Chapter 9-The last day of training

Start from the beginning
                                    

I walk over to Glimmer.

"Hey beautiful. I’m sorry about earlier I didn’t mean to be such a grump”

“It’s okay babe”

I spend the rest of the day with her flirting casually but risking glances at Clove who’s with Marvel. She doesn’t look enraged in the slightest which is scarier than when she does. I hear the buzzer sounds and we are told to line up in district order for our 1-1 session with the sponsors. Ladies go first. Glimmer heads in first, then Marvel and then Clove.

Clove’s point of view

I stand tall and walk into the room.

“Clove Sevina, District 2”

I place a dummy in the middle of the room and study the targets, head, temple,chest,arms,legs,back of the neck. I take a knife per target and lay them around the room in different places. I then take my place at the far side and press a button; the dummy begins to move and spin. I take a deep breath then run to the first knife and throw. I make my way round all the other knives cartwheeling, flipping and rolling at high speed until I’m back at the start and all the knives are gone. I press the button again and the dummy freezes. I twirl it round slowly revealing the knife in every bulls-eye. None missed even by an inch. I grin proudly and leave.

Cato’s point of view

My name is called.

I stride into the room showing confidence.

Cato Hedley, District 2”

To start I use axes to dismantle the dummies then spears which I throw from a range of distances each hit the bulls-eye. Then I use my weapon of choice, swords. Then I continue with some hand to hand combat which I win in less than a minute and to finish I throw some weights around. I leave the room feeling extremely proud.

That night we sit and eat, I stay silent whilst everyone else talks aimlessly. Even Clove is being sociable. She’s showing Alaska her arm which has rows of scars from Enobaria’s teeth lining it. The chatter is eventually silenced by Brutus who wants to discuss our session.

“Cato what did you do?”

I go into detail about all the skills I showed with a beaming smile.

“Good and Clove?”

Clove describes her session and renders everyone silent. She’s out shown me and she knows it.

“Brilliant Clove, Let’s go see your score.”

Wait. What about mine? Clearly I don’t matter anymore as Clove is now the favourite. Once again we all gather on the sofas and chairs and watch.

Ceaser Flickerman introduces the tribute with a picture to accompany it, reveals the score and then moves on. Glimmer and Marvel do okay but don’t get a 10. Me and Clove do. Hah yeah we got the same score.

"Why didn’t we get higher scores”

Brutus is about to reply but is cut off by Clove.

“Well I showed only two skills but at an extraordinary level whereas you showed multiple skills but at a career level. If we’d combined the two we’d be pushing 11’s maybe even 12’s.”

"Very right Clove.” She earns nods of approval from the room for her comment. She’s ridiculously smart when she makes an effort.

I’m still staring at her when she gets up and storms away. I see girl on fire with an 11 next to her and I automatically feel Clove’s rage. I run my hands through my hair and tug at it as an uncomfortable silence suffocates the room. How did someone from an outline district get such a high score? The tension is strangling me and I have to leave.

Clove’s point of view

I wake the next morning to find Valentina across from me. I have a huge headache and I’m still furious; I don’t want to deal with her today. Her once blonde curly hair is now dyed lilac to match her shoes and she wears a simple white dress.

Morning Clove”

She’s clearly making an effort not to irritate me. I should probably do the same.

“Morning”

“I’ve been left to prepare you for the interview instead of Enobaria as we’d like you to have some manners instead of more injuries for tonight”

I can’t help but smirk.

“Now come on we need to show Girl on fire and Cato you can’t be messed with”

Maybe I miss judged her.

After hours of agonising pain in skyscraper heels and being bombarded with smiling tips and charisma tips me and Valentina are done. Now I’m left to suffer at the hands of my prep team. They enter the room and automatically start fussing over the scars on my arm. Brilliant. One washes my hair whilst the others wash, exfoliate and lather me in creams and gels of all sorts. Then they move onto my nails which are painted a shiny black. Alaska is then left to do my hair and make-up as they think she’s safer than the rest of them. She puts my hair into a messy yet elegant side ponytail then adds black eye shadow to give my eyes a smoky effect. And finishes with winger eyeliner. She hugs me before leaving me with my stylist. I’m like a present in pass-the-parcel. He undoes a zipped up bag to reveal a one shoulder black dress that’s covered in feathers and a pair of black wedges to match. I dress myself and then I’m left to look at myself in the mirror. I look fierce. Like the queen of death.

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Clove's outfit can be found in the link. I hope you enjoyed the chapter please vote, comment and follow me x http://iswearthatiwonteverleave.tumblr.com/image/66808512403

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