Sealed Fates [Jordan and Zeki]

.: ZEKI WEBB :.
{district five : 69th tribute}

The doors to the elevator glide open.

So it's starting. This is really happening. There's no turning back now. There definitely is no turning back now. Like I keep telling myself, there never is. There never was. It's just nice to think that you can if you need to. What awaits me down there? I know it has something to do with getting me ready to enter the Hunger Games. Getting me ready to kill other kids and stay alive for as long as I can. Unfortunately, that can't happen for all of us. For some of us, for all of us except for one, this is our last week without having to worry about dying. Without having to fight for our lives and think constantly about what might happen next. Of course we are all still worrying. We all still are thinking about what's coming next. But none of it actually matters this week. It matters next week, when it's kill or be killed.

I step inside of the elevator and the doors close behind me.

That's it. I've sealed my fate. The Reaping sealed my fate, to be completely honest. The second the breath of words that was my name escaped from the escort's lips, my fate was sealed. I just don't know what it is yet. That's the part that kills me. Not knowing. I know everything. Or so I'm told. I think people think I know everything just because I have an eidetic memory. Well, that may be a good reason to tell me that, but a good memory is much different than vast knowledge. And vast knowledge is much different than wisdom. Will have to knowledge and the wisdom to survive the next few weeks?

The elevator slides down the elevator shaft to the basement, where the real training center is.

That's kind of scary. I'm descending to the training station. And although there will be many ascents, the only one that will matter from now on is the ascent into the arena. On my pedestal. This is all so scary. I don't want to think about this. This whole time so far I've been worrying about the Hunger Games, when I have a whole week of luxury ahead of me. Is it possible to focus on that? Is it possible to focus on anything other than your imminent death, and the only way to escape it is if you can outlast everyone else who has this same sentence?

The elevator stops descending.

I'm going to force myself to enjoy this. I've been enjoying myself at the Capitol thus far, and I'll continue to enjoy myself even more. I'll just think of this as help. The help I need to become a rich and famous celebrity. And they're pampering me before the arduous task that awaits me. That's a nice way of putting it. Too bad it's much more serious than that. Kind of.

The doors slide open and I step out of the elevator. After visiting the fire station, I go over and see about the first aid station. That'll be useful. That'll be useful anyway. Even after the Hunger Games are over and if I become a Victor, this will be useful knowledge. I start by trying to learn how to apply gauze to a wound. The person who's there told me I had to make it tight, but not too tight. And there had to be enough space for air to flow in and out, but not enough space for too much air to flow in and out. This perplexed me to the core. I'm trying my hardest to properly apply gauze to a manakin.

First it's too loose, then it's too tight. Then it's perfect! Then it's too loose. Then it's too loose again. Too tight. I can't ever seem to get this right again!

I'm interrupted by someone in my fervent attempts to properly treat a doll.