"District seven male and female tributes please make your way to the training room, your private sessions are about to begin.” A feminine voice distinctly states over the loud speakers. From across the table Arlo gives me a worried smile and I can tell he has no clue what is going on ether.
Ashley, our mentor, said that because of the quarter quell, like the reaping, things will be a bit different but we still can't figure out why they are calling the tributes for their private session in their district pairs instead if individually. Arlo and I stand up together and grasping hands, we make our way to the double doors at the end of the cafeteria room where we had lunch, and waited to be called to our doom. We reach the door and I take one last look of safety then Arlo pulls me through the door, into the metaphoric black abyss of what lies beyond the waiting room.
The door slams behind me as the chilly training room air seeps into my warm living skin, turning it to stone. With a squeeze of my hand Arlo leads me to the center of the room. As we step to the center of the vastness I start to smell a vile mixture of blood and stronger cleaner coming from the floor, and I know that there has been recent bloodshed in this room. The realization of what has happened before and in the future makes my stomach turn and I have to fight back the weakness in my knees caused by the inevitable hallucination.
"Now listen up you two I am Ranea blu the head game maker for the quarter quell. This year instead of having your private session alone to show off your skills you will be showing us how you fight by fighting the tribute from your district." A lady in a black skirt and blazer says. I look at Arlo trying to read his expectation through my tear filled eyes but he has none.
The lady called Ranea continues to speak but it's like my ears are full of Cotton balls all I hear is soft mummers. I try to stay focused but after learning I have to fight and injure Arlo I lose all concentration. The few odds and ends I hear I try to pace together "do not kill your partner." "You can use any weapons in the room.” “There will be no mercy until unconsciousness."
My head focuses for the last sentence of the speech "you will have 1 minute to find your weapon of choice, may the odds be ever in your favor." She says almost finished "we will begin in three, two, one." A horn goes off signaling the start of the session. Trying not to lose my head I look around searching for the knives which is my weapon of expertise, when suddenly Arlo grabs me by the shoulder and starts talking to me in a soft urgent voice.
"Listen to me Mackinze you have to hurt me you have to show them what you can do."
"But I can't love you" I declare with tears about to cascade down my face.
"You have to. After collapsing at the reaping and not doing anything physically challenging at the trainings they are going to think you won't be able to fight in the arena and you won't get any sponsors." Arlo says staring straight into my eye.
"But I can't" I begin to say with tears dripping down my face as Arlo cuts me off "listen to me don't fight me. Use your hallucinations to your own advantage, Picture me as some kind of mutation. Remember the power of the mind affects the power of the body."
