Bryony POV:

My stomach is grumbling and growling with hunger. Peering out the window, I see that it's already dark. Probably about 8pm?

I decide to go looking for food. As I exit my room, a Mog standing outside tells me where the dining room is, and that the tribute from district three is eating there right now.

I enter the dining carriage. A boy of about my age is sitting at a long marble dining table, his plate heaped with food. I wouldn't call him skinny, like Joe, but he's definitely not stocky either.

His mouth is stuffed with food, but when I enter, he stands up quickly, trying to smile even though his cheeks are so swollen.

"Hi, I'm Bryony Waters," I say, striding toward him.

He tries to speak – "Mbble Uhff sholdish mitshu."

With a great effort, he swallows. "Yo, I'm Stephan. Nice to meet you, Bryony."

I smile at him, "I hope you've not been pigging out on all the food."

He places his hand on his chest, and with a fake wounded look he says, "Me? Pig out on the food? Heck no, of course I saved some for you two sleepy heads."

I laugh, he's really funny. My stomach gives another rumble and I take my place at the table and start heaping my plate with mashed potatoes, lamb with mint sauce, broccoli, carrots and a weird yellow bun.

He too, starts stuffing his face again.

"Mmmm, this is SO GOOD," I gasp, "I would totally kill for this."

He grins at me, his goblin green eyes glinting mischievously. "So in the Games, if I bribe you with a piece of pork chop, you won't kill me?"

"Stop it," I say, "I don't really want to think about the Games right now."

"Yeah, me too."

Suddenly, the train screeches violently to a stop, and all the lights go off simultaneously.

"What the hell?!"

It's pitch black in here, and I stumble toward Stephan.

Suddenly, I hear a voice in my head. It's a lady's voice, elegant but ancient.

Bryony, you don't have much time, says the voice.

"What?" I gasp, "Did you hear that?"

"Here WHAT?" Stephan squeaks, his hand gripping mine in a vice like grip.

There's a trapdoor on the ceiling of your carriage, open it, and climb out onto the roof of the train. Someone special will be meeting you there. Just do as I say, and don't tell anybody what you're doing. This is vital. Start moving now.

I don't know who this lady is, but somehow, I just know I can trust her. I peel Stephan's icy fingers off my wrist and I stand on a sofa under where I think the trapdoor is.

Balancing precariously on the backing of the sofa, I feel the top of the ceiling and my fingers run across a sunken square in it. The trapdoor.

Using all my strength, I push it upward, and it opens outward. I curl my fingers around the edges of the door, and using all my strength, I heave myself up.

Suddenly, I feel a pair of hands grip my wrists, and I am hauled out of the trapdoor. I look at the person and gasp.

Mother.

No, she is just Skyler to me now.

Before I can pull away from her, she throws her arms around me and wraps me in a tight hug.

She whispers, tears streaming down her face, "Bryony, my darling. I'm so happy to see you."

I push her away, scowling, "What are you doing here?"

For a moment, a flash of hurt crosses her features, but then she steadies herself.

"Bryony, I'm here to warn you. Setrákus Ra has transformed himself into one of the tributes, so be on your guard."

I feel my heart leap into my throat. Setrákus Ra? A tribute? Surely that's impossible.

"Also," her throat clogs up, but she continues, "You need to know that there is a rebel group, and we're getting stronger by the day."

She takes a deep breath, "I'm their leader, and I think Setrákus Ra knows this. He's going to try especially hard to kill you, my darling, so that I'd be emotionally unstable and unable to lead a rebellion."

The whole world is whirling around me. I don't know what to think. My mother left us to protect us because of her position as head of the rebel group. So all the while, she loved us. She loved us so much that she'd distance herself just so we're safe. All those years of hatred boils away in an instant, and I wrap my arms around her.

"I love you so much, mom."

Gently, she returns my hug. "We're carrying out a plan, and hopefully, we'll rescue you. But don't expect help too soon, we still have a lot of planning to do. Just rest assured, I have you on the foremost of my mind, and I WILL rescue you. I promise."

I'm crying now, "Thank you so much, mom. I love you."

"I love you too. Remember to keep this a secret, you never know who may be Setrákus Ra."

I nod, my throat tight. Suddenly, there is a crackle of static and my mom's walkie-talkie buzzes to life. "Skyler, they're nearly done. We have to get going NOW."

She gives me one last kiss on the forehead and then leaps off the roof of the train, and sprints toward the dense forest surrounding the tracks.

Quickly, I hop back into the carriage, pulling the trapdoor shut behind me, just as the lights flicker on again and the train starts moving.