falling falling fell | d&b

[MATTIO]

〖    b r e n n a n    f i t z g e r a l d    〗

The bark of the Training Center's artificial tree chips and scratches at my fingertips. My upper body strength is not good enough to endure the pain it takes to survive. The trainer who explained the importance of stamina noted that working on the ability to use the environment to evade danger is a key part of making it through the early phases of the games. If mutts can't fly, the safest thing to do is get to a height where you're unreachable.

"What do I do if I, like, fall off?" I ask him as he tightens his grip on my ankles to keep me from dangling. He confirms the worst to me: hope and pray. He scolds me to stop squirming because any energy not devoted to my hands and arms is energy wasted at this moment. It's only a couple of minutes before the sweat loosens my handle and I slip. The time spent on the branch was, in no way, enough time to get through an attack. If a mutt is hungry, they're going to be patient and wait for more than three minutes. I struggle to catch my breath and relax as the trainer wipes sweat off my hands and prepares for another go. He's disappointed but not surprised; I can tell by the pitiful expression on his face. He goes through recommendations as another tribute makes their way to the station beside me.

"This could be fun! Let's have a competition between the both of you."

One look to my side and I'm shaking my head. Dyno Moreno, District One. This guy wants me to compete against a career in a game of endurance? If he wants to crush my desire to get stronger, he could have just said so. "I prefer one-on-one training if that's alright with-" I'm talking to the trainer, but he has his back turned to wave over one of his co-workers to give him a hand.

"Nonsense, Three, you're already in a competition. It's called the Hunger Games!"

He grabs me from my hips and lifts me up to the level of the branch again. All of me wants to fall immediately and run away, but the trainer's eyes beg me to stay like I'm some sort of science project hypothesis that he wants to prove.

I can't say no to people who depend on me. Reluctantly, I comply. "What're the rules?"

"Endurance. Last one hanging on wins!"