The strangest part of all was that there were absolutely no people. Darian kept a close eye on Iraria as they were both led through the train to a common sitting area. This train was nicer than the ones they had back when they possessed the train systems. They were both instructed to sit by some peacekeepers and then left mostly to themselves. There were the obvious guards and Darian was sure cameras everywhere, but they were left to think. To be alone in their own heads for the moment.
Iraria's handcuffs were too big for her wrists and she could probably slip out of them if she needed, but she didn't budge. He probably wouldn't have either, not since the development of their newest guns.
Time passed so slowly, and even though he was trying his best to keep hold of it, he couldn't concentrate. After what felt like an hour, the side door slid open and the Capitol woman walked into the room. "Very good" She said to one of the peacekeepers and then waved him out the door.
She observed the two of them and then gave a slight shake of her head. "So young… this makes things... interesting." She moved in front of Iraria in a couple of awkward strides and then put her hands on her handcuffs. "These are unnecessary."
A key was given to her and she released them both. "Your families will be here shortly to say goodbye to you and wish you good luck for the competition." She caught Darian's look and then added, "We are not monsters, after all."
Iraria kept her gaze on the train floor and Darian kept his on the woman.
"I'm Bristol. It is a pleasure to meet you both." Her tone was more amused than anything. Her eyes lingered a moment over Darian and then snapped to the doors as they opened.
Three little dark haired girls crowded behind a burly man whom was none other than Steven Rosewood. Darian assumed the girls were Iraria's little sisters. His mother was also there, shuffling in at the rear.
Bristol looked to the lot of them. "You have an hour. That is when the next train arrives." Without a second more to give them, she turned and left the room.
There was a long moment before the two groups met each other. Iraria was bombarded by her little sisters and Darian was pulled into a hug by him mom. He put his arms around her let out a small chuckle.
"Don't worry. We'll be back here before you know it." He said again.
In all reality, he might be knocked out first round depending on what the competition required. He didn't know how well he could keep up with some of the kids from the other districts.
She seemed less convinced, but it was understandable. The Capitol was all too good a taking things from people.
"Promise me you will be safe. I have a bad feeling about all of this." It was quiet when she said it since there were at least half a dozen peacekeepers around. "Don't do anything irrational."
Darian nodded and then sat down on the small couch. His mother sat with him and took his hands in hers. "Don't worry. I'll keep my head down and just follow rules. Besides, I need to watch out for her." He nodded his head in the direction of Iraria.
His mother sighed and nodded. "You are too much like your father."
Darian smiled at the compliment. It had been a hard year without his father. Silently he thought about the possibility of finding out what happened to his father in the Capitol. It would be risky, but could he really pass up the opportunity? "I know."
They shared a few more encouragements and a couple memories of when times were good. Darian started to wonder what was good. Things had almost always been bad.
Bristol returned within the hour and the goodbyes ended immediately.
Iraria stayed strong and didn't cry although her little sisters were in a mess, and her father was barely keeping it in. They gave final hugs and Darian hugged his mom, but things were awkward at best. There was something strange going on, they both could feel it, but neither could voice it properly.
His mother left, comforting Steven Rosewood on their way out from the train. There was quiet after that.
They sat in the train for what felt like hours. Darian actually drifted off a time or two, and felt embarrassed when he jerked awake. It made sense though sleeping had always been his escape. Iraria sat still beside him, though not once did she close her eyes. He swore she didn't blink.
A second train arrived and the whole train exploded with some sort of frenzy. The handcuffs were placed back on them both and they were both ordered to stand up and follow a group of six peacekeepers. He saw a small shiver go down Iraria's spine as she walked ahead of him.
They were ordered to walk single file to switch trains and Darian could have sworn he was a convict. Maybe if it was just him, he would have thought that was plausible. He had done enough illegal things since the Capitol takeover. But Iraria was innocent of probably everything but missing her bedtime...if she even had one. They were both practically shoved onto the second train, Darian stumbled a slight bit as the peacekeeper behind him kept a close distance.
"Keep moving."
They were brought to another sitting type area but this time it was full of other people, each of them handcuffed as well. Two chairs were empty for him and Iraria and they sat in them upon further instruction. Once seated, he was able to look around and his heart sank. He knew these people. Most especially, the blonde girl at the end of the row of chairs: Kelsa.
Next to her was a boy he hadn't ever met before. He looked around and saw too many people he was familiar with. Across from him was Nils Murray, the son of the District Eleven rebel leader. Next to him was Troy Loughty, son of the District One rebel leader. Another young one, Eamon Clay from District Ten was there. He noticed Branwen Keen and Cash Gastrell, children of the District Four and District Six leaders. He scanned each and every person in that room. Each rebel leader had a kid, or relative, in that compartment.
Suddenly the "drawing" seemed less random.
His stomach jolted at the thought of this "competition" and just as his mother had felt, he felt as well; this was not going to be some friendly competition. The Capitol was not known for kindness and mercy. And since it was clear who they were targeting, he had a feeling his dad was alive somewhere.
His eyes met Kelsa's blue ones and he noticed she wore the same expression of realization that he did. It almost looked like she has been crying. And since he had never seen her cry before, that concerned him.
It wasn't just Kelsa either. They all wore that expression, their District partners mostly unaware of the situation at hand.
This would be bad.
Bristol and five other Capitol people entered the train cabin after a small while. There seemed to be a lot of waiting around here. They said nothing, the competitors said nothing. There was just uncomfortable silence.
"Hold on tightly." One of them said, and a moment later, the train took off for the Capitol.
The train ride was not a long one from District Two. Before Darian even had the chance to prepare himself, the train came to a halt in the Capitol station. They were ordered to stay put as more peacekeepers boarded the train, guns locked and loaded.
Capitol guns pointed at them, they were all picked out in pairs (by District) and led from the cabin and off the train. They started with the two kids from District Twelve and worked their way up by District. Iraria was shaking as the group of peacekeepers ordered her and Darian up off their feet, and she complied quickly. Darian walked closely behind her so that he could catch her should her knees buckle beneath her.
If he hadn't have been so wary, Darian would have reluctantly admitted that the Capitol was quite beautiful. Tall skyscrapers stood out against the big blue sky. Everything was so spread out, that nothing seemed cramped and crowded like it was in District Two. Large metal fountains surrounded the path one which he and Iraria walked.
around.
The building that they were heading towards was a shorter one, less modern looking. The large double doors of the entrance were almost as big as the mountain exits back in District Two. Each one stood tall and bore half the Capitol insignia. He shuddered at the sight. However, they were not led through those doors, but an elevator to the side of them.
They all crammed in the space and rode it down to a bleak looking area. The other competitors were all sitting in chairs with their individual District emblems on them. The District Two seats were unoccupied. The chairs faced a plain metal wall and a large long dark curtain.
He and Iraria sat in their designated chairs and were once again succumbed to silence.
The District One competitors joined them shortly, followed by a man in a gold and black striped suit. His face was also familiar, and Darian's jaw clenched at the sound of his shoes clicking against the hard floor. President Cross was even more repulsive to Darian in person.
He paced the floor in front of them all and stroked his new beard. New because he hadn't had one the last time Darian had seen his image. It was styled in a way that would make most children giggle, but this was no place for laughter.
Finally, he faced all those from the Districts. "Welcome to the Capitol, tributes."
Silence. His voice was silky smooth in person, and Darian wondered if it had somehow been altered to be that way.
"I have waited... so long... to meet you all." His large dark eyes looked over each of them carefully, the pause causing Darian to hold his breath. His mouth twitched into a sad attempt at a smile.
Darian caught Iraria looking away.
"It is peculiar, what a rebellion can spark in people," he stated, almost to himself that anybody else. "We here in the Capitol have been...fired up for the upcoming event."
He caught a few people looking to each other. President Cross's tone was not the least bit comforting.
The man laughed a small laugh and then let out a quick wheeze. "I will get to the explaining."
Darian swore Cross's eyes lingered on him a moment longer than the others.
"The lovely Caroline Rose and I had a long and hard discussion about how we could reunite the twelve districts and the Capitol again after such a split. And each of you should be honored by the amount of effort we gave to come up with the perfect solution." The spark in his eyes grew tenfold as he continued his speech. Each second he spoke, the future looked darker and darker.
"We spent months creating it, and now all of my tributes are sitting in front of me…. ready to be reunited in death, under execution from the Capitol."
It was a simultaneous motion of faces turning to shock, and a few people gasped. The boy with Kelsa was the first to say something.
"You are going to kill us?!"
Cross snorted, "Oh no. I will be doing nothing. You will be killing each other."
Darian's heart rate sped up as the protests continued. They were quickly quieted by the overwhelming peacekeeper presence.
"Yes, that is correct." President Cross spoke again. "All of you will be thrown into an arena and forced to fight to the death."
"We won't do it!" Roy from District Nine shouted. He had an expression that would kill. "You can't force us."
"I can make you do anything. I am the President. And I have incentives."
It took only a snap of his fingers before the nearest peacekeeper pulled back the large dark curtain in front of them.
Behind it stood twelve adults. All twelve rebel leaders.
Again, it was the expressions that brought Darian even deeper into darkness. His father was right there in front of him, tied up as a hostage. He could feel the pain that his father was feeling. They each had hoped better for each other than the current circumstances; he was in chains and Darian was in handcuffs.
His lower lip quivered and his tear ducts threatened to activate. And even though he wished he was able, he couldn't tear his eyes from his father's.
"You will do what I want. When I put all twenty-four of you into that arena, you can be assured that only one of you will be walking out."
He took one last look at them before walking out of the room.
The silence was almost heart-stopping. No one was protesting now.
It was Iraria who cried first. And if she hadn't, Darian was sure he would have.