Disclaimer: The Hunger Games trilogy belongs to Suzanne Collins who is an amazing writer. However, the characters in the fanfic belong to me.
~Chapter Two~
I think I went into shock. My name rattled around in my head in Daphnie's high pitched voice. I barely registered that Molly and Coral had started weeping loudly, hugging me. My whole body had gone numb. No. No. I can't be going into the arena. Who was going to feed Cal and Red? Who was going to distract my brother from the memories of his games? Who was going to finish my Father's net off?
"Lily Palomar, where are you?" Daphnie asked, searching the crowd. "Come up here, don't be shy." My two best friends let go of me and my legs started moving of their own accord towards the stage. Four Peacekeepers surrounded me, guiding me to the stage. Don't make me go up there, please. Don't make me go on that train to the Capitol.
"Lily!" I vaguely heard my brother howl as I walked up the steps to my doom. "No!" He was being restrained by Peacekeepers. Poor Zale. Poor Mum and Dad, having to watch two of their children go into the arena. It wasn't fair.
Daphnie positioned me to her left while she picked the boy's name from the other glass bowl. I stared at my audience, waiting for the next name to be called. They don't care that I'm going to fight for my life; they're just relieved that it wasn't them. I know, as I think this every year, glad that it wasn't my name that was called out. The only people who did care were Molly, Coral and my family, but neither of my friends came forward to volunteer in my place. I didn't blame them.
"Dagon Tri!" Daphnie called. The male tribute walked on stage and I just about recognised him. He's in the year above me at school. He looks strong, someone who could easily kill someone like me, but he looks as shocked and as upset as I feel. "Put your hands together for the brave and courageous District Four tributes of the sixteenth Hunger Games."
Dagon and I were forced to shake hands, but neither of us looked each other in the eye. A few people clapped, mainly the mayor and the trainers who teach teenagers the skills required to survive the games. I've been to a few sessions a month since I was eleven just in case something like this happened. I hope they come in handy.
A Peacekeeper ushered Dagon and I into the Justice Building, shoving us into separate rooms and slamming the doors, locking them from the outside. The room I was in was simply decorated, just the one chair for the unlucky tribute and a few paintings of the ocean hung up on the wall. It dawned on me that I would probably never see the beautiful waves again.
The doors burst open and Zale rushed in, knocking into me so hard that I almost fell over the chair. I hugged him back, the tears finally rolling down my cheeks. I vaguely overheard a Peacekeeper telling him he had three minutes.
"Don't make me go in there, Zale." I whispered. His arms tightened around me as I said the words. He understands how I feel; he's been through this all before. He knows what it's like to say goodbye to your loved ones, to face the possibility of never seeing them again. I remember when it was Zale in my position. I was only twelve, my first reaping. He was so focused on getting me through it and reassuring me that I wouldn't be chosen that I didn't think for one second that he was going to be picked from the bowl.
"I am going to make sure you win." He said. I forgot until now that he was going to be my mentor. Oh, the Capitol is going to love this. I can imagine the headlines: Zale Palomar, victor of the eleventh Hunger Games, mentors his little sister in this year's games. I guess this means I'm going to be in the spotlight, but maybe I'll get some sponsors because of it. It occurs to me that the Gamemakers may have set this up; they've always been suckers for a good show.
"Have you seen the male tribute?" I sobbed, burying my head into his shirt. My parents came into view and I let go of Zale, taking hold of Mum while tears streamed down her face.
"We'll find out your strengths and use them to your advantage." Zale said, and I liked the way he said 'we'. Even though I'd be on my own in the arena, Zale will be watching over me, trying to get as many sponsors as he can for me.
Mum was in pieces. Her face had gone bright red, and her eyes looked sore from crying. Her hand was full of tissues and she was dabbing the corner of her eyes.
"Sweetie, I love you." She said. I swallowed down another wave of tears. I hated how she sounded like she was saying goodbye for good. I turned to my Father, who clasped my shoulder and brought me into one of his big bear hugs.
"You are going to win." He whispered into my ear for only me to hear. He believes in me. If he can, then I can believe in myself. I need to get through these games; my family can't bare anymore heartache.
"I'll try." I whispered back. He dropped his arms and looked me in the eye. "I will." I corrected, "I will win." A Peacekeeper strode into the room and made my family leave. "Feed Cal and Red!" I called after my parents. Zale was instructed to take a car to the train station and to wait for us there.
"See you later." He said to me, walking out the room. Daphnie then came in, saying that we were running late and had to board the train pronto.
"Zale, train! Now!" She shouted at my brother who was still lingering by the door.
"Yes, I'm going, I'm going." He mumbled. He's told me a lot about Daphnie over the years, about how much he didn't like her. He calls her a 'wannabe Damsel'. Damsels are pretty little fish that live off the coast of Four. They are dark blue in colour, extremely difficult to catch, and can be aggressive. I can see where Zale is coming from, Daphnie looks just like one with her dark blue hair and thick black eyeliner around her eyes.
She led Dagon and I out the back door of the building and waiting on the road was a car, ready to take us to the station where the Capitol train will be waiting to transport us. On the journey there Daphnie attempted to make conversation, but Dagon and I ignored her. I stared out the window, tears rolling down my cheeks as I burned the sight of the ocean into my long term memory.
Sat on the tracks at the station was the train. On the side of it in block black letters were the words 'DISTRICT FOUR'. The interior of the carriage was decorated in true Capitol style. Zale was already sat down on one of the sofas and I immediately went to sit next to him.
"What do you think?" He asked me, taking a sip out of his glass.
"Hideous." I replied. I've never liked the Capitol style; it was much too fussy for me. Zale laughed, agreeing with me. I bet District One tributes loved the Capitol trains, seeing as their industry is luxury, but saying that they're probably used to all the bright carpets and solid wood furniture.
"This is what I've had to put up with for the last five years."
"I want you two to get along, not like last year's tributes. They were a nightmare!" Daphnie said as Dagon sat down opposite me with a plate of what looked like cheesecake that he'd gotten from the table laden with sweet and savoury food. What was the point in making friends and getting along when you've got to kill each other in the end? However, I smiled at him. Maybe he'd make a good ally. "You've got to live with each other for the next few days, so it would be better for all of us if you didn't bicker." I saw Zale roll his eyes at her as she walked away.
"So, what have we got to do to survive this thing?" Dagon asked. I vaguely remember him walking into some of the training sessions. Possible tributes from districts One, Two and Four all have the option to train for the games. It's against the rules, but no one stops us. The tributes from these districts are nicknamed the Careers and normally team up at the start of the game. I hardly looked like a Career. I was petite; I'm sure Dagon could beat me if it was him against three of me.
"Find water as soon as possible, it'll be your new best friend. Find shelter until you get your bearings and do everything you can to stay alive." Zale answered. Stay alive. I could have thought of that one myself. "What is your chosen weapon?"
"Sword or knife." Dagon replied. I guess he was a close range fighter.
"They'll be plenty of them in the arena, I'm sure." I said. Dagon looked at me like he didn't know I was there before I spoke. He eyed me up and down, scowling.
"What?" I demanded.
"Nothing." I saw Zale eyeing Dagon and the tension in the room began to rise. I needed to leave before I suffocated. The doors to the bedrooms were at the back of the carriage. I laid on my bed and thought of all the possible ways I could avoid getting killed.
I hope you enjoyed the second chapter! It's finally the summer holidays, so no more exam stress.
Please review, it encourages me to write! :)