Chapter 2
I hear my sister gasp and look over at her. She crumples to the ground. I can't imagine how hard this must be for her.
Yeah, for her. I think. It's gonna be hard for me!
My parents, who weren't even home this morning, rush to embrace me. They have to wait until the peacekeepers unclip the roped-off area to truly hug me. But it doesn't matter.
Nothing matters now.
I am being sent to my death.
I am quickly escorted to a room inside the justice building.
"Ya got one hour for yer goo' byes."
Immediately Nellie and my mother rush in.
"Oh, Leonard." My mother turns to the floor and hugs me again.
Nellie begins to cry.
I hug them, and kiss them, and tell them it's all right. Nellie continues to cry and the peacekeeper whips around, training his gun on her head. This only makes her cry harder. I ask where dad is, to which my mother simply replies, "He couldn't be here."
Of course not. He doesn't have any time for me.
"Yer time's up." The peacekeeper says. He has a strong capitol accent.
I am brought to a helicopter with Althea. Five is extremely marshy, and it's built on a hill that just rises out of the muck. As we enter the air, I see what 5 is like for the first time. There is a large ring around the perimeter of the hill, which is surrounded by water than marshland. That must be the Hydro-Power sector. There is another ring, but this one is of iron buildings and establishments. There is another ring inside this one, which is the housing for regular citizens. Then there is the justice building and in the heart of the town is machinery and panels, which must be the steam and solar power section. Such a strangely arranged district.
When we come to a train station on top of a hill, I know it is connected directly to six. 5 is far away from all the other districts, but it is closest to six. On the train I get acquainted with our two mentors, Seena and Hudson. I have learned in school that "Hudson" comes from an old English name for a bay, called Hudson Bay in a place once called Canada.
Hudson is sweet and friendly, I soon learn that she won the 51st Hunger Games. Seena seems very shy and barely even speaks. Hudson flips her Auburn hair.
"Hi guys. Althea and….Leonard, is it?" She asks me. I nod.
"Okay. Well, Althea and Leonard, I'm sorry this happened to you. But lets make the most of it, okay?" She says. Althea just grunts. She is quite buff.
"All right, I'll help out with you, Althea, and you—Leonard, go see Seena."
I walk off into the direction of Seena, and he pulls his hands in.
"Hi." I say. "I'm Leonard. You're my mentor?"
He gives a slight nod and looks down at the floor.
"Um…do you want to give me any tips?" I ask.
He waves his head, but then seems to rethink it. He soon replies in a shaky voice, "Y-yes."
"Okay," I say, "What have you got?"
"Um..uh…." He falters. I begin to wonder how he won his games. "First off I n-n-need to know about y-you."
"Okay…" I begin. "I'm a maintenance worker back in 5. I work in the Hydro-Power section, so I guess I'm a good swimmer…" I begin to drone on and on, and Seena doesn't interrupt once. "I am pretty healthy, physically. I need good balance to go across wires and stay on top of the machines," I say matter-of-factly, "And I need to be strong and fast to hold against the rushing water. So I'm in decent shape."
Seena nods. "That's important. Um…I-I guess if there's water then you'll be okay."
As if I didn't know that already, I think. But I don't say that.
But he soon gives some useful info, in a completely transformed stature. "However, in the case that water does make an appearance, which it normally does, you most likely will not be safe by it. Often times Careers hang out by water sources and there won't be many."
I nod my head and take in more information. "And one m-more question…" He says, returning to his normal voice. "W-what weapons are you good at?"
Weapons. I had completely forgotten about weapons.
"Well," I start. "I guess I can chuck a javelin or a spear pretty well."
"Okay…" He responds. "I'll keep that in mind. B-but .." He pauses for a moment, as if speaking for too long is forbidden. "But don't g-go for javelins. They are scarce in-in the a-arena and only careers can afford the time to get to them."
"Right." I say as the train pulls into the Capitol.
