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SHALL WE RISE?

act one.

(chapter seven, let the training begin)

training centre, 2304.

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IF VALENCIA WAS AMAZED at her room on the train, she certainly was astonished by the quarters she had in the District Nine apartment. It was nearly as big as her room, Antares, and her mother's rooms back in Victors' Village. There was a king-sized bed that had deep green (the same colour that was seen on the train) soft silk covers, a closet that was filled to the brim with various outfits, and a doorway that led into a very high tech bathroom. 

Valencia sighed as she unzipped her dress and slipped out of it, wondering through her room and into the bathroom. She gaped when she saw the shower. There was a panel that had more than a hundred options, all based on water temperature, pressure, shampoos, soaps, scents, oils, and even massaging sponges. She looked down below and studied the mat, which had little holes for a heating system that blow-dried your body. 

She shook her head as she turned the shower on and stepped in. Valencia used nearly all of the buttons on the panel to get rid of the sparkles and glitter that were adorned on her face, body, and hair. And by the time they had all disappeared, she felt like herself again. There was a distinct difference between the girl Valencia was during the Parade and the girl Valencia is now. Now, she is bare as she watched the glitter go down the drain in circles. 

Once Valencia had dried off and picked out an outfit, which just consisted of a white, long sleeved shirt and a pair of green cargo pants, she walked out of her room. 

In the dining room, Commie and Ezra sat at the table as they waited for everyone else. At the sound of Valencia entering, Ezra immediately perked up and gave her a bright smile whilst Commie furrowed his eyebrows.

"Nearly didn't recognise you without any glitter and sparkles," he said as she sat down across from him. "You did a good job, Ezra."

The said man smiled, but was soon distracted when Delphine came bumbling in with Antares and Silas's stylist behind her. Her eyes were pat dry and she was now buzzing with excitement as she sat down beside Ezra. 

"Of course we are still waiting for Silas to come," mumbled Delphine as she took a sip from her tall, slender glass of wine. "Oh, there he is."

Free from sparkles and gems, Silas entered the room without a word and sat down at the table beside his stylist and Antares, who both shared a glance before back at their plates. 

Avoxes began to swarm around them with numerous dishes in their hands. Beef and mashed potatoes were served with a type of gravy poured all over. The silent people also filled up all the adults's glasses with wine whilst Valencia's and Silas's were filled up with water. They wanted them to keep a clear head. 

"So," Commie began to say as he burped into his hand once he finished his large portion of food. "Tomorrow is the first day of training."

Valencia nodded as she pushed her empty plate away and sipped on her water. She was nervous, of course, but intrigued to see the other tributes in action. She wanted to see the tributes as themselves and not some dolled up version for the Capitol to see.

"Barlowe, I want you to focus on the weapon side of stuff," said Commie. "Silas, I recommend the survival part... or whatever, Antares has planned for you."

Silas scoffed at this part whilst Antares cleared his throat, saying, "Also be on the lookout for allies, the both of you—"

"What if I don't want Barlow to look for allies?" Commie questioned with a snarky smirk as he sipped on his drink.

"What if I don't want Silas focusing on the survival side of the training?"

"Well, don't come crying to me when Bigfoot dies because he doesn't know how to make a fire—"

"Oh, stop it!" Delphine snapped. "Stop your bickering and focus on the two kids over there!"

Antares cleared his throat before rolling his jaw, finally saying, "Fine... focus on allies, Silas and Lennie... if you want."

"Yeah, I agree," said Commie, causing Antares to clench his jaw, making the older man chuckle. "The more allies you have, the less enemies you'll have."

"You've gain traction, you two," Ezra said calmly as he fiddled with one of his rings. "You're gonna be the talk of the Capitol... just what we wanted."

"Yes, yes, mission accomplished." Commie coughed into the handkerchief he still had. "Now, training is in the morning so you lot need to rest and get your energy back up."

"We will go more in depth with what we want you to do," Antares murmured as he stood up from his seat. "But yes, for now... get some rest."

Chairs scraped against the floor as everyone got up. Commie gave Valencia a pat on the back before leaving and grabbing a large bottle of wine. Delphine followed him and was most likely going to give him a rollicking. Ezra smiled greatly as he and the other stylist went their separate ways. Silas turned and went back to his room whilst Valencia just stood there.

She saw the figure of Antares walk away and onto the balcony that looked over the city. She sighed and followed him, wrapping her arms around herself as she slid the glass door open and the immense cold hit her. Antares was leaning over the railing and had his eyes closed as he took deep breaths.

"Are you all right?" Valencia asked him hesitantly, taking a step forward.

He jumped at the sound of her voice, muttering, "You shouldn't be here, Lennie. Go to sleep."

"What is wrong?" She asked again, making Antares sigh as he realised that she wasn't going to leave.

"Nothing is wrong, Lennie," he said. "But please, just go to sleep. We can't be spotted talking to each other."

"I doubt anyone will notice," Valencia murmured as she joined him at the railing. "Commie is too busy being drunk, Delphine is too busy telling off Commie, Silas is asleep, and Ezra and the other stylist are gone."

"They always find out," her brother whispered. 

"Who always find out?"

Antares turned his head and looked at his sister. Valencia finally got a moment to truly examine him and realised that it looked like he hadn't been able to sleep in ages. There was deep, purple bags residing under his eyes and his pupils didn't have the same spark in them that she was used to seeing. Her brother looked torn apart.

"Lennie, I'm so sorry," he began to sob, tears running down his cheeks so quickly. Valencia had never seen her brother cry before. "It was supposed to only be me coming to the Capitol, not you as well."

"You couldn't have controlled that," she whispered as she came to her brother's side and began to rub his back up and down. "It was unlucky."

"I have cursed you," Antares cried as he looked up at the night sky. "Our name is tainted because of me. I have tormented you... I know Commie told you to look at my Games."

"I didn't look at all of it, just the broadcast they did," Valencia sighed. "But Terry, I always knew you had to... I always knew you had to kill someone to win."

"I didn't just kill someone," said Antares. "I killed my partner, it was between the two of us... and I lost it and plunged that stupid knife in her brain."

"Did you know her?"

Antares went silent as he looked down at the floor and then at the city. He had stopped sobbing and now, silent tears rolled down his cheek as he spoke the words, "No, I didn't, but still, that doesn't matter. Over these couple of days, you form a type of bond with the people you are with, your fellow tribute and mentor. They are the people you rely on."

"I don't rely on Silas," said Valencia.

"Good... because he plans on killing you in the arena."

With that, Antares pushed her away and stalked off from the balcony, leaving Valencia alone. Of course Silas was planning on murdering her. She expected it from the beginning so it didn't really surprise her. But what did was watching her brother sob for the first time ever and so many thoughts raced through her head. Silas was going to kill her, Antares had killed his partner... would Silas succeed in killing her? Would Silas do what Antares did? Valencia slept on it.

Though it felt like she didn't even close her eyes for an hour, for Delphine was knocking on her door and chiming for her to wake up. Valencia sat up in her bed and remembered what happened on the balcony and groaned. On her door hanged a deep green tank top and a pair of black leggings. On the back of the elastane shirt was a white number nine.

Valencia sighed as she slipped the outfit on, refreshing herself before walking out and making her way to the dining room. Commie and Delphine were the only two down there, both sipping on cups of tea as they awaited for her arrival. 

"Terry and Bigfoot won't be joining us," said Commie when Valencia asked where they were. "For some reason."

"Silas is going to kill me."

"Yes, he's going to kill me too," her escort said. "All this being late and then deciding he's not coming—"

"No I mean in the arena, he's gonna kill me," said Valencia as she took a seat across from Commie. "Terry told me last night that Silas has been planning my death the entire time."

"Well, that's not surprising considering who you are," said Delphine with a scoff, but Commie interrupted her.

"Delphine, shut up," the older man told her. "I already know about that, Barlowe. If Terry didn't tell me, it's bloody obvious. He's been planning ever since you threw that knife on the train. He's either jealous or he sees you as a threat."

"I am not a threat."

"But your name is."

Valencia went silent at this.

"Well, he won't do anything now because it's against the rules, but when in the arena, avoid him at all costs," said Commie. "He's much stronger than you... that's why I call him Bigfoot. Have you seen how tall that guy is?"

"Yes, I have seen, Commie," Valencia groaned as she laid her head down on the table.

"Barlowe, stop worrying and pick your head up," her mentor said. "It's nearly ten, all right? Don't worry about Bigfoot, I'll have a talk with Terry. Now, go along... and you better tell me everything that happens at training!"

Valencia sighed as Delphine escorted her to the elevator and with one last look to Commie, the doors sealed shut and she was transported to the basement of the complex where the Training Centre was in a manner of a minute. When the doors opened to reveal a gymnasium filled with various weapons and obstacles, Valencia forced herself to breathe. She was the last person to arrive.

Valencia quickly joined the circle, standing beside Silas (who eyed her and made her inch further away from him) and District Eight. Whilst they waited for the head trainer, Valencia made it her duty to study all the tributes.

The two supposed twins from Eleven were the smallest in the room whilst Silas and the boy from Six rivalled each other for the tallest. Everyone seemed to have eyes on Valencia, some nervous as they looked her in the eye whilst others smiled sickeningly at her. She swallowed a lump in her throat as she straightened her back, hands folded behind her as she lifted her chin in the air. It didn't do much since nearly all the boys (except from the twelve-year-old) were taller than her and at least a quarter of the girls were as well.

The Careers' in the corner, District One and Two, were all laughing amongst themselves as they pointed to some of the smaller tributes. It made Valencia's eyebrows furrow when she realised that Four was not among them, for they were off to the side near District Five. She would have thought that they would be a part of the Career pack since the last Victor came from Four, but the two tributes didn't seem compatible with One and Two. Valencia was only just a bit bigger than the girl and the boy seemed to be trembling.

District Six were standing somewhere near Valencia and the fact that the towering boy was eyeing her like dinner made her feel very uncomfortable, but the sight of the trembling girl beside the giant made her feel more at ease. It was a sickening thought, but Valencia felt safe knowing she wouldn't be the first to die. 

When the clock struck ten, the head trainer called Atala stepped forward onto the dais in the centre of the circle. Most of the tributes began to pay attention.

"In two weeks, twenty-three of you will be dead whilst one of you will still be alive. Who that is depends on how well you pay attention over the next few days, particularly to what I'm about to tell you," she said. "There shall be no fighting with the other tributes, there will be enough time in the arena for that. There are four compulsory exercises, the rest will be individual training. But don't go straight for the weapons, look at the survival skills. Most of you will die from exposure rather than the tip of a blade."

Atala began to read a list of the skill stations before releasing them, reminding them there will be no fighting with other tributes. All the Careers' went off to the deadly weapons, Silas following them. The kids from the farming and fishing districts went to either the knots or the poisonous plants section. But Valencia stayed in the middle of the room as she surveyed her surroundings, deciding on what to start on first. She made her way to the section that taught how to start fires.

When she got bored with that after making her third fire, she made her way over to the knot-tying class where the trainer seemed pleased to have people come over. When the trainer realised that Valencia knew something about traps and snares, he showed her an excellent trap that would leave something dangling by the leg from a tree. She surprisingly enjoyed it, but moved on rather quickly.

The Careers' were still dominating the weapons section with the addition of Silas and the Six boy. Silas looked over his shoulder and realised that Valencia was watching him so he picked up one of the knives that looked tiny in his hand and threw it at the dummies. He got a bullseye, the blade lodged into the target's chest. 

(Barlowe, I want you to focus on the weapon side of stuff) Commie's voice filled Valencia's head as she forgot about the camouflage section and began to wonder over to where the most deadly weapons were. 

Valencia watched as the District Two girl chopped off the head of one of the plastic dummies with one simple heave of an axe, causing her to swallow a lump in her throat. The boy from One shot numerous arrows into the heart of a target, all the tips being imbedded into the plastic. The girl from One and the boy from Two conversed with each other before battling one of the dummies, the blonde girl throwing a spear so hard that the target fell over and the boy chopping off all the limbs of a dummy.

"Ah, look who has decided to join the show!" The boy from Two exclaimed as he rested his sword against the floor as he stared at her, "The infamous Barlowe."

"Hello, boys... and girls," Valencia greeted with a smirk. "How has your morning been?"

"Very splendid," the girl from Two sneered. "You?"

"Rather enjoyable, really," she said. "Learnt all about painting and making knots... God, no wonder no-one survives the Games."

"Except one," the boy from One said. "Is that one going to be you, Valencia Barlowe?"

"Well, I bloody hope so." Valencia chuckled. "Because I have a lot to do at home."

"And that is what?" The boy from Six scoffed as he came striding over to where she stood, his figure towering over her. "Lounging around in your Victors' Village? Lounging around from the luxury your brother killed for? Yeah, I'm sure you have a lot to do."

"Now, now, don't harass the girl," said the boy from Two. "She wants to show off, I can tell. Let her."

"Oh, no I don't want to show off." Valencia sighed with a fake smile. "Oh, you want me to? I really shouldn't... oh, if you insist."

Valencia swallowed her regret down and wandered over to where the knives laid, pushing Silas out of the way and causing him to grunt. She picked one of the most intricate knives and flipped it around in her right hand. She looked at the target in-front of her and took a deep breath before flinging her arm forward, letting the knife go.

When she heard laughter come from the Careers' behind her, she mentally punched and slapped herself until she was bloody. She had missed the target, not by a lot, but had missed the outline of the head. Valencia groaned.

"That was a practice go."

She gritted her teeth as she dared herself to go and pick up two more knives. She flipped the two around in her hands and took a deep breath. She positioned her arms the way she wanted to and flung her right arm forward and then her left, releasing the knives. Both of the blades lodged into the plastic. One was imbedded in the forehead of the dummy and then one where the heart should have been. The Careers' went silent as they glanced at each other. They didn't know how to react and neither did Valencia. She didn't even think that was going to work.

Soon, the Careers' did not leave Valencia alone and it made her regret the decision of coming over in the first place. She also regretted ever looking Silas in the eye as he kept pushing her along or shoving into her. She wasn't surprised that he wanted to kill her, but there was an emotion that she couldn't explain. She couldn't explain anything when it came to Silas, however.

Nearly all of the outlier tributes stared at Valencia as she conversed with the Careers'. She didn't think of herself as a threat, but she realised that her name was. People thought she was Antares, but she was no such thing. And she was going to show them that, but how, she did not know.

Valencia tried not to look intimidated whenever one of the Careers' absolutely destroyed one of the plastic dummies, but it became very difficult to not wince when the boy from Two completely demolished one of them with a sword, his female partner finishing it off with an axe. 

She looked longingly at the survival stations and saw that the girl and boy from Eleven were there, learning about poisonous plants. Valencia looked to the Careers', who were still showing off, and silently wondered away from them, hoping they didn't notice. She could still hear their maniac laughs as she sat down on the floor next to the two twelve-year-olds.

"Hello, you two," Valencia greeted as she picked up a pile of flash cards. "What are we doing here?"

The two young kids looked at each other, fear in their eyes. Valencia's heart broke slightly as she scooted closer to the kids, saying, "Surely one of you can speak... come on, I know you can, Donna."

"You remembered my name?" 

"Of course, I remember every face I see," said Valencia. "What's your name, kid?"

Valencia nudged her head in the direction of the little boy that sat beside Donna and she realised that the two looked exactly identical and so her theory about twins became stronger. The little boy nudged his supposed sister and nodded his head.

"His name is Rome," Donna told her, fidgeting with the cards. "I'm sorry, but he can't speak."

"Why not?"

"He's mute," the little girl replied, looking at her brother longingly. "That's why he didn't speak at the Reaping."

"Oh, I just thought it was fear," Valencia murmured. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Rome."

Rome smiled greatly at Valencia as she held her hand out, the boy holding it. He didn't shake it, just holding it in his small palm. Valencia chuckled at how tiny his hand was in comparison to her's, her eyes shining as she stared at the little boy.

"Are you two siblings?" Valencia finally said after Rome dropped her hand. "I remember you telling me something about a brother during the Parade."

"We're twins." Donna nodded sadly. "I know it doesn't make sense because our last names are different, but we were separated at birth by our mother and father."

"They split?"

"Yes, my mother took me and changed my last name," the girl said. "My father took Rome and kept his the same. My last name is my mother's maiden name."

"Oh." Valencia sighed. "I'm so sorry."

"Well, nothing could be done," said Donna. "I'm just glad we're here together."

Valencia's smile drooped a bit when she saw the twins hold hands and smile at each other. They're both going to be dead in a manner of two weeks. There was no point in saying one of them, for a twelve-year-old couldn't possibly win the Games. When Valencia looked at their linked hands, she saw their deaths in the arena.

"Well, why don't we sort these cards out?" Valencia sighed as she forced herself to look away from the twins. "I think they would be useful."

"I thought you were with the Careers'?" Donna asked her. "Over at the weapons... we saw you with the knives."

"You two are better than the Careers'." Valencia smiled. "Much better."