3 – fading away
They are marched, like prisoners of war, towards the train.
Katniss can remember this same time last year, when the same train arrived to take the 73rd tributes away. The thought of seeing the inside of the train, let alone riding it, is completely foreign.
Gale walks in front of her, and so she cannot meet his eyes. Instead, Katniss' eyes search the crowd.
She quickly finds Prim, standing with Rory who holds the little baby Posy tightly. Their mothers are standing together; one fair-haired and elegant and one dark haired and skinned from the Seam.
This will be the last time she sees this place. The last time she is with these people.
Katniss can feel it festering in her gut like a stone.
They are escorted to their rooms, and left in the hallway. Perhaps luckily, Gale's room is right down the hall. Their rooms share a common wall. He stands there motionless, staring at the door as she does. She turns away, unable to focus.
It's all moving so quickly.
Katniss stares out the window, watching the scraggly trees of District 12 give way to the forests that ring the district. Hunting grounds.
"Catnip." Gale comes to stand behind her.
She can feel his body heat against her back, and she wishes he'd take her hand, touch her shoulder, her back, something – anything – to bring her back into her body.
Already, District 12 is disappearing around the bend of the tracks as the train speeds towards the Capitol.
