Chapter Two.
The moment that the anthem is finished, both Colias and I are whisked away into custody. No, I don't mean that they handcuffed us, don't be silly, but a group of Peacekeepers march us through the front door of the Justice Building. Perhaps it's because a tribute has tried to escape in the past, but I've never seen that happen before. Once we are inside the justice Building, I am taken to a room and left alone. Peacekeepers guard the door outside. I pace the room, barley noticing the rich fabrics and fancy room. I try to calm myself, and prepare for the next hour. The time that the tributes are allocated to say goodbye to their family and friends. I can not leave this room with red eyes and tear stains on my dress. Crying is not option. There will be yet more cameras at the station, to see us go off.
My family is first in. At the sight of my family, all my resolution to not cry crumbles. Mum is crying, tears streaming down her face. Bien is sniffling, trying to not look at my face. Dad is trying to stay normal, and manages a choked "Well, we never expected this." Then he, too, breaks into tears. So do I. Alexe looks bewildered. I reach out to him, smileing slighty through my tears, and he climbs onto my lap, puts his arms around my neck and rests his head on my shoulder like he did when he was little. I start absentmindedly stroking his hair. "I love you so very much, alright?" I tell Alexe. "Now, Alexe, I'm going off to the Capital for a bit, but I will be back soon, okay? Bein," I glance up at him. " Be strong for Alexe. I will win, but just incase I don't, please, be strong. I love you. I love you all, and I promise I will try and win, but I honestly don't know." "Catina, I love you ever so much, and..." with that my mother broke down once more, her choked words cut off. "Catina, Good Luck, and know that we will love you forever." says my dad.
The rest of the time is spent talking about happy memories. Then a Peacekeeper comes to the door, signaling that our time is up, and we are all realizing that it wasn't nearly enough, and we are all hugging each other so hard it hurts, and Alexe starts crying, and then all I know is that I'm saying " I love you, I love you." to them and they are saying it back and and then the Peacekeeper orders them out and the door closes. I thump onto the couch and bury my head into a cushion. And I realize that that may have been the last time I will ever see any of my family again. And I start crying. Not softly crying, tears falling delicately down my face, but full out bawling, snot coming out of my nose, face turning red, and tears rushing down my face. I eventually stop, and blow my nose.
Then I realize that the door is being opened, and someone else is coming in. I turn, and shriek in delight. Maddox, Lara, Kiose and Felix are all there, and rush over to me. We all squish into a giant hug, and laugh. "What are you guys doing here?" I ask once we break apart. "You didn't think that we would let you go to the Capital without saying bye, did you!" says Lara. "I know you'll win. No, you better win. Me and my sister are already betting on who will be victor, you or Colias, and I bet 10 dollars on you. I don't have 10 dollars!" says Maddox. We all start laughing. I'm actually feeling better. "And Catina you lied." says Felix seriously. I think back, curious. "What? I've never lied to you-" Yes, you have. You said you would met me by the cupcake stand. You didn't." Felix says that with a completely serious face, and we all start laughing again. "But, seriously, win. You've got to. We are already setting up a petition that will collect money for you, to get gifts and such in the Games, and we will be there for you every step of the way." says Kiose. "But what if I don't-" "You will." says Maddox confidently. "I'm sure of it." "I'll visit your parents every day and make sure Alexe is fine all the time that you're away." "But what you really need to do is get your hands on a group of knives." says Felix. "Catina, hunting people is no different to hunting animals. I know you already know that, but remember, you have to be ruthless. Do not forget. If you do, you might as well be dead." We continue to talk about random things until the Peacekeeper comes in and directs them out. "Win for all of us, Catina!" shouts Felix as the door closes. But instead of leaving with them, the Peacekeeper stays inside. "Aren't you meant to leave?" I say, rather rudely. He takes off his helmet in answer.
"Brao!" I say happily, surprised. "Catina, this has got to be quick. First of all, I have been appointed your personal guard for the rest of the Hunger Games. Second, I will be in bedroom 2 down from yours on the train, so meet me there when you get to go to bed." he said all this in a hurried whisper, then walked outside and shut the door. I sat there for the rest of the time, thinking about that and all my family and friends, drying all traces of tears from myself, until it was time to leave.
It's a short ride from the Justice Building to the train station. Colias doesn't look like he's been crying. I hope I don't. Dyane Flutterby sits between us, chattering away. We don't pay her the slightest bit of attention, but stare out the window at the passing crowd of people. I wave goodbye to them, and some of them wave back. When we reach the train station, I pull on a mask of happiness and sickly girly smiling. It is swarming with reporters, their insect like cameras trained upon my face. I wave happily to them, smiling bashfully and laughing. They eat it all up, laughing with me. I even hear a reporter say into a microphone "What a wonderful girl! How sweet!" The Capital will gobble that up right away, I think grimly. I catch a glimpse of myself on a big television screen that is airing my arrival live, and I am gratified to see that I appear joyful and sweet.
We stand for a couple minutes in the doorway of the train, and I wave to the crowd. I even spent a few seconds talking to a reporter. She wanted to know all about me, delighted to be the first one to talk to me. I just laughed, and kept turning the conversation back to her, asking about her clothes, and commenting about how I "never get to wear anything pretty here, since we don't have much reason too." Soon Dyane Flutterby directs us inside the train, and I wipe the mask off my face gratefully. The doors slam mercifully behind us, and the train starts at once. It almost throws me off balance, not because it's jerking but because it is such a strange feeling. Of course, I have never been on a train before,as travel between the Districts is forbidden, except for official duties and being a Peackeeper. Most of my friends think that all the Peacekeepers come from the Capital, but some come from here and District 1. This train is a Capital one, that goes 250 miles per hour. We will be I am starting to feel apprehensive. I have always been the one who needs to know everything to feel safe. And I don't know everything now.
Dyane directs us to our rooms/chambers. In each is a bedroom, a bathroom, and a dressing room. There are drawers that are filled with expensive, pretty clothes, and Dyane tells us that we can do whatever we want, wear anything we want to, just make sure to be ready for dinner in 30 minutes. We have 4 hours until we arrive in the Capitol. I look around my room. It was an ordinary room, and the theme of the room seemed to be the ocean. It was all blue, green and white, and made me feel like I was floating on the sea. The first thing I do is take off my dress, and get changed into something comfortable. I look through my drawers, and finally dress in a dark grey singlet and some pants.
Dyane comes and collects us for dinner, and ushers us down the hallway and into a room. I almost gasp in amazement. The room is the richest place I've been in. A table, like the one my family eats off, is covered with delicacies from the Capital. Of course, these delicacies are nothing like I get back in District 2. Ours is only eggs and bacon on Reaping Day but that's it. Unusual looking sweets, fancy breads, beverages,the lot. There is a small dining table in the main car with 4 seats. There is also two sofas facing each other, and a tiny snack table in front of them. Chairs are scattered all around the room. Dyane directs us over to the sofas and sits us down.
She sits down, then stands up, looking frazzled. "Oh, bother." she twitters. "I told them to come here." She stopped talking, realize Colias and I were still here. "Oh, you two can stay here. Help yourselves to the food, I'm just off to try and find your mentors." She scurries off, leaving us to talk. We sit in silence for a couple of moments, then both start speaking at the same time. "Well-" "I guess-" We both look down, then say "No, you go first. No you!" We pause, then I say, "You." with a smile. You see, Colias and I go to the same school, and he is a year older than me. We are in Home Room together, which is a place you go in the mornings to say you are here, and talk. We have been in the same one for 9 years. He grins, then speaks. "Look, I know we are going into the Hunger Games and all, but I really don't want to suddenly just stop my life back home. My family, friends and you, I can't just throw it all away. I still..." He pauses for a moment before continuing, "want to have you in my life. I don't want to throw it all away." And at that very moment Dyane appears in the doorway with our mentors Enobaria and Brutus.
"I'll just leave you alone for a while, I need to go talk to the Peacekeepers." said Dyane, and off she went, heels thudding softly on the plush carpet. Colias and I eyed Enobaria and Brutus. Brutus stood up, then walked over to the bread table. He grabbed a bowl full of hard boiled sweets, and a glass of beer. He came back, handed Enobaria the sweets, then started gulping down the drink. "Excuse me." I said politely. Enobaria and Brutus paid me no attention. "Excuse me." I said again, a bit louder. " They both ignored me. "I said, EXCUSE ME!" That was it. I grabbed Brutus drink, sloshed it into his face, so it went into his eyes and the cup smashed against his nose. I think I even heard a cracking sound. He screamed, then hit blindly out at at me. By then, however, I had already backed away, and Colias was shoving Enobaria (who was reaching out to me looking angry) into Brutus. Dyane said, before we met them, "You've got to make a good first impression. These guys are your lifeline when you're in the arena. Dont mess it up. " I think I've done the absolute opposite of , I sat back and smirked.
"I see you don't have bad talent this year. I don't know about mine though; not enough anger. He needed her to push him over the edge." Colias scowled. "Look, I don't mean to be rude or anything, but aren't you two meant to be giving us advice!? You know, on how to survive the Hunger Games?" I said angrily. How dare they treat this as a joke! "You want advice? One simple rule, Catina, one very simple rule. Kill, or be killed." Enobaria said. Brutus suddenly burst into laughter. "What?" said Enobaria and I at the same time. "You - remind me - so much - of - Enobaria- in the - Hunger Games." wheezed Brutus, through his laughter. I glanced at Colias, who looked at me, then I turned to look at Brutus. "So, how exactly do we stay alive?"
We spent at least an hour together, talking about all sorts of ways to behave, and survive in the Hunger Games. "Make friends with the other tributes from 1 and 4." advised Enobaria, who was actually really nice. "And don't fall for those that act all weak and powerless. Watch out for everyone, and don't be tricked. Keep your guard up." said Brutus. Dyane was out the entire time, but came back in at the end of the hour. "I just talked to the chef; Dinner will be soon." She directed Colias and I to the table, and Enobaria and Brutus sat down. Dinner comes in several courses. Delicious tomato soup, a salad, steak with carrots and jacket potatoes covered in melted butter, fruit, chocolate cake with cream and raspberry. All throughout dinner, Dyane kept on telling us to slow down and save room. I did, most of the time, but the chocolate cake was the most divine food I have ever eaten. Plus, eating a lot before the Games and putting on a couple of pounds is probably not the worst idea. Dyane commented happily on how well our manners are, compared to the rest of the tributes from, well, lesser important districts. I do sound rather arrogant, don't I?
After dinner, however, I started to feel slightly sick. I looked at Colias, who was also looking slightly green. But, if I could manage to hold on to Maddox's soup of raw fish, grass, dirt and deer meat, I am determined to hang onto the richest and yummiest food I have ever eaten in my life.
We go to another compartment to watch the recap of the Reapings. They are staggered throught the day, as to try and make it able to watch them all. For the Districts, it's not really possible, but the Captial citizens always watch all day. One by one, we watch the Reapings. They go in order of District, so we are 2nd. I watch my reaping carefully. You see the shock, surprise and scared look that comes over my face, and then is wiped off. I climb the steps, and stay looking indifferent for the rest of the time there. Otto is drawn, Colias volunteers, and we shake hands. I carefully look at them, and take notes on a few with a notepad Enobaria gave to me. We examine their faces, value them, and decide who is worth even considering to be allies with. A few stand out to me, those that interest me. The girl and boy from 1, who looked to be about Colias and my ages. A strong looking boy who stepped forward calmly to volunteer from 4. A rat-like girl with shiny black hair from District 5. The violent-looking boy from 7 who lunged forward to volunteer. The girl from 8 who had to be carried upon to the stage because she was crying. And a mute girl from District 12. The programs cuts to the anthem, and then is over.
Dyane starts chattering away. "Well, that was interesting, wasn't it? I rather enjoyed it. Oh, that reminds me. I should go and contact Claudia and Aeqius, and let them know that we will be arriving tomorrow at 9am, sharp." Dyane trots off. The minute that the door has slid shut with a click, Enobaria starts speaking. "So? Who do you think you want to pair up with?" I glanced at Colias, then spoke. "Well, I can't really say anything before I see them in the training centre, now can I?" "I like that guy from 7. Looks good." said Colias. "Aright, I'll talk to Blight and see what he says when we get to the Capital. Now, off to bed. You need to be rested for tomorrow."