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Two Weeks Until the Hunger Games

The Train

I have to kill him.

As I lay in bed, the words run through my mind over and over like an answering machine on rewind. It would be fine if I was any other person going up against him. But I'm not. I'm me.

I contrast myself as the answering machine keeps running. I can't kill him. I can't kill him. I can't kill him.

It's hard to put yourself in my situation. Killing your best friend, or even watching your best friend die.

Trouble is, I don't know what he's going to do if we meet up in the arena. Form an alliance? Kill me? He'll probably have an easier go at it.

I finally convince myself to roll over and look at the clock. 6 AM. Well, I think, I slept better than I thought I would.

I climb out of my bed and head to the dining car. I am starved. I barely ate last night because of my nerves. Now, I realize, I just have to accept that this is my fate and there is no escape.

As I enter the dining car, I see Fletch and tuck my hair behind my ear. I stare at the floor as if it's a box of Panem's finest chocolate and shuffle to an empty table at the other side of the room, in a chair facing the opposite direction of him.

"Chose isolation without an invitation," Haymich mutters all smart-aleck-y. I snort, loud enough for only him to hear. He snorts back.

"What, you two having a snort battle? I'm surprised the tickets aren't priced higher!" Katniss laughs and I hear Peeta slap her. She provides no comfort to me. I hear Fletch slap her too.

Fletch walks over to my table and sits right in front of me. Way to go, hot shot, I think, you just made things so much more uncomfortable.

"Hey," is all he says. I tuck my hair that is already behind my ear behind my ear again.

"Hey," I say as I stare the floor.

"Why didn't you sit with me?" he asks.

"I…" I trail off. I don't have an answer.

"No, no. It's okay. I just figured we could strategize with our mentors."

He used we. Referring to a team effort. As in him and me. Team.

"Suresure," I say too fast. It sounds like I'm saying one word. I blush and tuck my hair behind my ear again, even if it's already behind my ear.

He helps me stand up because I'm weak in the knees, and we both walk over to the big table in the center of the car.

"Join us, please," Fletch says to me so kindly I thought I'd pass out, "Let's get you some food."

He motions to the servant in the corner for more rolls and jelly. She simply nods and disappears into the kitchen. She returns moments later with a basket of rolls and jelly. I stare at it, my mouth hanging open, my eyes wide.

"...what do you think, Em?" Fletch asks me, using my nickname.

"What?" I say, confused.

"I said, 'what do you think?' about what I just asked you," he says.

"Uhh…" I stutter. Fletch beckons me to continue. I take a bite of my roll and jelly and think about my answer.

"What was the question again?" I ask like an innocent schoolgirl, then with my mouth full say, "By the way, these rolls are amazing."

"Uhh, you got a little something…" Katniss says and Peeta slaps her once more. I realize what she's saying and hastily wipe my mouth. Haymich laughs, and Peeta slaps him.

Ohh! I think, My shoes are fascinating!

I look up for a split second and notice that Fletch is looking down too. All the adults are staring at us and talking in low whispers.

"Time to pull out the spirits!" Haymich announces, promptly taking out a mini vodka bottle out of his shirt pocket, a bottle of wine from each of his boots, and his fake wallets that were hollowed and filled with beer. I groan as Fletch laughs immaturely. I'm glad he can be happy in this kind of situation. When we get to the arena, he'll be jumping for joy. I shake my head and storm out of the room.

"Wait!" Haymich calls, "You forgot to take a refreshment!"

I flop onto my bed. This day's already got a bad start. Who knows what else is in store for me?

I hear a knock at the door. Its Fletch. I can hear his foot tapping.
"Whaddya want?" I question him angrily, opening the door.

"Uhh….uhh…." he stutters.

"Come on!" I say. I'm so fed up with the situation that I'm boiling over.

"Uhh...I-I I guess I'm sorry. For acting that way."

"Well, you shouldn't have!" I say as I slam the door in his face.

"C'mon, Em," he used my nickname again, "I was just fooling around. I know it's not a joke."

"Give me some time."

I lay there in my bed for what seems like hours, maybe even days. I finally gain the courage to sit up and find that it's only half past 12:00. I groan and decide to get out of my room.

The games has a new system this year. The trains have a new car, a training car, with almost all the training supplies they will have in the capital.

At this stage in the game, I cannot win with pure strength. I need to start to get in shape. I tell my father to tell the conductor to take the long route. I'm gonna need all the time I can get.

I start by improving my quickness. I do that by testing my reaction time to certain scenarios. I improve my fight response so I don't have to use flight response so often.

I then improve my hand to hand combat skills. I jab inwards instead of swinging around. I work on anticipating a hit and how to react to it.

I next teach myself basic survival skills, such as how to build a fire without giving away my location, how to climb trees, how to camouflage myself, and the best way to evade attackers, no matter what surroundings I'm in.

Finally, after installing all the basics, I work on my archery and sword skills. I use axes, bows, and swords of all different shapes, weights, and materials to train me for whatever weapons they put in the arena.

After all the training, there is 1 day left until we arrive in the Capital. I spend this day watching the reapings over and over, trying to point out strengths and weaknesses within the short clips I had.

Finally, we arrived. As we burst out of the tunnel, it was almost hard to see the buildings at our speed. The thing I did see were the lights. The beautiful, blinding lights coming from all over the capital. It was as if they were trying to blind their citizens from the dark meaning of the games.

We step off the train, and immediately the atmosphere slaps me in the face. My ears feel like they are bleeding because of the blaring music. I can barely hear my father's voice over the music:

"Welcome to the Capital."

(Short) Author's note:

It has been a while since I updated. Sorry this chapter is on the shorter side; I promise to give a longer one soon. Thanks for continuing to read!

-LTCF