PRIVATE TRAINING SESSION -- LIA HAVELOCK DISTRICT FOUR
The dusty pages of a long forgotten tome had painted the floor of her grandparent’s library when she was a child. Lia could still hear their voices as they told her to look past the forgotten words and instead focus on the future. She was a child and as such, she should be outside frolicking with her siblings and basking in the warmth of the sun and sand. What good were forgotten words anyhow? It was not like Panem was a place that acknowledged the past and that was why the history book would keep repeating itself.
And yet, here she was standing in front of the men that would have a resounding hand in her future. They were not sitting on a pearly throne cloaked in the cloth of forgiveness and grace, but drinking revenge out of a cold chalice. Panem’s elite meant to pass judgement on the District’s children with very little chance at redemption and entrance into the garden they had been long denied and banished from.
Instead, Charon’s song rang in all of their ears calling from the sandy shores where Archeron and Styx meet. Soon they would all be paying the Ferryman that silver coin in their pocket.
With the resolve of the Titans, locked away and resolved to seek retribution from the Father that had locked them away, Lia walked into the training room with an absolution of determination. If she stopped to think otherwise the tide of fear and apprehension would wash over her and drag her back to where she could still hear the song of the Ferryman.
The Gods of Panem had banished District Four to the lowest rung of the ladder, but that day had come and passed. Now was the time for the uprising that would restore some dignity to the proud citizens of her District, but more important her family. Lia knew her brother’s thoughts on the train and the people that wondered if her heart was in it or not.
Now was the time for harnessing all the Hellfire she could muster, which is what she reminded herself as she politely bowed to the Gamemakers. Her name had been read out of the book and the time for Judgement was now...
With that, Lia sauntered over to the plant station taking a moment to run her hands over the smooth stone of the bench as she looked for her desired objects. A mortar and pestle, a vial, and a concoction of herbs known to any child who has competed in a District Four science fair. Her potion brewed, there was only a few things to walk around the room and check before she started.
She could do it she reminded herself. Even the Gods on Olympus could be unseated.
“Lia Havelock, District Four,” she called out serenely to the agents of her Judgement with another respectful bow. Ten minutes, that’s what she had left.
Carefully, Lia pulled a requested sash of dark cloth from a table and held it up for the Gamemakers to see. It was as dark as the moonless night; inky and unforgiving as no light could penetrate it’s depths. A more perfect blindfold could not have been prepared for a tribute seeking to block out the world.
Lia’s steady hands tied a firm knot in the material as soon as it was placed over her eyes. She knew she should pray for accuracy, but her mind was still numbed with the absolute certainty she needed. So, she reached to her left where she knew the tray of throwing knives had been laid for her.
Thud.
A resounding thud had told her she had hit her first target, the dummy twenty paces to her left.
Thud.
A second knife had hit the one from her left. No one would be laughing at Lia, the poor girl from District Four that was too petite to properly handle the fishing spear. They had all mocked her for her weakness. Only one sailor had told her of the women of the past who wielded the knives instead to spear the fish. District Four was not only strong in their strength, but they knew how to harness their strengths to their advantages. A lifetime of cleaning and spearing fish had taught her the subtle art of the knife.
Thud.
A knife had found the central dummy across the room from her as she reached up and pulled the blindfold down so she could face those that were both accuser, judge, and jury.
Pivoting on her heel, Lia threw her last knife knowing it would easily find its target. You see, because there was a method in Lia’s systematic walk around the room prior to her demonstration. Had the Gamemakers caught the slight of hand where she had slipped her vials into the sandbags that held their ropes and pulleys into place? If not, they sure were going to be aware of it now.
As the rope was severed the bags came crashing down and releasing the fury of sand, dust, and anyone that had ever built a ‘volcano’ as a child. With the manufactured wind from the exhaust system in the room, the fans, and cooling system the fine dark particles were whipped into the air blocking sight and blowing particles into the eyes of anyone unprepared.
In the now darkened room, Lia Havelock slipped from the room undetected. A final disappearing act before the grand stage awaiting them in the arena. The die had been cast and all her cards left on the table. Only time would tell the conclusions of the Gamemakers’ Final Judgement from their lofty perch.
#project hail mary
#the amazing digital circus
#photography
#lana del rey
#heated rivalry
