Chapter Two

I didn't cry. Not once. When Effie brought Xander up to the stage and the guards pulled Xavier back into line, I kept my composure. As my brother's face filled with helplessness and regret, my eyes didn't even fill with the least bit of sorrow. Effie's announcement of the new tributes of District 12 didn't bring me to tears.

I am a tribute in the 100th Hunger Games.

The news hadn't sunken in yet, I was still on the verge of breaking. I knew it would happen sooner or later, but I hoped I could keep my poise when it was visiting time. They pulled me into a room and I waited uncomplainingly in an uncomfortable chair in the corner. "You Have One Visitor." The robotic voice echoed.

I stood up and patted my dress down to smooth out the creases. My expectations of my brother walking from that door were crushed when Marisol stepped from the threshold. Her wide eyes were red and worn from crying. She didn't hug me, nor did she apologize. She looked at me, waiting for my anger to flush out, "Why did Xander volunteer? Why was I picked out of all people? Did you know, Marisol?"

"It's a sacrifice I am willing to make," Her reply didn't suffice.

"I barely know Xander, how can you sacrifice you're only son? It's his choice to make and I know he wouldn't take the offer."

"Veronica, would you kill your own brother?" Her simple question frazzled me. I turned my back to her and faced the window. The view of District 12 from the Justice Building seemed all the more rough and ruined.

"I wouldn't murder your son," A silence followed my words, she and I said nothing, but the clock was ticking. So, I spat out, "I will not kill Xander, Marisol. I promise, "

She puts her hand on my shoulder, "That's a promise you cannot keep this time, Ronnie. You will return."

The robotic voice called again, "Time's up," A guard burst from the doors and pulled Marisol away before I could say goodbye. As the doors closed once more, the robotic voice spoke, "No More Visitors. Happy Hunger Games, Tributes."

My heart sank deep in my chest yet still pounding in my head. My brother didn't bother to say his last words, why? Why hasn't he kept his promise: that he'll let nothing hurt me? I have been trampled with lies and deception all my life, now my obituary will read, "Killed by deceit." Or rather, "Killed by the Hunger Games," Either way, I'm still dead.

Effie Trinket knocked on my door once, "Our train is here, darling! Come along!" I opened the door to see Effie with Xander. His glittering sea green eyes were trained on me, sharp and on task. Effie dragged me behind her after I asked her to wait a few moments before we headed to the Capitol.

A crowd had gathered around the train behind the Justice building, but it didn't consist of Xavier or of Marisol. Cameras were stationed at every corner. Some families slightly smiled because their children weren't chosen for the Games. I felt happy for them, at least they weren't lied to, or haven't suffered a terrible fate... yet. I spotted the red-head named Margret, She pushed her way to the front of the crowd and frowned at Xander, "I'm sorry, Xander. Please, win." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and smiled. But, when she turned to me, she glared, "You deserve it,"

My astonishment of her remark didn't bother her; she pranced back to her friends and family who hugged her tightly. Xander wraps my hand in his and raises it to the sky for all of District 12 to see, "Jealousy is the finest form of flattery,"

I looked over at Margret and her pale friends, they were fuming. The crowd cheered around us. I let go of his hand and said, "No, what is there to be jealous for?" I climbed the stairs leading to the train.

"Everything," He says under his breath when he shuts the sliding door behind him. I pretend I didn't hear what he had said, but I did and it kept repeating itself in my mind. We walk down a narrow corridor, Effie Trinket a few steps ahead. Automatic doors unlocked in front of us, cutting the silence that hung in the air.

"Help yourselves to anything, Ronnie and Xander." She waved her hands around the room, "There's plenty to go around."

Tables and tables of delicious snacks and desserts filled the car, my stomach growled. I had realized I hadn't eaten that morning. It took everything in me to not grab the donuts that were served on a silver platter in front of me and devour them. Effie handed me a tall narrow glass filled with a sapphire blue liquid, "It's delicious, no calories!" I took a sip and nearly vomited; it burned as the liquid slid down my throat and plopped into my stomach. I pushed the glass back into Effie's hands and grabbed a water glass from the end of another table across the room.

"Now, you can eat whatever and drink this, gone in an instant!" She cheered. I swallowed the contents of last night's dinner and sat myself down onto a soft cushioned chair. The Capitol's ways never fail to disgust me.

"Where is our mentor?" Xander asked, inspecting a bowl of gelatin.

"Mattox will meet us at the Capitol. She was assigned to you." Effie said, crossing her thin legs as she sat down, "Mattox Reed is his name."

I nod, "When does training begin?"

"Someone is eager, huh?" She laughed, She looked up at me and stopped abruptly, "You're training will start soon, with the other tributes, "I nod and stare at my hands, sore and red from practicing, "Oh my goodness, Vera! You're hands-"

"I like to be called Ronnie... And my hands are fine. They're just sore..."

"But, how—"

Xander interrupts her, "She practices for the Games. I saw her one day… killing animals, hunting, and even surviving in the woods" He looks at me and smirks, "She has a better chance at winning than I bet all 23 of us do."

"I wanted to win for my brother but—" I stopped, my brother didn't protect me. He let me enter this hell without even saying a simple goodbye. I wished for things to be different, but I wasn't about to tell Effie and Xander that, "I've changed my mind."

Xander looks at me, dumbfounded, "Then why do you want to win?"

"I—" I don't want to win. "I could—"I couldn't save your life if I won, I couldn't do that to Marisol. I couldn't care less for the title of victory. "I'll get to live a new life, one with actual food, and an actual house." No, I don't care for that. I just want you to go home. You don't deserve this, Xander.

I wouldn't forgive myself if I let you die.

Before Xander could say anything, I got up and walked out of the food car. I made my way through another automatic sliding door to a corridor. A girl with blonde hair greeted me with hand motions as I searched for my room, "Where is my room?" I ask her. She bites her lip and points her bony finger down the hallway and motions to the right. I nod, an Avox. Xavier had told me the Capitol kept prisoners, cut off their tongues, and used them as servants. "Thank you," I smile and walk past her towards my cabin. I felt bad for them, of course. The thought of cutting off someone's tongue makes me shudder. I loathed the Capitol even more now that I have come across an Avox for myself.

When I reached the end of the hallway, I turned the knob of the door that read "District Twelve Girl Tribute" Another painful reminder that I am a contender in the Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

As the door flew open, the lights flashed on. A simple bed was in the corner and a cabinet and a bathroom door on the other side. A window let some sunlight come in and make shadows in the corners. I sat down on the bed and kicked off my shoes, which made indents in my skin. Rubbing my soar feet, I lay down on my soft bed and sighed. I want to go home. But, I knew that wouldn't happen. I knew I wouldn't see Marisol or even Xavier again, although a part of me still thinks there is a chance I'll make it out of this death trap alive.

I shut my eyes tightly, hoping I wouldn't break down at that moment. I felt the tears well up inside me slowly, but I pushed them down. Suddenly, an image of freckle-faced Margret popped into my head. I pictured her when she gave Xander a kiss on the cheek. A pang of jealousy struck me, does Xander like her? No, my Xander can't—

My Xander? Have I really gone to that point of helplessness? I'm keeping Xander alive for Marisol, not myself, right?

A knock at my door snaps me out of my train of thought, letting it wonder again. I got out of the bed and opened the door. Xander stood in the doorway, "Ronnie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get you mad."

"I'm fine, it's just a lot to take in at once is all," I invited him inside and I sat on my bed while he stood.

"My mother told me to protect you, I volunteered because—"

"Because of me. I know, Xander. You got into these games because of me and I'm sorry. I don't want to win, at all. I'm not going to let Marisol loose you."

"I volunteered because... " He tried to continue, "I didn't want you to die."

"Xander, you don't know me. We've lived by each other for years, but we barely know each other. I know you couldn't care less if I died—"

"Then why do you think I asked to protect you?" He sits down on the bed next to me, "Marisol talks about you like you're her daughter. She knew you'd get picked and she didn't think I could protect you., she didn't think I was good enough to." He looks down at his hands, "She said you're smart, kind, brave, and beautiful."

Xander looks up and into my eyes. His glittered like a stormy green sea and his long, luscious eyelashes hovered over his eyes like a shade. After a few moments of silence, I spoke, "Thank you, but I could hardly say that such of myself. But, you, Xander, are much more brave, strong, smart, unnaturally kind.."

"I will take that as a compliment, thank you." He smiled. I liked his smile; it showed his perfect glossy teeth that were surrounded by his pink lustrous lips. I almost wanted to… what? What am I saying?

"You do know that every girl in school falls for you?" I ask.

He shrugs, "I don't really notice them, no. "

"Margret? She kissed you." I say. Unbelievable, didn't he notice all the girls who swoon over him in the hallway?

"Never mind that, what about you? I couldn't count how many of my friends admire you." He says.

I shake my head, "I'm not really interested. Considering—" I look around us, the train spelt of food and ammonia.

Xander immediately changes the subject back to the Games, "I'm not going to let anything hurt you, Ronnie. Nothing." He stares at my face, yet I try to avoid his. I feel myself breaking down, second by second. There were only minutes before I begin to cry and for whatever reason, I didn't want Xander to see me cry.

"The last time I got that promise, I came here, where everything hurts me." I sigh, trying to hide the tears. Then, I was caught by surprise: Xander hugged me. He pulled me into his arms and stroked my hair.

And, that was when I lost it.

I began to silently cry, but I knew that wouldn't last for long. The quiet sobs turn into sounds heard from a mile away. Xander tries and consoles me by singing a song I haven't heard since my parents died: The Valley Song.

"Deep in the meadow, under the willow..." he sings. I smile through my tears at his beautiful voice. His shirt is soaked, but he didn't seem bothered by it. He ran his fingers through my hair, I hugged him tighter. I closed my eyes tight, still listening to the song he continued singing.

When he finished, He didn't move. I felt his muscles relax. We must have drifted into a deep sleep at the same time because he fell motionless as I slid into darkness.

One thought repeated in my mind: Xander needed to live more than I did.