The Capitol – (PART TWO)

Shock. It hits me like a brick and I feel like fainting. My brother. He's saved… An eerie silence filled the town square. And I couldn't help thinking everyone was staring at me. I opened my eyes to find that no one was staring at me. But him. The boy who saved my brother. He looked young. Too young to volunteer. But I couldn't help and be glad. I just wanted to run, run and hug my brother. Stare him in the eyes an- "And for the Girls!" Came the familiar voice of Alexist.

"Rhyme Amnihar."

I freeze. Closing my eyes feel like the right thing to do right now. I see my brothers face, my mother's face. And this time when I open my eyes, everyone is staring at me. 'No' I think to myself. 'That can't be right there must be some mistake.' Someone nudges me "That's you." Comes a voice. Everyone parts for me. Giving me looks that scream 'I'm so sorry' I blink. I somehow start walking but I can't feel my legs. All over my body is numb. I feel as if I am merely a puppet with someone else controlling the strings. I try to scream but no sound escapes me. Alexist gestures me to the stage and I follow.

"Ladies And Gentlemen This Years Tributes – Finnick O'dair and Rhyme Amnihar. Now shake hands." She says softly almost as if she feels sorry for us. But she doesn't. She is one of them. A sadistic capitol citizen that craves blood and pain. I almost don't notice the peacekeepers walking behind me, making me walk. Finnick stands beside me as motionless as I am, he seems to have gone a greenish shade of blue. I look at Alexist, she's smiling and saying something that I manage to block out. I stare at the back of her head, maybe… If I stare long enough she'll explode. A small chuckle escapes my lips. That's when I remember Finnick. I am older than him. And If I'm scared he must be a wreck.

"Hey." I mumble, almost spitting out the word.

"Hey…" He replies looking away, indicating the conversation is over. 'What did you expect?' I think to myself. 'A friendly wave? A cheerful hello? Don't be stupid. Your going in to a death match with this person. And only one person can live. And it has to be you.' I shake my head and realize that were walking into the mayors house. A large white, hallway greets us. It's beautiful. The wooden floors and the smell of old books fill the room. For a moment I lose myself in the room, letting my eyes explore. And then it's time to move on. We walk up some large wooden stairs that lead to two separate rooms.

"Finnick, your in this room" Smiles Alexist. "Rhyme, this is yours for the meantime." I walk in and even though the room is nothing but a couch, I can't help but love it. It's much bigger than my room at home. I walk to the window and look out to the town, watching the children walk away, seeing the mothers hug there babies who have been saved. I open the window. I want to smell the fresh sea air. I want to swim on the beach, before I am whisked away to the Capitol to meet my fate. I look out the window and only wish to float away and never return.

The door of the room opens. "RYHME!" Screams Danior. He runs at me and hugs me so tight. I want to cry. I need to cry. But I can't.

Danior looks me in the eyes blinking away tears that threaten to spill. My mother comes in slowly, her red, puffy face indicates she's been crying. Now I'm really about to cry. "Oh hunny, my baby" Cries my mother, running at me, hugging me, almost squashing Danior. For a moment we all cry together, tangled in each other. Wrapped in a hug. Then I let go. 'I must be strong' I repeat in my head.

"Mum" I say. My voice sounds weak, creaky. I cough. "Mum. It's going to be fine." I lie. Danior looks at me his eyes full of tears. "Please. Rhyme. You've got too come home. You can't leave me. You're, you're my best friend." He chokes. I nod. My mother cups my face. "You have to win Rhyme. Do what you have too. Just try and come home. Plea- "TIMES UP!" Calls a female peacekeeper. "NO!" Cries my mother hysterically. "MY BABY! NO PLEASE." She screams. Peacekeepers fill the room almost dragging her away. "MY BABY!" Danior looks at me he's crying now hysterically now. "YOU'VE GOT TO WIN RHYME! YOU JUST HAVE TOO I LOVE YOU!" I try to speak but no words come out. Peacekeepers pick him up like he weigh nothing, pulling him from the room. The door slams shut.

Silence.

I stare at the door, repeating words in my head. The door opens. Alexist gestures for me to follow her. Surprisingly I manage to stand without crumbling to the floor. I follow her out of the room and meet Finnick in the hallway. Finnick has been crying I can tell. 'Do I look like that?' I think to myself. Red puffy eyes, slouched posture, a tear streaked face? I rub at my face almost trying to hide the evidence of tears. We walk out from the mayors house. 'I know where were going' I think. "And the train is so comfty." Have I been blocking her out this entire time? "And the beds are just to die for!" 'How ironic…' I almost laugh. We walk up to the train station, the gleaming silver capitol train already sitting there. "It's a good thing Finnick here volunteered for your brother Rhyme" Says Alexist smiling. I almost burst out in tears. "Can you imagine if you too had to fight it out? How terrible!" She says with no emotion. "Would've made good TV though!" She laughs. THAT BITCH. I fight the urge to jump at her and claw at her face. I don't even remember boarding the train, but next thing I know, the unfamiliar jerk of the train wakes me from my daze. I've never been on a train before. I almost feel…Sick. 'I can't be sick.' I think. 'Oh yeah Rhyme, what a great way to show to the tributes you're not a weakling. By throwing up on the freaking train.'

A woman enters our compartment of the train. She has silver hair and grayish-blue eyes. 'She was beautiful once.' I think. But age has scarred her. Distorted her features. "Ah!" Says Alexist with excitement. "This is your Mentor. Magdolene." Magdolene smiles. "Thankyou Alexist, but I prefer just Mags." Alexist screws up her face for a moment then smiles. "As you wish Mags." She says. Mags sits down staring at me, then at Finnick. "Ah," She says. "I see you both are fit. You'll do well." She says smiling. Her words comfort me. 'She has that effect' I think. She looks sweet, innocent. But she is not. There is blood on her hands. I remember her. She was one of the careers. Careers are tributes who join together. Usually from districts 1 and 2. But sometimes 4. "Mags" Says Alexist sweetly. "Do not get to carried away. It's a 2 day train ride. The children must be tired. I should show them to their rooms." She says without even looking at us. 'I hate her' I think. 'She thinks I am a child. I am not a child.' One of the things I use to hate when I was little was when adults talked down to me, how they demanded respect.

"Don't talk down to me like that." I say quietly.

"I beg your pardon?" Says Alexist staring at me in disbelief. "What did you just say?!" Her face contorts, like she might reach out and hit me.

"Don't talk to me like that." I snap back.

"You will show me respect young lady!" She says her voice strangled.

"I Will give you respect once you earn it." I scream at her.

A loud laugh breaks the tension. It belongs to Finnick.

"Look at you too." He says almost spitting out the words. "I'll never understand women" He laughs cruelly. Taunting me almost. I turn to face him.

"Exuse me?" I say with confidence.

"I can't believe this!" He yells. "How could you be fighting? NOW FOR FUCKS SAKE?"

Alexist Gasps "HOW DA-"

Mags gets up. Smiling. She stares at me. The look in her eyes confuses me. Almost like she is proud. "You both will do well. Alexist…. Show them to their rooms. They need rest." She walks out of our compartment. Leaving the three of us in Silence. Alexis stands straight. Breathes out and then smiles. "Right this way." She leads us out of our compartment and down a hallway. "This Rhyme." She says full of arrogance. "Is your room. Dinner will be served soon, there are fresh clothes in the drawers. I hope everything is to your liking." She spits out. I hardly even notice. I am too taken in by this amazing room. I breathe in. The walls are lined with velvet, the floor is some kind of creamy carpet. The door behind me shuts. I slip of my shoes. The carpet is soft under my feet. I walk to the window of the train. There is a ledge so I sit on It, staring out and see nothing but the beautiful view of the sea. I smile. It reminds me of home.

I try to open the window. But it's locked. 'Of course. This is a capitol train. I am like a rat in a cage, there is no turning back now.' I sigh.