CHAPTER 3: TRAINING

                                    

                                          
When Sophia wakes me up in the morning I get up slowly, trying to put off going to training. I really don't want to go because I will have to meet the other tributes for the first time. They will probably all laugh at me like the pair from district 2 last night. It may have seemed like nothing but that laughter has really put me off. When I finally get to breakfast, Sophia glares at me because I am so late.
                          
We all walk to the lift together and Sophia escorts us to the bottom level. All of the other tributes are there in their training uniforms. Oops…
                          

                          
A very fit looking young man introduces us to all the different stations as soon as Sophia has left. Each station has its own guide who can help us. We are not to fight with other tributes, only with the staff and he warned us not to forget survival skills.
                          

                          
Over all three of the training days I keep to myself. At lunch, I don't talk to anyone. A young girl - she looks to be about 12 years old - sometimes slips up with me at a few of the stations. I am not sure what district she is from but I think I remember her from 10. We don't talk which suits me fine.
                          

                          
After lunch on the third day, there is a private training session with the gamemakers. As female from district 12, I am scheduled to go last, which is unfortunate. I have avoided what I am best at for the entire training so far so that the other tributes underestimate me and think that I won't stand a chance. I have decided that I will let them laugh and then when they die they will know that I wasn’t as stupid as I seemed.  On the positive side, being last gives me time to plan what I am going to do.
                          

                          
They finally call my name and I walk in, straight over to the knife throwing station. I grab a belt of knives and slip it on. Next, I go to the knot tying station and grab a long rope. I tie that to the belt too.
                          

                          
I walk over to the fake tree they have in the climbing area, drop my crutches and begin to climb. It's harder than when I had 2 legs but I'm strong. I can make it. Once I get to the top, I grab the rope and tie it to the roof so I won't fall. I climb along one of the beams that support the roof and drag the rope along behind me. I stop just in front of the knife throwing area, grab a knife and throw it at the dummie. Bullseye. I throw the other knives at all different targets, all hitting with perfect accuracy.
                          

                          
When I glance back at the Gamemakers, they looked shocked and extremely impressed. I leap down, untie myself from the rope, grab my crutches and walk out.
                          

                          
When I get to my floor, I go straight to my room. I feel really confident about my performance and hope I get a good score. I take a shower to relax a bit. When I'm done, I change into a nice flowery dress and braid back my hair before going to dinner.
                          

                          
After dinner, we sit in the living room to watch the announcing of the scores. As District 12's female tribute, my score comes 23rd before Matthew's. As always - well, last time - the tributes from 1, 2 and 4 get high scores. The boy from 8 and the girl from 11 also do surprisingly well. Then, my name and picture appear on the screen and a large, red '10' flashes over my chest.
                          

                          
I can't believe it. I got a 10! That's the same as the best out of the tributes from 1, 2 and 4! Lavendar and Sophia give me a big hug and Matthew claps me on the shoulder. He also does well with a score of 8. I wonder what he showed the gamemakers.
                          

                          
I am suddenly very tired so I go to bed after I say goodnight to everyone. I put my head on the pillow and drift off to sleep, dreaming of the woods back home like I did when I was little.