District 9 Train Ride

A/N: Please don't hurt me! I have meant to update much faster, surely I did but I have been busy with another project (which I will be telling you all about as soon as it is completed, VERY EXCITING VERY EXCITING!)

Anyway back on track, the District 9 tributes are next up, I will be skipping District 10 as they are my tributes and will be strictly bloodbath, I will do their interviews and chariot rides though so you can get to know them. Without further distraction here's District 9!

Cindel Silk POV

The Capital train has got to be the most beautifully decorated place I have ever set foot in. Sitting in my room (I get my OWN room on this thing, can you believe it!) I can't do anything but stare. At the walls, which are a pale pink color with gold trimming, at the floor, which is a solid plate of gold, at the doors even, metallic god that slide open for you! The bed, oh my goodness the bed, it's the most comfortable bed I have ever seen in my life, if this is how the Capital citizens live then sign me up!

I sprawl out on my bed, a girl could get used to being surrounded in a fluffy blanket of silk. This is living. Living... something everyone takes for granted, and something I will likely have to give up in the very near future. I've never really thought about dying, I figured I'd make it through life like any normal District 8 kid, go to school, get a job as a fashion designer like my dad, get married and have a family. Change of plans I guess, the sick feeling I had during the Reaping returns, why couldn't it have been someone else.

Today my biggest fears have come true. First, I have been reaped for the Hunger Games. Second, my brother has also been reaped for the Games. We might fight and argue a lot but he's a good kid, and he's only 14 for goodness sake! Me going into the Hunger Games I can deal with, but to put my baby brother in as well, who comes up with this cruelty!

A light tap on my shoulder brings me back to reality, it's my Avox, a young girl dressed in a deep red tunic. She hands me a small slip of paper, a note from my escort, Bernadette Fress. Shivers travel up my spine, that woman gives me the creeps; she talks in a voice comparable to one of a baby bird, chirpy and consistent. Nothing seems to make her stop talking, I don't think I've gotten one word in since meeting the woman.

Please gather in the viewing car for the recaps, the note reads in perfect handwriting, yours always in beauty, Bernadette.

Wow, can she be any more full of herself? Well I guess I'd best get ready, wouldn't want to make them mad, after all they're the only ones keeping me alive. I go into the enormous walk in closet and pick out a spotless white satin shirt and matching white dress pants, I throw on a pair of white ballet flats and tie my ribbon into my hair. I fiddle with the ribbon a bit before I'm finally satisfied with how it looks, tying it into my dark brown hair reminds me of home, I know I've chosen the perfect token to bring with me.

Harlas Silk POV

Following my Avox through the many halls of the Capital train I can say one this for certain, if I ever have to get back to my room by myself I'm going to have a BIG problem. The hallways all seem to merge together as I zone out of reality to think about what I would be doing right now if I was at home. Probably eating dinner, or planning something to pull on my sister. Oh yeah Cindel, I wonder how she's doing. Wait, I can ask her in a few minutes because she's here with me.

She's here with me, those words have haunted me since our names were called at the Reaping. I can't believe that this will be these last few weeks I will be able to spend with my sister, in a few days one of us (or likely both of us) will be dead. That is one fact I don't think I will ever come to terms with, well until it happens I guess.

I snap back to reality in time to see a few confused glances directed at me, I guess I've been staring off into nothing for a while. I mentally slap myself, great first impression you've managed to make Harlas, you're already at a disadvantage because you're 14, now you have to go and act like an idiot? Oh god I'm doing it again, I put a smile on my face and walk over to shake hands with the two mentors sitting in plush violet colored chairs.

`Our escort, Bernadette Fress, taps her foot impatiently, no doubt wondering where Cindel is. Hurry up sis, I think nervously, you're not giving us a great chance to get information. As if on cue Cindel glides into the room wearing white from head to toe. She always did love matching her clothing, I find it weird but I'm sure not going to say anything!

"Now that you're both here," Bernadette begins, "please meet your mentors for the next few days, Metalia Lia and Micha Livet."

"Pleasure to meet you," Micha says and extends his hand to both me and my sister, I notice he has red in his eyes, a sure sign that he's far past his drinking limit.

"Congratulations," mutters Metalia, I am careful when shaking her hand because her nails are about three inches long, no joke! I hear that's how she won her games, by killing with her nails, she was so proud afterwards that she got them altered. I wasn't alive during her Games, and I'm not too eager to see that play out anyway.

The recaps are on next, I am lost in my thoughts for most of them, but manage to catch a glimpse of a few. Most of them look terrified, with the exception of the Careers, there's even a volunteer from 4! And by the looks of it was a hasty decision, since he's about two years younger than me.

After the recaps we talk a little more about the Games. I find out that Metalia will be my mentor and Micah will be Cindel's, I can't say I'm happy it's her but at least she's sober, maybe she can help me through this.

"What skills do you two have?" Metalia asks, looking almost bored which is strange because she's instructing us on how not to die. Not exactly a boring topic if you ask me.

Silence is the only answer she receives until she looks to Cindel harshly, obligating her to answer the question.

"Harlas is strong, he used to deliver fabrics through the district, and he can climb too," Cindel says quickly.

Metalia ponders this for a moment, obviously impressed, not many people from my district can climb. I learned the skill by myself in my free time, when I was a kid I used to climb trees to get a better look at the area. As I'd suspected it's none too pretty from up there either.

"We can work with those I suppose," Metalia sighs, hiding her approval behind heavy sighs.

"Well Cindel is smart, she's at the top of her class every year, plus she's fast and has wicked aim," I say before Cindel has a chance to answer.

"You can aim?" Metalia asks with sudden interest.

"You bet she can, she once threw a ball that hit me from a hundred feet away, no joke! And it hurt like hell too," I exclaim, cringing slightly at the memory.

Metalia says nothing but I can tell she's impressed, maybe District 8 has a winner this year after all.

A/N: So what do you think of them? Review, review, review! And I never got any response about the arena from a few chapters back! I want to know your thoughts about it!

Next up is District 11! I'll try and get it up as soon as possible!