VICTOR TRAINING P2 - R13

Instructions

You are shrouded in shadows, surrounded by the claustrophobic warmth of your fellow tributes as they shuffle nervously around you. The survival area of the training center seems eerily unrecognizable- you don’t remember it stretching this far back, or any of the strange cuboidal structures that you can’t quite make out in the dim light. This is where the invitation told you to meet, though. A clicking snap suddenly echoes through the room, and light bursts forth from the darkness. A blinding orange flame ignites, then races along the far back wall to create a wall of fire. Your instincts flare at the dancing sparks, warning you of danger, but the flames spread no further. “Hello, tributes!” A cheerful voice calls out, and out around the fire strides out a figure you recognize only too well. After all, who could forget the face of a Victor? Ellis seems unsurprisingly at peace so close to the flames. Their bright orange fur looks to be molded from the fire itself. They are different than you remember- no fancy clothes, no imperious crown, fur slightly disheveled, green eyes wide and friendly- perhaps slightly unhinged. Their trademark earring sits contently in their earlobe, and a vaguely familiar penguin stands by their side, shying away from the flame but remaining put. “It’s nice to have you here, and I’m so glad you could come,” the Victor continues with a too-bright grin. “Right now you are with the most determined- and desperate- tributes this year. But the fun is only beginning! I have a game- no no, not a game, more of a- contest! Yes, an event, let’s call it. And one that will benefit you greatly, shall you succeed! “I have a small gift for each of you. Toss it in the fire, and you’ll know where you stand.” Ellis pauses for a moment, their expression changing, then shrugs lightly. “A salt packet. Whatever color the fire turns, you’ll go to your matching fire pit. And there you’ll meet your teammates! “With your team, you’ll discuss. As you’ll see, for every session of my event, you get to talk about whether you’ll vote loyally, or betray your teammates. The greatest question is, can you trust the promise of your teammates? You’ll find out when they cast their decision at the end of the day. “But what does it mean to betray, or stay loyal? Well, at the end of each round, your team’s voting will give each of you points! If every member of your team stays loyal, you will all receive 5 points. Should only one of you betray, it’ll give many points for that one lucky cat, and none for the rest. As long as there is one loyal cat, the betrayers will receive a number of points greater than 5, but less than if there is only one. However, should everyone be a traitor, no one will receive points. How unfortunate… “You may discuss with your teammates on how you will vote as much as you like, as long as your votes are in before the end of the round. There will be a total of three rounds. At the end- well, we shall see who has the highest points, yes? And a special prize waits for you who earns the highest.” Ellis smiles again, though it’s more tired this time. “Think of it as, practice. More, a lesson. In the arena, what is the cost of trust? Or the price of betrayal?” Taking up a torch you hadn’t noticed before, Ellis dips it into the flame before striding forward to stand before another trough surrounded by large buckets of water. They hold the flickering fire before their face, a strange expression coming to their face. “One more note…” they say. “What is trust without a little trust fall? “Well, I don’t have any heights for you to leap from. So fire will suffice. To cast your vote, write your name and decision- loyal or betrayer- on a paper, and before the end of a session, drop it in this slot.” In demonstration, Ellis holds up the same slotted box used for envelope collection. “Only… it’s never that easy, is it? The box will be behind a wall of fire.” And thrusting the torch down, they ignite the trough, locking themself- and the box- behind another wall of flames. “You’ll be safe,” they call over the roar of the fire. “Stick your paw in water, hold your paper tight so it doesn’t burn, and… drop it through. Trust me.” They chuckle. “Trust-fire!” Through the shimmering haze of flames, you can just make out the retreating form of the Victor, their penguin tight on their heels. “I suggest you retrieve the packet with your name on it, locate your place, and meet your teammates,” they call back. You hear a soft click, and then five large flames sputter into life in the boxes around the edge of the room, each one burning a different color. In the moment of distraction, you might barely catch one final glimpse of Ellis staring with wide green eyes from behind the shifting fire before they’re gone as suddenly as they came. Leaving you with nothing but kaleidoscopic fire to light your way and a vague hope that anyone here is trustworthy.