DISTRICT 5

Training days 

It looked like it was training time, and while a part of me was terrified since the idea of holding a weapon creeped me out, I was partially glad I would at least be taught something or other to help save my life. At least I wouldn’t go in knowing nothing. A lot of people seemed to have a preference for what weapon they were going to use; the careers and a few others, of course, had lots of training and had practiced beforehand, but I was here with nothing so I knew I’d have to work something out. I went and decided that I’d attempt a bit of everything since I had three days, I could do it all and see what would be best for me. I started off with things like sword fighting, axes, and maces, but found them extremely hard to hold with one hand and actually use correctly, so then I chose to try weapons that you wouldn’t have to go straight up to someone to kill them. The main options were: slingshots, bows and arrows, and crossbows. I tried them all out and the bow and arrow wasn’t the easiest. It was hard to hold it straight as I kept on holding it slightly diagonally which ruined the shot. I then realized it was far better using the crossbow, as they are similar to the bow and arrow, but you hold them the other way. I was able to hold onto it correctly and my aim was far better. I obviously wasn’t the best as this was my first time, but it seemed like the best weapon to choose. Especially since I doubted other tributes would want to use one of these, so if there is only one in the arena, I won’t have to fight for it. I also gave slingshots a try, which wasn’t too bad, so I decided I’d keep that as a backup option if I’m unable to get a crossbow in the arena. But generally, a crossbow would probably be the weapon I’d pick. I felt like I was half good at it and maybe that sort of weapon could save my life. I ended the day by heading to knife training, which definitely seemed the most popular - at least half the tributes must’ve chosen it as their weapon and even if they didn’t, they were definitely considering it. I picked up a knife and tried throwing it but stupidly missed the target completely, which was really embarrassing, but I gave it a few more tries. My aim with the other weapons was decent but this was surprisingly really hard to get right. I was about to leave and give up when I noticed the girl next to me who was throwing knives so easily, with barely any effort. She seemed around a year older than me and I’m pretty sure she was from District Seven. Either Lea or Lexa, probably Lea. I tried another time, but again failed, before she said to me, “I can teach you if you want," which I generally wasn’t expecting. I’ll admit, I wasn’t planning on making allies at first, but then realized how dumb that would be since I doubt I’d survive a day without anyone else being there. She also generally seems really nice, so I gladly accept the offer since any help I can get with this knife throwing stuff would be good. She teaches me and although I’m nowhere near as good as she is, I’ve got the general idea of it. In a way, it felt as if we became friends. I'm not exactly that good at making friends at all and only have Lydia as a friend back home. But for some reason, Lea reminds me a lot of her. Friendships, when they come to me, don’t last long, so we’ll see where this goes, but something about that girl made me trust her. Me and her decide to spend the rest of training together after she teachers me knife throwing. We try some other stuff, like survival skills and fire making, rope tying, and much more and then I also help her with using a crossbow, teaching her to use it the way I did. Training goes by quickly and eventually, I feel that I’ve learned everything I need to in hopes of surviving these games.

Private session 

After three days of being able to try many different weapons, I decided I’ll show my abilities with a crossbow for the private training session. I’m partially worried that the moment I show them, I’ll fail and do it wrong, but I still give it a go. I stand in front of the target and start shooting before noticing the minimal effort I was putting in. I’d have to try to hit it as hard as possible for it to look like I’m actually trying, so I decide to imagine it as a person. I try to think of it as a person I’ll kill which works but again, doesn’t look like full effort. So then I think back in life and think, when did everything go wrong? Whose fault was it all? And then I remember my brother. How the minute I lost him, everything was ruined for me and how nothing was really the same again. I realize it was the Capitol's fault, specifically the gamemakers, the exact people in front of me, so I stare at the target and picture their faces. I then shoot continuously, right in the centre of the target, thinking about every stupid thing that’s happened. I think about how I lost a family member (and then shoot), I think about how they’re just going to watch me die in peace (and then shoot again), I think about how I finally got happy meeting Lydia, but then how they made me leave everything behind. How I finally felt happiness again but then I lost all that happiness easily. How I could’ve actually been happy in life but how I never was, and with that, I hit the target as hard as I possibly can, letting out all my anger on those stupid idiotic gamemakers who ruined everything. I let out every form of bad emotion and start attacking that target as if it’s a real person. I shoot and shoot over and over and almost forget it’s all a training centre. In my mind I’m cursing the gamemakers and cursing everyone who ruined everything. I forget where I am and think about every annoying and terrible thing. I think about how these people are finding me entertaining and take one final hit, splitting some of the arrows already in the target before they stop me saying that it’s enough, and I leave.