Chapter 2:

The Capitol

(Luce's P.O.V.) They shoved me through the doors on the left, separating me and Daniel. From

the first day, I had known that I loved him, but I could never bring myself to say so. He had kissed me

today, not that it had been more then a few loving pecks, but I still couldn't get over it.

I collapsed onto the small circular rug in the middle of the small circular room. I trembled and sobbed, and gasped for air that just didn't seem to be there.

"No," I whispered, "No, no, no!"

Thrown into an arena, expected to kill each other. I figured Daniel wouldn't hurt me, but maybe that was just my blind love thinking for me. The arena changed people. How could I possibly be a match for him anyways? How could I possibly be a match for anyone in that arena? I didn't know how to fight, the most I had ever done was gut a couple fish, and not quite skillfully either.

This was my death sentence, for a crime I had never committed.

The door opened.

"You have three minutes." the Peacekeeper guarding my door announced, just as my family came rushing into the room. My mother was crying just as badly as me. She was crying solely for fear of my life. I was crying for equal parts my life, and this miserable story Daniel were stuck in.

Cedar ran to me, and threw his thin arms around me. His pale face was streaked with steady tears, as he leaned in, and whispered softly in my ear.

"I'm really sorry, Luce. Try to win,try to come back home to us."

"I'll try," I whispered, knowing that my attempts to win would fail. Mother came to me next.

She sniffled, and stroked my braids. "My baby girl," she whispered softly, tears still cascading down her face, "It's a terrible thing that you, and so many others, got swept up in this game created by the Capitol's arrogance. I love you."

"I love you too mom."

My father cam, and pulled me to my feet. He gripped my shoulders, and looked me dead in the eye.

"Try." he said firmly, "For us. Try to win Pay close attention during training, and do whatever you can to win." He wrapped his arms tightly around me, and held me close.

I breathed in the sent of salt water, home, on his sun bleached shirt. "I'll try." I whispered, this time with much more sincerity.

I was their only daughter. The oldest child. They were losing a sister, a child, and a daughter. This was their worst nightmare come true. This was my nightmare too.

Three minutes was up. Mother started crying again, father comforted her, and the Peacekeeper had to drag Cedar away.

I was alone again.

I stood there staring at the door. I was still shaking, absolutely terrified. Images of blood thirsty animals, little water, and 23 other armed tributes assaulted my imagination. There was no getting out of this. I was going to die.

Then among my terror, an image of Daniel's flashed in my mind. Glowing so brightly, so calm, and soothing. I held onto that image, trying to steady my trembling body. It worked to some degree.

I dried my eyes on my sleeve. There was no way I was going to let all of Panem see me cry again. I had to stand strong.

The Peacekeepers came in and escorted me out of the room. Daniel came out at the exact same time. We stood there facing each other for a moment, before we were rushed out the door of the Justice Building, and on the long path to the train.

Camera crews were set up everywhere, to catch every moment. From the moment we disappeared on the train, to the moment we arrived at the Capitol. Lights flashed, and people shouted as we approached the train.

The whole way there, Daniel hadn't looked at me once

I looked outside the windows of my train room. We were headed to the Capitol, passing district after unrecognizable district. I hadn't left this room once, watching the ocean of District 4, my home, grow smaller and smaller. Then finally it vanished from sight.

Now the moon was high, and everything was dark. All I could think of was how Daniel had promised we would go swimming that afternoon. I hadn't seen him since we had left the Justice Building. I wanted nothing more, then to find him, and fall into his arms. He was my only source of comfort I had now. I missed the tender sound of his voice, the violet glow of his eyes, and the strong embrace of his tan arms.

There was a knock on my door.

I turned toward it, and slowly walked over to open it. I sucked in m breathe.

Daniel.

He was standing in the hallway, in the same clothes he had worn to the reaping. My lower lip began tremble.

"Lucinda." He whispered

Then I couldn't stand it anymore. I collapsed into arms, and let all the tears I had been fighting that day came out. Daniel rocked me back and forth, running his hands across my back, in an soothe me.

"Shh," he whispered, "You're okay. Calm down."

Now I was leaning all my weight on him. I couldn't stand up on my own I was such a terrified mess. Daniel lifted me off my feet, and cradled me in his arms. He carried me over to my bed, and laid me down there. For the longest time, he just sat there next to me, stroking my hair, and letting me cry.

After a while, Daniel leaned down, and made a trail of soft sweet kisses up the side of my neck. I lengthened my neck, trying to make the moment last forever. When his lips reached my jaw, I spoke.

"Daniel," I whispered.

"Lucinda." he answered.

"I'm scared." He gently wiped away the last of my tears, looking deeply into my eyes.

"I know you are, and I promise, I'll always be there to protect you."

I nodded sadly. I wrapped my hand around the back of his neck, and pulled him to me. The moment our lips met, my body went slack. This was more then the few simple pecks we had shared earlier. I kissed him hard and passionately, giving him every bit of love I had in me. Daniel kissed back in just the same way, holding me tightly. I had never felt so secure and warm in my life. His full lips were so sweet, I couldn't bare to pull away. So he did.

"I love you Lucinda, more then you could ever imagine."

"I love you too." I whispered. Snuggled up close to him, as he ran his fingers threw my hair. I fell asleep within minutes.

I woke up the next afternoon feeling warm and safe. All memories of the day before gone. All that I knew was that I was in a plush warm bed, wrapped up in Daniel's arms. I moved closer to him, and reached up to run my fingers through his hair. He grabbed my hand, and kissed my fingertips.

"Hey," he whispered. My eyes fluttered open to look at him. Then I saw the window, and the scenery flashing by. I sat up, and looked round at my train room, far nicer then my room back home.

Then it all came back, the reaping, watching my ocean growing smaller, and farther. I was going into the Hunger Games- that in itself was terrible- against the boy I loved. He said he would protect me, but alliances only lasted so long. We would end up having to turn on each other

"Oh god." I whispered.

Daniel sat up next me, and pulled me to him. I started shaking again.

"It's okay," he said tenderly stoking my hair. "I'm here, you're going to be okay."

"Lucinda!" a high voice called from the other side of the door. I looked up at Daniel, and he pushed a piece of hair out of my eyes.

"I'll get it." he said standing up and walking towards the door. He reached the door, just as the woman outside it called again.

"Luci- oh Daniel! Where's Lucinda?"

"She's here, what do you want?" she came to stand in the middle of my room, and stood there for a moment smiling. Then finally she spoke.

"Well, since District 4 hasn't had a victor yet, I will be the one helping you get sponsors!" she spoke like an incredibly girly, peppy cheerleader, and looked so thrilled at this idea.

"Is that all you came to tell us?" Daniel asked, with an edge to his voice that I had never heard. The woman- whose name I still didn't know- looked slightly stung, and withdrew herself a little bit.

"We are currently five minutes away from the Capitol."

Daniel and I shared a look, and moved toward the window. Our first glance at the Capitol. In a way it was beautiful, artistically structured buildings, and arches of colorful ribbons welcoming the tributes. At the same time it was horrible to look at. Here was the birth place of the Hunger Games. Here lived people betting on whether I will win or lose, people I had resented all my life. Daniel shook his head.

"You feel it too?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"Oh by the way," the woman called, the girlishness back in her voice. Daniel and I looked at her.

"My name's Talia."