XXX

"first things first," theron tossed me a book. "read that before the games. i know it's long but try to finish it." i looked at the title, the art of war by sun tzu before putting it down on his bed, knowing i'll be able to finish before the day ends. "have you had the chance to learn about the other tributes?"

"i only watched the reaping of district 7," i answered.

theron turned on his tv and the reapings started automatically. "district 1," theron explains. "luxury items. a capital favorite. they take pride in competing in the hunger games, and are among the group of tributes who group together to pick off the weaker contestants, like you for example, they're known as careers."

a tall, slender girl with blonde hair smiled widely as she walked onto the stage, perfectly contempt with being reaped. she stood next to an even taller boy with strong arms. "caspian and octavia, both 18." said theron. "don't be intimidated too much, their arrogance is what's going to get them killed."

just thinking of them on the same floor as me sends shivers down my spine. "so they don't ask you for any advice at all?"

he shook his head. "like i said, they're arrogant."

"district 2, masonry. malorie and mason," he chuckled. "original right? they're also part of the careers. she's 13 and he's 18. she's young but mason will protect her at all costs."

"why?"

"they're brother and sister. it's weird because he didn't even have to volunteer to go with her, them being reaped together is purely coincidental."

i took a mental note to remember malorie because if she appears weak and vulnerable in the arena i'll know it's a trap.

district 3, technology. marcus, 15 and alessia, 17.
district 4, fishing. antonius, 18 and malia, 17.
district 5, power. derek, 16 and raven, 15
district 6, transportation. kian, 14 and olivia, 18.

then district 7 appeared on the screen. "i watched this one with kit on the train," i said, leaning closer to the screen. "she volunteered to be a tribute so she could be with him. kit called her stupid."

"district 7, lumber." he said. "adonis and astrid. i would call their love story tragic, but not stupid."

"why?" i asked.

"apparently they had a pact, that if one of them were to be reaped, the other would volunteer. they're not going into the arena to try and help the other win like you and kit, they're going in there to die together."

my heart dropped into the pit of stomach. i can't help but wonder what me and isaac would've done if we were in the arena together. and then i'm thinking about kit, forever grateful he volunteered in isaac's place. i can't think of anyone more deserving to leave that arena alive than kit.

district 8, textiles. cedar, 17. pia, 17.
district 9, grain. eli, 17. lavender, 16.
district 10, livestock. marcellus, 18. haley, 18.
district 11: agriculture. lazarus, 17. calliope, 18.

and lastly, district 12, coal mining. kit, 18. davina, 17.

theron asks me if i want him to turn it off, but i tell him no. as much as i know it is going to hurt, i want to see my father again. i watch as our escort vivian bloom reaches into the glass ball, grabbing the paper slip that has my name. "davina hallows!"

i close my eyes and feel my blood run cold just like it had that day. when i open them again i'm already standing on the stage and isaac's name is just being called. i watch myself on the screen, seeing the panic on my face as he walks up the stage.

then i hear him. "i volunteer as tribute."

even on screen i can see the relief in my eyes as i watch kit half-jog up the stage where isaac is standing. "i think you're standing in my spot," kit said with a half-smile.

back then i was relieved because i was thinking about how it wouldn't be so hard to kill him in the arena. little did i know that i would find myself trying to save him.

the camera pans out, showing the crowd in the town square. "pause it," i tell theron and he immediately does. it doesn't take me long to find my father, i just had to look for the parent who had the horrified look on his face.

i walk right up to the screen and let my fingers touch the part of the screen where my father is. "i'm so sorry..." i whisper, feeling my throat tighten. "please forgive me."

unable to hold back the grief, tears flow steadily, silently down my face. i feel numb and empty, so much that it takes me forever to step away from the screen.

theron detached himself from the wall he was leaning against and came over to me. "are you all right?" he asked in a low voice.

"am i doing the right thing?" i ask. "should i be trying harder to live? am i a bad daughter for giving up on my father so easily?"

he looked thoughtful. "depends, do you think kit deserves to live?"

"kit deserves to live," i answer with no hesitation.

"and so do you," he says sincerely. "i'm going to teach you everything you need to know, but in the arena it's ultimately up to you on if you want to live."

the next few hours are filled with unrelenting training. theron is a good teacher and mentor. he explains everything thoroughly and doesn't care if i accidentally hurt him. "when you're in a confrontation, you only have a few seconds and a few moves to try before the fight may be decided. before the attacker has gained full control of you, you must do everything you can—conserving as much energy as possible—to inflict injury so you can get away. so aim for the parts of the body where you can do the most damage easily: the eyes, nose, ears, neck, groin, knee, and legs."

he grabs my hand. "gouging, poking or scratching the attackers eyes with your fingers or knuckles will be effective." he lifts my hand up to his eyes in example and then lets go.

"the knee is an ideal self-defense target, vulnerable from every angle and easily kicked without risk of your foot being grabbed. kick the side of the knee to cause injury or partially incapacitate the attacker. kicking the front of the knee may cause more injury but is less likely to result in imbalance. try it."

"try what?" i ask, dumbfounded.

"attack me at the knee," he laughs.

i do exactly what he says and use my leg to kick him at the side of his knee with all the force i can muster. at first i'm worried that i might hurt him but when i see him only lose his balance i feel annoyed at my lack of strength.

"don't be discouraged davina," he says, standing up straight. "you're trying to learn all of this in one night, i grew up training. you just need more time."

"time is the one thing we don't have," i say, plopping down on the bed.

he lays down beside me and we both just lay there staring up at the roof. i feel exhausted and my bones ache from training. a bed has never been more inviting.

"tired?" theron asks and my eyes jerk open, i didn't even realize they were closed.

"no, i'm fine." i mutter, rubbing my eyes fiercely.

"you're lying," he nudges my arm with his elbow.

"don't do that," i move my arm away from his and stare blankly at the roof.

"do what?" he asks, doing it again, only this time his elbow touches my stomach and it tickles. i cover my mouth with my hand, stifling a laugh. it's annoying but it makes me laugh and after the day i've had it feels nice. "that's the first time i've heard you laugh," he said, stopping. "you should do it more often."

"i can't ..." i tell him. "i feel guilty when i do. my father is in district 12, praying that i'll win and here i am, planning to die. and when i don't go back alive, he'll never smile again because he'll be all alone."

"you didn't choose this, davina. there was nothing you could've done to stop this from happening. you can't feel guilty because you did nothing wrong."

i turn my head to the side so that we're staring at each other. "i'm sorry i slapped you."

"don't be," he grinned. "i deserved it. for what it's worth, i think you can win, especially if kit helps you until the end. the other tributes are stronger but you're smarter."

"thank you..." my voice trails off as my eyes close, unable to keep them open any longer.

"you're welcome, little one," i hear him say before i slip into unconsciousness.

*

i love davina and theron's friendship so so so much!
next chapter will be about the same length.