Kill or be Killed

I pick a knife up and aim it at a target. I let the tip slip off my finger tips and into the air. The knife missed the target completely. I grunt in annoyance and look up to the trainer. He comes next to me and tells me to angle my arm at a 45 degree angle and to place the blade in between my thumb and index finger. He also constructs me to stand properly and straight. I follow his instructions and throw another knife. The knife sinks into the outside layer of the bullseye zone.  I practice a few more times and soon I got the hang of it. "Thank you." I say to the trainer.

I look around the room and see everyone talking and making friends. I wasnt that type of person. So as if no one cared to see me I walk over to the Track. The instructor tells me to do a 3 lap warm up and then a series of minimun 200 meter suicides.  I do as he says and by the time I was done I was on the floor sweating. "Do you feel the burn." He asks me, bending over to me. "Yeah, I do." I say quickly out of breath, knowing this improved my endurance and speed. "Thanks." I say as I jog off to my last station for today.  

I walk to the axe station. I had used an axe a few times back at home but nothing major like the ones here. I take a throwing axe and using the skills I learned from the throwing knives, hit bullseye with the axe. It turns out the axes are easier then the knives for me. I get a few practice throws and then I move onto the big axes. I practice swinging them above my head and building strength for it. I chop of a few pieces of food and than move to slice a dummy into several pieces. After I felt I had a hand of it I put it down and left the training station.

A few moments later my three triplet older siblings were rushed into the room. I locked back as I saw them come in, Colin, Mark, and Pandora. "Hi." I said in a hushed tone. I noticed the mascara lining down Pandora's face, I could tell she had been crying. 

"Listen kid, if you want to win this you got to think smart." Colin said leaning in closer to me. I didn't give him a response, only a blank star into his eyes. "Come here." He gestured as he locked his arms around me. Soon followed by Mark and Pandora joining in. We grouped hugged for a moment until the peacekeepers came in. "Times up." He said as he grabbed Pandora's arm harshly. "Dont touch her like that" Colin screamed as he pushed the peacekeeper. I stood back in shock. 

Mark gave me one last hug and rushed out of the room followed by Pandora and Mark. I took a deep breath, some how managing to hold my tears. 

A few seconds later my parents and Caleb rush into the room. "Sweetie come here." My mom said as she ran to hug me. I locked my arms around her waste, "Mom, im scared." I whisper in her ear. I can hear my mom choking back her tears trying to tell me everything was going to be okay and that I will win. But there are 24 human beings fighting to win, 24, chances are I will die.

My mom let go of me and next Caleb came and leaped into my arms. "You need to win for me Zane! You need to!" He shouted. "Shhh Caleb, Im going to try." I said calmly. I put Caleb down and walked over to my father. My father just stood there, still like a rock. I gave him a hug goodbye has the peacekeepers come in. "No!" I hear Caleb scream as he ran to hug me. "Caleb you need to go!" I shouted trying to push him off me. "Go!" 

The peacekeeper came and yanked him off me. "Let go of me!" Caleb began to scream as he punched the peacekeeper in the face. Next thing I hear is the sound of a gun cocking back. I look over to see the head peacekeeper of our district holding Caleb at gun point. Everything silenced.  "Caleb go." I whispered. He looked back at me, with his red eyes and then walked out peacefully. The peacekeepers nodded at me and then left, slamming the door behind them.

 I get off my bed and wonder myself towards my younger brothers room. I knock on his door...no answer. "Caleb." I whisper as I creek the door open. I see him on his bed crying, scared for the reaping. This is his first year. I bite my lip as I run towards him. "Everything is going to be okay, you're not going to get reaped Caleb." I whisper as I brush my fingers through his hair. Caleb looks up at me and hugs me. "I just don't want to be reaped" He said as the tears on his eyes soaked up my shirt. 

"Come on pal." I said as I stood up. I throw a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt on his bed. "Get dressed." I say as I walk out the door. I walk back to my room to find my 3 older siblings standing there. They are all 23, illegible for the reaping. I run up to Mark, Colin, and Pandora and give them a giant hug. "Goodluck." Colin whispers in my ear. I feel the vibrating of his voice enter my hear as I step away. 

I get dressed in green overalls with a plain white t-shirt underneath. I run up back to Caleb's room and see he has dressed himself. I take his hand as we head towards the kitchen where our parents are. I take a glass of water as we hear the reaping bell ring. Caleb gasps and backs into the wall. "Come on Caleb lets go." I say. Caleb begins to scream in refusal. I take him throw him over my shoulders. "We need to go!" I shout as we head out the door. 

Caleb stopped crying but I continued to hold him over my shoulders. As we get to the check in-line I put him down. "They are going to draw blood Caleb its going to be quick and easy." I say to him. Caleb nods. Next thing we know we are separated into age groups. I managed to mouth goodbye to him before I could see him no longer. 

I stand tall at my age group, 17. "Only 2 more years and I'm done." I begin to think as the escort interrupts my thoughts. "Welcome District 10 to the 16th Annual Hunger Games!" A man wearing all orange cheers. The rest of what he says was just a blur to me. Until he walks over to the girls reaping bowl. "Athelea Harte!" The man cheers. I roll my eyes back just waiting for him to call the males.

Next he walks over to the male bowl. I dips his hand in and swerves it around until he reached a note card all the way to the bottom. I managed to catch my last breath of air before he calls it. "Zane Mercade!" The man cheers. 

A second later I hear a scream from the crowd. I shoot over before I could react to my name being called to see Caleb running into the aisle towards me. "Oh.. no." I said as a tear rolled down my face. "Caleb!" I screamed as a peacekeeper comes and tackles him before he could progress any further. I stare at the peacekeeper removing Caleb from the crowd until I feel a slight push from my back. 5 peacekeepers were lined up pushing me towards the stage. Everything is happening so fast I  cant even react. I stand on the stage with no emotion, only confusion.