A/N: So sory about taking FOREVER to get this chapter up. I have been on holiday, loads of school work. And all that. Hope you don't hat me :) Well, hear it is chapter four. Hope you enjoy it and PLEASE tell me if you would like to be a beta, and just send me the edited chap. Thanks. I will edit tomorrow :)
Also, I do like reviews. If I do not get at least 6 or more, I will not continue. So if It's not over 56 no more chapters. So the quicker you review, the quicker my next post.
Disclaimer: I don't own the hunger games :'(
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I walk down the corridors of the train. Link follows me but I don't look back, I have no life to look back onto now. I take long, deep breaths, knowing somewhere, deep down, burred under the posh capitol meals and smells, district eleven air is still lingering around. I approach the doorway, I don't bother looking around and saying my 'Goodbyes,' to the train, I just jump of and onto the platform. Remembering what I told myself, I have to grow up, right here, right now.
Metaphorically, There is meant to be buildings that touch the clouds, and noise's so loud you need earmuffs, from the second you leave the train, and into the capitol. But all there is, is a few cameras, a small mob of people, waving banners and a big cheering noise. Echoing from wall to wall. To be fair, on the way in there was some tall buildings.
"Come on, I hate the station," Link mutters, tugging me by my wrist. I don't hesitate, I follow him up some stairs, and to a bridge over the train track. We pause for a while on the bridge, away from the crowd and the noise. Just me and him.
"We are meeting Thresh, Sylvia – Thresh's designer – and Blue here." Link says, fiddling with my black hair.
"Okay,"
"So, you do like your dress, don't you?"
"Course I do, It's perfect," I begin, looking at his tanned fingers, fiddling with my hair, "And my hair," I smile, pulling back his wrist,
"I just wa-"
"Want it to look perfect?" I ask, finishing of his sentence. He smiles and nods slightly. His lips move in reply, but I don't catch what he says. I just stare at him uncomprehendingly.
"I want it, you, to look phenomenal," Link says, taking note of the fact I was not paying attention.
"Well, I do, I look more then anythingm really, something I can't describe, like the sweetest, softest music in the world," He brushes back my hair from my ear. And stares at me the way Trisha stared at me, eyes filled sympathy, like It's sinking your boat, your boat that will never sail straight, that will always be weighed down in pain. Until one day pain will win.
"Rue?" But before I can reply, Blue, Thresh and Sylvia come skipping up the steps. Thresh is wearing a suit, he looks silly, wearing the capitol clothes, nothing like what he would wear, back in district eleven.
"You, you look nice," Thresh comments. There is not much you can say to a twelve year old, but Thresh has a kind hart. I can tell.
"So, we are going to the chariots now. How exciting. If were quick, you might get to talk to some other tributes, how exciting,"Blue says, clapping her hands. "Come on then," she says, skipping forward elegantly. Like a swan diving in to the water, breaking the white waves with It's beak.
"How exciting," Thresh mimacs,
Me and Link trail behind. We go under some bridges;all with posters advertising the hunger games, are randomly dotted around. The bridges have soft, white paint, chipping at the edge against the crusty brick.
. We finally approach a fountain. Crystal water spouting out. There is a loud roar of the crowd, and tributes are talking amongst themselves. I can see the district one and two kids, stronger then ever, are laughing and chatting. The girl with the amazing, long, orange hair, is sat on the fountain wall, dipping her pale toes into the water. Her hair is blowing neatly in the breeze. Trisha, I mean Katniss. Is wearing an outfit, so unique, so incredible, no one in the world could describe it. Streaks of sequinned flames and fire rising all around it.
"Are you ready?" Thresh asks griping my hand. The pressure is unbelievable, but I know he is being kind.
"No," I reply honestly. He laughs,
"Don't think anyone is,"
"What about them?" I ask pointing to the career tributes,
"Well, just forget about them," Thresh laughs. I wish he was my mentor, I know it would never happen though. But there's something kind and soft about him. Something only I know.
"Okay, everybody," I voice shrieks into the air, "Get on the Chariots,"
I climb up and cling on. District one goes first, so I'm almost last. Suddenly, everything happens. In one second. I zoom of, air pushing against my face. Everybody shrieks. I look behind me, curious of the reason why. The I realise. Katniss', and the other boys out fit are now lit with fire. Fire. Dancing around there bodies. Obviously fake, but It looks so real, shimmering against the black costume. I don't look back, just forward. I feel a bit ashamed, my outfit is terrible compared to there's. The sort of thing you would expect from, district one tributes.
I watch the trees, crowds and cameras fly past me. Then within no time at all we stop. Out side the tall, ancient, marvellous building. Grey brick, long winding steps to the, one hundred inch wide, door. Obviously the justice building. The building that marks the start of the tributes life in the captiol.
"Wow" I shriek, then cover my mouth quickly. Stopping any more high pitched noise to leak out. I jump down from the chariot and onto the pavement. There is a sea of cameras waiting for me. Thresh grips my hand once more,
"You see this building all the time don't you? On TV. But you would never imagine some thing so-" Thresh says, I think he's talking to himself but I can't help but butt in.
"Spectacular," I smile, finishing of his sentence. He looks at me, his brown eyes staring into mine, smiling at me, innocent and warm. I look into his too, trying to see his past, to work out, how to help his future.
All of us are guided in, saying goodbye to the cameras. For now. Inside, all twenty-four of us stand in a line. I can't help but gaze at each tribute. One by one. everyone of us unique. No mater if we may turn into evil murders. There is something unique about us all. Something no game can ever take away.
"What happens now," I edge to Link, who's standing behind me, he replies,
"You get sorted in to your rooms," something in his voice seems so confident, yet I'm sure he's petrified. But of what?
"District one," An old man bellows. He is dressed in a brown jacket and long black trousers.
"Room one-four-two," He says to the girl, pointing her off in the left direction. A puzzled look attacks her face.
"How will I find my room?" I ask Link,
"I'll help you," Link smiles.
Finally I get my room; two-four-six. Link escorts me to the lift. I've been in a lift twice in my life. In district eleven; on the left border, where the farm land is. To get down to the acres of land, you need to take a life ride. It is not good for my stomach though, I'm positive. The school took us last year, I loved everything, other then the lift Itself.
"Do we have to take the lift?" I plead.
"Course not. If you want to walk up twelve flights of stairs." Link says flatly. I laugh as the metal doors open.
"It's big, isn't it?" I say, walking in, and observing every possible inch. "The one I went in was dead tight, and suffocating."
"Hmm."
"Hmm." I joke back. The doors open to reveal a long, winding corridor. A dirty green carpet, curling up at the edges is guiding the way. Flowery wall paper, with a soft blue is pasted onto the thin walls. "I thought that the capitol had lost of money,"
"They do,"
"Then why the mouldy carpet and wall paper?" I ask turning my nose up.
"Well, they are hardly going to spend hundreds on wall paper, when there is twenty floors. And anyway, they have better things to spend there money on, like medicines and things." Link lectures.
"Okay,"
"Well, here is your room," Link says,
"Ooh, thanks, see you?"
"Tonight,"
"Okay, bye." I say releasing his hand.
In my room there is a big, kind size bed, with an oak wood head rest. The bedding is a pink almost as soft as a babies skin. I sit down for a second, letting the mattress mould around my body. I smile to myself, then I climb up. I slip of my shoes and walk into the bathroom. It's amazing. A silver walk in shower, with crystal slights, mirrors, and jets. I run my palm against the glass, It's smooth and fast. There is a black, crystal encrusted sink. I smile lightly. Suddenly there is a loud bang against the door. I make my way into the door slowly. An old man; a replica of the man before, but slightly different, is stood at the door.
"You have to go down to dinner, on the first floor in one hour. Dress in these," He says handing me a clump of clothes,
"Thanks,"
"Ooh, and make sure you shower." He replies, in the stupid capitol accent.
I turn the shower on, there doesn't seem to be a temperature dial, maybe It's just a perfect set one. I don't hesitate, I just turn the shower on. I test the water with my hand. It's perfect. It's not boiling, but not freezing. Just right. I slip of my clothes, and throw them in the laundry basket. I place the new ones on the cream chair. There is a red strappy top, and some black leggings; fashionably ripped at the edges. I step into the shower, close the door and let the rain spout down onto my shoulders and hair. All of a sudden the blue lights come on. The mirrors reflect it against the water. It really does look like ice on water. The steamy rain drips onto me for a while. I look around for the shampoo, but then I see it. I big button just above my head labelled. 'Shampoo'
"Wow," I mutter to myself. I hit the button and a blob of strawberry smelling shampoo, falls onto my head. Then without my asking, conditioner, and then a drier. "Wish I had one of them," I say to myself as I step out of the shower. The room is not cold like at home, but heated. I dress quickly, brush my hair then head out of my room.
I hit the button for the lift. When it eventually arrives, Katniss is stood inside.
"Come in," She says outstretching her hand to me. Her district twelve accent is not that different to mine. I jump in and she punches the button for floor one.
"Rue, right?" She asks.
"Yeah, Katniss," I smile confidently.
"You looked really pretty today,"
"No. I'm twelve years old. But your dress was amazing, if I was not as close as I was, I would of thought it was real fire."
"Same,"
"You have the best designer. Katniss, your the girl on fire," I tell her. Maybe to stop her looking so upset. She smiles lightly then walks out onto the first floor. I follow the signs and find Thresh, Link, and Sylvia sat around a table. I guess the others are not hear yet. I take one big gulp and then realise from now on It's difficult questions and pain.
A/N: Hope you liked it. Thanks for reading, please review.
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