Jacob's Game

An ant can become dangerous in general, regardless of its color, size, or venom. It can cause a lot of harm when it feels cornered. Just like Jacob, who right now, after having lived in the decadence of District Twelve, survived at only seventeen years old and volunteered as a tribute, firmly believing that he will win these games.

He had certain plans on how to act with or without Katniss. He couldn't consider her if she never thinks of cooperating with him. If he does a better job than Peeta, he could have the same outcome as in the books and thus save Katniss.

He might be a bit arrogant or maybe thinks highly of himself, taking into account the outcome of the games in the original story, but if he needs to overthrow Panem and free the districts, Katniss is the spark that will ignite everything, and that is something he may not achieve as easily as she did.

For Jacob, Katniss is more than a savior; she is a tool that could help him complete his missions faster and with fewer problems. Of course, he had to consider this and if there is a possibility to achieve it, he will definitely do it.

During his stay in District Twelve, he woke up during the selection of that year's tributes, and Jacob saw that he was in the square of District Twelve. That time he wasn't chosen, and obviously, he didn't volunteer as a tribute since he still had a year before the story actually began.

After the ceremony, with the help of the intelligent assistant, Jacob managed to find his house. From a young age, people knew his story. Jacob was abandoned and became an orphan in the desolate District Twelve. With no other options, he was forced to work in the depths of the mine to survive. Every day, he would wake up before dawn, still sleepy and exhausted, to face long and grueling work shifts.

The conditions in the mine were inhumane. The air was filled with dust and toxins, and the constant deafening noise became a torture for his ears. Jacob ventured into the darkness of the tunnels, pushing heavy coal carts and breaking rocks with rudimentary tools. His back curved from constant effort, and his hands became calloused.

However, even in the midst of daily agony, Jacob never let despair take hold of him. At night, in the solitude of his small room, he trained in secret. He performed endurance and strength exercises, pushing his body to the limit. Every muscle in his body grew stronger, preparing for the day when he would have to face the Hunger Games.

As the months passed, Jacob found some comfort and hope in joining a group of rebels in the district. He found a connection with those who also dreamed of defying the Capitol and freeing the districts from the oppressive yoke. Together, they shared information, strategies, and the promise of a resistance growing in silence.

Over time, Jacob's goal became clear: to participate in the Hunger Games and use that victory as an opportunity to eventually return home as a victor, not just for himself, but also to inspire others to rebel against the Capitol. He knew the path would be dangerous and cruel, but he was willing to pay any price for the freedom of his district and all the others.

As the day of the reaping approached, tension and anxiety increased. Jacob continued training in secret, perfecting his combat and strategy skills. Every day was a physical and mental battle, but his determination remained unbroken.

Finally, the day came when Jacob was selected as a tribute to represent District Twelve in the Hunger Games. His heart pounded as he bid farewell to his rebel allies with an intelligent strategy to at least leave his mark if he died in the arena.

Although he might be alone in a deadly competition, Jacob knew he wasn't completely alone. The spirit of resistance and rebellion propelled him, and the memory of the faces of those who fought alongside him kept him strong. He could see the emaciated state of the people, and if given the chance, he wouldn't hesitate to overthrow the oppressive system of the Capitol before returning home.

The days of pain and survival in District Twelve had shaped Jacob into a brave and resilient fighter. Now, he was ready to face the greatest challenge of his life and become the symbol of an ongoing revolution, or at least that's what he would try to do.

...

After finishing his training, lost in his thoughts, Jacob took a shower and, with the help of his intelligent assistant, chose a comfortable new set of clothes to sleep in.

"[Your training was perfect, and with the consumed food, you will be able to absorb much of the unused energy in each of your muscles!]"

"Yes, at least I hope not to die in the games. I know I will win, but if I don't, I'll let everyone know that I gave it my all until the end..."

As Jacob closed his eyes, he kept thinking over and over about his skills in the arena and what would happen in the bloodbath. He knew he had special objects that he might acquire somehow in the arena, but that wouldn't be enough if he wanted to win.

Unknowingly, Jacob fell asleep while contemplating what would happen to him once he returned to killing. But one thing was certain: the experiences he would bring back to his world would be something he shouldn't have at his age.

...

Gray light seeped through the curtains as Jacob woke up to the reminder from his intelligent assistant calling him to wake up.

"[It's time to wake up! It's time to wake up! It's time to wake up!]"

Minutes after waking up, Jacob quickly dressed and felt refreshed in that comfortable bed. As he walked towards the door, he opened it and saw Effie Trinket walking towards his room.

"Oh, good, you're the most punctual and you make my job much easier. Today will be a very important day, so I hope for your cooperation."

Jacob looked at this woman and thought that she really loved her job, but unfortunately, that would cease to be the case in the future.

"Well, then I'll go to the dining area." Jacob bid farewell with a slightly dry voice.

"Yes, I'll have to go get Katniss, who is probably still asleep."

Jacob shook his head and entered the dining area where Haymitch was, his face flushed from what had happened the previous night.

"Good morning, mentor. Don't you want a strong coffee for your hangover?" Jacob lightly joked and walked towards him with a plate full of cookies.

"Oh..." Haymitch was about to say something when he saw Jacob eating the cookies from that woman called Effie Trinket. He brushed his hair away from his eyes and said, "You're the idiot boy who applauded like a clown in the District Twelve square. I thought you just wanted to appear on camera, but you were foolish enough to volunteer as tribute..."

Jacob sat down next to Haymitch and nodded once while focusing on eating the lonely cookies.

"I guess I'll have to deal with you as a mentor while you get the pleasure of guiding the future winner of these games..."

Upon hearing Jacob's words, Haymitch scoffed a bit with a tired voice and said, "Yes, I suppose so. I just hope you don't get your hopes up too much about what I can do for you."

By then, Jacob had finished the cookies and said, "Don't worry, I don't have very high expectations. I know you have your own demons to deal with, as you demonstrated at the previous dinner."

"Well, at least you're realistic. I don't have time for children's games. The Hunger Games are a bloody battle, and only the strongest and smartest survive," Haymitch said with a bit more interest upon observing Jacob's behavior.

"I'm not an idealist. I don't expect help from anyone in the arena to win." Jacob pointed out with a genuine smile he hadn't worn in a long time.

"Well, it seems you have some common sense after all. You're not like most of the tributes who expect to be rescued by their mentors."

Jacob sighed and pointed out, "I'm not naive. I know no one will come to save me. If I want to survive, I have to rely on myself and use any advantage I can find, from volunteering as tribute to the day of the arena."

"Seems like you've got a head on your shoulders, unlike most of the narcissists parading around here. That's a good start." Haymitch drank the coffee in his cup, and by then, he saw Katniss enter with Effie Trinket. "Well, they're here... Wonder how that woman looks without her wig..."

"I met someone similar, and in the end, it turned out to be a man..." Jacob made a bad joke to tease Haymitch without him noticing.

As Katniss entered the dining area, Effie returned with a cup of coffee. From her appearance, she had heard Haymitch's words and muttered obscenities under her breath.

Haymitch chuckled discreetly, his face swollen and red from the abuses of the previous day. Jacob, sitting beside him, looked at Katniss with a big smile, gesturing for her to look at her mentor.

"Sit down! Sit down!" Haymitch exclaimed, waving his hand for Katniss to sit.