I'm shocked. Where is my family? Even prisoners can visit someone who was reaped. They must have just not wanted to come. No, maybe they're late.
At the end of the hour, I have to face the facts. They aren't coming. I want to cry, but I can't. I need to look mysterious, give no emotion. So I put on a brave face and get in the car.
The car takes us to the train station. I look around. This might be my last glimpse of District 5. Ever. But, no, I need to win and get the money for my family. I memorize the scenery. The grass fields in which our homes reside, the stores in the town square, and the huge factories we use for making power right in the middle of it all. I never liked the factories, too big and ugly. But now I see them as beautiful. As home.
I get into the train and take a look at my district partner. He looks weak. And stupid. Won't make it past the bloodbath. He is currently staring in disgust at his mentor.
5 has only had 4 victors. Two are still alive. Valerie Versailles and Holeste Carter. He's a drunk. Everyone hates him. He won his games hiding until the careers broke up, then killing them. Each and every one. Valerie had more of my style. She hid until the final five and went out and targeted every one. But Valerie isn't quite sane. The last person she killed was a 12 year old. She was crying while throwing her knife. I shudder just remembering that little girl pleading. Everyone in Panem remembers what she said. She gave a chilling speech.
"Please, please don't do it. I'm only 12. I hate this game. I just want to go home. Please. Please let me. I need my mommy and daddy. Please, please. I want to go home. I want to go home." Valerie threw the knife. The little girl said, with dying breaths, "I wanna go home. Please." Then her cannon fired.
Valerie isn't the same. She used to be, according to my mother, a bright happy girl. Now, she sits in her house all day. When she does go out, she cries at every child she sees and gives them money. It's so nice, but so sad. I can't imagine being her.
Valerie turns her attention to me. She says, "You look like her." "Who?" I ask. "Your mother. We were friends. Now I never see her." I take a deep breath and explain why she's in jail. She looks at me and says "If you don't win this, I will get them out." "Thank you!" I scream and beam at her. But she just looks sad. She shakes her head and turns away. Walks back into her room. I follow, but go to my room.
Back in my train car room, I rethink Valerie. She's so sad all the time. Why hasn't she killed herself? I've never seen her happy. But suddenly I know.
If she died, that little girl's death would have been wasted.