I sit on the small metal railing balancing my weight carefully, cool air flutters my hair back as the train speeds past hinterland the smell of pines filling my nostrils; I close my eyes and tilt my head back. Though I'm being marched off to my possible death I feel more relaxed here than I did back home. I breathe in and sigh humming to myself a tune Adrian used to hum to me. The door behind me creaks and I whirl around to see Comet "Come now miss," he says opening the door for me "your mentors are waiting" and there goes my relaxation, now it'll be nonstop talk about bloodthirsty deaths. I walk into the cart to see Enobaria and Brutus sitting on a couch with Cato on the opposite one. Comet motions for me to sit next to Cato but instead I flop onto the small armchair letting out a sigh my eyes shutting. Comet clears his throat and I open one eye to peer up at him He makes a motion with his hands and I let out a dramatic sigh as I'm shooed into the seat next to Cato. "Ok," says Brutus once Comet is settled "let's get down to it. What are your skills?" he asks, Enobaria nodding at his side. "Well, I don't know about her but I've been trained in all areas so I have a broad range of skills, however I do excel in the sword and spear area far more than other areas," says Cato, I roll my eyes at him what a show-off. We used to train together and he was a huge show-off, in my opinion he's only gotten worse. "Don't forget baby making," I say smirking and turning to Cato then back to our mentors "he really excels in that area" I let out a snigger. Beside me I can see the muscles in Cato's neck bulging in anger. Brutus lets out a chuckle "yes, well we'll ignore that. As for you Miss Thyne do you excel in any areas" everyone focuses their eyes on me. A small smirk slides onto Cato's face; I never was the best in any areas my trainers kept threatening to have me kicked out but my father managed to bribe them to keep me enrolled at the training school. "I do," I tell them "but I don't want to brag, or maybe I should, let's just say I'm going to win" I state. Everyone laughs at me and I'm slightly taken aback "now don't get too cocky" says Brutus "though I'm sure you'll win" he says sarcastically and everyone laughs. I glare at them all then stand up and storm out of the room.
I fling open the door to my bedroom slamming it shut behind me; I grab a small vase and send it flying across the room. I've been told that I'm a bit of a drama queen but in my opinion this is totally acceptable behaviour. I then flop down onto my bed and scream into the pillow; however much I hate to admit it I want Cato.
No, I don't need Cato, I don't need anyone.
I'm going to win, I may not be the smartest, the strongest or the best fighter, but I've been through a hell of a lot more than him.
But as I roll onto my back I can't help but think, what's the point? I mean I win, go back home, then what? Die alone? There's nothing left for me…
No, I will win and that's final.
I stay cooped up in my room until midnight, stomach rumbling I slip out of my room in search of food. I easily find my way to a small kitchen area, I pull an orange from the fruit tray and hop onto the counter swinging my legs and staring out the window. I eat my way through one orange then get another followed by two more. Bloated I turn to leave the kitchen, and then my eyes fall on a small knife rack. I stand there staring at it biting my lower lip; before I can stop myself I grab the blade and add another scar to my collection. I watch as blood slowly trickles out of my wrist. I quickly toss the bloodied blade into the sink and rush back to my room. I lay in bed staring through a crack in the blinds it's a full moon and stars twinkle around it. I stay like that for the night never drifting off to sleep.
The next day we arrive in the Capitol I step off the train and I am immediately surrounded by Capitol citizens who stand next to me while someone snaps a photo; the lights blinding me I search for the others. They have made it through the thick mob to a grand door at the front of a tall building. I try to get the strange people to move but they continue to swarm round me; in the end I have to give a few a brutal push before they get the message but I fear this only gets them more excited. As I make my way into the building I can still here the clicking of cameras and the gossip of the capitol people. I hate them, I hate them all.