himiko naifu . d2. fin

The silver blade of the knife glints in the fluorescent lighting of District Two's training center. I watch as I turn it over in my hand a couple of times, my lips in the form of a smirk. Then, I turn my attention to the target in front of me. Typically, my knife skills are focused up close, but I figure there's no harm in rounding out my skills a bit more and trying my hand at throwing knives.

I ready the small weapon in my hand, focusing on the target. To me, this target is that girl who's always gotten in my way. The girl from school. The one who stole that boy from me- the boy who I liked. The boy who I deserved to be with. That girl is a stupid, rotten, bitchy little... erm, anyway...

I release the knife in the direction of the target and it sticks, a little bit to the left of the bullseye. Close, but not good enough. That's always what I've been in life. My parents are proud of me, sure, but that doesn't count in other parts of my life. I've been training as a career for years and my parents are proud of me. My trainer insists that I could do better, though.

In school, my teachers say I could do better if I paid attention more, and if I put more effort into my homework. I can't help it, though. I can't focus on my work in school because there are so many distractions, and I can't focus on my work at home because it's frustrating. I personally think it's pointless to make students do schoolwork at home. When I'm home, I should have the chance to do what I want. I should be able to relax, and spend time with people I actually like while doing things that I actually like.

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Blood gives me a thrill. It's exhilarating- satisfying, and so much more than that, too. I love to watch the Hunger Games. Violence is one of my favorite things. I see the blood glistening on the end of a sword and I imagine it being my own sword- and the blood of an opponent. I can't wait until it's my turn. I want my chance to fight in the Games, to draw blood and to kill.

It's what I've been training for, after all.

People in my life have often called me crazy for my desire to fight in the Games. Although, I imagine I'd be considered much crazier if I didn't live in District Two. Here, there are many more people like me. It's not too out of the ordinary to be Games-obsessed when you live here. I'm glad I live in Two. Crazy fits here.

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Now, don't worry, I do still get my fix of blood without being in the Games. I'm part of a gang in District Two, and I do a bit of the dirty work. If someone in the gang tries to rat out the others? I take care of it. If someone on the outside finds out what we're doing? I take care of it.

I've gained quite a few enemies- or rivals, if you'd prefer to call them that- over the last couple years that I've been a part of this gang. Other gangs are typically the source of said rivals. We compete with one another, and sometimes it goes further than that. There have been some serious injuries inflicted on rivals of mine when things start to go downhill, and some of them strike back. That's where all my scars came from, anyway.

I've even had to kill someone before, but you'll keep that a secret for me, right?