The Capitol's Star: Chapter 4
When we reach District 11, I can barely manage to contain myself. The younger children from 11 are especially meek. The escort for 11 couldn't be more enthusiastic. Doesn't she realize what she's doing? I continue to ask myself that question. The lady, dressed in entirely in blue, reads the female name, "Rose Hemsworth." All eyes turn to a petite 12 year old. No. No, no,no,no. I watch her walk up to the stage. She's trying to hold back tears. I could hear my heart breaking. She will be the only twelve year old in the competition. The only one. She won't stand a chance. I turn to see Rachel smiling. As well as my mom. My dad, being the camera man, is eagerly watching the girl. My eyes narrow him down when he turns the camera directly on me. I do my best to ignore him. I can feel my whole world crashing down around me. It's almost as if the ground is crumbling. Just as the girl reaches the stage, I stand up. Do it. "Destiny what are you doing?" my mom questions. I ignore her this time. Do it. Now. I can't bear to answer. I just begin to open my mouth when my mom asks more sternly, "Destiny Frost what are you". DO IT NOW, DESTINY. "I volunteer!" I screech.
"I volunteer!" I scream. I'm running towards the girl now. Embracing her I whisper, "Go find your mom." I send her down stairs. My mom and Rachel are shocked. "Des!" Rachel shouts. I mouth to her, "I'm sorry." Rachel's eyes sink down in disappointment. My mom's jaw drops completely. She is paralyzed with fear. I I did my job well.
Meanwhile, the escort is speechless. After regaining herself, she begins. "Well then. We have a volunteer from the…" she pauses. She looks at the crowd of people and continues. "from the Capitol. What…is your name, dear?" she barely says. I face my dad and say, "Destiny Frost." "Oh what a lovely name." she replies. "Let's…continue with our boys, shall we?" The escort takes one last glance at me, and then turns her attention to the male reaping bowl. "Maxwell Shoals." She pronounces. A scrawny faced boy walks up next to me. Brown hair. Sad-faced. He's obviously staring at me as the escort finishes her speech, "Ladies and gentlemen, these are our tributes from District 11. Can we give them a warm round of applause?" She asks. She begins clapping but no one finishes for her. Instead we get nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Maxwell and I are walking to our train with our escort when I hear Rachel screaming my name. Followed by my parents. My dad starts first, "What in the name of the Capitol was that?" Then my mom, "Destiny, please tell me you're not going to actually do this!" Finally, Rachel says in a sad manner, "Please don't do this." "I'm sorry. I can't let that little girl die. It's too much." I say flatly. "But what about yourself, Des? How will you survive?" Rachel asks. "I'll figure something out." I answer.
I manage to take one last look at my family before I step on to the train. Maxwell, my escort, and two Peacekeepers are right behind me. As the doors closed, I realized that I might have taken my final glance at my family. But there were bigger problems at the moment.
"Hey!" Maxwell shouts. "What were you thinking? Are you an idiot?" I turn to face him and state, "I couldn't watch that girl go up there. She wouldn't stand a chance." He seems even more furious when he speaks, "Why do you care so much? Your 'family' is the reason we're all in this mess." Now our escort has joined in, "Oh please, you two. Control yourselves! This young lady could have easily sat and watched that child. She could have done nothing." She continues, "However, she took a risk. And I think you should give her some respect." Maxwell ignores her completely. "Of course you're kissing up to her. That's what Capitol people do." He snaps as he storms into another cart of the train. "Don't you worry, Destiny. I think you did a courageous thing. I'm your escort, Eliza Schaffers." She introduces. "Thank you for defending me. I think Maxwell is just a little shaken." I say. "Of course. I'll go find James." She struts off into the next cart. James? Who's he? I take a look around the train. Over sized sofas fill the room. A gourmet buffet is just inches away from me. Before I grab a treat, the door slams open with a bang. All of my family is here. Plus the addition of Maxwell's.
My parents embrace me, but I am not in the mood for hugs and kisses. Teary eyed, my mom says, "Is this the…end?" "I've talked with District 11's mayor, and they said if you want to switch" my father starts, but I stop him. "No." My mom is now in 'begging' mode, "But Destiny! President Hayes". "I'll be fine. But don't cry." I say sharply. She nods in agreement. Rachel steps up from behind my parents. "Good luck." She says between sobs. I feel a tear drop down my face. I squeeze her tightly. It may be the last time I see my best friend. Then she reminds me, "You can win. The whole school can send you gifts, and sponsors, and". "It's ok, it's ok. This will not be the end." I tell her. "Right", she answers. Through the corner of my eye, I see Maxwell's parents embracing their son. He must be an only child like me. After a final group hug, my family waves goodbye, but a new family takes their place. It is the family of the girl I volunteered for.
The mother speaks up first, "Thank you so much for saving my daughter. I cannot explain...how thankful I am." "I couldn't bear to see her go through such a thing." I say with a slight smile. Now the little girl has appeared behind her older sister's shoulders. The entire family looks the same. Brown curly hair, olive skin, and hazel eyes. The girl hugs me, and I unclip a gold necklace from my neck. "This is for you." I whisper to her. She looks up at me hopefully, and I slowly put it into her hands. "Thank you." She manages to reply back. "I wish I had something for you." She brings so much joy, that it would be pure evil to send her to the Hunger Games. "It's ok." I tell her reassuringly. After the entire family thanks me, I ask Rose, "Watch the tribute interviews for me, ok?" Rose nods her head happily, and I watch her walk outside the train. She's holding her mother's and her father's hands.
Now it is just me and Maxwell. Apparently, I'm getting the silent treatment. Being from the Capitol, I know how to handle this situation. "Listen, I know I'm not the district partner you expected. But we're here either way, so we might as well make the best of it." I begin. Maxwell turns his head to face me. "We?" he asks. That's it? That's all you have to say? "I thought that we would handle this as a team." I remarked. He laughs at my comment, "Ok, Capitol girl, I don't know if you knew this, but only one comes out. I know it's not me, so why do you care so much?" he snorts. "I care because I don't want to spend my last hours drooling over the fact that this is it!". I regain control in my voice as I rant on, "I don't care if you think I'm rich, obnoxious, or snobby because I know that I'm not." "Wow- that's such a Capitol citizen thing to say." Maxwell reminds me. I narrow my eyes at him and try to keep going, "All I ask is that you pretend that I'm a normal kid from District 11. We really could make it out of here if you just stop acting so immature." He raises an eyebrow, possibly in surprise or even ignorance. "Really? Look at the way you're dressed. Do you really think you can ever blend in looking like that?" he questions. I stare at my strapless blue dress, my satin heels, and my silver bracelets hanging up my arm. I tell myself that he's wrong, that he cannot judge someone like this. But in the same way, he is right. I can't fit in. "That's what I thought." Maxwell concluded. At that moment, Eliza walks in with a tall man who seems to be in his late 30's. "Destiny, Maxwell, this is James Burgones. He won the 15th Hunger Games at…What age? Eliza asks. "17." He shares with us. He looks at me and says, "Who is she? An escort in training?" Maxwell chuckles quietly. "Actually James, Destiny is our female tribute." Eliza corrects. James expresses a look of what I think is confusion or disgust. Either way, he doesn't look happy.
