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SHALL WE RISE?

act one.

(chapter eight, ten minutes of rage)

training centre,  2304.

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THE LAST DAY OF training came by without a second thought and it scared Valencia. The first day she had spent most of her time by herself, then with the Careers', and then with the two from Eleven. She mostly focused on survival skills for the first day.

When the second day came, Valencia focused on hand-to-hand combat with one of the trainers. The Careers' swarmed around her as they shouted multiple profanities to distract her, but Valencia was determined and she managed to knock down the trainer two times. Whenever she did, the Careers' would cheer for her, but Valencia looked longingly at the twins who were both over at the survival stations still. 

Valencia had learned nearly all of the survival advice from the first day with the twins and from her own general knowledge. She had whizzed through the poisonous plants, through the camouflage, and through the knot-tying. She had mastered all of them and so she spent the second day purely for combat. 

It was after the first training session and Commie sat her down that Valencia realised that she had to practice combat. She was pretty good with the knives, proving that despite missing the first time, but Commie wanted her to practice hand-to-hand.

"Not all deaths are caused by weapons or exposure," he told her. "You need to know hand-to-hand combat, just in case anyone jumps you and you don't have a weapon."

And so Valencia did, learning all of the hand-to-hand combat moves that there was. The Careers' also taught her something, surprisingly enough. Confetti from One taught her how to throw a spear (something Valencia was quite good at, for she thought of it as just a massive knife). Louis from One taught her the bow and arrow. Clara from Two made her watch how to throw an axe. All of this were things that Valencia mentally noted down. Whilst she watched the Careers, she picked up on skills, but also on their weaknesses.

Confetti was too focused on her looks whenever throwing a spear, always fixing her hair after a throw. Louis was shaky when it came to letting the arrow release. And Jacob was too full of himself and too distracted with being the 'leader' of the Career pack. But Clara was the tricky one, for Valencia couldn't find any weaknesses on her. 

Valencia also noticed that Silas and the boy from Six, who she figured out was called Maynard, were getting much closer and had presumably formed an alliance already. Every day, the pair would absolutely dominate the sword sections. It seemed like Silas was good with any weapon, but he preferred a sword. Valencia realised this when she saw him slaughter a plastic dummy with Maynard. 

On the third day, Commie told her to scout out any threats throughout the tributes and who weren't. Valencia immediately noted that all the Careers' were threats, Clara more so. Despite Valencia knowing most of the Careers' weaknesses from spending the three days with them, they were much stronger than her. Silas and Maynard were threats as well, something Commie agreed with. The two were strong individually, but together, they were deadly. 

The girl from Six, Agnes Valencia found out, was not a worry. For most of the training, she was huddled in the corner sobbing to herself. Donna and Rome weren't any threats, but Valencia made it clear that she would not be the one to kill them under any circumstances.

The pair from Four were something Valencia was weary about. Despite the boy, Azul, trembling at the start, Valencia did not fail to notice how handy he was with a dagger. And the girl, whilst not fitting into the Career category, was still skilful with a spear.

The other districts were all classed as non-threats. They were either too young or too scared to pick up a weapon and they all spent most of their time with their district partners. Three, Five, Seven, Eight, Ten, and Twelve all didn't faze Valencia. 

The rest of the third day was drowned with finding information and practising both survival and combat, but just after lunch, their time was up. All twenty-four tributes were escorted into a small room attached to the gymnasium by the trainers. They were told to line up in order of district number and so Valencia and Silas made their way between Eight and Ten. 

They called Louis up first, and then Confetti, and soon all the Careers' had disappeared through the door. Valencia was anxious as she watched the girl from Three go through. Her throat was dry and her leg was jumping up and down with nerves as she bit her nails (something Bette was going to have to fix).

Four and Five whizzed through their individual evaluation and soon, they called up Maynard, who shared a glance with Silas. They both nodded and when Valencia stared at her partner, he growled at her. She swallowed a lump in her throat as she continued waiting. 

"Silas Allard."

A robotic voice echoed around the waiting room. Valencia looked up sharply and saw that Silas was already making his way through the door, flanked by two Peacekeepers. Ten minutes left and Valencia would be up next. She used these short few minutes to debate on what she would do. There would be knives there of course and so Valencia would start with those. Then maybe a spear since she was getting the hang of that.

"Valencia Barlowe."

Valencia was already up and out of her seat, all the remaining tributes's eyes on her. Two Peacekeepers met her at the door and followed her into the Training Centre. Valencia chewed the sides of her mouth as she entered. 

It was nearly empty, the gymnasium. Most of the gym equipment and some of the exercises had been taken out. The weapons and the survival skills had been moved to the centre so that the Gamemaker's could see from their balcony. Valencia surveyed the area as she walked quietly to the middle of the room, walking into the light. She stared at the Gamemakers who sat above her, all drunk and tired. They had lost interest and was now consumed in their drinks or the massive meal that was behind them. When it came apparent that they hadn't noticed her, Valencia cleared her throat.

"You have ten minutes to demonstrate your chosen skill," the Head Gamemaker stated when he finally turned around, Valencia beginning to fill with rage as she watched him loose focus again as he became interested in the drink that was in his slender glass.

Valencia nodded and walked to where the knives were, picking two of them up and flipping them around in her hands. She positioned herself in-front of the target and raised her arms. Valencia was about to throw her them forward and release the blades when she suddenly heard massive fits of laughter. 

She turned around and saw that nearly all the Gamemakers were huddled together, all laughing as the drinks went splashing everywhere from their clumsiness. Apparently, one of them had told an amusing joke that had them cackling. Valencia rolled her jaw and stood there silently, hands behind her back with the blades still in them, debating whether or not to throw them at their heads. Rage was silently filling her up as she watched them, clearing her throat one more time.

"I'm not going to start until I have your attention," said Valencia as she glared up at them.

This caught their attention as they must have forgotten she was there, for the Head Gamemaker turned around, wiping his eyes as he chuckled slightly.

"Yes, carry on," he said as he downed whatever was left of his drink. "You're wasting your ten minutes."

"Thank you." Valencia sighed. 

She got back into position and raised her arms backwards. She took a deep breath and swung her right arm forward and then her left, releasing both blades after another. The blades sunk into the heart and forehead of the dummy, but Valencia was not done. Her rage to the Gamemakers caused her to pick up nearly a whole handful of the daggers, loading them up in her right hand as she continuously threw them at the target, stalking forwards. She took deep breaths as she watched the blades repeatedly get lodged into the centre of the dummy, a massive hole being made by the dozen of knives. When one of the knives flew straight through the target and through the hole, imbedding itself in the wall behind it, she stopped.

"You are dismissed, Miss Barlowe."

"Thank you," Valencia said as she gritted her teeth. "Thank you for being an excellent audience."

Valencia bowed with as much viciousness that she could muster before stalking out of the gymnasium. She went through the back exit and into the elevators where she immediately slammed the button for the ninth floor. The rage was beginning to wear off along with the adrenaline. Valencia was trying to figure out a way of how to explain to Commie how she went. 

When the elevator came up to the ninth floor, she was immediately swarmed by the District Nine crew. Commie, Delphine, and Ezra all come rushing to her, hounding for information about how she went. Delphine was asking the most questions whilst Ezra kept asking if she was all right.

"Okay, okay," said Commie. "Back it up, back it up. Let the girl breathe."

Valencia looked at the older man gratefully as she made her way through the crowd. She caught glimpse of Antares and Silas on the balcony, talking quietly amongst themselves with Silas's personal stylist beside him.

"How did you do, Barlowe?" Commie asked her.

"I'd be damned if I get a high score," she mumbled. "I got angry... I didn't really mean to, they just weren't paying attention and I got angry and threw a ton of knives at the targets."

"And?"

"And I think they need to replace the target."

Commie started to chuckle as he slapped her back playfully, causing her to nearly stumble. Delphine, however, looked appalled as she processed Valencia's words.

"You are going to do great," said Commie. "Trust me."

"How do you know?" Valencia groaned. "They'll give me a pathetic score for sure."

"I know because I did the exact same thing as you, Barlowe," Commie chuckled. "I got mad, destroyed the gymnasium, and get one of the highest scores that year."

"Really?"

"Really," her mentor said. "Now, have some dinner and we will watch the broadcast, all right? I'll call Terry and Bigfoot in. Apparently, they did all right, if you're wondering."

Commie did call Antares and Silas in, the Avoxes laying down plates of chicken and corn. Valencia and Silas were still wearing their training attire, but the two weren't bothered changing just yet. They all loaded their plates with food and quickly ate it all up. No-one spoke and when the empty dishes were taken away, they all went to the sitting room.

Delphine flicked the television on and the broadcast started, Caesar and Claudius showing up. Their fake smiles made Valencia sick as they conversed about last years Games, showing a gruesome image of a boy being cut apart by another tribute.

"Last year was something else," said Caesar, "just absolutely phenomenal, Claudius."

"Yes, yes, but we can't forget our favourite Games, though, Caesar, my friend," Claudius laughed. "The Sixtieth Hunger Games were.... by far the most spectacular Games."

"Ah, yes!" Caesar clapped as he slammed his pen on the table. "Finnick Odair has nothing on Terry Barlowe. If I have to pick between the two, Barlowe for the win."

"Both young, strapping men." Claudius nodded. "But this year, Terry's sister is in the mix of tributes. What a shocker!"

"I never knew he had a sister! And with her performance at the Tribute Parade, she is just like him!" Caesar shouted. "The fire in her eyes!"

"If she doesn't get a high score, I'm going to file for a complaint!"

Caesar chuckled and chuckled before he cleared his throat, "Talking about scores, here is the moment that we have all been waiting for. Over the past three days, the tributes have been training hard and strong, but after individual evaluations, the Gamemakers are finally giving us their scores."

Valencia swallowed, both from her name being mentioned and from the scores that were soon to be released. She looked over and saw that Antares's face had gone white and that he was focusing on the corner of the television. Commie nudged him and ruffled his hair, bringing him back to reality.

As Caesar read the name of the tributes, a picture of them would come up along with their district number and what score they achieved. The Career tributes generally get between an eight-to-ten range and so it didn't surprise Valencia when they all got either nines or tens.

Three passed and Azul from Four got a seven whilst the girl, Dominica, got an eight. Commie nodded his head as Antares spoke to him, pointing to the girl. Valencia heard him mention the name Finnick.

Maynard, Silas's 'friend', got a ten. This caused Silas to smile sickeningly as Valencia's stomach dropped, making her feel as if she would throw up. Agnes, the trembling girl, got a two.

Valencia fiddled with her hands and bit the inside of her mouth as she watched Seven and Eight pass. When Caesar got to Nine, he went on a rant about how he was so excited to see what Valencia got. This caused Commie to yell, "Just show us the damn scores!"

"Silas Allard, the male tribute from District Nine," Caesar said, a picture of Silas coming up beside him. "He has scored... a ten."

Valencia's jaw dropped as Delphine launched up and squealed, giving Silas a massive hug in which he pushed her away. Antares nodded proudly at him whilst Commie muttered under his breath. He looked at Valencia, who stared at the television in shock, and nodded his head, patting her on the back. 

"Now, the moment we all have been waiting for... Valencia Barlowe," Caesar said, making everyone go quiet again as Delphine sat back down. "The female tribute from District Nine and the sister of a very renowned Victor, she has scored—"

Valencia closed her eyes as she felt Commie put his hand on her shoulder in support. Everyone held their breath as they awaited for Caesar to say her score. She prayed that Commie was right.

"She has scored an eleven!"

Valencia peeled her eyes open to see that Delphine was out of her seat again, jumping up and down as she squealed once more. Valencia looked at the screen where her face was on display and her score. An eleven...

Commie cheered loudly as he slapped her on the back, yelling the words, "What did I tell you, Barlowe?"

Antares looked shocked as he looked at the screen and then to his sister, Silas seething at the teeth that she had gotten a higher score than him. She scored an eleven.

"W-what?" Valencia stuttered as Ezra gave her a high five, his silver rings feeling cool against her fingers. "How?"

"They must like your fire," Ezra said soothingly as he smiled at her gently, his voice somehow being heard over the racket Delphine and Commie were making. "They like a fighter."

The scores carried on, but nothing noteworthy. Donna and Rome both managed to score a respectable five, which was impressive for their age. Valencia wondered what they did to score such a number. She knew what the Careers' did, for they had spoken about it all day, but she didn't know what everyone else had done. Silas probably did a bit of everything.

After a bit of celebratory over the scores, Valencia bid everyone goodnight, walking out of the sitting room, but Commie quickly grabbed her hand, pulling her in for a hug.

"District Nine might actually have a chance," he murmured as he wrapped his arms around her.

Valencia eyes widened and her muscles tensed, but she soon relaxed as she too wrapped her arms around the older man. She had gotten closer to Commie over the past couple of days and she's realised that maybe he was all right. He was actually quite a comedic relief for Valencia, turning everything into a joke and somehow making her laugh even though she was destined to die in a manner of a week.

"Thanks, Commie."

Valencia pulled away from him with a smile and then bid him goodnight, walking away and into her room where she immediately flung herself onto the bed, trying to fall asleep to the view of the Capitol City, but the thoughts of her brother filled her head.

She and Antares used to be so close, even after he won his Games. He made it his sole duty to spend every day with her, whether it was in Victors' Village, or in the forests, or in the fields. Valencia would have thought that with her inevitable death, he would still continue to stay close to her, to be the last person she saw before entering the arena. But he hasn't. After what happened on the balcony, he had completely avoided his sister, more so than he had before. 

In that moment, Valencia under the covers in her sweaty training attire and her hair a mess, eyes glancing through the window and at the Capitol City, all she wanted was her brother back.