place before theirs. Capitol leaders added a secret twist to this year’s fight, to celebrate the one-hundredth anniversary. Therefore, the candidates wait, with supervision, in spare locker rooms, separated from their opponents.
Claire hands everyone their mouth guards and a flag, before she heads to the arena. If at any point, one of the candidates believes they cannot move on, they are to raise their flag. After twenty minutes, if neither of the opponents raise their flag, or are out cold, they each earn an automatic fifty points.
One by one, they call the candidates to exit the room that Tia sits in. Quade is the third to leave, not uttering a word. She smiles at him and wishes him good luck. All he does is nod and return the gesture. A couple of hours pass. Tia peers at the clock and it is noon. She wonders when she will be called. Finally, her name is voiced over the intercom, “Conscientia Trumble, please come to the arena.”
Tension builds up in her stomach, she knows that she prepared for this moment as best she could. However, her hands begin to tremble as she treks the long hallway. At the entrance of the arena, a woman greets her and asks her name.
“Conscientia Trumble,” she exhales.
“Great. You have your flag and your mouth guard?”
“Yep.” She peers down at the woman’s hand, as it checks something off, on a clipboard. What is their obsession with clipboards? she wonders.
“We are heading out to the arena now,” the woman notes, flatly.
Tia nods and follows the woman to the center of the arena. Each seat is packed with excited fans. Capitol leaders are seated in a private box, above the one side of the arena. They are equipped with screens, for close ups of the fights, at all angles. A red flag, with a pair of boxing gloves in the center, is hanging from the box to represent the Brawns category.
Delilah and a man head over from the other end.
“I suggest you keep that flag somewhere you can reach it easily and insert that mouth guard.” The lady pulls out a black cloth.
“What’s that?” Tia asks.
“Your blind fold,” the woman answers, walking behind Tia. “Please put the guard in your mouth, miss. I don’t like repeating myself.”
Tia places the guard in her mouth, as the world suddenly turns black.
Chapter 5
Sharp, shallow breaths are all Tia can muster. Her vision is completely obstructed by the black cloth. She knows that she must rely on all her other senses, to make it through the second stage of the Electus. A hand, on her back, guides Tia towards the center, so that she is only inches away from Delilah. From the sounds of Delilah’s breathing, she is just as surprised, by the lack of sight, as Tia is. In all those years of training, Tia never once considered practicing being blind.
“Both weighing in at one-hundred and thirty pounds, our next opponents are Delilah Urvine and Conscientia Trumble,” Carmen announces from the safety box where the leaders sit. “On my count ladies. Three. Two. One. Fight!”
Tia’s first instinct is to swing, as hard as she can, towards the sound of Delilah’s breathing. Instead of her fist meeting solid flesh, it hits thin air, swaying Tia off balance. She remembers that Delilah is taller than her, by a few inches, but apparently she over estimated how tall. Luckily, she moves in time to miss Delilah’s punch, inches from her face. Kicking her leg up, Tia feels the toe of her shoe, scrape something on Delilah’s body.
Unaffected, Delilah swings and knocks Tia in her right ear. She hits again a few moments later, leaving a ringing sound, that blocks half of her hearing. Tia fights the urge to grab the side of her face, that is now swelling in pain. I can’t show weakness, she thinks.
“Looks like these girls are just warming up, ladies and gents,” Carmen commentates, and the crowd cheers.
Tia sways her foot forward, attempting to catch Delilah’s ankle. This time she snatches the back of
Claire hands everyone their mouth guards and a flag, before she heads to the arena. If at any point, one of the candidates believes they cannot move on, they are to raise their flag. After twenty minutes, if neither of the opponents raise their flag, or are out cold, they each earn an automatic fifty points.
One by one, they call the candidates to exit the room that Tia sits in. Quade is the third to leave, not uttering a word. She smiles at him and wishes him good luck. All he does is nod and return the gesture. A couple of hours pass. Tia peers at the clock and it is noon. She wonders when she will be called. Finally, her name is voiced over the intercom, “Conscientia Trumble, please come to the arena.”
Tension builds up in her stomach, she knows that she prepared for this moment as best she could. However, her hands begin to tremble as she treks the long hallway. At the entrance of the arena, a woman greets her and asks her name.
“Conscientia Trumble,” she exhales.
“Great. You have your flag and your mouth guard?”
“Yep.” She peers down at the woman’s hand, as it checks something off, on a clipboard. What is their obsession with clipboards? she wonders.
“We are heading out to the arena now,” the woman notes, flatly.
Tia nods and follows the woman to the center of the arena. Each seat is packed with excited fans. Capitol leaders are seated in a private box, above the one side of the arena. They are equipped with screens, for close ups of the fights, at all angles. A red flag, with a pair of boxing gloves in the center, is hanging from the box to represent the Brawns category.
Delilah and a man head over from the other end.
“I suggest you keep that flag somewhere you can reach it easily and insert that mouth guard.” The lady pulls out a black cloth.
“What’s that?” Tia asks.
“Your blind fold,” the woman answers, walking behind Tia. “Please put the guard in your mouth, miss. I don’t like repeating myself.”
Tia places the guard in her mouth, as the world suddenly turns black.
Chapter 5
Sharp, shallow breaths are all Tia can muster. Her vision is completely obstructed by the black cloth. She knows that she must rely on all her other senses, to make it through the second stage of the Electus. A hand, on her back, guides Tia towards the center, so that she is only inches away from Delilah. From the sounds of Delilah’s breathing, she is just as surprised, by the lack of sight, as Tia is. In all those years of training, Tia never once considered practicing being blind.
“Both weighing in at one-hundred and thirty pounds, our next opponents are Delilah Urvine and Conscientia Trumble,” Carmen announces from the safety box where the leaders sit. “On my count ladies. Three. Two. One. Fight!”
Tia’s first instinct is to swing, as hard as she can, towards the sound of Delilah’s breathing. Instead of her fist meeting solid flesh, it hits thin air, swaying Tia off balance. She remembers that Delilah is taller than her, by a few inches, but apparently she over estimated how tall. Luckily, she moves in time to miss Delilah’s punch, inches from her face. Kicking her leg up, Tia feels the toe of her shoe, scrape something on Delilah’s body.
Unaffected, Delilah swings and knocks Tia in her right ear. She hits again a few moments later, leaving a ringing sound, that blocks half of her hearing. Tia fights the urge to grab the side of her face, that is now swelling in pain. I can’t show weakness, she thinks.
“Looks like these girls are just warming up, ladies and gents,” Carmen commentates, and the crowd cheers.
Tia sways her foot forward, attempting to catch Delilah’s ankle. This time she snatches the back of
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