District 10:
October and Lana sit patiently and wait for their mentors. Dane Gurley isn't mentoring this year, meaning that Annabelle Tilson and Jada Caldwell will be mentoring. Lana turns her eyes to the window. How is Marabell holding up? She must be so scared that her sister isn't there with her. No, Blake will be a good person to Marabell. He will explain to her why Lana isn't there. He will do it…he will. She's sure of it.
October looks to the girl on his left. He has heard the stories of Melayna on the streets. Who hasn't? Everyone in District 10 has. Now that she is in the Games and potentially will lose her life, her stories will fade into nothing. Melayna is only thirteen, who deserved to live in 10 a little longer. October was seventeen and ready for the Games, but still can't wrap his head around the idea. Luckily Oliver was at home, safe and sound.
Lana's eyes continue to shy away from the six foot tall boy beside her. Although they are labeled as district partners, she knows that they won't be that way. She has seen her fair share of Hunger Games, and has seen how some tributes react to life and death situations. If they were with their district partner, they left the weaker one to die. October would more than likely leave her if she was dying.
A door slid open and a purple woman entered. A woman and a teenage girl followed behind. The Jada sat in front of Lana while Annabelle sat in front of October. Lana noticed that her mentor had a bump under her dress. She did remember that bulletin about Jada being pregnant, and how Pace hurt her babies. But, Lana didn't care about what happened in the past. She wanted to learn all she could about surviving the Games.
"You must be Lana." Jada speaks to her tribute. Lana nods as Jada starts speaking again. "And you must be October." October shakes her hand while Annabelle takes over.
"Okay, I normally start off the train rides by knowing what you are good at." She begins, looking at both tributes. "So, Lana. What are you good at?"
Lana shuffles in her seat, the heat rising to her cheeks. She hated being the center of attention. "I can fight one on one." She tells Annabelle.
"Great! And what about you, October?" Annabelle asks the other tribute. October looks into Annabelle's eyes and begins speaking clearly.
"Call me Toby." He starts. "I can survive off of the land and I am very strong." Annabelle gives Jada an approving nod.
Jada and Annabelle begin talking about strategies. As they talk, Jada studies her tribute. Where has she seen this girl before? She looks so familiar; it is hard to place where she has seen Lana before. Jada places the thought in the back of her head as she gives Lana tips on how to survive. But, that nagging thought never left Jada's mind. This girl, Jada has seen this girl before.
Kiani asks everyone to go to the entertainment car to watch the Reapings. They all stand and walk through the hallways to find a large T.V, taking up the whole wall. Lana took a seat next to Toby, and waited for the recaps to start. Back home, Toby would watch this with Crissy in his lap and Oliver sitting beside him. Last year, Oliver couldn't stop talking about the tributes from 2. Maybe this year they won't deliver as much. What is he talking about? District 2 always gives the best tributes. His wishful thinking is just wishes that can never happen.
The recaps turn on and Dusk starts the show. District 1 is first, their tributes standing proudly on the stage. District 2 is next, flaunting their tributes on stage. Toby notices the brother sister pair, and marks them down as deadly. If you have a strong bond with your district partner, you might be twice as deadly as everyone else. They just might be even worse than Lucifer.
Lana glances at every tribute, not wanting to look. Most of them are older than her by four years, and they are ready to spill blood. None of the tributes stick out in her mind; she'd rather go alone than pair up. You survive longer on your own. The pairs kept showing up, some with terrified expressions on their faces. They would rather die of starvation or execution than be in the Hunger Games. When the recaps end, Kiani escorts them back to the main car.
Annabelle and Jada take their seats at the table while Toby and Lana sit across from their mentors. The food begins to leave the table and enter the mouths of the tributes. Why can't the Capitol share their food with the lower districts? No one talks as they eat; everyone enjoys the wonderful food they have been graced with.
Annabelle wipes her mouth and speaks up. "So what do you think of the competition?"
"I think it might be fierce." Jada replies. "A brother sister team has never been seen before, but it might be deadly." Lana's stomach flips. That word has haunted her since she was born into Panem. The chance that you can be torn from your family to die and never return.
The conversation stops right there. Neither Toby nor Lana jumps in. Toby just wants to eat his food. Every bite reminds him of Crissy and Oliver, but he has to stay strong. Any sign of weakness from the Reaping to the bloodbath can cause you to die. He brushes his hair from his eyes as he bites into a bread roll.
Jada begins to scribble something onto a napkin. She runs her hand through her hair before continuing to write. Annabelle looks at her past tribute with confusion. As Jada finishes up her note, she slides it to Lana across from her. Jada motions her to read the napkin and Lana picks it up. Lana almost spits up her food.
I know you. You were the girl who asked my dad if he wanted a good time. Do you remember him handing you over one hundred dollars for food and clothes?
District 11:
Saely takes some strands of her hair and wraps it around her fingers. The only home she has ever known is zipping away at the speed of light and she won't see it again. If she wins, however, that is only when she will see District 11 again. The ring on her finger catches her hair, but she continues to twirl it. Why did her name have to be called? If it was anyone else's name, she could be at home with Cody right now. She decided not to question fate as the vessel took them away from 11.
Jack holds the marble in his hands. Ever since Golden Harvest called out Jason's name at the Reaping, Jack knew he was as good as dead. Yes, he could have let his brother die, but his brother was the only one who would talk to him. Everyone else called him 'a danger to Eleven'. Jason called him 'misunderstood'. That's better than being called a danger anyway. His 'danger' might save him in the arena, but no one seemed to understand that.
A door slides open and Golden Harvest leads a man to his tributes. Being one of the lesser districts, District 11 hasn't had a victor in years. This victor in front of them won the 138th Hunger Games, making him fifty five years old. He dodged death when a tribute from 3 chased him down, shooting him with a poison dart. If he didn't kill that 3 kid, he would have died. He sat in front of Saely and Jack to measure out the strengths of each, just by their appearance.
Sealy could be a force to reckon with. Being fifteen, she is mature enough to handle being in the arena by herself. She has tints of muscles and she has a pretty face. The Capitol would eat her up. Jack, being only twelve, didn't look like someone to be feared. His white hair and skin could be summed up that he was weak. The mentor sighed as he spoke, his voice shaking. In the thirty eight years of mentoring, he has never seen such opposite tributes.
"So, you will be representing District Eleven. Well, not to burst your bubble, but Eleven doesn't reel in many victors. Before me, a woman by the name of Milly won the fourth Quarter Quell. In history, we go down as the district with the least amount of victors, besides Twelve, Thirteen, and Fourteen." What a deadpan mentor. "The way I see it, you may not survive the bloodbath."
"Is that supposed to motivate us?" Jack snaps, reaching for his mentor's liquor.
"Not really. Maybe it might, and I could be wrong." He says. "Where are my manners? I am Terrance Till, your mentor and life giver. And where are your manners? What are your names and strong points?" Saely and Jack look at each other. This guy was supposed to motivate them? How…wonderful.
Saely cleared her throat and spoke to Terrance. "I'm Saely Taylor and I am fast and great at climbing." Terrance nods and sips on his drink. He looks to Jack, who has his arms crossed over his chest. Yeah, the Capitol may not like this kid. He's too…shallow? Either way, Terrance must mentor this kid and face his angry family if he doesn't survive.
"I'm Jack Abonson and I am good at weaving grass and using poison herbs." Terrance's eyebrows rise. Poison herbs don't get you far. Only one victor won by poisoning her victims, and that victor was from 10. But, poison is a deadly substance that can kill mercilessly.
"Your strengths right now will not ensure survival, you two." He says, letting out a small cough. "Luckily, training will help you. When you go to training, try everything. Even if you are already good at it, try it. That will impress the Gamemakers, who might raise your odds at winning."
Golden Harvest (where is that man's shirt? Hiding?) comes up to Terrance and takes him to watch the Reaping recap. Saely and Jack follow their mentor and find themselves face-to-face with the largest T.V known to man. Well, they are in a Capitol train after all. Saely takes a seat next to Jack, ready to observe the tributes who might (just might) kill them.
Dusk Shine shows up on screen and begins to Reapings. Jack looks at each tribute with a scoff. They can't beat him if he has poison. Who cares about their muscle if they ingest poison herbs? They'd be dead within a few hours. The tributes from 14 might have a one up on him. They come from the medical district, and they seem like they can find or make an antidote for the poison he gives them. Add them to the 'fear' list.
Saely tries not to think about their lives back home. The siblings from 2 must be having a hard time because one of them must die. Saely knows that, if she knew anything personal about her fellow tributes, it would be harder and harder to kill them. She tries not to imagine their home lives. When their Reaping shows up, Saely looks away. If this is torture, this is the kind that can kill. After her Reaping, District 12 shows up. A name is drawn and a girl's scream pierces the air. When another name is drawn, a tiny male voice speaks up. Saely's eyes boggle out of her head at the twelve year old volunteer.
He walks up to the stage with a confidence stride and doesn't show fear. His fear might be hidden in his blue eyes, but he covers it up nicely. Next to his district partner, they look like they could be related. When his name is repeated, Saely commits it to memory. Playton Reyes. She wants to rewind the Reaping to see Playton again, but she has to watch District 13 and 14. She knows who her ally will be: the twelve year old volunteer from District 12.
District 12:
Meadow twirls her necklace on her fingers. Junebug is sitting in front of Meadow and Playton, taking the place of a mentor. District 12 doesn't have any victors, meaning Junebug has to fill the position. Meadow still has tears in her eyes from the Reaping. How could her name be called? She wasn't ready for the Games. Well, neither was any eighteen year old in 12, but she still can't believe she is on the train, going towards her death. Junebug didn't make anything easier; her voice is too deep to take anything serious.
"Don't worry." Junebug's man voice said to both her tributes. "I know that the Games is a touchy thing, but you can enjoy the Capitol luxury while you are here. And think about it, you are the first tributes for Twelve in over one hundred years! Isn't that exciting?" Silence is the answer to Junebug's question. She clears her throat and fixes her hair.
Playton had nothing to say. That's quite a rarity for Playton; he normally spoke as fast as the train was going. The goodbyes left him in such a state of heartache over leaving his sister that even Junebug's funny voice couldn't get him to smile. Who will protect Cissa now? With Playton gone, people might pick on her more and more. What is done is done, and Playton is on his way to the Capitol.
Junebug touches Playton's knee and looks at him. "Why don't you tell me what your good at? I would like to know what both of you are good at."
Playton sits up a little taller and looks at the Capitol freak in front of him. "I am strong and I can run fast." Junebug's white (more like gray) irises flick up. She got him to talk. Now, to work on Meadow.
"What about you sweetie?" Junebug asks the eighteen year old tribute. Meadow still plays with her necklace, looking at the locket. Nothing can make her talk. Not even the silly Capitol freak in front of her. "What are you good at?"
Meadow mumbles a few words. Neither Playton nor Junebug understood a word she said. "Sweetie, can you say that a bit…" Junebug was cut off by Meadow's words.
"I can identify every flora in Panem and I am light on my feet." Her words take her escort by surprise. Now she has two tributes who are fast and one that can live off the earth. 12 might have a victor this year. Then again, probably every escort is thinking that about their tributes. Especially 1 and 2. What time is it? The Reapings should be on right now.
Junebug stands up and motions her tributes to follow her. Playton and Meadow follow her without any complaint. They need to know who might kill them in the arena. Meadow watches Dusk Shine come on screen and talk about the Reapings. The only good thing that District 12 was talked about was the fact that Playton, a twelve year old, volunteered for the Games. As Meadow watched, fear began to rise in her chest. The tributes from 1, 2, and 4 may be her killers. She watched as the muscular District 1 boy walked up on stage, ready to bring pride to 1. She shivered when she saw the District 2 tributes, the brother sister pair. They look ready to strike down anyone at this very moment.
District 6 passes. 7, 8, 9, 10. All of their Reapings seem normal. Well, except for the boy from 7. Playton's fear condenses into the District 7 boy, because of how strong he was. What will his odds be? 3-1? District 7 just might have a victor. District 11's seal shows up on screen and fades to show the Reaping. Their escort grabs a name from the female bowl and reads it for all of 11 to hear. A fifteen year old girl with long brown hair walks up to the stage, stopping Playton's heart.
Every girl back home is nothing compared to a girl from 11. She looks incredibly beautiful and strong. She just might be a victor this year. Everyone wants to be a victor, but not everyone can. Playton has a strong felling about the 11 girl. He didn't even care for her district partner; he was just so taken by her looks and her strong stature. Maybe he might get to ally with her and survive longer than the others.
"Any tributes that you liked?" Junebug's, still annoying, man voice spoke to her tributes. Meadow started to speak.
"No. I might just go alone." She said.
"Okay, it's your choice whether to make allies or not. What about you, Playton?" Junebug looked to the twelve year old. He didn't glance to his annoying escort. His mind was still focused on the 11 girl. His strategy was simple: ally with the girl from 11 and learn her name.
A/N:...SURPRISE! Did I surprise you…? Shoot. I hoped you enjoyed the surprise chapter. I had today off from school because the teachers had to work and I didn't have to go. Ha ha, teachers! Anyway, back to the Author's note. ONE MORE TRAIN RIDE CHAPTER UNTIL WE GET TO THE CAPITOL! I am so excited! There is a new poll (at least should be) on my page, so please take that. :)
If you could update tomorrow or Saturday or Sunday too! I know it might be hard to do, but I'm super excited to see how Playton turns out! How was that, Finnicky Brianna? I hope you enjoyed it and enjoyed how Playton turned out. He didn't speak much, but nevertheless he was in this chapter. Is he alright or too out of character? Tell me and I shall fix it right away!
MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR!