Chapter Two: Train Rides & Introductions (Part 2)

Beam Charet's POV:

I gave one last wave to Mai as the train pulled out of the station, pulling together a half smile. I had volunteered for this show, and I was starting to regret it. I would do anything to protect Mai, but I didn't think I could face certain death-not like this. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail, watching as hesitant rain started to fall. I saw movement out of the corner of my eye, and I jumped up suddenly.

An all-too familiar face greeted me. It was a face I had seen every year I was alive, except for the three weeks that face was competing at the hunger games- my sister Charelet. "What are you doing here?" I asked her, looking straight at her now. She tossed a blond lock of hair out of her face, fixating her deep-sea blue eyes on me.

"It's my year to-to mentor." She said quietly, wiping what I suspected a tear was away from her eyes.

"But you can't just leave Mai at home- she can't be alone when-when it happens." I didn't mention the word 'die.' I couldn't mention it. Charelet walked a bit closer, occasionally stumbling on the bumpy train.

"I didn't have a choice, Beam. It was my year. Do you think I want to watch my sister compete in the most dangerous competition around? My kid sister?" She yelled, not caring about the peacekeepers outside, and the mysterious other tribute who hadn't shown yet. "Do you think I want to mentor you, only to watch you die in front of a screaming crowd!"

I sunk into my chair, shocked. My own sister believing I would die. Was it all hopeless then? Was my fate set out? Would I die, just as Char had predicted? Before I could think anymore about the gruesome topic, our carriage door slammed open. A gorgeous tall boy strut in, obviously feeling good about himself. I quickly wiped away a frustrated tear-trying not to look weak. He gave a slight chuckle. "I take it you two know each other?" He said, smiling. How could he smile in a time like this? I would die, he probably would too.

"I'm Charelet Charet, your mentor." My sister said, a polite look on her face, but her eyes revealing her true emotion. The boy looked at her then back at me, connecting that we were somehow related.

"I'm Trident, Trident Solvary. The future winner of the 57th Hunger Games." He said, smirking. Cocky, isn't he? I thought, with a sigh. I brushed my hair out of my face and stood up.

"Beam Charet." I said, hesitantly holding out my hand, shaking his own.

"Sisters?" He asked.

I nodded. He chuckled. "That must be tough."

"Yeah."

"Shall we eat or continue this conversation?" My sister interjected.

I looked at her, stomach rumbling.

"Food it is."

Dusty's POV:

I coughed a bit, stepping onto the train, the smoke getting in my lungs. I looked around, then entered the formal carriage. "You can change your clothes if you like." The announcer said to me, eying my hand-me-downs. Apparently, I had to look presentable. I quickly changed into something else, and tied my hair back. As I walked into the carriage, I noticed two people sitting down at the table, eating already.

One was the other tribute, a pale black-haired boy with an insane look in his eyes. He stifled a laugh as I entered. I didn't think I looked THAT bad. He was almost as skinny as me.

The other was what I guessed to be our mentor. He was a skinny guy with almost no muscles and a light tan. He had won the games probably 10 or more years ago. He looked like he was in his 30s. He looked at me as I stepped in, probably deciding whether or not I would actually survive.

I took a seat opposite from the other tribute, who honestly was starting to freak me out. Even though he appeared my age, his eyes were old and judgmental. I didn't trust him as far as I could throw him, and I couldn't throw anything very far. I nibbled on the chicken and rice concentrating on not looking like a complete idiot in front of the two strangers. I swallowed my food just in time for our mentor's first question.

"Well, who in the" he swore "are you two?" Old age had made him bitter and gruff. He pushed away his plate, motioning to an avox to collect his dishes.

"I'm uh, Dusty." I said, looking from one to the other. My mentor just sighed and ran his callused hand through his hair. The boy smirked at me, thinking about something in his head. I quickly looked away.

"I'm Adri Senicus," He said, dabbling his napkin against his mouth. The smirk still remained. You think you're better than us, don't you Runt? I thought angrily. I pushed the chair back, away from the table. I excused myself, not caring what the others thought of me now. I didn't even know the mentor's name, but did I even care? I arrived at my room, and turned on the tap water, splashing my face. This wasn't my world, everything I had known was gone. How would I survive?

I would just have to hide away and hope for the best…

Welldin Onevery's POV:

Naturally, on a day as grey as this, it started raining. I ran into the safety that was the train, feeling dozens of eyes on me. Or rather, on the person standing next to me. She kept a scowl on her face as she entered the train, I felt the anger radiating off of her. I chose a seat near to the window in the cabin. It was decorated with incredible finery and draped window treatments. The girl sat next to the other window, on the other side of the cabin. Her hands were bound.

I stared back outside, giving one last wave to Brett, my brother, before the train pulled away. He thought I would win. How stupid and impractical he could be. I knew the odds were stacked up against me, and I probably would die, but at least I'd die trying to win. Or something like that. The train jerked and swayed occasionally, and the crystal chandeliers shook slightly, the 'chink' of glass filled the unnaturally silent cabin.

I broke the unspoken vow of silence first. "Welldin," I said, holding out my hand across the aisle. I watched the girl stare at it for a few moments, almost as if she were deciding if it was dangerous or not. She gradually extended her hands, and clumsily shook mine, the metal rattle of her handcuffs accompanying the gesture.

"Elysium."

The handshake stopped abruptly. And the silence returned for a few seconds. I saw her glance to the back of the cabin, where a guard stood watch. Why was this girl under watch in the first place? Brett said she lived in the woods, but what else did she do? Almost as if she read my thoughts, she grinned. "Like I'd admit I did anything wrong." She said, then added in a whisper, "plus they'd count it as a confession, and I would rather die in the games then as a prisoner right here." Could they kill a tribute before the games? I doubted it.

The late arrival of our mentor meant we could talk for a few minutes more, before the mentor would arrive. Finally, an old woman stepped in, probably around her 50s. She had won the games when she was young, back when the games were still in their 'teens. As if my being chosen for the games hadn't already instilled a lack of faith in my survival prospects, this old woman who would mentor us sure did.

Geez, I'm so gonna die, aren't I?