Here's chapter 2 :) Review, Review, Review! And thanks again :)
Disclaimer: I do not own the hunger games!
As soon as Carter left, the peacekeepers came to take me away. But, me being as stubborn as I am told them I wasn't going anywhere and that I wanted my baby back. That wasn't a very smart move. One of the peacekeepers simply picked me up and slung me over his shoulder. It finally hit me that they were sending me off to the hunger games, and I started freaking out. I was kicking him and screaming and punching and everything. He dropped me once, but I didn't get very far before the other peacekeepers put me in handcuffs and shackles and dragged me to the train station.
And to top off my perfect day, there were cameras there, filming & taking pictures of me.
I just entered the train, and they are removing my handcuffs and shackles. I'm pretending to be nice, but as soon as they're off, I make a bolt for the door, hitting and kicking the peacekeepers in my way.
One grabs my arm and smiles at me, "A feisty one, eh?" My eyes widen and I'm terrified. I feel a sudden prick in my neck and I feel myself falling to the floor. The world suddenly goes black.
"Gemma, Gemma wake up." I feel someone shaking me.
"Carter?" I squint open my eyes a little to see a guy smiling at me.
"No, I'm Ky. Your district partner? Come on, get up." And with that he grabs my waist and picks me up. It makes me uncomfortable but I figure he's just trying to help.
"What happen? Did I get hit by the train?" I ask him a little more hopeful than I should, considering I have a daughter at home that needs me.
He grabs my hand and starts to drag me down the hall. He laughs, "No. You went wild after you stepped onto the train, and they had to sedate you. Remember?"
"Oh shit… Was I really that bad?" I mumble.
"Um, yeah. You broke one peacekeeper's nose, along with another's rib, and another's ankle! You were being really nuts!" I know he's only joking but I take this to offence. I stop him, grab him by his arms and push him into the wall.
"Don't you dare tell me I'm nuts. It's not my fault I want to go home to take care of my daughter instead of going into an arena filled with people who want me dead!" I realize I'm crying again now, and let go of him to bury my face in my hands instead.
"Hey, I'm sorry, ok? I was only joking! I know you're not nuts!"
I don't reply, I just keep walking in the direction we were going. A door opens and we are in a huge room, filled with a lot of food and tables.
"Over here." Ky guilds me over to a table with 3 people sat down to it. I recognize them immediately – Our escort from earlier, and our two mentors; Esmeralda Shine & Mitchell Chuck. Normally, it would be Cashmere & Gloss as our mentors, but Esmeralda & Mitchell thought it was only fair for them to take a turn sending 2 kids off to their deaths.
Mitchell grins when he sees me, "Glad to see you finally joining us, Ms. Stone."
"Gemma. Please." I hate when people call me Ms. Stone. It makes me sound old.
"Okay then, Gemma. You've been out for quite a while, so we are going to cut right to it. Would you two rather be mentored together or separately?"
"Separate. Definitely." I answer very quickly. Ky looks hurt. I turn to him, "Sorry. I'm not being a career, and knowing you, you probably will be. So why should we be? It will only be an advantage for you."
He just nods. Mitchell cuts back in, "Separate it is. Esmeralda will be you mentor, Gemma; and I'll be yours Ky." Dinner is served to us, it doesn't look all that appetizing, but I force myself to eat it anyways. I can't stop thinking about Trixie and Carter. I start to get lost in my day dreams.
It was the first time I brought Trixie home from the hospital. It was the day after the reaping, and I didn't know who was chosen. I was so worried it was Carter. But sure enough, he was the one to come pick me up, in his Uncle's brand new car. "Hey." He greeted me with a smile. I really miss that smile. I wish he was here now. I showed him the very tiny Trixie, and he was ecstatic. He said it was going to be like his little sister he never wanted. I couldn't stop laughing at-
"Hello? Gemma!" I snap back to reality at Mitchell's voice. "Did you get any of that?"
I look at him puzzled, then around the table. Everyone's looking at me like I'm crazy. I guess I am. I have a kid at 16, then when I get reaped I go crazy lashing out at peacekeepers, and then I zone out at random times. "Oh. What. Yes. No?"
He just sighs, and our escort is muttering something under her breath. I catch a glimpse at Esmeralda, she's staring at me, and so I glare at her. "What were you thinking about Gemma?" She asks me.
I smile a bit at my thought, and then remember where I am. Then my mood changes and I feel very sad again. I whisper, "About the first time I brought Trixie home."
She smiles. "Trixie's your daughter, right?"
"Well yes. I'm not going to carry a random baby up on stage with me. You know, today is her birthday? Now she's going to think that her birthday is the worst day of the year, just because her own mother got sent off to her own death on that day!" My hands fasten around a knife that's placed beside me on the table, and everyone stares at me in shock and horror. I wouldn't blame them, I'm scared of myself. I didn't even realize I was gripping the knife in the first place. "W-What's wrong with me?" I whisper as I drop the knife.
Esmeralda leans her hand over, and places it on top of mine. "Nothing's wrong with you. You are just worried about your daughter. And trust me when I say I will do everything I can to help you come home."
I don't reply, I just glare at her and stand up from the table, pushing my chair in politely, as if to mock our escort who is always complaining about manners, before storming off to my room. I curl up on my bed, and cry and cry and cry in the dark, thinking about what Trixie and Carter must be doing right now.
I wake up from a thud on my door. I look out of the window, and it's light out. We must have already arrived at the capitol. Sometime last night I managed to shove on a pair of Shorts and a tank top to sleep in, so I answer the door wearing that. "Uh huh?"
It's our escort, of course. "You are expected to be changed and ready for breakfast in 15 minutes. We have just arrived at the Capitol, and we're the first ones here! The opening ceremonies aren't until tomorrow night, so you have all today and tonight to do whatever you please." And with that she leaves me in the doorway half asleep to go wake up Ky.
I close the door and go get a plain pink t shirt and some black skinny jeans. I get cleaned up and then walk out for breakfast. It's only Esmeralda there, which I'm surprised about. I sit down across from her. "Eating?" I ask her.
She shakes her head, "Nah. I'm not a breakfast person. You?"
"No. I'm just going to have some hot chocolate." I order some from an avox. If I don't come home, and my mother gets her hands on my daughter that could be her one day. The thought brings tears to my eyes. She returns with the drink, and I take a sip.
"Hey Gemma?" I didn't notice she was watching me.
"Yeah?" I ask her.
"Can you tell me about your daughter?"
I smile, "Well… She's beautiful. You'll never meet a little girl as cute as her. Besides from me, she doesn't really have anyone… Her father left when I told him I was pregnant, and my mom hates her. Then of course there's Carter but-"
"Wait, who's Carter?" She interrupts me.
"He's… He's-" I feel my bottom lip quivering and I can't get it out.
"It's fine Gemma. Let's stop talking about it, okay?" I nod. "Okay, well, what are you going to do all day?"
I think for a minute. "I don't really know. I think I might just have a me-day. Order a bunch of food that isn't healthy and watch movies all day, you know?" She laughs, and I offer her a tiny smile. "Oh, and I want to write letters. To my family. At home."
"I see. That sounds like fun." I giggle, and then go serious.
"Do you think I'd be allowed to write a letter for Trixie for when she's older? Like… If I don't come out of there? So when she's a teenager she can receive some letters from me?"
She gives me a genuinely kind smile. "Of course. That's a great idea." And with that she gets up with her coffee and walks away, leaving me at the table alone.