Chapter Four: The Training Centre

A little later on, when Lucy and Marvel were both dressed in something to suit both their tastes, after dinner the two of them stood out on the balcony that wasn't even half the size of the one District 12 had. They sat there and enjoyed the view of the vast Capitol. 

"Shame we don't live here, isn't it?" Lucy murmured. "Although saying that I could live here, just look at my mother! She classes as a Capitol citizen, right?" 

"I guess so," Marvel nodded then the two looked at each other and burst out laughing. 

"Perhaps my mother did live here, perhaps she came to District 1 in hopes she'd find a wealthy man to suit her tastes...but then again, aren't there enough wealthy people in the Capitol?" 

"There's plenty of wealthy people in the Capitol, it's not like they have to make their own food, make their own furniture, get their own electricity, sacrifice their children for The Hunger Games...they live a carefree life." 

"I think my parents had an affair." Lucy blurted out suddenly. 

"What?" Marvel asked, his eyes wide. 

"I think my parents met at a pub when they were very drunk, they don't seem to love each other and I think the only reason they stay together is because of me...or maybe it's because mum likes dad's money, she needs her make-up after all." 

Marvel stared at her worriedly, he was a little lost for words. What could he say to this? 

"I don't think you were a mistake," he said. "You're my best friend and where would I be without my best friend?" 

"Um...in The Hunger Games?" Lucy laughed and Marvel laughed with her, just realising what he'd said. 

"I guess you're right about that one..." 

"Maybe you'd even have the Victors title!" 

"But there's no way I'm going to get it now..." 

"Why not?" 

"Because...." Marvel began. "Do you know why I entered The Hunger Games this year?" 

"Not really, it terrified me that you tried to volunteer...when you knew you couldn't, for me that is." 

"I did it in a moment of madness, Glimmer stood there and did nothing. She promised she would volunteer but she didn't. So that's why I came into The Hunger Games with you. To protect you. I'll do anything in my power to get you out of these games." 

"But — " 

"It doesn't matter about me, I'll have my chance to fight and then when I die...I'll be with my mother." Lucy looked at Marvel who gave her a forced smile before turning back to look at the view of the Capitol. 

When Marvel was very young he had lost his mother, and although his family was rich they still struggled with her gone, especially Marvel as he had been very close to his mother and as he knew Lucy wasn't the strongest of people it made him more protective towards her.

So now he was in a win, win situation. Of course it was, to him. But to her it meant losing her best friend and how could she live with herself without Marvel being there? 

No, that was selfish. Marvel hadn't known his mother for long and if there's one thing he wanted more than winning the games, that was to be with his mother. 

"Why did you kiss me in the tribute parade?" Lucy blurted out suddenly and once again Marvel turned to her. 

"Trying to get you sponsors, if people think that we really are good friends they'll give us sponsors to help us win...then it will all work out, right? I'll get you to as far as winning as I can then I'll die and you can win, or take down whoever's left." 

"For my sake, I hope it's not that District 2 boy!" Lucy laughed.

"For your sake, lets hope," Marvel agreed 

And with that, the two went to their rooms and decided to get themselves as much sleep as they could manage, for tomorrow was the day of training. 

*      *      * 

Lucy awoke the next morning to find the sun shining through the unbreakable Perspex window (she’d already tried breaking it to get to her freedom last night, but of course she realised at last she would be forever unsuccessful at breaking free from the Capitol while she had been chosen for The Hunger Games, she couldn’t even break free from a window so she could in no way escape the games.) As well as the sound of laughter downstairs and it was mainly Marvel’s laughter. 

 At first she couldn’t figure out as to why Marvel was in such a good mood, but then she realised it. And it wasn’t something that made her feel she should jump out of bed and get dressed into today’s special outfit.

Today was the day of training in the training centre. 

 Of course she knew what today was all about but she’d kept it all from her notice so she could get to sleep and smile during the tribute parade (even though she couldn’t get over the humiliation of wearing the fluffy pink headdress which Marcel claimed represented District 1’s Luxury but she begged to differ.) 

 She weakly got out of bed and tried to ignore the sick feeling in her stomach and her brain telling her to stay in bed and ignore today’s events. She slipped on something simple and ignored the black lycra training centre outfit, that had red stripes down either side of the short sleeves and trousers as well as the number one at either side of the arms, Marcel had obviously hung on the front of her wardrobe full of personalised clothing that had been brought up here after the tribute parade. If she was honest, she really didn’t need to know about today’s humiliation. 

 She exited her room and walked towards the dining area whilst running a brush through her hair and found Kathleen in a fit of hysteric giggles. She rolled her eyes at her District escort.

"Ah, Lucy, so glad you could join us!" Gloss commented as he took another gulp of his morning coffee. 

 "You really aren’t an early riser, are you?" Kathleen sighed and threw down the compact mirror she had been admiring herself in moments ago.

"Not on days like this..." Lucy muttered and took a seat opposite Marvel. "Especially on humiliation day. Humiliation for the first District 1 tribute in history who won’t be a career."

 “You will be a career tribute and you do know that I won’t abandon you in the arena, right?” Marvel said as he ate another bite of toast. Lucy looked him up and down and saw he was already wearing his training centre outfit.

"Marvel, this isn’t a fancy dress party," she shook her head in disgust.

"You’ve got to be in good spirits for today, it’s time to show the weaklings what you’re made of, you won’t have to be considered weak anymore!"

"Actually I was going to continue to be weak until it’s my turn to show the Gamemaker’s what I’m made of, get a good training score and there you have it."

"But you said you didn’t want to kill anyone in the arena."

Lucy bit her lip. "I won’t."

 "Then how are you going to win?" Gloss asked.

"Perhaps winning isn't everything, perhaps we’ll all be better off with me dead," Lucy said darkly and grabbed herself a piece of toast and ate it as quickly as she could. Everyone else stared at her in disbelief at the girl who thought she was better off dead. 

 “See you later,” Lucy said to Marvel and nodded at Gloss and Kathleen who stared open mouthed at her as she left the room quickly without another word.

"She needs to sort out her attitude!” Kathleen sighed and began applying some more make up.

*      *      *

A little later on, Gloss and Marvel stood outside Lucy’s room, feeling a little frustrated because Lucy hadn’t emerged from her room since breakfast and Marvel knew for a fact that she wasn’t going to come out any time soon.

"Come on, Lucy, the sooner it’s over, the sooner you can come back here! You've only got two days of it to get through! Then you can show the Gamemakers what you're made of!" Gloss said but Lucy didn’t reply. "It’s not half bad down in the training centre, you’ve got all the weapons you could ever ask for!"

"Really, Gloss?” Marvel asked. "We’re trying to get her out of there, not make her hide under the bed or jump out the window."

"Do you want to be the last one’s down there? Do you want to get training or not?"

"I do but I’m not going without Lucy." Marvel glared at Gloss and the two continued to have their argument while Lucy sat on her bed, finally wearing her training clothes, which were surprisingly comfortable. She listened to Gloss and Marvel’s argument and tried desperately to zone out but she couldn’t take it anymore. 

"If you two kept quiet I might actually come out," she hissed and there was silence. "I can’t hear myself think with you two arguing!"

"You can think down in the training centre!" Gloss protested but Marvel glared at him.

"Not when I’m being made fun of..."

"Come on," Marvel whispered, he put his hand on the closed door. "For me, please." Lucy got up and placed her hand on where Marvel’s was, although she couldn’t see it.

"Don’t laugh at me if I get hurt."

"I never laugh at you. I didn’t laugh on reaping day, like you asked me not to, and I’m not going to laugh now."

"Fine..."

They both removed their hands from the door and Lucy swung it open, the two were quite pleased to finally see her in her training gear but she wasn’t in the slightest.

"You better tie your hair up unless you want it cut off by a sword or something," Gloss said and Kathleen came running towards them.

"Marcel’s busy at the moment, so I shall help." Kathleen grinned and was about to brush Lucy’s hair when Lucy pulled away. 

"Not in this life time, crazy Capitol lady," Lucy hissed.

"If you’re not careful young lady, I’ll cut it all off."

Lucy hissed then allowed Kathleen to plait her hair into two before heading to the elevator and going down to the training centre. 

When they arrived, they were surprised to find that they were the first one’s there but they were even more surprised at all the weapons there was to offer.

"Woah...” Lucy gasped a little dumbstruck as they got off the elevator and into the training centre. She just wanted to run over to the weapons and test them all out.

"Hold your horses, girl, you’ve got to wait for everyone else," Gloss chuckled and ruffled her hair. "Well both of you behave and contain yourselves until Atala and all the other tributes are here, OK? I’ll see you later." Gloss stepped back on the elevator and punched the button for District 1’s floor, leaving Lucy and Marvel to wonder whom on earth Atala was and look at the weapons. 

"I guess you died and went to heaven," Lucy giggled as Marvel gawped at one of the training centre’s spears.

"You could say that," Marvel replied, a little lost for words.

"You’ve always wanted to do this since you were twelve, right?"

"I guess so but I contained myself. Just for my best friend," he smiled at her and she smiled back even though she wished she was back home in District 1 where her and Marvel could enjoy each other’s company in a more safe and secure environment. 

"Hey, Lucy — " Marvel began after a few minuets of silence but was interrupted by Cato and Clove from District 2 getting out of the elevator while Enobaria waved them goodbye.

"Well if it isn’t stranger and strangest from District 1?" Cato laughed at the two.

"The boy’s not bad, Cato, don'r be mean...spear thrower I presume?" Clove said as the duo walked towards Lucy and Marvel.

"You’re right but what about the one who actually belongs to District 12?"

"She’s not a Career tribute and won’t be part of our alliance."

"I’m sorry," Marvel interrupted. "But if you want me, she’s part of the deal."

Cato and Clove looked at each other and then at Lucy. There was silence for a few moments before the District 2 tributes roared with laughter.

"We’d rather keep the alliance to just us two!" Cato snorted when he had regained the power of speech.

"I think we’d do a lot better on our own," Clove added. "Unless we had just you, Marvel."

"So what do you say, spear boy?"

Marvel froze.

"You’d have a much better chance at winning." Cato whispered. "And we both know that's what you want."

Marvel looked around and saw that everyone else had turned up and was staring at them intensely. If he denied this offer everyone would think he was mental but he’d still have Lucy. But if he accepted he would have a chance of winning, it was something he’d always wanted to do. Yet, in the games he’d have to watch Lucy suffer and die. 

Marvel stared at Cato and shook his head. "I’m sorry, I’m not sacrificing my best friend just for an alliance."

Cato and Clove shook their heads as Marvel led Lucy over to the middle of the training centre, pushing past everyone, and waited for Atala whom had just arrived to begin her speech before they all got training. 

"YOU’VE MADE A BIG MISTAKE, DISTRICT 1!" Cato yelled and everyone gathered around Atala.

"Welcome to the training centre, tributes, my name is Atala the head trainer and I am here to introduce all the different stations that we have to offer here in the training centre. And let me tell you now; it’s not all about the fighting in The Hunger Games, you need survival skills too. Things like snares can give you a great advantage for food so don’t miss any of the stations, alright?” Atala began and Lucy listened carefully while Marvel stared longingly at the spears.

"Now, I don’t want any fighting between you and the other tributes here, there’s plenty of time for that in the arena. Any questions?"

Lucy gingerly raised her hand.

"Yes, District 1?" Atala asked.

"Will we get hurt during this?"

Cato roared with laughter and slapped Lucy on the back and she looked down in shame. 

"Not if you’re careful but if you aren’t the consequences will be fatal and — District 2, please calm down otherwise I’ll make sure you won’t participate in these activities."

And with that they were dismissed to go and look around the training centre, Marvel ran straight to the spears, Cato grabbed a sword and Clove got the throwing knives.

Everyone else busied themselves with the available activities while Lucy stood there like a lost sheep. She glanced at all the different stations: archery, axes, camouflage, edible insects, edible plants, fire making, fishing, hammock making, hand-to-hand combat, knives, knots, shelters, slingshots, spears, swords, tridents, the gauntlet, a ropes course, weightlifting and wrestling. There was so much to choose from. 

She looked around and saw that the knots station was pretty empty apart from the two District 12 tributes and she was far too shy to approach anyone apart from Marvel but he seemed pretty occupied with spear throwing. So she took the opportunity to test out the ropes course.

She climbed a small ladder, which took her to the ceiling and onto the ropes course; she grabbed onto the net gingerly and made her way across. She did pretty well until she lost her strength and fell off, hitting the hard surface below. 

"Ow..." Lucy groaned, the impact taking her more than anything. She sat up and clutched her forehead. She closed her eyes for a second and then re-opened them to find the girl from District 3 looking at her. 

"Alright?" She whispered.

"Yeah, I'm OK," she muttered, as she got up and brushed herself off. 

"Rookie," she held out a hand and Lucy shook it before speaking again. 

"Lucy, Lucy Dime." 

"Fancy...bit of a bland first name coming from District 1 though." 

"Lace is my real name, Lucy is the name I prefer." 

"Ah..." 

"Yeah, not the best name to have." 

"So what were you planning on doing next?" 

"What?" 

Rookie gestured around at all the different stations and Lucy scratched her head. There was so much to choose from and even though she wanted to complete all the courses, she only had two days...

"Oh...I won't be trying the weapons today, goodness no...I think I'll try something that involves survival or perhaps strength — but not the ropes course." 

"Why don't you try the gauntlets?" She winked then walked towards the camouflage course without looking back. 

"Maybe..." Lucy agreed.

Lucy noticed that Cato, Clove and Marvel were starting to get bored of their fighting implements and were watching the weaker Districts (as well as Lucy) test out the training centre. 

Lucy, who really wasn’t feeling brave at all, struck up the courage to test out the gauntlets, taking Rookie's advice. She stepped towards them then saw the Capitol assistants either side waiting to catch her and make her fall off. She looked over to the careers and saw they were now all watching her and she couldn’t back down now.

"Hey look! Your girlfriend’s trying out the gauntlets! This could be interesting!” Cato teased and Marvel looked at Lucy. 

He gave her a look as if to say ‘get away from there’ but Lucy looked over her shoulder and saw Rookie giving her a thumbs up. So she took the plunge.

She dodged the people trying to catch her out on the first run up and feeling a little successful she ran to the next side and tried again. Successful again and feeling a little more confident she did it again.

But this time she wasn’t as successful. She was just about to run to the third raised platform when she tripped on one of the baton’s one of the Capitol assistant had tried to catch her out with and she tripped over, slamming into the next platform and cutting her lip. 

"Not so smug are we now, District 1!" Cato roared with laughter as Lucy tried desperately to fight back the tears. Marvel couldn’t take it anymore either; it was hurting him so much to see his best friend in pain. So he ran over to her, without hesitation, and helped her up while everyone else stared at them.

"You OK?" He asked.

"I guess," she mumbled, trying not to move her lip too much. "It’s painful."

"I’m not surprised..."

Marvel reached out and wiped away some of the blood with his finger and Lucy winced. She really wished she hadn’t of tried out the gauntlets, all she wanted to do was make a good impression but instead she’d made a fool of herself.

Which is exactly what she had tried to prevent.                               

Day one of training for Lucy had been a failure.