The radiant, golden glow streams through the windows, blessing me with its warmth.   

Time to get up now, I tell myself. For a second, buried amongst silk covers and the faint scent of lavender filling my nose, I think I'm back home and it was all a dream.

But then I sit up and see the deserted streets through the window. It looks like a ghost town or an abandoned city.  The sight gives me chills. 

I remember Iggy saying something about no one in the Capitol getting up before noon.  I check my clock. It's seven thirty.   

I yawn and stretch a little bit, joints cracking as I do. 

 I then walk into the humongous bathroom and take a nice shower. That is, after I find the right buttons. For 10 minutes robot hands came out and scrubbed my skin with a gritty exfoliant, then sprayed me with freezing water.

Today is our first day of Training.  I'll really get to know Beatrix and Marshall, meet District 4 and find a few allies (or people to put on our Watch List).  I think I'll go around talking to some of the Districts and making my own secret observations.

I step out of the shower and pick out  athletic shorts and a violet shirt.  I tie my hair into a high ponytail and enter the dining room.

I'm not surprised to see Jasper, Gloss and Ruby already helping themselves to food. 

 I grab a plate and load it with rice porridge with chicken. I take a small, iced tureen of fruit as well. I decide to finish off with a cup of hot chocolate and a sweet roll for dipping.   

"How was your beauty rest?" Gloss jokes over a plate of eggs and bacon. 

"Good," I say in between bites of rice porridge. "So, what's the plan?" 

Everyone stares at me. A small piece of toast even falls out of Ruby's mouth. 

"It's the Games. We need to decide how to play this in Training, what kind of image we portray," I explain.  I'm not overthinking this! The Games start way before we enter the arena. 

"Jasper, what are you good at?" Gloss asks him. 

 "I'm good with crossbows and spears. I can run pretty fast." 

"Cashmere?" Ruby asks. 

"I focus on throwing knives and knife-combat and I'm agile. I'm good at acting." 

"Acting?" Jasper raises his eyebrows, trying to intimidate me. "And how will that come in useful in the arena?"

I take a breath. "Well, we have the interviews to get through, don't get ahead of yourself.  I can talk to some other tributes to see who to look out for. I can pretend to be allies with the strong ones and stab them in the back," I say. "Literally." 

Ruby nods approvingly. 

Jasper purses his lips: in a way, this was a small competition and I beat him. We've been at "Who can be the best at everything" for almost 6 years.

"I think you guys should meet up with 2 and 4. Jasper, do the weapons and show everyone you're lethal.  Cashmere, apart from doing that, I want you to keep a close eye on the other tributes," Gloss instructs. 

"And don't try out survival. It's stupid, you won't need it." Ruby waves her hand dismissively. 

Sounds like a plan. 

******* 

Jasper and I make our way down to the Training Center. The room has a high ceiling and is windowless. On a balcony, the Gamemakers perch, eagerly watching us. One winks at me. Gross.  

Around the room are oh-so-many weapons to try out, dummies and punching bags and more. I can't resist. My gaze settles on perfect silver knives. Just wait till I get my hands on those. 

" Tributes. You will have three days in the Training Center. The first two days will be for preparation. The last day will be individual testing in front of the Gamemakers. You may want to go pick up a sword-" 

"Heck yeah I would!" Marshall bursts out. 

 "But don't forget survival."The woman, Delilah, finishes.  

I won't need survival skills when I have 20 knives ready to go! 

Then I think back to the 57th games, where five of the six careers were taken out by an earthquake. You know, maybe survival will come in useful.  It won't hurt if I try out a few stations, right?

"You will  have a twenty minute break for lunch. Go!" 

A hand wraps around my wrist and drags me over to the weapons station.  "Come on! No time to waste!" It's Beatrix. 

I try to wrestle my wrist out of her grip to no avail. 

She frowns down at my wrist. "So skinny." 

"Guys," I start but no one listens, already picking up swords and walking off "Guys!" 

"Yes?" A petite girl with chocolate brown eyes, pale skin and shoulder-length black hair looks up at me.  

At least someone's listening. "I have a plan. I'm Cashmere, by the way." 

"I'm Sakura." the District 4 girl smiles. 

"I'm going to do survival, run into a few tributes and see who to add to our group or who to take out," I tell her. "What are you good at?" 

"I'm really good with nets and fishing hooks, and I can swim pretty fast," Sakura says. "I use darts." And with that, she runs off to join the others, pretty much forgetting what I told her.

I scan the room. A boy with wheat blond hair works alone at starting fires. I casually stroll over to him and the instructor. 

"Hi! I'm Cashmere. Do you think you could teach me how to make a fire?" I ask the instructor, whose name tag says Sage. 

His green eyes widen and his jaw drops. He only manages a weak nod and gestures to some sticks and stones. 

The boy working on a fire shies away from me, lowering his gaze to the floor. 

I can tell he's staring at me. I deliberately brush my curls out of my face, letting them catch the light. 

"Y-you're a Career. Why are you...." He trails off. 

"Doing survival? After the 57th Careers were killed by an earthquake, I decided I'd rather not meet the same fate," I explain and smile warmly at him. 

"Wow! That's impressive. I guess not all of you are cocky," he marvels. 

"Thank you. What's your name?" I ask him. 

"Uh..Barley," he answers, a red flush spreading across his cheeks. 

"District 9," I mutter, grinding my teeth. I'm having trouble starting this fire, but a second later, a spark starts in Barley's. 

"Do you think you could help me?" 

Barley, who seems happy by the attention he's getting from me nods too eagerly. "Yes, yes! I mean...sure." 

He teaches me, and we start chatting. Simply chatting about hobbies and life back home. From this conversation, I learn that he has an older brother and works in the fields harvesting grain. 

 I  infer that he can use a scythe, is in good physical condition but is used to starvation. A potential threat.

I go off onto a few other survival stations: hooks, hammocks and healing. 

At healing, I find myself next to the girl from District 11, whose name is Rose, I think. She's tall and lanky, with beautiful skin the color of rich chocolate. 

"I thought you were a Career." Rose's brow furrows.   

"I am," I state casually, trying to cure fake burns. 

"But..."

"I want to learn as many new skills as I can before the games. I already know how to use weapons," I reason, but bite my lip as the buzzer signals my time to cure the burns are up, and the dummy is dead. 

"That's smart," Rose nods, and we work in silence for the rest of the time. 

The lunch bell rings. I jump up, suddenly aware of my hunger. 

Once again, I'm pulled over by Beatrix (and Marshall this time), who each go on either side of me. 

"What the heck are you doing?" Beatrix exclaims. I think that was the first time I've heard her say a full sentence.  

I forgot to tell her the plan. But I can't tell her it now, or it will be obvious what I'm doing. Also, it's best if everyone's reactions are sincere.

Half the room turns around. 

"You're a Career!" She bangs her fist on the table. "You're making us look weak!" 

"But we might need survival skills," I argue. After trying out some of the stations, I realize how many potential threats could come up in the games. 

"We might need survival skills," Beatrix mocks. "Are you just really, really bad at weapons and don't want to admit it?" 

"I can throw knives." I lift my chin. 

She exhales. "But seriously, what the heck is wrong with you?" 

" You come from a family of victors, and you still actually try out this survival shit!" Marshall snorts."You know what? You're not a Career. You don't belong with us."

" Leave!" Beatrix shrieks, back to one-word sentences. Even little Sakura doesn't come to my aid, probably frightened to death of Beatrix.

"When you burn to death in a volcano eruption, your corpse can talk to me about "survival shit" for as long as it likes," I reply coolly, then turn and strut off.  

This plan is going perfectly. 

The entire room is silent. I pile some food onto my plate, ignoring all the comments.  Barley beckons me over. "Cashmere, over here!" 

"Thanks." I nod respectfully and sit down across from him.  I sigh and lift a steaming forkful of chicken to my lips.  

I spot Rose holding a tray, who stands awkwardly in a corner, not sure where to sit. I wave to her, patting the seat next to me. 

She glances at me skeptically, but scoots over. "Hey." 

"So...I'm sorry about what happened with them," Barley sympathizes. 

"It's all right, thanks," I see Beatrix glaring at me from across the room.  

"Why are you sitting with us?" Rose raises an eyebrow. 

"I just got ditched by my original team, but I know you need allies in the games. You guys seemed nice, I guess," I answer, chewing flavorful vegetables to buy myself time. 

"How can we trust you?" Rose presses.

"How can I trust you?" I ask back.  

"You can't," we both say at the same time, then laugh a little. 

Beatrix's scowl darkens the entire room, a glowering beacon of anger. 

"Well, I got ditched by my team and you guys don't have one, so allies?" I extend my hand. 

"Allies," Barley jumps in. 

There's this momentary pause which feels like an eternity. "Allies," Rose agrees. 

**** 

I decide to do tree climbing next. 

"Hi!" I greet my instructor Auggie. "I'm ready."

He nods. "Go!" 

I grunt and try to pull myself up, realizing it's a lot harder than it looks. My feet slip awkwardly, kicking wildly. 

"There's a foothold near your left knee. Try to put your left foot there," Auggie calls out. 

I reach for it, pulling myself up with a burst of energy.  I spot the perfect branch to hold onto, but it snaps and I crash onto the mat, stars exploding before my eyes.  

"Nice try," Auggie congratulates me. 

But trying isn't enough. I will climb this tree. 

For the next 30 minutes, I practice the art of tree-scaling, as I like to call it. It's trial and error, but I've made this my new project. 

I'm climbing up one of the taller trees when another girl comes skyrocketing up, grabbing at my ankle.  I catch her in the head and she shrieks, but continues climbing.  She grabs a hand around my waist and pulls so hard. 

"Get off me, or you'll regret it," I hiss. 

She simply laughs and wraps her hand around me tighter, causing me to gasp for air.  From this angle, she looks much older than 18, with mature feminine curves, light brown hair and hazel eyes. 

I push off the tree and we both go crashing to the ground. 

"I know what you're trying to do.  I know you think you're better than the rest of us, cooped up in your jeweled palaces and wearing your pretty-girl dresses.  But that ends now. I'm tired of Capitol lapdog girls like you.  And a cold, heartless sadist of a girl doesn't deserve a crown." She has me pinned under her.  

You know, if I wasn't being attacked, I'd applaud her on her impressive speech.

Anger flares inside of me. I don't like what President Snow does! I'm not just a Capitol lapdog. And who does she think she is, insulting me like this?

I kick her off and we end up wrestling. She lunges at me but I shoulder-roll and slap her across the face.  She curses and throws a punch at me while grabbing my ponytail. My neck snaps back sharply and I gasp. I deliver a roundhouse kick to her abdomen and she doubles over.

 She nearly gains control of me a few times, but I end up on top. She thrashes against me, but I just smile sweetly at her, wrap my hands around her ugly little neck and squeeze.  She's choking and begging and whimpering but I just continue holding on. 

This is training after all.  Practice for the real games. And I have no mercy. 

Strong hands grab me by my arms, hoisting me off the girl.  I thrash to my right, elbowing one of the boys in the jaw. "Get your hands off of me!"

But another set of hands grips me forcefully this time, definitely leaving bruises.   I struggle for a bit longer before the two men hold my hands behind my back and put their hands on my shoulders, stifling my chance of escape. 

Everyone is yelling things at me all at once, noises blurring into one painful siren I must block out. Rose is horrified and Barley has this look in his eyes I can't quite place: fear? Realization? Both?  

Beatrix actually gives me this admiring, sickening grin like "I knew you'd submit to your Career instincts. Good, good."

I'm dragged out of the room by the men, and as I manage one more look over my shoulder, I realize one thing: 

I've screwed up my entire plan.

Hope you liked it! What do you think of Cashmere's plan? And the fight at the end?