The Train

District 7

Jake Vineyard

After I got over the fact that I would never seen my mother again, and that I was officially a tribute in the 63rd annual Hunger Games, Rhianna and I were collected. We were each brought out of our rooms and led down a different flight of stairs, farther away from our homes, our friends, our families. Just like that.

I've never seen the back side of the Justice Building, until now. Before this, the building just stood on the edge of the District, a constant reminder of the fierce grip the Capitol holds on us. The back side has fancy slide doors I've never seen before. They open automatically when we step near them and Rhianna and I just look at each other. A little symbolic, isn't it? The front side of the Justice Building, the side we see in our every day lives is run down, beaten up and normal. The other side of however, the side that leads South to the Capitol, a place completely different place from this, is new, refurbished and polished. The doors are even automatic. It's disgusting.

People with cameras are waiting. Waiting with flashes, waiting. The doors open and firm hands on our backs lead us forward. Rhianna looks at me and my emotions seemed to have found their way on to Rhianna's face. She's holding back tears, with everything she can, and so am I. Her lip quivers before she looks forward again. Photographers on both sides of us yell our names.

Our names.

I try to look at them, try to smile but I truly can't. We stop in front of gleaming silver tracks. I look to the left, and then to the right, and see the train. It's massive, and it's unlike anything I've ever seen. Rhianna and I share the same gasp.

We hear the train all the time, the train that carries our lumber to the Capitol. But I've never seen it. It comes closer and I cover my ears. It comes to a stop and I think my ear drums might fracture. It's so loud.

I look at Rhianna one last time.

"This is it." I whimper. She nods, and her lip quivers one last time. And then, even more symbolically, we turn to face the crowd that wishes us goodbye. I see Rhianna's family was allowed outside. Rhianna grabs my hand I don't hesitate. Together, we raise our linked hands and wave goodbye with the other.

Astounded is a word I might use to describe my feelings. The train car is lined with purple plush. Big leather seats line the outer walls and wall to wall white carpet lays on the floor. A golden chandelier hangs from the ceiling. And in the very next car, sits tables and tables of more food than I've ever seen.

Rhianna and I haven't even stepped two feet past the threshold. Hunter Gagliano steps in behind us and ushers us inside.

"Rhianna, is that your name? Your room is through these doors and to the left, Jake, yours is to the left." he says.

We say nothing. We're both still analyzing every detail of these Capitol manufactured train cars. I bet they were made in District 1. Hunter gives us an odd look and continues.

"Well, uh, dinner will be ready soon. Served in the dining car two cars down."

We still remain silent. Hunter gives up and walks away. I just look at Rhianna.

"It's...uh..." she stutters.

"Yeah..."

"Amazing." she says.

"Yeah." I say. Carefully, as if everything is a dream and breakable, I step forward. Kneeling down, I feel the carpet. Run it through my fingers. I reach up, and touch the leather couches.

"Amazing. Yeah." I say.

Rhianna Eleck

My room is the same color scheme as the main room. I feel the train jerk into motion. It knocks me on to my bed, but I can't help but run to the huge window the wall is made out of. This is the last time I'll be in my District. Be in my home. Be anywhere, really.

I watch the huge trees pass for a while before crumpling up on the plush floor and crying myself into a deep sleep.

"Rhianna, the food. It's... amazing." its Jake, and he's waking me up for dinner. I've curled myself up against the glass, it's now dark outside. I look outside and through the darkness, I see another District.

Another District!

If anything comes out of this horrible thing, it's the travel. Hardly any person in the country gets to see more than the horrid District they're born into. I don't know what District it is, but I see the giant, lit, high security fences.

"Jake! What Dist-" I start.

And then their it is. It passed quickly, but it was there, and giant sign, as big as a train car, in blue letters says "District 1"

"Oh my god." he says. He stole the words from my mouth. It takes us a while, but we peel ourselves from the window and drag ourselves towards the dining car. Hunter Gagliano is already sitting down, and two mysterious people dressed in red are standing behind him. He must notice us eyeballing them.

"They're called Avoxes. They're the Capitol's servants. They can't talk, they only do what you say. Once we reach the training building you two will both be assigned with your own set of Avoxes. Sit." he says.

Training building?

Own set?

We do sit, but only because the smell of food is too much to bear. It seems that every food I've ever wanted is at the table. I take as much as I can. I figure I might as well bulk up now so I might have some extra fat to rely on if I'm starving in the arena.

Unless I'm running all the time, losing the weight.

I'm screwed either way. These games are no place for me.

"As it just so has it," says Hunter "I will also be your guys' mentor this year. I'm the last living victor from District 7, so I was stuck with the job." he says.

Stuck with the job.

Even his words reflect on how much they truly don't care about us. We're just a piece. In these disgusting games.

"We'll arrive back in the city tomorrow afternoon, so be ready for the cameras, for the people. Your rooms are stocked with clothes, pick something presentable. Finish your dinner, and then go wash up for bed. Tomorrows a big day! We've got the tribute parade too, don't forget." he says. He stands, dismisses the odd servants and walks out of the room.

How could I possibly forget about the tribute parade. Jake breaks the silence. Secretly, I thank god that I have to go through this with Jake. He's the only person, ever, I'd want to do this with.

"So, what happens when we get into the arena?" he asks.

"Is this a trick question?" I say. I can't tell if he's trying to be sarcastic or not.

"No, no, I mean..are we.." he starts to stutter.

"Uh, I sure as hell am not gonna kill you." I say.

"Okay. Good. I just, wasn't sure if you were gonna try to go on your own or what." he says.

"I'd die the first day." I say. And then for once, probably in my life, I share a laugh with someone.

"Allies?" he offers a hand. I grab it.

"Allies."

District 3

Kathryn Jones

Cameron and I step onto the train. I spend such a long time noticing and appreciating every small detail of the train. It's beautiful, more so than anything I've seen in my life.

This whole experience will definitely be an awkward process with Cameron. I don't know him, I didn't even know he existed.

Our representative tells us we're running a little behind and that dinner has just been served.

I have no appetite.

I've seen previous victors interviews before and they all say that they ate a ton of food before the games just in case they had a hard time finding food in the arena. I figure I better start preparing somewhere.

That's when I realize that I truly will be going through the games alone. I'll have Cameron, I'll have my mentor, I might even make an ally. But in the end, I'm all alone.

We're directed to a dining car that's just as beautiful as the last. We've never starved in District 3 but we've certainly never had as much food as this. We sit down and I pile food on to my plate. Cameron does the same. Through the car door comes a tall muscular man. He's old but somehow has remained handsome. He's District 3's only victor. District 3 never has any Careers, so naturally we dont have lot of victors.

"Well, here you are." he says. He eyes me up and down, and then Cameron. "Names?"

"Uh, Cameron."

"And I'm Kathryn." I say. I avoid eye contact with him. He sort of creeps me out.

"Well, Cameron, Kathryn, I'm Charlie Xavier. We'll arrive in the Capitol tomorrow. And we have the tribute parade that night, you both are familiar with that I assume?" he says. We both nod. "When we arrive you'll meet your personal stylists and they'll give you your chariot costumes. Eat as much food as you want, there's not a lot of it to go around once you're in the arena." he sits down and stacks his plate with food.

There's so much information. I try to soak it all in, I try to remember it all. I need to know as much as I can about the Games if I'm going to try to win. Plus, after I win they'll ask me about my pre-Games experience and I'll have to tell them.

I dig into my food. It tastes so good. I take seconds, thirds, and even half a fourth plate of food. By the time I finish, Cameron has already found his room that Charlie led him too. He tells me my room's down the hall to the left.

I stand up and eventually find my room. I sit on my bed and sigh a long, deep breath. I'm surprised at myself. I feel wrong. I feel like I should be more upset than I actually am. Besides at the Justice Building, I haven't cried once.

I fall back on the pillow and stare out the wall made of glass. I focus, try to focus on the trees that whizz past. I fall asleep staring at the darkening landscape.

District 8

Justin Applegate

Laying on my bed, I focus on the feeling of the moving train. I feel like I need to cry, that I should, but I don't. I don't have the energy, I don't have the tears.

I didn't eat at dinner, I was to sickened. I regret that decision now, I feel like I could eat the bed itself. Daringly, I step from the bed. It's hours after the girl from my District, Olivia I think her name is, went to bed. I already hate her, she's very annoying.

I don't hear the chatter of our representative or our mentor anymore. They must have went to bed too. The door slides open and I'm grateful it's silent. I tiptoe down the hall and find myself in the main car again. None of the lights are on, and the huge windows on the walls let in no light. I carefully walk through the main car to the dining car. I find the tables the food was sitting on empty. I inwardly punch myself. I turn to go back to my room.

I scream.

Staring at me are one of the Avoxes. I think my heart just stopped. Dressed in their outfit, with their odd hairstyle, they look terrifying in the dark.

"Uh, I'm sorry." I whisper. She doesn't say anything. Why isn't she saying anything. I'm freaking out on the inside. "Uh, I just was looking for some food." I say. The Avox disappears through a set of doors and returns a moment later with a tray of the same food from dinner. She sets it on the table and leaves the room. I don't see her again.

So I sit in the pitch darkness of the dining car and eat the food. There is no sound, only that of my heart. When I finish, I stand and prepare to tip toe back to my room and see if I can get some sleep. A spark of curiosity flies through me. What else is on this train?

Instead of going through the door that leads to the main car again, I sneak through the door on the opposite side. The door the Avox exited into. The next car has more tables, probably just for eating too. I can't stop myself, so I continue farther down the train. Through this car, I find the car that's probably used as the kitchen. I pass through this one also.

I reach the next car. This car is filled with glass. Bottles, some short, some tall. Skinny, some fat. Wine? Water?

I walk over to one and pick it up. It's heavy with contents. I pull the top of and give it a whiff. I cough. The fiery smell of liquor runs throughout me. I put the top back on and pick up another one. It's slightly larger. I pull the cork off and find what I think to be orange juice. I pick another.

Inside this bottle are smells I find attractive. The scent rushes up to my nose in fireworks of sugary sweetness. I smell peppermint, chocolate, and candy. At the end, a rough hint of something I don't know of.

I have no name for this drink. Also daringly, I take a swig. It tastes better than it smells. I take another and another. Before I know it the bottle is gone. I throw it aside. I guess I was more thirsty than I knew. My mind fogs over, almost instantaneously.

I take a step in the direction I believe my room is and my world turns itself inside out. I fall over and heave the alcohol up, all over the car.

District 5

Mollie Walts

I step into the car and I gasp, out loud. My father, being the mayor, walks me all the way to the door of the train car. He promises me that no one will you in the arena, knowing that if they win my father will have them killed.

I know he's lying. I know I'm going to die in these Games, unless I change it myself.

"Promise you'll try." he says.

"I promise, Dad. I promise." I say.

And then for the first time in my life I see my father cry. The train car doors close and I say goodbye, once and for all to my district.

I eat more food than I've ever seen in my life. I love it. There might be some good things that come out of this whole thing.

Before I die.

Our mentor introduces herself and I think I might punch her in the face. She starts going on and on about survival strategies which I know I should be listening to, but I can't stop visualizing and daydreaming about ways I could kill her right now, in this room.

I find the carpet more interesting than what she's saying.

She shows me where my room is and I couldnt be more glad. I dont think I've ever wanted to see a bed so much in my. I make sure the automatic door is shut, and I hit the electronic button that locks it. I strip to my underwear and get under the covers.

Wrapped in the warmth of these disgusting, Capitol manufactured blankets, I cry myself to sleep. I did pick up the part where Jesse told us we would arrive in the city tomorrow. And the part about the tribute parade being tomorrow.

I can't wait.

I just can't freaking wait.

I sob myself to sleep.