Day One

I had pictured myself bounding into training and kicking everyone's ass- sadly for me it was quite the opposite of the glorious triumph that I'd been envisioning. It's actually ever so slightly unnerving to realize that the people you had publically mocked on stage and were going to be trying to kill you in a couple days were actually stronger than you.

My feet pounded the concrete of the the ring that looped around the the huge training facility. Each stride sent a small shock through my body that was practically on fire. My breaths were ragged, my skin was drenched with sweat and I was 85% sure I was going to die. Five laps, they said, just a light warmup, they said. A warm up for what? A casquet?

The vampires were already done. They had used their superspeed and completed the tack before I'd even taken my first step. The faeries too, were done. They had spread their big ugly wings and finished the track without even catching a sweat. The werewolves had been next; they'd transformed into wolves and sprinted the track with even more frightening time- except Cyrus. He stayed human and was literally skipping down the track like the ditz he was. I half expected him to lean over, grab a basket and begin scattering flowers in his wake.

But back to my point; even Cyrus the flower girl was ahead of me. Only the warlocks were even in my range and I was fighting tooth and nail to keep up with them. Theodore was really helping with that motivation. The scrawny kid would slow down a few paces with a bitchy grin plastered all over his face whispering, "Who do you think is the weakest tribute now?" And then promptly speed up sprinting like hell to show off. I was going to kill him.

His sister, Taraleigh, only turned her unwinded face calmly a few times and observed, her cold eyes following Theodore's escapades with a steely indifference. I had to wonder how the two came out of the same mother, Theodore was so passionate while Taraleigh was so emotionless; really the only thing they had in common was that I was going to brutally stab them- mostly because of Theodore.

I was also going to stab the bitch next to me; Teagan I think. She had her long chocolate brown hair pulled into a ponytail that bounced behind her and her sly lips curled into a devilish smile. "Come on faerie, is that the best you can do?" She demanded her eyes gleaming, "Don't let little Theo outrun you!"

"Dammit. I'm. Not. A. Faerie." I panted, really to near death for my sarcasm to work. I'd get her later.

She grinned rolling her eyes smugly, "Really? Than what are you? You're too small to be a werewolf. You're too weak to be a vampire. You sure as hell aren't a warlock. Face it, you're a malfunctioned faerie without wings."

That was it. That was all it took for me to leap sideways at her tackling her to the ground. We crashed hard, tumbling over one another. I grabbed her neck barely thinking and I began pounding my fist into her face hardly processing what I was doing- hardly processing anything. She was just like them. She was just like my step-father and the other faeries who had hurt me when I was younger.

I felt strong arms wrap around my waist tugging me backward and snapping me from my delusion. I felt my entire body tremble as I caught my breathe only to be surrounded by.... well everyone. The trainor jogged over to us. He was scowling. Like to the point he looked constipated- but I was going to use my brain and not point that out to him.

His beady little eyes fell on me and then they moved to the very bloody Teagan. I think I broke her nose. "Levi Rixton." He said flatly glaring sternly at me. "I'm going to have to ask you to sit out for the rest of today's training. You will have plenty of time to hurt each other in the arena."

My eyebrows shot up. "So you are putting me in time out? Really? I thought we were past that." I snorted as a few of the other tributes snickered.

The trainer shifted his feet uncomfortably. "In essence, I suppose you are correct. Keep in mind that you wouldn't have to go to timeout if you hadn't beat Teagan to a bloody pulp." He stared, void of any emotion.

"Tegan called me a faerie! I am not a faerie!" I said defiantly getting to my feet and brushing myself off. Another rumble of laughter wafted through the crowd. My stomach flipped.... nobody believed me.

The trainer sigh and took my arm. I shoved him off me. "Either way, beating people is unacceptable. Go sit in the corner now or I will have the peacekeepers drug you again."

I glared at him evenly for one long second, my mind debating whether or not this was worth it. Finally I sent him a snide smile, "I didn't want to do your girly-ass workout anyway." I growled pushing my way through the crowd, purposely knocking into people just to piss them off.

I sat in the corner and glared at the floor venomously. I wanted to punch something, or someone. Especially if that someone was Theodore or Tegan. "Get your hands off me!" A sharp all too familiar voice cried.

I looked up to see the trainer carrying Teagan bridal style, blood gushed from her nose, not only getting all over herself but the trainer as well. "You have to go to the infirmary to get the bleeding stopped." The trainer's voice was just as detached at it had been when he had spoken to me. "If you refuse to walk I am going to have to carry you. It's as simple as that."

I smirked in amusement as Tegan let out an indignant cry and punched his face. "No! I have to train! I have to be ready for the games!"Why bother? I'm going to kill you first, I thought snidely watching the trainer hardly flinch at her abrupt act of violence.

"It will hardly take the paramedics a minute-" He started but was cut off by Tegan screaming and wailing again. The sound made my ears curl. I hardly doubted that I would be the only one wanting to kill her after this charade. The trainer let out a long sigh and began walking to the door, Teagan fighting him every step of the way.

I caught Tegan's eye and smiled broadly, giving her a little wave.

She let out one last infuriated scream before the trainer dragged her through the door. It slammed shut, sharply cutting us off from that infernal noise.

Day 2

The following day went 'better'.

Notice I used the word better because really anything could be better than being taunted by a pack of warlocks and nothing can go well for me when I'm around other people. So lets settle on calling the second day of training a steady 'bad'. Not terrible and not good; bad.

It turns out I was a lot better at weightlifting than the previous day's stamina trials. The trainer, the same one who had put me in time out yesterday, only had to show me what to do once before I was able to deck out 30 pounds like it was nothing. I made sure to choose the bench beside Theodore who was struggling with 8 pounds.

I laid on my back and started pumping the weights above my head, not really bothering to count the reps just like I had been told not two. "You know? I think these are too light for me..." I commented glancing over my shoulder at Theodore - turning my head; another thing I had been told not to do - who was gritting his teeth as he pushed the 8's above his head again. "What do you think Theodore? Should I try the 50? Or better yet do you want to come over here and I'll ditch the weights and just lift you above my head? You must weigh a solid 45 pounds or so and it will be great practice for the arena." I flashed him my bitchiest grin.

He looked over at me, sweat cascading from his forehead. He eyes looked defeated as he rocked himself to a sitting position with as irritated sigh. "Awww, don't be sad that most girls can lift more than you. Look at it this way; even though you can be overpowered easily and will probably die within 3 minutes of the kickoff of the bloodbath at least you can run really fast. For a warlock anyway. Actually most species are faster than you.... Hmmm." I felt the brutal words masked with a sickly sweet coating leave my lips.

Theodore threw a weight at my head.

And in all honesty I kind of deserved that, you know just like he deserved one to his head yesterday.

The weight missed me and crashed harmlessly into the matted floor, rolling over itself harmlessly a few times before coming to a stop. I looked back at Theodore and I did the obvious thing. I pointed and laughed at him, "You missed!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Who the hell is throwing weights?" A new trainer who had been in charge of supervising us stormed over, completely forgetting that he had been helping Cassiopeia with a chest press. The bar fell on her stomach causing her body to buck in a 'v'.

I wasted not a second in pointing at Theodore. "He tried to murder me with it!" I cried trying to look as though someone attempting to kill me hurt my feelings. It didn't because you know I really have no feelings.

The trainer looked between us brushing his long red hair over his scalp. The guy was clearly a werewolf if I had ever seen one. What was it with werewolves and model grade hair? Perhaps if you cut it they would die? I scanned the area for scissors to test my theory. "Based off what I've seen and heard, I'd want to kill you too." The guy grunted irritably. He reached over and grabbed my arm tightly, "Okay new rule: You aren't allowed anywhere near the warlocks because it's quite apparent you start problems with them."

"Hey! I didn't do anything! He was the one trying to kill me!" I protested as he dragged me toward the other side of the room. "Why don't you drag him to the other side of the room." I paused before adding a well placed, "Ma'am."

He spun around and grabbed the front of my shirt. "Listen very closely, punk. Learn some respect lest I am forced to teach it to you. And fuck yeah that was a threat. So go do some of the machines over there and don't start a problem." He let go and shoved me backward roughly before spinning on his feel and jogging over to help Cassiopeia who was still trapped under the bar.

I stood there for a second a little bit shocked. That had kind of come out of nowhere... I watched him comb his long red hair back out of his eyes as he leaned forward and freed the small brunette warlock. I felt my body shudder with a sudden laugher as an idea popped into my head. I was going to get revenge.... with scissors.

In the meantime though I might as well let him think he won, I sent him a smug smile before I walked over to one of the machines. The device kind of reminded me of a gallow with a rope that hung in a loop before me that I assumed that when I pulled it would lift the weights on the other side of the frame work. This part of the room was mostly empty save a girl with blonde hair that hung in golden curls and bright green eyes that flickered over to me for a second before she went back to what she was doing.

I looped my hands through the hole and yanked the rope, the weight lifted upward with a loud groan. For a second I thought it was my stomach, I looked down at it in confusion. I hadn't remembered eating anything bad. I pulled the rope again and the same, loud, constipated groan sounded from the machine. I pursed my lips and looked down again, glaring at my stomach. Shut up! I thought in horror as I caught the blonde girl who I remembered to be Messidina looking at me uncomfortably.

I felt a blush rise to my cheeks as I pulled the rope one more time and the same loud groan erupted. It was only at about this point that the thought that it might not be my stomach making the noise crossed my mind. I stopped pulling it and it stopped, I jerked it up halfway and it continued. I let out a breath as I realized it was the machine farting- not me. It was at about this time that Messidina got up and left. I watched her go a tad disappointed and still a tad embarrassed. I kicked the machine, bum thing.

At least now I had the whole area to myself to train free of idiots.

Day 3

Can I just say there is nothing more disappointing than when you search everywhere for something for someone, only to find it and then have the person not show up. It's utterly heartbreaking.

No, I didn't go all good samaritan and bring roses to Theodore or Tegan, I'm referring to the the scissors I brought to chop my trainor's hair off. He wasn't here and now I was stuck with a razor sharp pair of blades in pressed against my skin in the training room that had been totally re-setup to resemble an arena. I doubted whatever we were doing today was going to be easy. Dammit I'd probably fucking accidentally stab myself before the games even began.

The trainer who had made me go sit in time out clapped his hands to grab everyone's attention the second the last tribute had stumbled in. That tribute happened to be a very giddy Magnus who skipped over to the rest of the group like the little ray of purple tinted sunshine he is. "Okay, tributes, today we will be simulating a series of situations that you will be experiencing in the arena and will be noting who responds best. First off we are starting with the countdown simulation," He stood aside and gestured to the cornucopia and the plates that surrounded it. "This will be a test of reflex due to the fact this year our glorious gamemaker has decided that there will be no countdown, simply a gong signalling that the games has begun that could go off at any time after your plate locks in place. Niamh feels like countdowns ruin the feeling of the games so it is unlikely she will ever use them in any of her games after this." There was a rumble of nervous chatter among the tributes, the only thing that went through my head was seven words. Bitch is sicker than I thought.

"Don't worry. We will be running through the drill three times so that you will have more than enough time to practice. Now everyone on the plates now, once you hear the gong I want you to run to the cornucopia, first one there wins." Wow. a whole three times, so generous of him. I thought walking over to a random plate and standing on it. I watched Tegan's eyes skim the plates as if choosing one was a brain science, really, even if one plate was better than another one it wasn't like she would get to choose in the actual games. Eventually she chose one (probably because Stephan the faerie took her other choice) and we all waited.

It was really tense, everyone stood on their plates ready to run, their heads looking side to side as if their the person next to them knew something they they didn't. It was really kind of comical. Suddenly the gong ruptures the air around us and everyone was running - you know except me. I stood watching as Patrick reached the cornucopia first followed by Messidina and a hoard of others. The trainor jogged over to me, "What are you doing? Run!"

I raised a deliberate eyebrow, "Is it against the rule for me to stay on my plate?" I asked irritated.

The trainior shifted uncomfortably, "Uh. no I guess. We haven't ever had a problem with tributes sitting on their plate before.... However since you brought this to my attention next time is is a rule that you have to get off of your plate. Okay?" He asked in that calm even tone that saved him from the wrath of the scissors in his eyeball.

I sent him a devilish grin. "Of corse."

He walked away completely missing the fact that I was planning on being difficult- because I don't know, they freaking ripped me from my homeland? The other tributes trudged back to their plates, slightly winded. Each eyed the others with a new graveness, suddenly knowing what they were or were not worth.

The tributes shifted onto their plates with a new determination, this time they were going to win. Ha. I jumped from the plate before the gong went off. I arched my hands above my head in a wide arch, "Ka-boom." I flopped to the ground. "I'm dead." I announced letting my tongue hang from my mouth.

That was about when the actual gong did go off. I was promptly trampled by several people... I was going to have to remember not to do that again.

Slowly I lifted my head, recovering from the stampede of stupid people's abnormally large feet only to see the trainer approaching me with a frown on his face. The sharp featured man offered me his hand but I ignored it and pushed myself to my feet with a grunt. "Look. Levi, I need you to co-operate and go along with training. I know it isn't fair that you are here. I'm here to try and train you and help you survive. I respect your spirit, thats what will propel you through the games but here is not the time to display it. You're only hurting yourself by making enemies right now." He said barely above a whisper, I noticed some of the other tributes peered at us curiously.

I furrowed my brow thinking about what he said. "What's your name anyway?" I asked, not really answering his question. He had managed to peak my interest though. Nice people were really a foreign fascination to me.

He smiled, maybe sensing that he was stating to win my respect."Dimitri." Then again he was probably totally faking it, most everyone did. He seemed genuine though- they all seem genuine you moron. My mind raced as he walked away and signaled everyone that it was go time. I fixed my eyes on the cornucopia and decided made the hard decision to co-operate this time...

The gong rang, ricocheting off of the walls training facility. I jumped a second started, then I forced myself off my plate and I was sprinting for the cornucopia. My feet pounded against the cement floor of the training room sending me forward with each leap. It wasn't fast enough. My hand was the last one to slam into the golden siding of the cornucopia. I didn't dare look around, I didn't want to see my defeat in the eyes of everyone who hated me.

Dimitri clapped his hands together once again gathering all of our attention. "Wonderful job guys, even if you weren't incredibly fast there are a lot of things that factor into surviving. Like pain tolerance which is our next activity today. Heres how it is going to work; one of the other trainers is going to hook you up with these magnetic pulses. They are basically going to electrify you, it's harmless don't worry the pain will vanish as soon as we shut it off. Your job is to last as long as possible, as soon as you want to admit surrender just let me know and I will shut yours off. Last one standing wins."

A woman came over and pressed a small pad against my forearm. "Don't touch that..." She said before moving onto Chandler who stood a few feet away from me. I made a note of poking the stupid little patch as soon as she wasn't looking. This couldn't be that hard- could it?

It could. It really could. Dimitri didn't even bother giving us a warning before pain suddenly alight my body like fire to gasoline. It radiated through my body, racing through every vein in my body like electricity. I felt myself fall to my knees. My body started shaking, nausea swam in my stomach as I bit my tongue to keep from screaming.

I was going to die, how was I not dead? This amount of pain should kill me.

My breath was ragged as I felt sweat pour from my forehead. I needed to surrender. All I had to do was signal Dimitri. That was all I had to do. I looked up by the vision was blurred and black dots danced across my vision. I couldn't bring myself to do it. I couldn't be defeated. I refused.

I.

Would.

Not.

Be.

Moved.

I felt vomit curl up in my throat and pour from my throat spilling down my chip and into the floor.

It stopped- the pain that is. I just sat there panting, hardly aware of the hand on my shoulder. I looked up, my head spinning to see an unfocused Dimitri looking at me with slight concern. "How long do you think you were under that?" He asked skipping over the obvious, 'Are you okay? Sorry for frying your innards.'

"Fuck you. Fuck your mother. Fuck your fucking cow. I don't give a fuck. I'm going to eat your fucking soul if you don't get out of my face." I slurred, swaying slightly trying not to pass out.

Dimitri stood back very obediently and things finally started to focus in slightly, I could see most of the other tributes gaping at me, some with jealously, others with awe, and still some with an expression that wasn't readable. "Levi." Dimitri said, "You won. You won by 10 minutes."

Day 4

It didn't surprise me that someone died. It didn't even surprise me that it was ever so slightly my fault. What surprised me was that I was such a good hairdresser under extreme pressure. Nobody died during the haircut, nobody lost a limb or even a eyeball! Seriously, I could go pro.

After having my brains fried yesterday Dimitri sent me to the infirmary, because apparently throwing up wasn't normal, but then again no one had ever lasted 16 minutes under the simulation before so it was best to have it checked out. I actually really liked the infirmary. All the nurses were like these little slaves that did my bidding, but nothing good lasts and now here I stood in the hellhole that I had been spending the last four days in.

The training center had been divided into at least thirty different sparring arenas. Oh goody, they were probably going to make me fight Michel or like Taraleigh, just how I wanted to spend my day; getting my ass kicked. I sigh and walked over to the unusually large group of trainers who talked anxiously among themselves looking at a list. I saw the red-haired werewolf among them. I felt the scissors poking into my stomach where I had re-stuck them after I had changed. We locked eyes and he walked over to me, the other trainers headed toward individual tributes. "Punk, today you're sparring me." He snorted hopping over the rope of the nearest arena. "Go grab your favorite weapon from rack in the center of the room then meet me in here and I'll kick your scrawny ass."

I let out a low hum, trying not to display the pleasure that swirled within me. All I had to do was overpower a 6ft werewolf and I could have my revenge. So easy. I jogged over to the flimsy looking rack that stood in the center of the room. I pushed through the crowd of tributes surrounding it and grabbed a bow a quiver. It felt really good to have one in my hand again. Sure it my bow had been constructed of a tree branch and this one was a beautiful copper metal, but in essence they were the same exact thing.

I wondered if the tributes behind me had ever touched a weapon before. Some of the tributes seemed extremely indecisive. I'd been using a bow to hunt game for what? Three years now? I looked over at the werewolf who sat on the rope of the arena waiting impatiently. I bet he didn't know I had been using a bow for three years.... I turned the bow over in my hands as if I had never seen one before and was trying to figure out how to use it.

"Hurry up we don't have all day!"He snapped irritably drawing his sword as I ducked through the ropes.

I made a show of looking horrified, "Wait, aren't you going to show me how to use one of these things?" I threw my hands in the air as the man's face twisted into a cruel smile and he shook his head.

"I believe in learning as you go. We are starting in a minute so get ready." He grunted, looking at his sword nonchalantly.

I quickly slung the quiver over my back. I had the advantage of having a long distance weapon so I could have the first blow, if the werewolf got to me though I was dead because long distance weapons are useless for short distance fighting. I loaded my bow making a show of looking uncomfortable. "You ready punk?" I nodded. "Ready go!" He cried raising his broadsword and charging me.

I reacted with lightspeed, sending a perfectly aimed arrow into his kneecap. He cried out collapsing to the floor in a sudden agony. I raced forward straddling his back and grabbing his thick red hair in my hands. He tried to push upwards but I had him pinned to the ground. I reached into my pocket and clumsily ripped the scissors from my belt.

"You fucking little freak I will kill you!" He hissed under his breath and then screamed, "Bobve, Wendrow, Dimitri! Help me he's going to kill me!" All the other trainers looked over from what they were doing in startlement, the fact I was sitting on the man holding scissors couldn't have helped my case.

I started chopping off his hair as fast as humanly possible.

I ripped the last couple of hairs free myself as two of the men I didn't know climbed over the rope and I ran for my flipping life holding the red hair over my head like a trophy. "Thats for being a little man-bitch!" I cried gleefully as I sprinted blindly toward the center of the room. Dimitri appeared between the gaps in the weapons shelf raising his hands above his head for me to stop, the tribute he had been sparring, Edmund, stood directly behind him. "Stop, Levi, you're better than this." He scolded like an old woman.... a very effective old woman as he started walked to walk to the side of the shelf that faced me. I tried to stop but I stumbled a few paces knocking into the weapons.

I didn't realize what had happened until after it happened. The shelf had fallen crushing Edmund and Dimitri underneath a pile of weapons. One lone limp hand stuck between one of the gaps. They were dead. I had killed the one person who had been nice to me.... I stared at it stunned.

I felt rough hands grasp my shoulder and spin me around to look at their venomous face. "Boy, you are in so much trouble it isn't funny." The trainior hissed as his friend stood behind them nodding with the same expression on his face.

I tried to smile, to carry on my bitchy persona that had carried me through life. "I wouldn't have it any other way." I said while as everything else in my body screamed otherwise.

This is why I can't have friends.