Chapter 9.- Oak Peacewood
They didn't come. Not one of them came. Some friends they were. Neither Forest or Sable came to say goodbye. My mother came, but she was such a wreck that she might as well have not been there. They had to drag her out at the end. I scowl at the cameras as I'm loaded onto the train like cattle. Aldar doesn't look at me until we're inside the train and the doors shut behind us. Then I launch myself into his arms and start crying. "Shh, Oak. You'll be fine. I'll make sure of that." "If I'm fine, then you die!" I sob back.
"Aren't you two excited?" says a peppy voice behind us. I release Aldar and glare at Caeso. "You have essentially condemned us!" I shout at him. "It's going to be the highlight of the year! Just wait for the reaping coverage tonight! It's going to be so exciting! And such a great pair too from your District!" This man is so cheery and bubbly it's annoying. "Shut up! Shut up!" I shriek, looking wildly around. I seize a vase full of red roses and chuck it at Caeso, who nimbly jumps out of the way. "None of that now!" he says, still cheery. I start to run at him when Aldar picks me up from behind and carries me away. He shouts at one of the servants in red, "Where's her room? Take me there!" Still kicking and shrieking I am carried into a room and dumped on the bed most unceremoniously.
"Oak, calm down," Aldar says. "I'm not going to kill you, and you're not going to kill me, but only one of us is coming out alive, Aldar!" I say, tears streaming down my face. "That person is going to be you, Oak, so calm down. Shhh." Slowly I start to stop crying and begin to feel rather ashamed for my outburst earlier. I feel it would be right, and safe, to go apologize to Caeso, so I get up, leaving Aldar behind in the room. I put my hands behind my back and slowly walk back into the entrance area of the train. Of course, Caeso is not there, so I carry on further and find myself in the living room of the train. Caeso is sitting on one of the many couches there. "Hello Oak!" he says brightly. "I just wanted to apologize for my outburst, and throwing that vase at you," I say in a monotone. "Quite alright!" he bubbles, ignoring my tone. "Come watch! It's time for the recap of the reapings!" Aldar comes out and settles down on a chair; I curl up on a chair and start biting my nails. The Capitol seal flashes across the screen and the announcer, Vibius Frigidian comes on. "Welcome to the First Annual Hunger Games! It's time to meet our contestants!" he says. Most of the kids who flash by on the screen look terrified out of their minds, especially the duo from 3. The tributes from District 11 catch my eye, though. Vibius says, "Look at this one! Doesn't he look like a fighter? I'll be that Buck Grainbush will give us a good show in the arena, with him being 17 and all too!" Buck must be seven feet tall and looks very, very menacing. His district partner, however, is very slight and beautiful, with dark skin and a smile I'd describe as 'peaceful.' "And the girl tribute from District 11 is… fifteen year old Willow Greentide!" Vibius says.
The night ends after the District 12 kids are shown, two fourteen year olds, one dark with an edge, and the other light and dainty. "Tomorrow's going to be a big day, Oak. We should go to bed," Aldar says. I nod without speaking and rise up from my chair. I don't know where Caeso goes, but Aldar's room is three down the hall from mine. "Go to bed, Oak. You'll be fine tonight." So I close my door and sit on my bed. But I don't sleep. How can I sleep? In just a few weeks I could be dead. I didn't ask for this, I didn't want to be a part of this. I climb under the covers, soft and warm. Before I start to drift off into sleep, I make a promise to myself. I will get out of that arena alive. But I will not be the one to kill Aldar. With thoughts of District 7 on my mind, I drift into a restless sleep.
