Chapter 3


I settle into the bed and wipe a few stray tears that have fallen down my cheek. The train is luxurious, food sits out on every table, a screen covers one side of my room. Was this what the train was like when she was being delivered to death? Was she as scared as I am? Did she even get to say goodbye? I bite my lip, hoping to stop tears, until a copper taste fills my mouth. I look at my door hoping to see Finnick soon. He promised to tell me why I have been forced to leave my family behind. I stare at the door until my eyes fill heavy and I drift to sleep.


I don't sleep very much, and when light shines through my window, I decide that maybe I should just spend all day trying to rest, since it seems like Finnick won't show up any time soon. I pull down the shade for the window, and bury myself under the covers. The train begins to slow, and I move the shade to see that the vibrant green forest has turned into small clusters of trees and corn stalks. The pictures of District 11 do not give the warm, laid back feeling you get when you see it. The sun shines into the thick trees that surround small meadows and barns. Children run and play stopping to stare at the train rolling past. Everything seems so relaxed here, like home. Tears spring into my eyes, I miss my family. It hasn't even been a day and I already feel like I have lost a part of me forever. There is a soft knock on my door, I run and swing the door open. I try to contain my frown, Finnick stands in front of me with a sad smile.

"What took you so long?" I can barely contain my frustration.

"Athena, I thought you would be tired. So I gave you some time to sleep."

"Thanks." I slam the door shut. "I really wanted to sleep, instead of you know, finding out why I was forced to leave my family without even saying goodbye!" Finnick gives me his serious look. That's my cue to shut up and listen. Finnick has been in a testy mood since he told me I had to leave, but then again so have I. I bite my sore lip, sit on the bed, and wait for Finnick to tell me what is going on.

"Athena, you had to leave because your life was in danger back in 12." Finnick says, I open my mouth to speak, but his look cautions me against that decision. "When the President was shot, the Capitol was thrown into chaos. Now you remember how tensions between Panem and Eletia have been tense since the Occupation?''

I nod and wonder what the two have to do with each other.

Finnick's voice drops dangerously low. "Athena, Eletia has declared war, knowing Panem is not prepared for war."

My eyes widen, "so why did I have to leave home? How do you know that I am safe in District Four?"

Finnick sighs as the screen in my room lights up. Both of us turn our gaze to the wall.

All the formalities that usually begin a public address are gone, and an old weathered man sits at the president's desk. His voice is weak and trembles as he speaks, his shaky hands hardly grasping the paper that contains what must be urgent information.

"Hello citizens of Panem. Since President Astulle's assassination, the government has been left in a fragile state, allowing room for The Republic of Eletia to make their military and political presence. While this development is currently trying to be resolved through diplomacy, the strained relationship between The Republic of Eletia and Panem has made the prospects of peace quite small. And it has been recognized as a state of war. That is all, thank you." At first I don't respond, I just stare at the place where the screen once was blankly. District 12 is an outlying district, we are close to the borders of The Republic of Eletia. Finnick turns to me, and sees the fear in my eyes.

The tears begin to brim my eyes, Finnick sees the tears and knows there is nothing he can do to stop the tears. He pulls me into his embrace, "Athena, I'm sure we will get back home soon. They said there is a chance that this will end peacefully."

We both know that a peaceful end is a weak attempt to make me feel better.

"Finnick I don't think we are going home, ever." It's silent for a long time, my sobs the only sound that is filling the room besides Finnick's steady breath, I shut my eyes letting myself give into my sadness.


When I wake up its dark, I must have slept past dinner since the moon is lighting the world outside the train. It looks different, the old barns, houses, and meadows have an eerie and frightening appeal. It's amazing how the warmth that I felt this morning is now a cold and lonely dread. My stomach is empty and I feel hungry. I turn to see Finnick asleep on the other side of my bed fast asleep. I sit up, and poke him.

"Huh?" Finnick mumbles something else but its incoherent.

"How far to District 4?" I ask.

Finnick rubs his eyes and sits up, "I don't know."

I climb out of bed and look at the phone.

"Athena, don't pick up the phone. It's a bad idea."

"Why? I should at least get to say goodbye, make sure they are okay?"

"What if they aren't okay, Athena?" he asks. I swallow hard, I am scared of calling home. What if they already have invaded the border of 12, my family dead and bloody-I stop myself. If I was brave I would call home, but I am not brave. I am a coward, I would rather be selfish and start to distance myself from them. I would rather write them off as dead, then cause myself more pain then I already have.

My mother used to say I was much to negative. I used to think she was being dramatic, now I see how negative I am. The moment I find out we are in a state of war, I cry, then decide my family will be dead soon. I stare at the phone, decide Finnick is right, and switch my gaze to the mirror. I stare at the reflection that makes me ashamed of who I am. Would she have been so quick to decide her family's fate? Would she have wanted to fight for them? Its a wonder that I come from her blood, she was so brave and protective. I'm sure she would be trying to get her family to safety no matter what was going on around her. Unfortunately, I am not her.

"Athena, are you alright? You're crying again."

My fingers brush my cheek, I am crying. "Finnick, am I a horrible person because I know they will die? Because I don't want to call home?"

Finnick doesn't answer me for a moment, "Athena, you are not a horrible person. If you feel like what your doing is right, then I support you. Whether or not its calling your family or not, I think your a strong and beautiful person."

I sigh and turn away from my reflection, disgusted by how selfish I am. How I can be nothing like her.


I plan on updating with at least one more chapter tonight. Any new ideas? Thoughts?