It was my first time walking into the Justice Building, and being forced inside by peacekeepers was not the best way to experience that. The huge doors closed with a clunk and I sat down gently on the soft couch. Well I think it's a couch. I could tell my eyes were puffy and blood-shot form the emotions that came pouring out. My mind was racing from the events in the last couple minutes. I went through a list in my mind. I was reaped. Everett and Kade started crying. Everett volunteered to be the boy tribute. To protect me. To risk his life for me. Die for me. We hugged and now I'm here.

I wiped my hot cheeks with my cold hands a couple times to reduce the redness when the giant door started to squeak. One peacekeeper came in holding a women by her arm. It was Mrs. Abernathy.

"You have 3 minutes," he said in a gruff voice. I ran up from my seat and wrapped my arms around the plump women. She had been crying also. I told myself to keep the tears in from now on. I can't let other tributes identify me as weak.

"Here," she choked out. In her hands she held a cute pink wool hat. "To wear in the arena." I took the hat in both of my hands and rubbed my fingers on the material.

"Thank you," I said. "Very much." I hugged her again one more time then got an idea. "Please can Kade stay with you and your husband? We would be very grateful."

"Of course darling. You know we are always here." She gave me a weak smile right before the same peacekeeper stepped in and hauled her away.

I sat down on the cushioned structure and took deep breaths. The door began to squeak again and this time the guest burst through the door and clutched my body next to his. Kade. A sob escaped his throat and he held me tighter. I promise myself I will not cry anymore.

We lean back to look each other in the eye, maybe for the last time. I lead him to the "couch."

"Mrs. Abernathy said you can live with her at her house okay?" He nodded. I looked him in the eye again. "I will see you again alright? When this is over." It killed me to say that, because I know that if that is true than he will never see Everett again.

"I love you," he whispered

"I love you too."

We hug for the rest of the time and the peacekeepers literally have to tare us apart. He starts crying again when the doors close and I convinced myself that this is the place to let my tears flow, not in front of a camera. I wish Everett and I could visit each other. I hold a velvet pillow to my chest and let the emotions out.

"I've never been in a car before," I tell Evelyn as Everett, Croix, and I approach the vehicle the capitol has sent to take us to the train station on the other side of our district.

"Well, there's a first time for everything dear!" Evelyn answers cheerfully getting into the passenger seat. Everett gives me a reassuring nod and we climb into the back seat.

The car bumps and jolts over the old road as we enter the station. Inside there are multiple screens that have been turned off. Before the dark days the people in the districts could visit other districts, but the stations were closed by the capitol for fear of another rebellion starting. The screens used to show what trains were coming, when they came, and where they were going.

We exited the car as instructed and walked up to the boarding area. Waiting for us was an amazing capitol train. It was sleek and shiny. Silver and blue.

"Alright everybody, climb aboard!" Evelyn led us all in with a huge smile on her face. Croix seemed very, well... bored. I'm guessing she has done this trip many times.

Everett and I climb on to the train and gape at it's beauty. Inside the first car looks like a lounging area with royal purple furniture and a long table set up on one wall covered in all different types of foods that I haven't even heard of! The walls are all white and it gives the illusion of being on a cloud.

"Oh my god," Everett says in reverence.

"Ya," I breathe.

He and I practically drool looking at the food set up on the table while Evelyn and Croix take a seat.

"Go on, eat! I don't want you drooling on the carpet." Evelyn says with a wave of her hand.

We definitely didn't need any coaxing from there. Everett and I grabbed a plate and I stepped in front to grab one of everything! By the time I was finally seated I had about 3 full plates! Everett sat down next to me and dug into his food. After a while of eating and listening to Evelyn babble about what our wardrobes should be for the interviews and chariot rides, Everett finally started a conversation.

"So Croix, how did you win the games?"

Croix smiled and her eyes gained a little glint of something like pride in them. "Well, our arena was like a barren wasteland, but temperatures just like at home." The mention of home shoots agony into my heart but I focus on her story.

"So like a snowy desert?" Everett asks with some cheese soufflé on the way towards his mouth.

"Yes, just without any sand at all, so it was like the arctic. No mountains," she answers matter-of-factly. "Most of the other tributes didn't survive the cold out there since they didn't have the knowledge. I trekked as far from the center as I could and dug a hole in the snow like a little cave. Staying in there kept me warm. A lot of the tributes were found and killed for hiding in the cornucopia"

"Did you kill anyone?" I ask with a piece of what I think is duck in my hand.

"Only one person. She was a career from district 4 and we were the last ones in the arena. The game makers created a pack of mutant wolves that drove us together. I only had a pocket knife and a spear with me. She had one of those giant knives and quite the look on her face. We had a huge brawl in the snow and she knocked the spear out of my hand. I thought ahead though, and had the pocket knife in my pocket. So just as she was raising the sword above my head I snuck my hand into my pocket and stabbed her in the thigh. She fell over and I finished her off."

I sat in bewilderment as she gave us her story. How could someone this nice kill someone else that easily? And tell others about it?

"Was it hard?" I ask

"What?"

"Killing someone."

Her face turns to sympathy, "Yes, but that's how you win. I promise you two will do fine in the games if you listen to me." She smiles and Everett looks at me with a dismal look and I turn back to my food.

"Alright," Evelyn starts changing the subject. "Tomorrow we will be in the capitol and you will get to meet your prep team and designers." She looks towards an Avox who has been standing in the corner probably the whole time, I just haven't noticed him before.

"Show them to their rooms so they can clean up." I look down to my dress and let out a sigh. It had a couple stains on it that I'm sure would come out but they weren't very attractive. The Avox walks over and Everett and I stand to follow him into the cars near the middle of the train.

A/N Hey guys sorry this chapter was really late.. I also have to apologize for the next chapters cuz they will be late too because I have horse camp! UGH! (I am extremely happy about horse camp though! :D)I know you guys probably wanna like kill me or something but I'm a nice person, don't hurt me.. Also I will try to give you guys more information about the characters through the wrtiing.. I love feedback it really helps so of course REVIEWS ARE LOVE! love ya! Tell yo friends about me! I wanna be famous! :D

-GTHN