Chapter Two
Saying Goodbye
I flinched as Arsene's fingers dug into my shoulder. I looked back at him and saw that his face had become a pasty white, his eyes dilating as the impact of both our names being called hit him. I felt his body tense as he brought his other hand to his mouth. His eyes closed as he caught his vomit before it could come out; swallowing quickly before he could lose control. I then realized that all eyes had turned to me, and I slowly started to make my way to the stage. My legs couldn't help but move in a stiff gait. As I reached the stage, my mother's wails pierced the cool breeze that brushed my face. I quickly turned back to see my father rocking her; tears drowning their cheeks at the realization that this would be the last time they saw both of their youngest children alive. Suddenly, I realize that Tamika is talking to me, and I shake myself out of my reverie and try to hear what she is saying.
"Well, I bet that you happen to be this little cutie's older brother! How about that?" As she asked, she pursed her lips, which reminded me of a largemouth bass, in a faux-sympathetic gesture.
It was time to start my strategy. After twelve years of developing it, I had finally decided to go with a terse, stoic manner. Much like the Spartans from the stories my mother had read to me when I was younger. I'm not sure where she had gotten the book because the Capitol had outlawed it long ago. The heroes from "The Histories" were known to be men of few words, but who could brutally kill you in an instant.
My parents had modeled their training after the Spartan ideals. Like us, they had honed their skills from youth, by depriving themselves of comfort and spending time in the wild learning to survive and kill. It would be fitting for me to be a Spartan, and if that is what I must be to protect my sister, that is what I will become. I will sacrifice my humanity if it will save her.
"Yes, ma'am." I nodded my head and took Alouette's hand.
Tamika looked at us, lips still pursed like a largemouth bass, eyes glinting like a bird of prey and clasped her hands together at her chest. She dramatically sighed and then jerked her head to the microphone.
"Well, well my dearest district! This seems to be the end of our reaping! Let us send off our tributes with an applause!" She led the rush of clapping as peacekeepers came up behind us.
"Oh, my dearest tributes, May the odds be ever in your favor!" Her eyelashes fluttered with sick sweetness as we were escorted to the Justice building.
Alouette and I's hands were clenched so tightly that the tips of my fingers began to tingle. I was afraid to look down at her, afraid to lose my composure in front of the cameras, in front of my family, peers and Panem. But most importantly, I did not want to show any weakness to the other tributes, who would be waiting to exploit any vulnerability I exposed to them. I could not allow that, for Alouette's sake.
When we reached the Justice building, the peacekeepers tore our hands apart as they led us to our separate rooms. I had never been in a room with air conditioning before. And I had never seen such comfortable-looking chairs in my life. They almost made me wish that I could sit down but I was too nervous to do anything but pace. I was starting to wonder who my parents would visit first when Arsene bull-rushed his way through the door.
His face had regained its normal hue and his demeanor no longer threatened spontaneous eruptions of vomit. But his lips were still pressed tightly together and his eyes held no emotion as if his essence had been torn from him; joy was being cleaved from his chest.
"Arsene... I don't know what to do." I glanced up, anguish distorting my stance.
His eyes watered as he placed his hands on my shoulder.
"Tab, I love you. And no matter what happens in that arena, I will always love you. You can't both come home, I know that. You won't be able to protect her from everything." He stopped there, unable to continue as he choked on an escaped cry.
"Arsene, you must be strong for mother, I will try my hardest to keep Alouette alive and get her out of that arena, but I need to know that you have everything okay here." As I was speaking, he wiped his eyes and looked at me woefully. "Arsene, you must take care of them. I need to know that Alouette will have a home to come back to."
His green eyes were wrecked with grief as they shot to the floor. "I know, Tab, I will be strong. Please... be safe. I have to go say goo- see Alouette." He gave me one last hug and shrugged out of the door.
Tears threatened to burn my cheeks, I wiped them away before my Mom and Dad could come in. I did not want them to see how afraid I was, how confused.
I restarted my anxious pacing as I waited for them. I heard a choked gasp outside the door, a muffled wail, as my Dad opened the door holding my Mom against his chest. His eyes were red and damp but his tense lips resembled Arsene's. He looked at me with anguished desperation. Mom stumbled towards me, blinded by tears. I caught her as she fell against me. Her body shook as she mumbled "I- I- I- always kn- knew tha-a-at one of ya-you cu-cu- could g-g-get rah-rah-ra-reaped. I da-da-did, but I-I never ex-expected ta-two. I never expected two!" She stopped crying and just held onto me as silent tears stained her cheeks.
My Dad took a rattled breath and began to speak. "Tabac, we love you. No one should be put into the position that you have found yourself in. It is not your job to protect Alouette. She is just as well trained as you are. Protect yourself, and do what you can to make sure that at least one of you comes home." After that, he came over and hugged Mom and I. He reached into Mom's knapsack and handed me my notebook. I tucked it into my pants and under my shirt. As Dad began to take Mom away, I kissed her on the forehead. "Mom, I love you. I love you too, Dad. I'll do my best."
She started screaming "Tabac! I love you! I love you, Tabac! Please, God, find a way to come home!" My eyes began to water as my bottom lip trembled.
My voice cracked. "Mom- I promise! I promise that one of us will come home!" And with that, the peacekeepers shut the door and my family disappeared into District 10.
A few moments later, the peacekeepers opened the door to my room. One held my sister's arm. It was apparent that she had been crying but now she wore a mask of numb despondency. I walked over to her and hugged her tightly. "Remember, Alouette, the cameras start now." She looked up at me, her face etched with pain. I looked for the glow that always lived in the back her eyes, but it had been dampened. "Alouette, we cannot afford for you to forget your strategy. Put a smile on that face. Right now."
She glared at me, but she knew I was right. She closed her eyes, took a big breath and found that charming smile of hers. "Is this good enough, big brother?" She snorted and began to walk towards the door, charming smile plastered on her tan face. I followed, my face completely removed of emotion. Alouette paused, turned around, and took my hand into hers. Together, we opened the door to the town square.
As we walked, cameras were snapping and recording our every breath. Alouette curtsied, giggled and waved to the waiting car. I kept my face blank, simply nodding at any goodbyes or good luck wishes. When we got to the car, I momentarily allowed myself to be excited. Although I had seen them every year during the reapings, I had never been inside of one. I wasn't sure what to expect. One victor told me that it was a lot like riding a horse. However, I am not sure where he got that idea. It was nothing like a horse- I didn't feel free.
The car ride was unexpectedly short and I found myself walking to the train platform much too soon. Alouette reached the top before me and curtsied towards the cameras and crowd. I nodded and gave a terse wave before walking through the door into a world of decadence and unimaginable food.
Alouette looked at me before giggling and running towards the tables piled high with desserts. Tamika followed behind us.
"Well, I see you have found the food. Your mentors will be here soon. I'm assuming they are having their daily dose of morphling. Hopefully one of you will survive so I can have a new mentor to work with. These ones are tiresome." Her theatrics were gone and I found myself relieved. I could deal with this cold honesty better than the sickly sweet air she had for the cameras.
"What do we do next?" I was surprised by my sister's voice. "I mean, we have watched all of the Games, but we never see what happens on the train. What do we do here?"
Tamika looked surprised as well. "Already getting started, huh? You eat here. You rest. You come to terms with the fact that you will never see your family again. Other than that, there is not much you can do. If your mentors were worth anything, you would be developing your strategy. However, that would require them to forfeit their induced haze."
My sister looked unphased while I, on the other hand, drew my eyebrows up in shock. "I know Hockle and Grainia. We knew what to expect of them and we came prepared. My brother and I already have a strategy, we do not need their help. However, I was wondering if we started training on the train." I stared at my sister in disbelief. I had never seen her talk to a grown up with such authority.
Tamika was taken aback. "How... you aren't Careers. You shouldn't be so..."
"What? Prepared? Do you have kids, Tamika? Do you? I'm assuming not, because you wouldn't be so shocked if you did. My parent's loved us beyond anything and could not fathom sending their children to their deaths without some form of preparation. No, we are not Careers. We are Flint's and we have been trained to survive. We aren't your average district 10 tributes, ma'am. Now, is there a training area here or not?" Tamika looked at me as if to seek affirmation. I nodded at her.
"Tamika, we have been trained. We have strategies. We are ready." I looked down at my sister. "Except for one thing. We were not prepared to enter as siblings. How should we play this?"
Her grin became interested. "Well, well this could be interesting. Now, wave goodbye to your home, the train is departing. I wouldn't expect to see it again."
