It took me about five minutes on the train to the Capitol to decide that I liked trains- or at least this train. The tracks were secure and straight. I didn't have to count the turns to make sure the left and right turns were even. The train itself was enclosed and sleek like a bullet. It rumbled rhythmically underneath me and every few seconds there was a soft jerk as it hit the join between two tracks. It was wonderfully constant.
I think I met more people on that train than I had meant in months back home. There was our escort, who I found out was named Fluvius all this time. Our meeting was less than ideal.
"I'm so excited to meet you, miss Cornflower!" he gushed as soon as I was aboard. He grabbed my hand and pumped it wildly. I had just come from a crowd of hundreds of screaming, jostling people. I winced before I could stop myself and shrank back. Fluvius didn't even notice.
"We have so much to talk about! What do you do back at home?" he asked.
"I farm," I said in confusion. We all farm in District 10. What kind of question is that?
"No, I mean for fun," Fluvius said with a laugh.
I smiled in relief and relaxed a little. Sometimes when I answer questions that like people think I'm sassing them.
"I read," I said.
"That's it? No grand adventures?" Fluvius pressed.
"I got kicked by a cow," I said solemnly.
Fluvius laughed like I'd told him I ate hay. I didn't see what was so funny. Obviously he'd never been kicked by a cow.
Fluvius soon realized I wasn't going to chat. He let me sit down and started talking with Leather. I stared out the window at the moving scenery. As they talked I scooted away until I was on the edge of the seat. They didn't mind. Perhaps they weren't so bad after all.
I felt the smooth material of the couch. It was shiny and felt almost wet against my hand. I liked the way it squeaked when I dragged my hand across it, so I ran my hand back and forth over it again and again. It was always the same.
"You two must be starving!" Fluvius said suddenly. I startled at the noise and looked up at him and Leather.
"I guess," Leather said. I figured that was enough and stayed quiet.
Fluvius pressed a button under the table we were sitting next to. A man and a woman came in from the next car carrying covered trays. They laid them on the table and uncovered them. One held a slimy looking thing with staring eyes. Another held a basket of bread, pats of butter, and a bowl of tiny fruits.
"I thought you two might like a special treat, so I sent for fresh halibut all the way from District 4," Fluvius said.
"Thanks," Leather said politely. I chimed in at the same time, but it was so quiet if Fluvius hadn't been looking at me he wouldn't have known.
Fluvius looked at us expectantly. Leather started eating tentatively, but I waited. I don't like eating in front of people. It wouldn't be so bad if Fluvius was eating too and not staring at me.
"How is it?" Fluvius turned and asked Leather. As soon as he turned his head I wolfed down a mouthful of fish. It tasted much better than it looked. It was stronger than beef, and softer too. I smiled when Fluvius looked back at me.
"Oh, wonderful. You like it," Fluvius said.
I continued my covert meal until I'd managed to smear enough food around to convince Fluvius that I was full. He took that to mean that I wanted more food, so he rang for the servants again. This time only the woman came. She was holding a three-tiered silver plate heaped with chocolates and little cakes.
"Time for dessert!" Fluvius announced, and it all began again.
After I absolutely could not eat any more, I took a cake in one hand and picked at it so it looked like I was eating. They really were delicious, but the thought of anything sweet in my mouth made me sick.
Fluvius stood up.
"I'll go prepare your rooms. Back in a minute!" he flounced off.
I waited until the door shut and picked all the wrapped chocolates off the plate. I'd been a guest before, and asking for food was out of the question. It was bad enough to eat in front of people. Talking about food wasn't going to happen, so I took food when I could get it. I shoved the chocolates in my pocket as Leather stared on.
A few minutes later Fluvius came back in and ushered us two cars down. He stopped us next to two doors.
"Here are your rooms. I'm sure you've had a very exciting day, so you probably want to settle in. If you need anything, just ring the bell by the door," he said.
I opened the door and slipped inside my room, closing the door behind me. It was certainly fancier than my room back home. There was a huge bed smothered in shiny white blankets. In the corner there was a hollowed-out red chair and a black stone table with one arched leg. There was even another room in my room. I opened the door and was slightly disappointed to see it was only a bathroom. It was a nice bathroom, though. It even had a bathtub. Why anyone would need a bathtub on a train is beyond me.
It was already dark outside, and I climbed into the bed without taking my dress off. I pulled the blankets all the way over my head and reclined flat on my back with my arms at my sides. That way I wouldn't have to keep track and make sure I slept evenly on both sides.
It always takes me a long time to fall asleep, and I was a little wound up after being Reaped and all. Then I noticed I hadn't turned the light off. I got up and flipped the switch, but then it was too dark. At home I used a little wind-up flashlight, but for now I turned on the bathroom light and cracked the door open.
I tried to think about what was happening as I lay in bed, but it still seemed far away and unimportant. I just felt a nagging sense of something wrong, but it had more to do with the disturbance in my routine than anything else.
I closed my eyes and listened to the rhythm of the train. It bounced me up and down and soon I was clenching my hands in time with it. A sick sense of pressure started building in my chest, and I moved to ward it off.
It's gonna be all right, I thought in sync with the train. Gonna be all right. Gonna be all right. All right. All right. Right. Right. Right. Gonna be all right…
