Ranking
Laura woke with a feeling of dread. There would be no more training, no more preparation. After breakfast, they'd be ranked. In two days they would be fighting, killing each other to be the last survivor. She remembered Kirsch giving her a wink right before he threw an axe into a dummy's head. At the time, it seemed funny and joking, but now... she knew it wasn't. It was a threat.
She had treated the games as some far-away prospect. Like she wouldn't be hearing cannons boom in less than a week. Like people wouldn't die. Then... Carmilla. She thought of the broody, usually antisocial girl. She was exceptionally good with daggers, and would definitely beat Laura in a fight. Her stomach twisted at the thought.
Carmilla, eyes filled with malice, stabbing her until the cannon boomed. No. She couldn't think like this.
She hopped up out of bed and checked the time on an alarm clock that was in her room. 8:20 AM. 10 minutes before breakfast. She stretched her arms above her head and then changed into dark blue jeans and a black t-shirt provided by the staff.
She closed her door quietly behind her and leaned against it. She closed her eyes. Tried to instill confidence that she'd get a high rank. It didn't work.
Someone tapped on her shoulder. She opened her eyes and turned to them.
"Carmilla," she mumbled. The pale 20 year old had on the same outfit as Laura, except for pants. She had on leather pants, and Laura wondered briefly how she'd gotten into them. They looked really tight.
"You sound excited," Carmilla replied teasingly.
She swatted her shoulder. "Are YOU excited?"
Carmilla shook her head. A sad look came over her. She reached over and tucked some hair behind Laura's ear.
"Girls!" A trainer barked. "Time for breakfast."
They sighed simultaneously and headed downstairs to the dining room.
They were one of the first ones there. The district numbers were on the chairs to tell them where to sit. Laura sat in one of the "21" seats and looked over at Carmilla. She was fiddling with a fork, frowning down at her plate.
Soon everyone was down. Most looked sleepy but some looked... excited? How could they be excited when the games were so close? Laura shivered and started eating her bacon and eggs that a staff member had slid onto her and everyone else's plate. (Minus a district 13 guy Jamar who was apparently a vegan. He got a salad.)
After 30 minutes, everyone was done and milling around, talking. So the trainers rounded them up and led them to a big screen covering almost the whole wall. A long couch and several chairs were set up. Just enough room for 22. The trainers stood behind them looking stony-faced.
Laura's trainer turned on the TV and then walked back to the row of trainers.
Carmilla was on the right end of the black leather couch, Laura beside her.
She jumped a little when fanfare erupted from the TV.
"May the odds be ever in your favor," a voiceover said in a nasally tone. A crisp white letter one appeared on the top right of the screen. Then a picture and name formed. The TV announced it. "Ronny Sunwell of District 13, number one rank."
A few people turned to look at the skinny boy, who was being comforted by an older girl. Rank one was the worst you could get.
It went on and Laura drew in a breath each time a new person appeared. Then, at rank thirteen, her picture and name formed. Some people clapped and gave her small smiles. Others who'd gotten lower ranks stared at the floor in disinterest.
Carmilla wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Good job," she muttered. Laura grinned at the compliment.
Soon it was over, and the trainers told everyone they could do whatever (within reason of course) until bedtime.
LaF begged Laura to stay and play Call of Duty so they'd have even teams, but she spotted Carmilla walking upstairs and politely refused.
They lay facing each other on a dark blue blanket. "I knew you'd get a high rank," Laura spoke.
"Just a 19." Laura stared at her incredulously.
"Just a 19? That's the third best rank, Carm!"
She shrugged and moved closer to Laura. "I've been thinking..." she started.
Laura gestured for her to continue and grabbed her hand.
"We should be allies," Carmilla said nervously. "I mean, if you want to. I wasn't um, sure before. But we'd do better as a team now that I've thought about it. Unless you already have other allies, in which case-"
Laura shushed her while pulling her closer into a hug. "Duh, Carm. Of course we can team up." A sigh of relief escaped the other girls lips. She relaxed into the embrace.
When Laura pulled away slightly, neither of them moved back. They just lay there with Laura's arm slung over Carmilla's stomach and their close proximity.
Eventually sleep overtook them.
--
Laura woke with a start when Carmilla shook her shoulders. "Laura, we missed lunch. It's 5:00."
She rubbed her eyes with a groan. "Well what will we do until dinner?" Carmilla was standing over her.
"I thought we could see if the ginger twins and the others are still playing Xbox."
Laura blinked silently for a few seconds. She stared at the pale girl. "S-seriously? Carmilla Karnstein is suggesting we hang out with others?"
Carmilla shrugged. "Whatever, we don't have to."
"Are you kidding? Let's go!" Laura immediately leapt up and grabbed her wrist. She led her downstairs, the blanket in her other hand.
The group was still playing. They sat on the left end of the couch soundlessly. Danny and Kirsch were in an intense one-on-one match as everyone else watched and cheered. Danny yelled gleefully when she got the last kill. The game ended, showing a killcam of the headshot sniper kill.
Kirsch crossed his arms. He looked pissed off. "You won now, psycho society. I'll get you next game."
Danny scoffed but turned to LaF. "Search and destroy, 2 teams of 4? Since they're here now anyway." She gestured to Carmilla and Laura.
They ended up playing several matches before being called for dinner. Laura surprised them by getting lots of kills and often winning the round for her team. "What? My friends at home had this game." Carmilla was an angry player. She would let out strings of curses after dying and talked trash about the other team with no regret. "Damnit Xena, I swear you're the worst at this game. You suck!" (Yeah, she didn't have very good insults.)
At dinner, the reality of the situation seemed to hit them after an argument Danny had with Carmilla.
"You're so tall and ginger, I'll spot you miles away in the arena," Carmilla hissed after Danny called her a brood who was glued to Laura's side. (Which, come on, is really true.)
"Yeah well, you'll have an arrow in your heart before you have the chance to come after me."
Carmilla huffed and gloomily cast her gaze down to her mashed potatoes. They all ate in silence following the brief fight.
Laura followed her friend upstairs to the roof after dinner, glancing back at the others longingly. She loved playing Call of Duty But right now Carm needed her.
She was shocked to find Carmilla crying. She was sitting against the wall with her head in her hands. Laura slid down next to her.
"What's wrong? Did Danny do this?"
Carmilla shook her head. Her hands dropped and she leaned into Laura's shoulder. "I want us to win, Laura. But Will... I could never stab him. I couldn't look into the brother I love's dead eyes. I just, I don't know. I'm just being unrealistic. It's unlikely I'll have to face off against him.
Laura wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I get it. It's hard enough thinking about killing LaF or Perry. Even the others I haven't talked to as much."
They sat like that for a while until Laura couldn't help herself. "Hey Carm?"
"What?"
"Dear god can we please go play Call of Duty? I'll kick Danny's ass for you in a 1v1."
Carmilla laughed. "Sure cupcake."
Laura ran downstairs giddily, Carmilla trailing after her.