Chapter 15

The man was difficult to see, she couldn't quite imagine who this was from the back. Blake decided to speak to them as if they were an old friend.

"Well, the capitol isn't really a place where you can be alone. There is always someone watching" Blake responded. The man turned around and scoffed, the man soon then realized who Blake was. Blake then recognized them as the blonde golden boy of the capitol.

"I didn't know it was you, is your attitude better? I don't want to push your buttons" Finnick commented. He leaned on the balcony of the roof. She rolled her eyes at Finnick. Blake walked over and stood next to him.

"You won't push my buttons, you're not the person I have to kill. I just wish I knew everyone and their life at home before they die. I don't want to regret anything" Blake sighed, but Finnick looked at her confused.

"Why would you want to know everyone? Wouldn't it be easier to kill someone you didn't know?"

"Some people deserve to go home, everyone has a reason why they want to win. I don't deserve to win if someone is needed at home or has terrible living conditions. They would deserve to be happ-" Finnick cut her off. He had a furious and sad gleam in his eyes.

"Don't you ever say that! You deserve to go home, you have a family. I wouldn't be able to lose you, neither would your family. I can't live without you" He cupped Blake's head in his hands. Blake shoved his hands off, she spoke.

"You never talked to us! You ignored us and treated us as if we were invisible, were you too good for us? You were popular and handsome, you could have gotten anything you wanted. Some people aren't so lucky, the last time we talked was when my foot was stuck in that trap! You only paid attention to me when I was injured or in danger. How does that show that you 'can't live without me'? I don't know what to think." Blake itches her temple. Finnick sighs, then turns to Blake.

"I-I just do okay!" he puts his head in his hands, only his hair on the top of his head she can see. Blake runs a hand through her hair, She feels bad all of a sudden.

"Listen, I didn't mean to make it sound mean. I'm just nervous and stressed, I could be dead in a week. It's difficult to think of that." Finnick turns to her again, her eyes shining the emerald he always saw. He would try as hard as he could to keep her alive. Glenn wasn't going to be disappointed; Finnick was just worried for the aftermath. Blake would be forced to do things that she wouldn't agree to, her attitude could get everyone she loves killed.

"Then don't–thinking right now doesn't get you anywhere. It's all about your skills and appearance. Get the audience and capitol to love you" Finnick put his hands on her shoulder. They stared into each other's eyes. Their faces are just 4 inches apart. Finnick leaned in, for a kiss. Blake realized what was happening, was she going to kiss Finnick Odair? The Finnick Odair, the girls at her school would be jealous. Blake knew it was wrong, the games would kill her and he would be broken. Blake decided to not give his hopes up and gave him a hug. Finnick was taken back, but decided to let her hug him.

Blake awoke the next morning, she had another training day. The day was not as interesting as the first. Blake and Koland were escorted by peacekeepers to the training center, they didn't the day before. Koland gave Blake a look that said everything she was thinking. Why were the peacekeepers escorting them? They entered the big center to find Neil crying his eyes out. Rachelle, the girl from his district, was comforting him. Blake decided to ask him about it. She walked over to the innocent boy.

"Hey Neil, what's wrong?" She asked.

"Grey-Greyson, I was trying to get a weapon and he snapped at me. I said I was sorry and he started chasing after me." He wept into the blonde girl's shoulder next to him.

"He doesn't handle some stuff well, like yelling or screaming. He was traumatized and whipped too many times" Rachelle informed Blake. District eight must not be as pleasant as four. Blake didn't realize that the other districts had a different lifestyle as them. Blake decided to leave the situation alone and start her training and other skills.

Later on, a darker boy from eleven confronted her,"do you want to do a spearing competition? I'm still learning the ways of a spear, but I want to test it out."

Blake smiled, "Sure, we spear the dummy and whoever has a more accurate shot out of three rounds wins."

The competition went on for a while, Blake wanted to end it to work on other things. She let the boy, Questin win. He had a big grin on his face.

"Wow! Good game, it was fun" Questin still couldn't get over his victory. They shook hands and went their separate ways. Blake enjoyed getting to know the tributes, the hard part was realizing that she and 22 others could be dead in a week. She couldn't wrap her head around it. Blake redid her ponytail and walked over the district twelve female tribute. She had dark brown hair and a braid going down her back. She couldn't be older than 13. She was working on archery with the district eleven tribute. She had dark olive skin with black curly hair, the girl looked the same age as the other tribute. Blake had to say it, they needed a lot more practice. Blake wasn't the best at it either, but the girls would never survive with a bow and arrow.

"Hey, could I join you guys?" Blake asked in a friendly tone.

The twelve tribute scoffed, "shouldn't you be hanging out and plotting with the other tributes, rather than talking to us outsiders?" She had quite a mouth, it could get her in trouble.

"I'm not joining them unless it's my absolute, last option" Blake admitted. This made the girl from eleven smile. The girl knew Blake could be a crucial ally.

"I'm Vera, that's Xyla." The olive girl smiled.

"I'm Blake, I'm not very good at archery, but I can teach you how to spear."

"I don't want to learn from a career like you!" Xyla dictated. Vera sighed, Xyla would be difficult to convince.

"Xyla, we might actually learn something from someone that could help us survive. We're not getting anywhere with these bows" Vera objected. Xyla sighed, she pondered about it. Blake could teach them, but she could betray the two of them.

"Fine, but if you kill us in the arena, I'm going to make the rest of your life miserable" Xyla decided. Blake was okay with that, she didn't want to come out alive anyways. Blake took that sentence she thought of right back. She didn't want to leave Glenn and Clay, and her parents. Finnick wouldn't miss her, he only cared about her when she was injured. He was too stupid to realize that he was important to their family.

"Let's get started then, grab a spear" Blake instructed. They both did as they were told. Blake taught them for about 2 hours, then they got the hang of it. They both were spearing the chest of the dummy each time. Blake wondered what their actual ages were. They weren't very old, they're attitudes determined it.

"How old are you both?" Blake asked.

"I'm 12," Xyla spoke.

"And I'm 13," Vera responded. They were both extremely young. Blake felt terrible about the situation. They would never survive certain tributes with the skills they knew, they would have to rely on hiding and hunting. Training was over, all the tributes left the center. Koland, Blake, Lalo, Ottilie, Adele, Serpen, and Eloi all were in the same elevator together.

"Welcome allies, It's a privilege to be in the same elevator as you all" Lalo jokes. Ottilie scoffed, she was used to his sarcasm.

Eloi then spoke, "I just realized it now! What a coincidence." Adele sighed, she just wanted to get off the elevator. Eloi was standing right next to Blake, he wrapped his arm around her. Blake shoved it off, Adele had realized this.

"Eloi, remember what you were told. Keep your hands to yourself" Adele smirked.

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I have an angel right next to me in this very elevator" Eloi flirted terribly.

Blake rolled her eyes, "Then how did I get to hell?"

Koland's eyes widened; he nudged her, warning her not to make snide comments. Blake ignored his efforts. Eloi hated her smartass comments, but loved her fiery side.

"So, what's the plan? Run to the cornucopia and kill everyone? Run to the forest, and wait for the bloodbath to end. We need to figure this out" Koland added.

"Four, I understand you want a plan figured out right now, but we are in an elevator right now," Lalo remarked.

"It's kinda difficult to decide right at this moment, it's very claustrophobic in here..." Ottilie mentioned. Serpen was quiet this entire time, Koland and her have been getting really close. She seemed older than him, and more mature.

As if someone spoke Blake's mind, Adele asked "how old is everyone? I'm 16."

"I'm 18," said Lalo.

Ottilie then answered, "13."

Eloi answered, "16."

"17," Serpen mumbled.

"Blake and I are both 16," Koland answered. Koland already knew Serpen's age, he didn't care. Serpen had a plan, younger boys loved attention from older girls, her plan was going to be too easy.

Sorry guys, I was so busy with school and the only time I have to write is on weekends. I was cleaning my house last weekend and didn't have the chance to post (We know how fun cleaning is). Anyways, after this book I'm gonna write another fanfic possibly. If you have any ideas lmk!