well... Call us when you're ready. We have a wonderful wardrobe for you to choose from. See you later!" She took Daniel by the arm, and dragged him from the room. I chuckled.
"Sorry about them," I said to Em.
"It's ok. Sometimes I think I'm just invisible to some people."
"What do you suggest for me today, mentor?" Em frowned critically.
"I don't know what you'll think about this, but I fancy the idea of faking to be less of a threat to the other tributes than you really are. Don't show them your gym skills. Don't let them know you can hunt. Just mill around to all the training stations, but avoid the knife throwing, and maybe avoid anything requiring you to be agile until later on. You don't want to draw attention to yourself." I listened to her reasoning, and the nodded slowly.
"I think you're probably right. If I have the element of surprise on my side I'll probably find it easier to take people down." I sighed. "Em I have no idea how I'm going to kill people. You know if I'm going to come out of that arena alive, I will have had to have killed at least one person. Because even if I kill no one else, eventually it will come down to just two people remaining." Em sighed.
"I know. But you've got to, if you want to survive. Mum needs you. I need you. Just think about that, and that will help you through. Don't think about the kill, think about where it will get you." I sighed again, and nodded, managing a smile.
"Ok. Use all the stations. Don't throw knives. Got it."
"And try not to attract attention."
"Em I wouldn't exactly call myself an attention seeker."
"You know what I mean. You're a confident person, and confidence attracts attention. Try to reduce the attention and your results will be better." I nodded. "Better call your prep team back again," she continued. "Just go for clothing that's comfortable, but as unobtrusive as possible." I nodded again, as she quietly left the room. Then I braced myself, and pressed the intercom button to call my prep team.

After some persuasion, we settled for a simple, dark coloured work out outfit for the day's efforts. Soon enough, I was in the elevator descending to the training gymnasium. When I reached the lowest floor the doors slid open, and all eyes were upon me. It was then that I realised it is hard to appear shy when you are a naturally confident person. I soon realised it would be obvious I was acting, so I held my head high, and looked the other tributes directly in the eyes. Most of them averted their gaze, and returned to their original tasks. Some stared back at me, challenging me with their eyes. I knew this wasn't a good start to the 'zero attention' plan.