𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙏𝙒𝙀𝙇𝙑𝙀
—𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘮𝘦—

𝙈𝙊𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙎 𝙇𝘼𝙏𝙀𝙍, 𝘼𝙎𝙋𝙀𝙉 makes an appearance, followed by an angry Glimmer, and an amused Marvel. Cato follows not long after, dressed in his outfit. And must I say, he is rocking it.

Glimmer's eyes roam his body, before a smirk appears on her lips. I ache for the chance to slap her face, but hold back the urge. I cautiously eye Aspen as he walks through the doors, and Cato turns to catch his gaze.

Aspen narrows his eyes as Cato scowls. But, nonetheless, he steps forward, and walks back to me, before sitting down in his seat. Cato shoots me a look, and a wink, before he sits in his seat, slinging his arm over the one next to him- an empty spot meant for Clove.

I don't dare speak to Aspen, my anger for him still flared, but simmering as most of it is focused on Glimmer. She sits down hesitantly, looking over to Marvel, who doesn't seem to care about her eyes on him. Even coming from a stranger, it's easy to call her annoyance towards him.

It doesn't take long for the rest of the tributes to gather inside, including Clove and the tributes from District twelve. I shoot Peeta a grin, before tapping River's back— whom is surprisingly sitting directly in front of me. He leans back, resulting in me resting my chin on his shoulder.

"How's it going with Finnick and his supposed 'plans' for the interview?" I ask lowly, hoping not to attract unwanted attention from Aspen.

"Honestly, I can't say that I know," He shrugs, before laying his head on mine. "He can be annoying at times, with asking so many questions. You'd think I was being interrogated by a peacekeeper."

"That bad?" I raise an eyebrow with a chuckle. "I'm happy- but shocked- to say that Johanna has left me alone for the past little bit."

"She's probably coming up with a genius plan to get you out of the arena," River replies, sparing a glance at me. "I'd hope that's what she's doing."

"A bit of privacy is exactly what I need," I groan, closing my eyes. "I haven't gotten much sleep in a while, but it seems like I slept better last night because she wasn't breathing down my neck."

"Maybe because your bed was different," Aspen entered the conversation, leaning forward. "I mean, didn't it have someone other than you in it?"

"I wasn't talking to you," I glower, lifting my head from River's shoulder. "I think you should keep your nose in your own business, instead of having it in mine."

"What?" River sits up, staring at me uneasily. "Casey, what did he mean?"

"Nothing," I roll my eyes. "He's just trying to annoy me."

"Or trying to tell the truth," He challenges, his voice growing louder.

"Shut. Up." I hiss. "It's not your business."

"Oh, but I believe it should be River's," He smirks, looking to my ally with determination. "I think you should know about who I found your ally with last night."

"Casey?" River questions, his eyebrows furrowed. "What-?"

"District one, Glimmer." An audio box announces from the corner of the room. I stare at it, happy that it cut off River.

Glimmer stands with a bright look, confidence basically sweltering the room from her radiation. I set my jaw, watching as she enters the room in front of us- the sessions room- to show the gamemakers her 'potential.'

Slouching back into my seat, I bite my lip and clench my hands into fists. Glaring at Aspen, I cross my arms over my chest. Cato turns around in his seat, looking between the two of us.

I send him a weak smile, of which his eyes snap to Aspen, then darken in anger. I choose to ignore the two of them, including the smirk that lingers on Aspen's lips as he stares at me.

"Oh, how I look forward to when River finds out," He mutters, low enough that only I can hear him.

So, for the next half hour, I sit quietly, listening in on some of the other conversations between the tributes.

"Why wait?" I hear the girl from District eight say from beside me. "Obviously Cato has an eye on her. She could be tons of help for us."

"That's not such a good idea," The boy replies, shaking his head. "He would kill us in a instant, don't you think? Especially if he figures out what we're trying to do."

I raise an eyebrow to myself, wondering if they were talking about Clove. And why would that even be a thought? Of course she would turn down an alliance with them- if an alliance is what they want.

"Just do it!" She hisses in a whisper, her brown eyes brightening with the slightest tinge of authority.

"Okay, okay," He sighs, before looking over at me.

I pretend I don't notice his stare as I lean forward to River, placing my arms around his neck, and resting my chin on his shoulder again.

He chuckles, shaking his head as I meet Cato's glance. He looks to River, then back to me, his eyes slightly narrowed. I smile in assurance, before sending a wink in his direction.

He mouths something, of which is interrupted by a tap on my back. I furrow my eyebrows, before turning to the boy from eight.

"Yes?" I ask, the corner of my lips turning upwards into a smile.

Wow. I've been smiling a lot lately.

"Uh- I, I mean we," He pauses, nodding to his partner. "We're wondering if you'd like an alliance."

My eyes widen slightly, and I shift in my spot. "Well, I-"

"Please," He pleads, his eyes filled with sincerity. "So far, we don't have any allies. We want to have a chance to go home."

I frown.

"I'll talk about it with my allies, okay?"

They nod in unison, before talking in hushed whispers. I turn back to Aspen, running my fingers through his hair.

"What did they want?" He questions, his eyes closed as he yawns.

"An alliance," I huff. "They're trying to play me."

"Don't listen to them, Case. They aren't worth it."

___♕___

In the span of an hour and a half, I have waited for my turn to enter the sessions room. And still, my name hasn't been called. After Clove came out, looking quite pleased with herself, I payed no attention to any of the other tributes— with the exception of Cato and River.

Cato sent me a wink as he left, before mouthing the word 'roof' to me. I nodded in response, and focused on the conversations around me after that. River gave me u thumbs up, of which I returned. And now, I await my name to be called.

"District seven, Casey," The audio box announces, catching my attention. I stand as the boy from District six exits, then step towards the opening door.

"Casey!" A familiar voice says from the back.

I glance over my shoulder at Peeta, my hand hesitating over the knob.

"Good luck," He grins, nodding once.

I open the door, stepping inside of the almost empty room. The lighting is dark, and few stations are spread out across the matted floors.

"You have fifteen minutes," Head gamemaker Ceneca Crane says from a balcony, taking a seat on a furnished chair.

I walk forward, my eyes skimming over the weapons that rest near the center of the room. In the far corner stand dummies, of which have targets placed at their chest. My eyes land on an axe- one that is mid-sized, and looks perfect for me.

I find myself moving towards it without thinking, and taking it from the rack. I weigh it down in my palm, before tossing it into the other hand.

I take a moment to scan the gamemakers on the balcony, noticing their heavy stares. I shrug them off, before shuffling to the knives. I strap a knife belt around my waist, securing it with a strap, and place nine knives in it.

I don't waste any more time on weaponry, as I make my way towards the dummies. The axe feels familiar and light in my hand, sending me back to the days in District seven, watching as my brother and father would cut down trees for the market business.

I twirl the axe in my hand as if it weighed nothing, before focusing on the chest of the center dummy. I shift my weight, before closing my eyes, and letting out a sharp breath.

With the flick of my wrist, the axe shoots forward, lodging right into the center of the target. I don't bother watching the reactions or reacting, as I pull two knives from my belt, tossing one into the chest of another dummy, and the other into the forehead.

I repeat my actions two times, before gripping the last three knives in my hands. Pulling the strap of my belt off, I secure it tightly over my eyes, without thinking.

Oh, goodness, what have I gotten myself into?

A blindfold? What was I thinking?

I carefully balance my hand in the darkness of what I can see, before sending the knife flying. I hear the hit of a target, and let out a breath of relief.

At least I hit the target.

I do it again, throwing harder this time. And then again, before peeling off the blindfold with hope building in my chest. As the light reaches my eyes, and I glance at the dummies I intended to hit, I gasp, and look at the gamemakers.

All of their eyes are wide, and stunned.

Ceneca smirks lightly, before nodding at me.

"Thank you, Ms. Jackson. That will be all."

I move towards the doors quickly, immediately wanting to tell Johanna.

But before I exit the doors, I can't help but look back at the three dummies- all of which have a knife through the center of the target.

_______