I'll be uploading a chapter every week around this time. I would like to thank ScarleyandDaniel for all their advice and help whilst I was writing this story, it was them who inspired me to write, so I owe them so much. They're currently writing a story called The missing Hearth, it's a fantastic story, I recommend it. anyway on with the story! hope you enjoy.
Chapter two – the train ride
As soon as we arrived on the train we were ushered into the lounge car, we sat in an awkward silence until Finnick came in and sat across from me and Ethan, he put his drink on the glass table between us along with some sugar cubes which I thought was odd. "it will take three days to get to the capitol, today you shall rest, tomorrow we will meet and discuss strengths and weaknesses and strategies, and all that stuff, the last day you shall rest" he smiles at this point "for now I want you both to eat and enjoy the train's facilities, now off with you, dining car is at the end of the train, that way" He pointed forward and me and Ethan both stood up and walked that way, both with blank faces.
The dining car was filled with delicious looking food, the walls were a chrome colour, and on two adjacent walls were windows, so we could look out whilst eating. Along one wall was a light chrome table with 6 chairs around it, along the other walls were a drinks station, food station, and a station for cutlery etc. The two avoxes (both of which had brown hair and similar facial features, it was clear they were sisters) motioned for us to take food. So me and Ethan each took a plate and filled it with mouth watering food, and sat down as far away from each other as we could get, looking out the window whilst shovelling food into our mouth. Even though we're considered a richer district some of us still don't get a lot of food. I knew Ethan was just hungry as his family was rich in our district but my father was merely a salesman of homemade nets, that didn't sell well, my mother didn't work as she wasn't qualified enough to do so. Therefore we sometimes had nights when we didn't eat, most of the time we just got by, but this amount of food amazed me. Hey, if I wasn't going to come out alive (which I probably won't) I deserved to eat properly for the next few days.
As I was half way through my plate, Finnick came in, he laughs and says "aha I see you two are great friends, ah well it will make it easier in the arena, I suppose" he had clearly ran out of sugar cubes as he shovelled enough into his bowl that he will never need any more sugar cubes again. Finnick then walked calmly out of the dining car. "I'm Ethan, and you are?" Ethan says "I'm Taylor" I say "well don't worry I'll get you in with the pack, keep you safe until it comes to the right time, after all, if one of us is going to win, it'll be me, I'm smarter, stronger, and well just better than you" he states counting on his fingers "but don't threat I will ensure that the other careers kill you painlessly and quickly, whilst I'm not there, wouldn't want the winner to have killed their own district partner now would we" he smiles, a genuine smile as if he's expecting me to agree in how my own death will come about. "I will state how brave you were and how much of a loss that you died at the hands of my deceiving career allies, and then say how I was destined to bring back pride to our district" he takes on an angry look and stabs his fork into the table so that I flinch "after that Finnick crushed it by his cowardly catching and killing tributes!" he then takes on a triumphant smile and states "I will show a glorious battle that will be head on, not a coward way of killing in sleep or poisoning but a brutal fight! In which I shall win of course, as I am likely to be the strongest there I mean look at me. The capitol will love me." Ethan says confidently while showing his muscles. I simply stare, in complete shock, I totally undermined his ego and his confidence in how sure he thinks he is to win. I make another vow. Let anybody but Ethan win, he is all I despise and more, he is playing into the hands of the capitol! The only thing I agree with him in is that yes the capitol will love him, and because of that, they will use him if he wins, but most likely he'll enjoy it. So this is why he cannot win, we need less people on the capitol's side, and more people trying to stop this obvious genocide of children. "Yeah" I mumble, as I quickly get out of the dining car and try to find my room.
My room is a soft blue colour. With light green bed sheets on the bed in the middle of the back wall, there is a black TV screen opposite the bed on the opposite wall, a few windows to see out, a wardrobe full of clothes, night pyjamas, slippers, shoes along with other essential things like toiletries. I walk through a door leading from my bedroom to the bathroom, it is also a soft blue colour, I find a shower with so many buttons on the wall it's hard to focus on them, and the sink is also hi-tech. There is no bath. I walk back out of the bathroom and lie on the bed, at some point I drift into sleep.
I dream of my home. District 4. The sea air smells, the taste of mum's home fried fish, the warmth of Will's hugs, and of course my homemade sword. It was perfectly balanced, with a 3 and a half ft blade and a 6 inch handle, all made out of silver, with one single sea-green stone at the top of the handle. I even had my own case to keep it safe and make sure not to stab anyone by accident; the case was sea-green to match the stone. I dreamt of the sword and a night that I could never forget. One night Will and I were duelling and after I had won that duel, we duelled again, this continued until I won 5 times in a row. Will said in desperation "ok ok you win, let's stop duelling for tonight, my bum is hurting from losing too much" I laugh at this and we go to our usual spot by the sea on a spit of land. However this spot is secluded, in front of a rock just big enough to hide Will and me, if we sit in front of it, no one can see us unless they come round the front too. We sit down, me on the left, him on the right. The moon full and stars shining brightly in the jet black sky. It's a beautiful night. Will suddenly says "this is wrong" "I know" is all I say. I know what he means, the games, forcing kids to kill each other for the capitols amusement. "I mean we shouldn't have to train in the dead of night because your father refuses to let you go to training, what if your reaped, your expected to train, you'll be out casted of the career pack instantly" what he has just said dawns on him and he back tracks quickly "not that you want to be a career, but it would get you further if you were with them." Clearly I have caught the wrong idea about what this conversation was about. I think he is right though. It is true. The capitol viewers judge us to be good as well as the other districts to be bad. Luckily Will is allowed to train and teaches me what he learns, but if he didn't, I would be doomed if I were reaped. "I feel guilty whenever I speak to him, as I know he doesn't want me to train, but I have every chance of being reaped as you do, he's put me at a disadvantage and has no right to do so." I say calmly. There is silence for a few minutes, in which it is obvious we are both thinking deeply, before Will speaks "Tay, I know we're only 15, but in case you are reaped or I am, I wanted to give you something to remember me by, as your" he hesitates "best friend" he finally says. He then pulls out a box. He opens it and I gasp as I see what's inside. A silver band, half a centimetre wide all the way round, with 4 sea-green stones, about the size of a small pea, are in a row on the band, they are encrusted into the band and so couldn't be removed even if you tried. On the inside of the band it is engraved, it says 'Will and Taylor'. He pushes it on my right wrist, it fits perfectly, not too tight, not so lose that it will fall off. I now look up at him, I jump at him and give him a hug, he falls backwards, and I end up on top of him, crying because of how thoughtful this idea is. He hugs back with force, but not to crush me, just to show compassion to me. We stay like that for what feels like hours until I fall asleep in his arms. I wake up at this point, smiling at the happy memory, that was the best night ever. I then frown as I won't see Will again probably. I look at the bracelet now, I always wear it, it could be my token in the arena, I think grimly as I climb out of bed to realise it's diner time.
Not wanting to talk to Ethan again I order a cheese sandwich to my room, purely because I'm not hungry after thinking about not seeing Will again. After my cheese sandwich I order a hot chocolate to the room too, and after my hot chocolate I fall asleep again. Only this time dreaming of my family.
I awake to a knocking at my door "Taylor, it's time for breakfast, and also Finnick wants to talk to you and Ethan, to lay out the plans for today" Peter says. I grudgingly get up, shower, put some comfortable clothes on and make my way to the dining car. When I arrive I see Finnick, Ethan and Peter all eating and lightly talking. I walk in, sit down and grab some toast, jam, butter, hot chocolate and a croissant, feeling hungry once again. After we've all done, Finnick takes Ethan and me to the lounge car. "Right from now until lunch time I will speak with Ethan, from 12:30 until 3 I shall speak with Taylor. After your talk you may go back to what you want to do, it'll be your last free time before the capitol." He pauses clearly thinking he's missed something important to say "I will in the capitol be trying to help you, as a mentor should do, to win and be your best every step of the way" I know for a fact help outside the training days is not allowed, and it is obvious Finnick knows this too, it is also clear that he knows other tributes will do the same and he doesn't want us at a disadvantage " In order for my help, though, you must promise to always do what I say, as it is for the best. Agreed?" states Finnick. After seeing Ethan and I nod, I am dismissed until 12:00 for lunch and my allotted time with Finnick.
Lunch comes too quickly and soon I am being ushered into the lounge car by Finnick. We both sit opposite each other. He looks at me, to asses my strength I assume, he then makes me stand up and turn. After I've sat back down he begins "so Taylor, let's focus on the negatives, first, what do you think might cause a fault with you in the arena?" I'm caught off guard by this question but say "well I'm not physically fit, I'm not strong, I know nothing about the woods or what plants to eat, I haven't been given training as my dad refused it, and I'm small" I think I might as well tell him everything, as it won't help him to help me if I hold my faults back. "Yes, yes, at least you admit your faults, not that honesty and humbleness will help in the arena but it's always nice to be that way. Right you're going to have to learn about plants and edible things in the training days, as for your unfitness, I expect a few exercises each day will at least help a bit, even if it's getting used to running or just being pushed to your limit." He smiles and takes a lighter tone "Your height can sometimes help; you shouldn't hide in trees, but low on the ground." He takes on more serious tone once again "As for your strength, lift a few heavy things each day just to build up a bit of muscle, I will organise a training schedule for you to get you fit enough. I'm surprised you weren't given training, but there's nothing we can do about that. Spend equal time at every station to help with you lacking in that area, but you will still be at a disadvantage." He sighed and then asked "strengths?" I smile at this and simply say "I'm good with a sword, my best friend was allowed training and taught me everything he was about swords and how to use them, we duelled secretly at night, every night, to keep my sword skills up, I often beat Will in a battle, I even created my own sword, but that's at home" Finnick smiled, a mischievous smile "well Miss Knight that was naughty to train without your father's permission" he winks at me "but it has given you training, and I imagine the sword fight skills would keep you light on your feet, so you may be surprised by how much you can run, I expect your fitness isn't as bad as you think, but I will still make a schedule to help with your strength" he pauses for a drink. "ok here's how I want you to handle training..." we then discuss how I should watch my competition to see if there are any other good sword fighters but keep my talent hidden for the private training, just like Will said. We decide to play it innocent in the interviews and pretend I don't have a talent at all but answer truthfully to everything else. Talk about Will if the question sees fit and leave the audience wondering about our relationship, I might get more sponsors if they believe I have a lover back home to go to.
Finnick then all of a sudden hands me a long stick (I assume to open the roof windows of the car with) and he grabs one too suddenly launching at me with his, although he gets first hit as I am caught off guard by this sudden attack, I recover quickly and fight back with all I have, assuming he's assessing my skills. In a mere minute of fighting Finnick is at the mercy of my sword on the floor. I help him up and he simply says "quite a talent Miss Knight I must say" obviously pleased with my show, he dismisses me saying our next talk will be more about the interviews and training days and gives a final piece of advice "don't trust Ethan, it's you who I'm wanting to win. Do not join up with the careers in training or the arena, you will last on your own if you use the training days to their full potential" I nod and walk out heading to my room.
The rest of the journey to the capitol passes quickly with walks to explore the train and taking advantage of the dining car. It is when I am day dreaming about Will the next day when a knock interrupts my thoughts; Finnick slides my bedroom door open saying "we've arrived" in an emotionless voice. This is it I think. This is where I die. The capitol.