The Rankings
I sat next to Adrien, elbows on my knees and face to the floor. This was it. After 8 days of training it was up to us to go in and try to impress a Kwami.
Having a Kwami would be our best chance of surviving in the arena. So far Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 have gone in for their one-to-one. We have no idea when they finish as they exit the training room into a different elevator.
I look over at Adrien and see he's leaning back and his eyes are closed. The only sign of life is his knee continuously bouncing up and down. 7 are called in next. The female and then the male. Within the tight surrounding of the waiting room you cannot hear or see anything happening in the training room.
Fu had spoken to us before we came down for our rankings make sure we both gave the best that we could. He thinks if we can pull this off we might be in with a chance of gaining good kwami's for the games.
8 went in next, then 9 ...
As the number in the waiting area decreased Adrien's knee bouncing started to speed up.
10, 11 ...
I slam my hand down on his thigh. He jolts his eyes open and stares at me. We're the only two left in the room.
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng."
I stand up and walk towards the door.
"Hey Mari, swing high!"
I give Adrien a small smile and walk into the room.
The Kwami's are seated in their usual spaces feasting on an array of different food choices. They talk between themselves as I prepare for my demonstration of skill.
I do the assault course in half the time I was setting in training and then camouflaged myself to blend in with the tree I'd climbed.
Finally, I walk to the rope. I tie a loose in one end and swing it to grab a sword from the armoury and pull it back to my hands. I did it with no trouble so decided to take it into a roll and come up in a defensive stance, Fu said to impress them.
Almost immediately after I'd stood up a trainer appeared in the room with me.
"That is all Miss Dupain-Cheng." As I begin to make my way over to the exit elevator I hear a scream. Looking behind me I see a tribute from District 2 holding a bow and arrow up to the trainer.
"This is for not allowing me to take my trial again!" He exclaims and lets go of the arrow. It's began to soar towards the head of the trainer. Using the rope I still had in my hands I swing it, catching around the trainer, pulling her to safety. At the same time I throw my sword to disarm the tribute from District 2.
Both figures disappear in a puff of smoke and the elevator doors open to let me exit. I give one last look at the kwami's before I leave.
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The ranking was taking place at 9pm which gave us time to shower and change before eating and watching the rankings live.
The rankings are from 1-12, 12 being the highest. These are then used for the public to place bets on us, and for sponsors to decide whether they want to help us win the games by sending in essentials, such as medicine and food.
I shower and change into a thick purple sweatshirt and leggings. Slipping on my ballet slippers I head out into the dining area. Fu, Nadja, Audrey and Adrien are all already seated and eating. Fu turns to me.
"So you didn't kill the illusion?" He giggles to himself, "my-oh-my, you are certainly one to your own Miss Dupain-Cheng."
I grumbled and decided to just start eating. I wasn't in the mood for this discussion again. I'd already had a lecture from Nadja.
When I arrived in the room after training I found the reason they send in the illusions is to see how you'd defend yourself in the games.
Obviously our mentor had forgotten to pass on this information and it seems I am one of the first tributes in the past 10 years to not kill the illusion. Apparently this could be a good or bad thing. I can see the corners of Adrien's mouth lift and mine begin to join his.
"We'll just have to wait until the rankings, Mr Fu. They might of been pleasantly surprised with Miss Dupain-Cheng's integrity." Audrey comes to my support.
"Or they might not."
I picked up my fork and pushed the food around on my plate, from one side to the other. The waiting was starting to bare down on me and I just wanted to know what the rankings were and then move on.
By the time we'd finished dessert the rankings were about to be announced live. I seated myself down next to Adrien giving him a quick nod before we turned our attention to the screen.
The rankings begin to display on the screen along side a picture of the tribute. As expected District 1, 2 and 4 had scores from 7 upwards with a tribute in District 1 scoring the highest score so far, a 10.
By the time it reached our district my heart was in my mouth. Every single heartbeat vibrated through my body. They started with Adrien.
"And finally from District 12," Alec Cataldi, The Miraculous Games host announced.
"Adrien Agreste scored a total of ... 9." Adrien sighed and lay back onto the sofa. There were a lot of whoops and cheers at Adrien's score.
"And our last tribute, Marinette Dupain-Cheng from District 12 scored a total of ..." the room went silent and I sat on the edge of the seat. "11."
The room erupted in cheers and applause. I'd received the highest score this year and also for our District ever.
Adrien looked like he'd been struck in the face.
"Well done Mari," he whispered before making his way to his room.
I couldn't help but think what his problem was. He could go from friendly to cold in the matter of seconds.
Tomorrow with have our solo interviews and then we're sent into the arena. Whatever happens now I am on my own, and determined to survive.
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