VI. EAST TO WEST
THE TRAIN RIDES

PERIWINKLE CALLOWAY (17), DISTRICT 12

Tears glistened in Peri's eyes as their escort babbled on about costumes and dresses, resting her head against the windowpane.

Who would've thought that this morning, she'd been baking with Juniper? They'd been laughing and joking, but yet unaware of the horrors they'd undergo in the next hour.

The reaping.

It just wasn't fair. Peri herself had done absolutely nothing to deserve this. Nobody had. Not even the Careers, who would soon enough be slaughtering her and even themselves. For being a clan, they sure were all cutthroat.

That was the point, though.

Sniffling slightly, Peri wiped away her tears and focused on a point on the land outside the train, taking a deep breath in to calm herself. At least she'd been able to somewhat make things right with Sam.

Somewhat, that's too much, her brain said snidely. You talked to him for, like, two seconds.

Peri didn't bother to brush it off. It was right.

But maybe, if she won, she'd get to fully fix the cracks?

Yeah, screw that. She was never going to win.

And neither was her district partner Tristan, who seemed like a genuinely good kid just thrust into all of this- like Peri.

But maybe Peri could win if she tried. And, getting people to like her was pretty easy in general.

So she tuned in to her escort.

"You'll be dressed as coal miners for the parade, of course," Lasia explained. Peri felt her heart sink a little. Coal miners were Twelve's outfits every year. Wait, maybe that was why Tweve lost so much.

Because they always had the worst possible costumes.

Peri giggled a little to herself, not listening as Lasia said, "And stay out of the way of the Careers. They'll absolutely maul you."

She noticed Persephone, their Capitol-appointed mentor and Lasia, looking at her strangely. "Are you alright, dear?" Persephone asked gently.

Peri awoke from her daydream, then flashed a smile. "Oh, yes, of course. You were saying, Lasia?"

TESLA MILLER, DISTRICT 3 (15)

The fact that the train rides were two days annoyed Tesla past the point of no return. He had volunteered for this, waited for his yeah patiently and there was a stupid train between him and victory.

And his district partner, Arden, was a complete bitch. She was depressed and had apparently wanted to volunteer before she couldn't, being reaped. Stupid. She should have volunteered for herself to show the world what they were dealing with (which, in Tesla's eyes, wasn't much).

Their mentor, Beetee Latier, seemed surprised his tributes weren't as utterly nerdy as he was. Maybe if he had won his Games by actually fighting someone off, not just staying in the background to electrocute some Careers, Tesla would respect him at least a bit. But no. Latier took things the cowardly way.

Tesla had his eyes set on the group Beetee had avoided. While the Careers would certainly accept him, what with his extensive training, he wasn't sure if he could take them all out. Maybe, when they'd split into groups to go hunting, he'd kill some off then claim it was a mutt. Then with one Career left he'd kill them in their sleep. Yes, that'd be his strategy.

Tesla attempted to strike up a conversation with Arden, despite her being lower than him in social status. The upper class should always be good to those poorer than them.

"So," he began, "Why'd you volunteer?"

She looked at him critically, shooting an awkward glare, "As a suicide mission."

Well, that was that. An awkward silence descended on the pair as Latier returned to their compartment with a few pieces of candy. He smiled halfheartedly.

"It boosts your attitude," he tried, but the offer fell short. Tesla sniffed and turned up his nose (what was he, a fucking child?) while Arden simply stared blankly at a point in the distance.

It was going to be a very long train ride.

LUXANA "LUX" LEBLANC, DISTRICT 1 FEMALE (18)

The District 1 train had a very different atmosphere than that of the District 3 train. Lux and Merlot had no tension whatsoever and Lux found Merlot to be a very charming person.

He had tried on their escort's hats and Lux had epically cracked up when their mentors, Leocadia and Arctus, entered the compartment, victors of the 22nd and 18th Games respectively.

The look Leocadia shot Merlot could probably kill, and he guiltily put the hat back, though Lux could tell he wasn't really sorry.

"You're acting like children," Arctus interjected. "You both want to take a crown home and bring honor to your district, but how are you supposed to do that when you're as pathetic as some outer district kids?"

"I don't think we're pathetic," Lux said meekly. "I can handle a weapon well. So can Merlot. He's probably better than me."

Merlot flashed her an appreciative grin.

Leocadia and Arctus exchanged glares, though Lux could see Leocadia's cracking a bit under a smile. But her mentor suppressed it.

"Well, that's talk about alliances," Arctus said promptly. "District 2's strong as always, and 4 seems good as well."

"Go figure," Merlot muttered, only to get a disapproving look from Arctus.

"But there's also been some trained outer district volunteers-"

"What?" Naturally Lux was shocked.

"Yeah, the boys from 5 and 3," Leocadia chimed in. "The girl from 5 volunteered as well but it doesn't look like she has any special skills, really. She just volunteered for her older sister."

"An older sister?" Merlot mocked. "That sister would probably get farther than her. At least it'll be easier to kill her."

Lux nodded uneasily, changing the subject. "Are we going to include them in the pack?" she asked. "Not the girl, I mean," she added hastily.

"Well, that's up to you. Both boys seem trained, but they could be threats. The boy from 5 seems genuinely positive and trustworthy."

"And the boy from 3?" Merlot asked nonchalantly.

"Arrogant."

"I don't like fucking arrogance," Merlot mused.

Lux smacked him. "We're supposed to be arrogant, idiot! We're Careers!"

"I guess we are."

REYENA JENSEN (13), DISTRICT 10 FEMALE

The Capitol's trains were just so luxurious and beautiful. Even though she could die, Reyena couldn't believe her luck. She was going out in style!

Her mentor, Hudson, seemed nervous around her and Artemis- but they were all wonderful people and Reyena couldn't wait to get to know them even better.

Hudson had won the 33rd Games as Reyena learned. He'd won by hiding out then killing his last opponent with their own weapon. He showed them a clip from his Games but Reyena couldn't stomach it.

"Well," she chirped when it ended, "you sure are good at this! Do you have any survival tips for us? I can make traps pretty well!"

She flashed Hudson a sweet smile before turning to Artemis. "What skills do you have?"

"Well, I guess I can handle an axe well. We are the livestock district," he replied, looking uncomfortable for some reason. Reyena had no clue why.

Their escort's name was Pearl and she beamed when Reyena complimented her necklace.

"It's just so golden!" the teen exclaimed. "And you look so pretty in it! Will I get to dress up that way for my interview?"

Pearl looked at her tribute fondly. "I can put in a word with the stylists."

Reyena absolutely loved her.

She didn't know why everyone was so unhappy about going to the Capitol. "We even get more attention than the President as tributes," Reyena chatted at the dinner table that night.

Everyone froze, including Artemis. Pearl, the only other girl on the train besides a few Avoxes, reached out and grabbed Reyena's hand.

"Dear, you mustn't say that. It's dangerous."

Reyena was confused. "I wasn't insulting Mr. Snow. I just mean that the whole Capitol adores us every year. It makes me feel special!"

"Still, don't say that. It's dangerous," Hudson hissed.

She nodded because Pearl was twisting her wrist too tight. "Okay, okay!"

Hudson went on to tell her she was the youngest tribute in the batch and probably had no chance of winning.

She smiled sweetly, but there was a bit of poison in it. "That's alright. I look forward to making everyone's lives as pleasant as possible before I die."

LEON KNOX, DISTRICT 9 (17)

Leon didn't know why, but Demeter had put distance between them ever since they had gotten on the train. He'd attempted to set up some conversation but she'd iced him out, yet remained having a perfectly poised facade with their Capitol appointed mentor, Clare. Clare wasn't even much older than them, only being twenty-two, and she genuinely felt for the District 9 pair.

Unlike some fakes.

Leon missed the kids.

While he didn't earn any money for his family (his father found constant pleasure in reminding him of this) teaching the kids was even better than earning money. Some of them couldn't afford to pay, and Leon had been glad to help them with that.

If he won he could even help the dyslexic and autistic kids who came to his impromptu school. It would be worth taking lives to give more to some.

But he couldn't do that without allies, and Demeter was being a brat.

He supposed he shouldn't judge her, she was probably just traumatised, but it was absolutely annoying to see her smile at others when she ignored him.

Leon didn't like her in a romantic way and it would just screw everything up if he did. But he had no idea why she despised him.

Or at least it felt like that.

He'd give her another chance to turn around and realize that she did need allies. She had charisma, but that would be nothing in the arena.

But Leon wanted help too, so it wouldn't be only a one-way thing. Just the opposite.

—

A/N

Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter! Hope you liked the train rides. Peri was first on the list of tributes that people wanted POVs from (thanks to everyone who voted) and it's been a bit hard to write her but I got the hang of it. I'll get the next chapter out within the next two days.