I shook myself from the memory, bringing myself back to reality. I was here, sent to die; and this wouldn't be a fair fight. Looking at the males who would be my competition, I felt my heart sink. While some of them were like Daniel, most of them looked as though they could snap my neck if they really wanted to.
"To our district offerings: do not dishonor your district, whether in living or dying." The crowd cheered and hissed, each face a contorted mask of hatred. Moments later, we were all ushered into a the back of a moving van, the door shut as soon as Cora was laid down. We were in complete darkness, only able to hear our own breathing and the breaths of those around us. No one spoke, and I was glad for it; the silence gave me a chance to process everything that had taken place, and to refocus. For a few minutes, I'd felt bonded to the other people in this truck. We were sharing the same fate, after all. However, hearing the silence, where only their breathing was present, reminded me that that was what I was really here for. They'd all have to be dead for me to continue breathing. This wasn't killing the enemy, or even a mercy kill, anymore. This was killing someone just like me; and at the end, there would only be silence.
We arrived at an old motel and were each given a room key. My room was on the back side of the building, first floor. The camera crew, along with Sergeant Delco, had followed me to my door. I opened it, then gazed at the ruined room. The paint on the walls was chipped and pealing, and there was only a small cot on the floor. The lights flickered when I flipped the switch, and the air was stale with a fungal scent.
I turned to look at Delco, who smiled smugly. "Thank you, this is great," I assured him, then looked into the camera. "This is better than what we have back home." It was a lie, but this was a million times better than the train.
"I hope you enjoy your roommate," Delco replied, no longer fazed by my antics for the camera. A guard brought Cora in, her limp body slung over his shoulder before he lay her on the cot.
"She's delightful," I replied, keeping my eyes locked on Delco. He nodded.
"You will not leave this building until I come to retrieve you." His eyes drifted to the window. "All of the exits are reinforced. There's no getting out without someone from the outside opening the door."
I looked at him for a moment, unsure of what to say. So it really was over, I supposed. I would be given as some sick offering in these games, die, and that would be the end.
"I will do everything I can not to dishonor my district." I found myself conflicted. I wanted to be that proud, strong, girl who would honor her district, who would die well; but I also wanted to be the girl who lived. I didn't want to be the lifeless body my district saw on the screen, but I didn't want to be the "Capitol whore." I did it on the train, and felt so certain on the train, but now everything was different. Now I was confined to this building and there was no way to escape, and I knew that no guard would help me. Delco would warn them about me.
My eyes had been glued on Delco while my thoughts had wandered; but moments later, he nodded and he, and the camera crew, left. Across the hall stood a boy roughly my age, maybe a little younger, with dirty blonde hair and a slender build. He'd been one of the boys I'd seen who I knew could snap my neck. He held my eyes with his crystal blue ones, not saying anything at first.
"You know you're not helping," he stated. This boy was attractive, there was no mistaking it. I was certain that all the girls in his district must have wanted him...like many of the boys in mine had wanted me.
You're not helping anyone," he repeated, taking my silence for being either stupid or too absorbed in something to realize he'd spoke. "All you're doing is making the Capitol think that what they're doing is okay and that we're all whores." He motioned to me only being dressed in my underwear.
"I'm just-"
"Oh, lay off Colt," a voice like honey spoke from inside the room. "It's her funeral. She can prepare for it however she wants." Colt looked me up and down, sneering, then shut the door to his room.
I, likewise, turned to my room, where Cora was still on the cot. There wasn't much I could do for her, so I decided that I would explore the building. Walking down the hallway, I realized that my room was at the end of the hall. At the other end, I was stopped at the exit to the staircase, which was locked. The 23 of us were contained to a hallway of 12 rooms, which was at least better than what they'd confined us to on the way here. I wondered why it was that they allowed boys and girls to be together here, but not on the train. It somehow didn't make sense to me. Why go through all that trouble only to have us mix now?
A few others had ventured out of their rooms, but no one spoke. We all just looked at each other, then kept walking up and down the hallway. I recognized the girls, and so decided to scope out some of the guys. It was almost maddening, knowing that someone was right behind you, someone who was going to try to kill you, and not be able to will yourself to say anything.
I returned to my room a while later, my muscles feeling sore and tense after such an exhausting day. I'd done more physical activity than I had in weeks. Inside, Cora was awake and staring at the ceiling, her eyes blank.
"Cora?" She didn't respond. I wondered what they would do with her once the fighting began. Would they just lay her down somewhere for someone to kill her?
The sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway. I opened my door to see Delco heading down the hall, knocking on every door that he passed. As each door opened, he motioned for them to head to the door leading to the stairs. I left Cora in the room and headed that way before Delco could knock on my door. He grabbed my wrist as I passed him.
"Eden," He uttered my name, his voice almost to quiet to hear. "No one will help you here. There is no escape." Before he had the door opened, he turned to us.
"From now on, your meals will be served to this door in the morning and evening. Tonight, you will be dining with the dignitaries of the Capitol. Do not dishonor your district." His eyes stayed on me during this time, no doubt thinking of the friend he'd lost. The dishonor I'd brought to my district, myself, his friend, and to him.
We were guided by the guards back into the moving van we'd been in previously, only getting to see the sky for a brief moment. It was dark and gray, looking like the heavens would open up for us. If only there was something up there that would save us from this.
When we stopped, we exited the van to find it surrounded by camera crews and more guardsmen. Two men I recognized followed me as Delco led me to a run down "Urgent Care" clinic. He led me into one of the rooms, and then left me there with my camera crew. The walls were covered in posters reminding patients to "wash their hands" and get their flu vaccines. I looked at my film crew, but they said nothing. One had their eye focused on the screen attached to the video camera, the other to held a microphone but stared at the screen as well.
After what felt like an eternity, I heard voices from the hallway.
"We've already wasted enough time and money bringing in another girl from 9." It was Delco. "Just make sure she's functional enough to walk for Day 1 of the Games. Understood?" There was silence for a moment, and then Delco and a doctor walked into my room.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Shima," In his hand there was a clipboard, which he examined for a moment before returning his attention to me. We're going to do a routine check today." I nodded, noting that his hands were slightly trembling and his cheeks were flushed. He listened to my heartbeat and noted that it sounded normal, then asked me a few questions about my family's health background, then asked me to remove my undergarments.
"Excuse me?" I questioned, confused and slightly panicked.
"Ms. Carlyle, remove your undergarments." I looked down at myself, basically naked anyway, and shrugged. I unhooked my bra and let it fall, then pulled my underwear down. I stood before Dr. Shima, Sergeant Delco, and my cameramen completely nude. For a moment, they all stared at my naked figure-the figure of a woman. Delco's jaw even dropped ever so slightly.
"What would you like me to do now, Dr. Shima?" I asked in statement form, receiving no response. "What would you like me to do now?" Now shaken from their gaze, Dr. Shima asked me to lay down.
"Now I'm going to insert this ring into your vagina so that you won't be able to conceive."
"What if I'm already pregnant?" I asked, knowing that they could disprove that I was easily, but also hoping that I could buy myself some time. His eyes widened, but he shook his head.
"You show no signs of pregnancy, and you've had no male contact until a few hours ago. Even if you were pregnant, it wouldn't show until after the Games are over anyway."
The camera crew was closing in, trying to get the best shot of the doctor shoving his hands up my vagina, inserting the ring. Delco then stepped between them and me.
"Some things need to be seen for our vengeance on the Districts. This isn't one of them." The cameramen backed up, and Delco kept his back to me. After Dr. Shima had finished, Delco asked him to retrieve a hospital gown for me. "There will be children at the dinner," he explained.
While putting on my underwear, I asked, "But it's okay for kids to see me naked on television?" He glared at me.
"Each parent is allowed to decide for themselves what they deem appropriate for their children to see; but this a public, social event. I won't force anyone to see your form."
"I certainly didn't have to force you," I quipped, smirking at the knowledge that he'd enjoyed what he'd seen.