The Fox's Game

Chapter 2- Hidden Potential

Thanks to everyone who read chapter 1 and That Funky Chick Next Door who was the first to review this story! Please tell me if you think I should write another chapter!

I watch District 5 disappear out a window as the train begins to speed away from the station. I have been given my own chamber within the train and it is the fanciest place I have ever been in my life. It has a gorgeous bed with silk blankets and golden patterns around the edges. The room also has a private bathroom if you could call it that. I peeked inside and it looked more like a control room than a bathroom. There were buttons and levers everywhere that I have no idea how to use.

The room has not lifted my spirits though. I still have not forgotten where I am headed. I can't let the capitol trick me into thinking this is some kind of luxurious vacation.

My mind begins to drift back to Selene and the rest of my District. I remember Selene's face as she disappeared from my view. Such a sad and beautiful face.

Finally my emotions get the better of me. I collapse onto my bed sobbing for several reasons. For Selene, for my own sake, and for my extreme anger at the capitol. I eventually doze off and stay asleep for at least three hours.

I am woken by Relp Stantov. He bursts into my room and looks down at me on the bed. I hope he doesn't realize I've been crying. "Why haven't you changed Argent? Aren't the clothes in your closet more exciting than yours?" he asks. I glare at him. "Exciting has never really been my forte Mr. Stantov." I say coldly. "Ecspecially now that I am being shipped off to my grave." Stantov looks down at me as if I was a small child. "C'mon Argent! You'll do great if you can just think positively." I know what he said is unlikely but I nod at him as if I truly believe him. "Now why don't you change out of those filthy clothes and come down to the dining hall for dinner." He leaves the room smiling like some kind of idiot.

I stand up and walk to the closet. I am horrified to find six rows of clothing lined up inside. I study the dresses carefully. Many of them are way too extravagant. Some of them even gleam, change colors, and sparkle. I finally pick out a modest looking red dress which I think compliments my hair. I depart from my room and walk toward the dining hall cautiously.

I find Relp Stantov at a large table laughing with the two living Hunger Games victors whose names I can not remember. Celvis is also at the table yet appears to be in a much gloomier mood than the adults. "Ahh, look who's decided to come out of her den!" says Stantov. "You look fabulous Argent!" says an elderly man sitting to the left of Stantov. "Thank you." I say as I take a seat beside Celvis. "Argent, I would like you to meet your mentors Reavis and Vilga." Reavis is the older looking man who complimented me. Vilga on the other hand is a terrifying woman. I remember the year she won. She was much larger than all the other tributes and took out at least seven of them within the first day. The very sight of her frightens me. "It's nice to meet you." I say. "The same to you." Says Reavis politely. Reavis seems like such a nice old man. I wonder how he won the games. I'm sure he couldn't have killed too many people.

When I look down at the food my heart leaps. I have never seen such a meal. My glass has been filled with reddish liquid they call wine. I have some type of pork on my plate which is a first. I have never had meat in my life. My plate is also piled with steaming vegetables, rolls, and pastries. My stomach is a little queasy yet I try to eat as much as I can. All the food is extremely delicious except the wine makes me a little uneasy. Celvis seems pretty used to the food. Since he lives in a wealthy family he is able to afford this type of food. I notice that Vilga wolfs down her food like some kind of animal. I shiver just watching her devour the food at an alarmingly fast rate.

After everyone has finished the majority of their food a large screen suddenly lights up and announces that all the reapings have occurred and repeats of them will be played momentarily. This will be extremely important for me to watch based on the fact that my competitors will be revealed during this.

The first reaping shown is District 1. A gorgeous blond girl is chosen along with a tall strong looking boy who volunteers. District 1 always has some of the best tributes along with Districts 2 and 4. District 2 has even fiercer looking tributes. Both of them volunteer. The girl has dark hair and appears to be a good six inches taller than me. The boy is shorter than District 1's boy but he appears to be much stronger and tougher. I grimace at how ready he appears to be killing helpless teenagers in the arena. District 3 has puny looking tributes and 4 has about average looking tributes for careers. Next, I am up. I am amazed at how I look. I have this sly look on my face that makes me look like I am holding some evil secret that will help me win the games. Celvis on the other hand looks pathetic when he walks on stage. He keeps looking at his father as if saying "Get me out of this!" Districts 6-9 don't have anyone that looks too threatening. District 10 has a boy with a crippled leg. Ouch! I think. He definitely will not make it very far. An older looking girl with black hair is chosen from District 10 as well. I am surprised when a twelve year old girl is chosen from 11. This is very sad. I doubt she will make it very far at all unlike the monster that is chosen as the male tribute from her District. In District 12's reaping a girl volunteers for her younger sister. I wish I had an older sister who loved me that much. I sigh enviously as the last tribute is chosen and the screen cuts off.

After a moment of silence Mr. Stantov says "So that's your competition? Pathetic!" I glare at him. "Are you kidding? Did you not see those tributes from District 2?" I say angrily. Celvis looks rather sickly after watching the reaping. I wish that I could reassure him that everything was going to be alright but in a few days I might have to kill him so I don't say anything.

"We will reach the capitol tonight." Stantov says rather suddenly. "In the morning you will meet your stylists who will help prepare you for the opening ceremony." I had completely forgotten about the ceremony! During the opening ceremony all the tributes come out in fancy outfits and parade around for everyone to admire. I wonder what I will have to wear.

I look away from Stantov to find Vilga staring at me. "I need to find out more about you Argent" she says in a low voice. "I can sense you have some kind of hidden potential that we need to explore before the games. Trust me Argent, I can help you." I have no idea what she means by hidden potential yet I do believe that she is genuinely trying to help me. "I will begin training you this week." She says. "You have a chance Argent. I can feel it." She looks deeply into my eyes as if she was trying to find something. An awkward silence follows. Everyone is staring at me.

Reavis finally breaks the silence. "Don't worry Celvis!" he says sympathetically. I had completely forgotten about Celvis. I suddenly realize that he is crying. "I'm going to die." He says weakly. "Not if I train you!" Reavis says obviously trying to lift Celvis' spirits. I can't take all this emotion at once. "I'm going to my room." I say anxiously. I leave the Dining Hall. I can still hear Celvis' sobs as a quickly walk back to my room.

I throw myself onto my beautiful bed and begin to think about all that has happened today. Gosh! I think. Just this morning I was tucked safely in my bed at the academy and now I am speeding to the capitol by train.

I consider what Vilga said about my "hidden potential". What could she have been thinking? After seeing that sly grin on my face she probably thinks I'm more demented than I actually am. An idea pops into my head. I can use this sly and cunning persona to make everyone think I have some kind of hidden potential. If Vilga thinks I might be hiding something than the rest of Panem might too. I smile to myself and silently thank Selene for my strategy. Outsmarting them all. Maybe I am rather clever after all.

I must have fallen asleep at some point in the night because I find myself waking up to the sun shining. The train is not moving so I assume that we are at the capitol. My thought is confirmed when I look out the window. The capitol is truly magnificent. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. The buildings stretch far over the horizon. The sun reflects off the buildings and makes them look like they are glowing.

Several people are gathered around the train. They know that this is a tribute train and that we will be coming out into the open soon to go to our stylists. The people are wearing the most bizarre things. Most of them have dyed their hair some unnatural color and are wearing clothes to match it.

Suddenly I hear Relp Stantov's voice "Rise and shine! It is time for an exciting day people." I open my door and look at him. "Good morning Argent" he says. "You need to clean up and get dressed so we can meet up with your stylists!" "Thanks" I say almost sarcastically. "We're eating breakfast in thirty minutes." He adds. "Today is going to be sooo…" I cut him off. "I know, it's going to be fantastic." I say using an artificially sweet voice.

I slam the door in his face and head into the bathroom. I examine all of the buttons carefully. After playing around with them for a minute I figure out how to work the shower. I bathe rather quickly not wanting to be late. I dry myself off and put on the purple tunic that was laid on my dresser and report to the dining hall.

I find that I am the last person to arrive again. I try to smile at Celvis weakly because I know this must be way tougher for him than it is for me. He tries to return the smile but he still does not look like he has completely recovered from last night's episode.

Breakfast is just as extravagant as the dinner we had last night. I am feeling better this morning though and I eat a whole lot more. Stantov begins to speak to Celvis and me. "After you're finished eating we are going to exit the train. There will be a lot of people out there. Try to smile and give yourself a good reputation." He says "After that you will be taken to your stylists. Alright?" We both nod.

I figure this will be a perfect time to begin my strategy. After we finish eating we stand up and follow Stantov, Reavis, and Vilga to a large door. Stantov presses a button which causes the door to slowly rise up. I put on my sly grin and prepare to make the capitol think I have hidden potential.