The 49th Hunger Games

Post-Training: Nightlock

My life really does hate me. 

My father called me Nightlock when I was born, after the deadly berry. Because my mother died birthing me, and he decided to take out his grief on me. My name is Nightlock, my father tells me, because I was so beautiful, yet so deadly. It's unfair, but I learned to live with it. Some of my teachers were alarmed, and sometimes I get teased. Called, 'Deathberry' or things along those lines. 12 year old kids really don't know the harm it used to do me, when I could barely even call myself by my own name for the shame it caused. I blamed myself for the death of my mother, all because I had been raised that way. Believing that I was the nightlock that ended her life. Now I'm 16, I block the world out. I don't talk to my father, my classmates, my teachers. I only ever talk to my little tabby cat, Ellie. Well, my excuse of a life might be ending soon in that arena. Most of the others are stronger, faster, more appealing than me. District 12 never have any victors, never get any attention. I'm convinced I'm dead already-

"Nightlock!" Larissa, our Capitol escort comes awkwardly dashing into the room in her high heels, her tight skirt halfway up her thighs, "Cody! It's time for the scores."

I sit and curl my toes around the edge of the sofa. We actually have no mentor this year; we're faced to brave the Hunger Games unguided. 

Cody scoots next to me, and he looks into my eyes and nods. I like Cody, even though we haven't spoken much. I think that's why I like him. He doesn't push me, or taunt me. He just gets on with his probably cut-short life, and me with mine.

Larissa practically dives onto the sofa and fumbles with the remote, and as the screen flickers on I see Lucci, smiling as usual with his perfect white teeth and silvery-gray make up and hair. 

Just in time for the District 1 scores.

Diamond Farrah, 1: 9 

Silver Skyem, 1: 10

Truth Fireheart, 2: 11

Wolf Fireheart, 2: 10

Sparks Comet, 3: 5

Bolt Maximus, 3: 7

Marlou Elmswood, 4: 11

Tiberius Oceans, 4: 10

Blase Faber, 5: 5

Kane Blythe, 5: 6

Stella Crystin, 6: 8

Will Austin, 6: 4

Brooke Sabera, 7: 8

Timber Tamali, 7: 8

Camelia Sanderton, 8: 5

Shadow Hyacinth, 8: 5

Saorsie Frost, 9: 3

Tyger Miller, 9: 4

Malika Salvador, 10: 6

Drake Ross, 10: 7

Autumn Sunsets, 11: 9

Birch Grasstree, 11: 10

Nightlock Green, 12: 3

Cody Larch, 12: 3

Wow. A 3? For both of us? That's bad. I knew that my score would be practically scraping the bottom of the ratings, purely because I have no experience with any weapon of any kind. The only thing about me is that my name tells people that I can at least recognize one type of deadly plant.

Cody and Larissa's grim expressions mirror mine; we're probably going to die.

I lean into Cody and whisper into his ear, "Tactic; stay hidden for as long as we can. Evade injury. Stay under the radar." 

Me and him have decided to work together. Now here we were, facing death with only a 3 in training. 

After curling up in the heavy blankets of my Capitol bed, I dream mainly of Truth Fireheart's face, alight with pleasure of torturing me...