XXX

i've kept my training sessions with theron a secret, but now that i'm thinking about it i don't have a reason to. kit and me will be allies in the arena, and even though he's strong, he could use the extra training especially since we're going to be up against the careers who have been training practically their entire lives.

this time i invite kit to come with me and he does. we ride down the elevator to district 1's floor and meet theron at the doors. he looks confusedly from me to kit but leads us through the dark and into his room.

kit's busy exploring theron's enormous room and theron raises his eyebrows questioningly at me. "we both need the extra training," i whisper. "but i didn't tell him i trained with you last night because i didn't want him to think that i'm a 'traitor' as you so kindly put it."

"you know i didn't mean that," he moves a strand of hair away from my face and behind my ear. "i was only trying to get a rise out of you, little one."

i roll my eyes and shrug away from his touch. "paws off."

he chuckles and walks over to kit. "nightlock, haymitch tells me you're pretty handy with a knife, axe and bow and arrow."

"i had to be," kit replies. "i practically lived in the woods."

"aren't the woods forbidden in your district?"

"yeah well, when you're so close to starving to death you have to break a few rules to survive." i could tell theron's question bothered him because theron grew up in a wealthy district. he never had to worry about starvation unlike us.

theron realized that too because he changed the subject. "it's good that you're good at more than one thing because during the bloodbath you might not get a choice on what weapon you get. there are a lot more knives than the other two so i think we should focus on that tonight. good?" kit nods. "and davina, i'll be teaching you how to hold a knife."

i cringe at the thought of having to use a knife on another human. "um, yeah no, can't i just learn hand-to-hand combat?"

"your hands won't be able to get you to the end," said theron.

"i'll get her to the end," kit interjects, twirling a knife around his finger.

"you're forgetting about the careers," theron says, more serious that i've ever seen him. "careers usually don't turn off their humanity but if they do this year you're practically going up against demons. they're ruthless and they have the strength. their only weakness is their arrogance — don't get cocky like them or that'll be your weakness too."

kit and i both know he's right and if either of us have any chance of winning we have to be smart. we obey every order theron gives us. after a few short hours i've learned how to hold a knife correctly; it's different in every situation. i've learned how to throw it at a target; although i never hit it exactly where i want it to. kit is a natural, other than a few minor tips, he already knows everything about knives.

we move on to reading (my specialty) a few books theron gives us. they're books on building fires, plants, animals and how to hunt them. i'm nearly finished with the book on animals when i hear a sigh from kit, followed by a thud on the ground.

i peer around my book to notice kit had thrown his book across the room. i sit up from my spot on the bed and put my book down. "how far did you get?"

kit doesn't answer me. he's leaning his head back on his chair with his eyes closed.

i look over at theron, who is on the floor sharpening the knives we just practiced with. he looks at me too then sighs. "nightlock, what's your problem?"

"i don't have a problem."

"kit-" i try to say.

"i can't read, okay?" he snapped. "i didn't go to school because i was too busy learning how to hunt; how to survive. i. can't. read."

no one speaks. theron stares at the ground and kit stands there looking defeated.

"i want a tattoo," i say, breaking the silence. they both look at me. "tons of capital people have them. i want one."

it works. they both seem to relax. "what do you want tattooed?" theron asked in amusement.

"well, for starters, i want my fathers initials." i tell them. "and then maybe a book?"

theron stifles a laugh. "the first one is great but honestly davina, a book? i'm a reader myself but i would never want a book tattooed on my skin."

"fine," i say in annoyance. "what would you suggest?"

this stumps him. he shakes his head and stands up. "i don't know, but let's go get you a tattoo."

"really?" i hop up like an excited child. the thought excited me in a way i had never been excited before.

"it's nearly morning so your stylists are probably awake," theron answered. "they have the tools to give you a tattoo and they're in the same building so we don't have to worry about sneaking out."

i look at kit, seeing how he feels about all of this. he's staring at me but the frustration in his eyes was long gone, replaced with something else i can't explain. he looks almost, happy to see me so excited. "let's go," he says, a smile playing on his lips.

i shriek and hop off the bed, hugging theron first and then kit.

*

she's so cute aw