“Yes, I thought we could do that” I uttered lowly. I was not sure how comfortable I was talking about my strategy, but I felt I was obligated. Arya looked at me like I was supposed to elaborate, but I really had nothing else to say. Yeah, another awkward moment.
“Anyway,” said Tiberius, “What are you good at? Kind of need to know if I am going to control your sponsors”
“I can throw knives, hand-to-hand combat, and sword fighting really well. And I am also pretty good at using axes and survival skills” eagerly stated Arya. Weapons were definitely Arya’s specialty. I had seen her throw knives and it was a pretty incredible sight. She could kill a mouse as it scampered across the rock quarry.
“And you Arash” asked Tiberius. He had a threatening look on almost like he was wondering if I had any skills.
“I am really good when it comes to strength, hand to hand combat, and wrestling. I can learn to use I think pretty quickly.”
“Do you know how to use any weapons?”
“I’ve used swords, axes, and blunt objects”
“Mmm okay” I could tell that Tiberius was unimpressed by the fact that I couldn’t work any weapons…yet.
Arya could tell that Arash was being cautious, and she understood. But this was their mentor, so Arya needed to trust him, whether or not she felt like doing so. If anything, Tiberius is going to help one of them win. He wasn’t much of a talker, but she could tell by the look on his face that he was feeling just as awkward as she was. If we were going to be in an alliance, though, she would have to put aside these feelings and get along. Trust him, to say the least, for a little while. Until she had to slit his throat.
Her thoughts drifted to Leto. By now she should’ve returned to District five, to keep the reapings under control. Not that five expected much, really. The reapings in Five weren’t as much of a celebration as they were in two, and the people there weren’t really the type to cause riots. She felt a tiny tinge of emotion for her sister, a small longing, but she brushed it off. Remember, she means nothing to you now, she said to herself.
She was jolted back into reality when she caught sight of the Capitol. She couldn’t help but gasp at the sight. It was huge, full of gleaming buildings and pristine waters. The train tracks twisted and turned around the marvelous city.
“We’re here,” she breathed, taking it all in. “How long until we reach our stop?”
“In about fifteen minutes, dear,” cooed Sharee, who was busy adjusting her enormous eyelashes.
My heart jumped inside my chest. In fifteen minutes I would be in the capitol about to participate in the thing I was made to do. The glimmering, flashy skyscrapers of the Capitol flashed the sun into my eyes, blinding me. It was an incredible view. Adrenalin and blood pumped through my veins and I could feel my legs and arms twitching in extreme excitement. I was ready. I was ready to train, to wow, to woo, to shock, and mostly importantly, ready to win.
Sharee was running around frantically, prepping herself, and fixing up Arya and myself with light make-up
"You never can look to perfect," trilled Sharee as she fluffed her fake orange curls. She was probably more never than Arya and Arash combined, since her large and over-dramatic finger nails were nervously tapping the wooden table. The train was slowing. The amount of waving hands and excited people was insane. Thousands of people congested the station
"Ready?" asked Arya. I nodded. Because I was as ready as I could be.
