Look me in my eyes
Tell me everything's not fine
Oh the people ain't happy
And the river has run dry
Ryan Lise
District 2, Male, 17
(Train Rides)
...
I give a final wave to my family as they leave the goodbye room, grinning, however, as soon as they leave, my smile drops into a slight frown. I expected it to be a lot easier to leave them behind, I know I can do this but now that it's actually happening doubts are beginning to resurface. What if I never see my family again? I steady my breathing as the peacekeepers walk in, the worst thing I can do right now is let my mentors and Andromeda see my fear, I am a career and that will not be changing.
I step out of the room, a peacekeeper at my side. Andromeda comes out at the same time as me and we walk toward the train together, accompanied by the peacekeepers. "How'd it go." I ask her, if we're going to be allies then I'm going to have to play nice and - knowing how skilful she is - I'd definitely rather her as an ally rather than an enemy.
"Couple words of encouragement, a hug from my parents. That's about it." She shrugged and I nodded. Mine had been about the same, my father wasn't able to make it though because of his duties as Head Peacekeeper. It's a shame but I was able to give him my goodbyes at home before the reaping.
We're met by two women as we enter the train, one slightly older than the other. I recognise them both as our mentors - Paula and Violet. "Hello and congratulations. Paula and I will be trying our best to help mentor you through The Hunger Games. Ryan, you will mostly be working with myself and Andromeda with Paula." Violet said, sternly.
"Come Andromeda, I'll show you to your quarters." Paula grabbed Andromeda's shoulders and directed her toward a long doorway before the two of them disappeared behind a door. Violet pulled a chair out for me and we sat across from each other on a two person table at the side of the train. Everything about the train seemed to scream expensive, it was all either shiny or bright and it had a very over the top atmosphere. District 2 is definitely better off then most districts but it seems The Capitol is still very much above us.
"So, Ryan. I expect you know a little about my Games?" Violet asked.
"Yes, I do!" I replied earnestly, Hunger Games History is my favourite subject at school. "You spent most of The Games with the Career Pack before stabbing them in the back, literally and figuratively, and played the rest of the games by yourself."
"Ah, very well done. Yes, it was only a few years ago so I dare say you have a bit of an advantage over me as your mentor. The Career Pack is vital and Paula never experienced it." I nod eagerly, I had been hoping Violet would be my mentor.
She pours a jug of fizzing water into a glass and I take it, drinking it in one gulp. "So, what are your plans with the Career Pack? I expect you may want to lead it?" She asks, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"No, no. I do think that puts far too much of a target on my back. I think I'm going to just let someone else take the reigns, I don't want to be the scapegoat for any unhappy careers in that arena and being the leader puts that pressure onto me."
She nods approvingly at my answer. "Very strategical, something you will most definitely need in the arena and it will be your greatest strength Ryan so use it to it's fullest potential."
We talk a little longer and she asks a few more questions, mostly things like what my weapon of choice would be and how trained I am in survival skills. Luckily, the academy trained me how to approach all of this so I answer the majority of her questions with "Yes" and we soon move on.
"The journey will take just under a day, take some time in your quarters to have a rest and you should find everything you need in there." She tells me as she leads me along the corridor that Paula led Andromeda down a couple of hours ago. I hear the two of them still talking from the room next to mine as I open the door and slip inside. I thank Violet and shut the door, smiling to myself.
Everything seems like it's fitting into place.
Charity Wicop
District 12, Female, 15
(Train Rides)
...
I curl up in a ball on the plush bed that I had been shown to. Tears keep flooding down my face and seem like they will never stop, so many emotions seem to be controlling me at once - guilt, terror and sorrows being the main ones. My parents wouldn't have wanted this for me, I swore to live the best life for them and to make them proud but it's all gone out the window now.
There's a possibility I could see them again, I think to myself but the guilt keeps coming back every time I think it. I know my district partner from before the reaping but that's only because he's the infamous psychopath of the district, I choke on a sob. A few more minutes pass before I hear a knock on my door and I mumble something that sounds somewhat like "come in". The Capitol Volunteer, Renny, enters the room flamboyantly.
"Oh, Cupcake! Why are you crying my dear?" She cries, wrapping her arms around me. I roll my eyes, as if she didn't know why I was crying, I was only on a train ride to my death. "Come on Sweetie, we're going to watch the reapings and size out your competition. It should be fun!" I sob harder at this, it sounds anything but fun to see the children who could potentially be murdering me in a week's time. However, it seems more like a command than a request so I lazily get up and follow Renny out of my room and back to a sofa directed toward a large TV.
I had seen TVs before, sure, my parents were rich and, after they passed, my adoptive parents were also fairly well-off. However, I had never seen a TV quite like this, it seemed to have colour bursting all around it and synced with whatever colour was showing on the TV. The amazement made me feel somewhat better but I suppressed a smile so my district team wouldn't get the wrong idea.
The career reapings seem somewhat normal, just people volunteering. There's a younger pair from District 5 who seem nice enough so I note it down in my mind to potentially approach them during training. I do the same for the District 9 pair, although, they look less nice as the girl seemed very bratty and the boy had a sinister look to him. There's a masked man who is reaped from District 8 and everyone seems to shake in his presence, I definitely won't be going anywhere near him but Malcom smiles on like he found the perfect ally.
Then, I see myself on stage. I look pathetic. Tears stream down my blotched-red face, my knees wobble (hardly keeping me up) and my face looks as if I'd just seen the ghost. The tears start again, I'd be surprised if anyone would be thinking of me as an ally after watching that. Even the 12-year-olds look more composed than me and Malcom lets out a shrill laugh as he sees me on the stage, I don't blame him, my fate is sealed now. Without allies and sponsors, I may as well just die before the games even begin.
"Don't worry Sugar. You'll have lots of time to give a better impression in training and the interviews." She smiles wildly at me, I feel like smacking her stupid makeup-filled Capitol face but I hold my emotions back. "Now, are you two wanting to ally in the Arena?" She asks and I answer abruptly.
"No."
Malcom shrugs and pulls a mock sad face but I ignore him. If I'm going to have allies, they won't be psychotic people who murder for fun and that includes Malcom and the careers. My parents died because people disliked these games and, if I'm going to suffer the fate they did, I want to keep my integrity just like them. "I think I'll do quite well without him." I say, confidently, Malcom thinks I'm scared of him right now but he'll have another thing coming soon.
"Very well then, I'll mentor you both separately. I have been studying the games since I was little and I will have you know my knowledge is extensive. Don't see yourselves in much of a disadvantage, I'm sure you'll both do swimmingly! Now, back to you rooms, go get some sleep. We'll arrive shortly." I nod and walk back to my room, feeling much more confident than I did when I left.
Tenzin Mainali
District 9, Male, 12
(Train Rides)
...
It's been a few hours and Gena has stomped and cried for all eighteen of them. Seriously, I thought I had a lot of energy, but this girl has not sat down once - constantly demanding things. I sit on the edge of my bed, yawning. Despite being tired, I can't seem to go to sleep with all the emotions flooding me and putting my mind at war time and time again. This, mixed with Gena's screaming, has made these eighteen hours the longest of my life.
For some reason, I don't seem to be very upset. Mostly, I feel urges of confidence and then I feel regret for thinking that I can kill. I'm not a killer but, then again, winning would change my life. Maybe this is the big break I've been searching for? I mean, I don't have a whole lot to lose, no family, friends who I hardly like and an orphanage that I would never call home. If I win, though, that would mean I'd have a massive house and everyone would be jealous of all my riches. Who need friends and family when you're a Victor?
I barely ever win games. I imagine the shocked look of all of my friends when I kill the last tribute standing, I smile smugly. I could do whatever I want in these games, unlike back at home, none of these people care and this whole game is about playing dirty. I've always craved to play dirty, to cheat and get that sense of victory and glory but having friends has always held me back. Not anymore. This time I'm going to backstab everyone and make sure I'm the one who comes out on top.
Suddenly, my door crashes open and Gena walks in with an intimidating demeanour. I suppress a laugh.
"What do you want?"
"The weirdo mentor girl wants to talk to both of us." She says, rolling her eyes and leaves without another word. At least she'd stopped crying, that was starting to get extremely annoying.
I follow her out and shut the door behind me. A pretty girl with wavy caramel hair waits for us on a plush navy sofa chair and smiles as we approach.
"Hello to the two of you." She motions us to sit on a sofa opposite her and we do, though, Gena looks annoyed by following orders.
"What do you want? I'd rather be in the arena then spend another second with you two." Gena scoffs.
"Now now Gena, play nice. That's no way to speak to your mentor." She smirks. "After all, you'll have a higher chance of dying first then you already do if you don't listen to me." Gena opens her mouth to say something but decides against it and crosses her arms.
"Hey, you did excellently in your games." I say, greeting her. I need to play the favourite, make sure she tries harder to get me sponsors than she does for Gena. She nods, acknowledging me.
"Have the two of you discussed working together?" She asks and I almost immediately refuse but, I think about it for a second, if Gena does survive the bloodbath then it'd be nice to have a meat shield in case of attack. It sounds horrible, really, but this is The Hunger Games.
"Sure, why not! I'm sure we can help each other out." Gena rolls her eyes and shrugs, it seems she doesn't mind having a bit of an ally either. If only she knew what my true intentions were, I chuckle to myself.
"Great. We also saw the reaping recap earlier. Anyone you like the look of?"
"The pair from District 5." I tell her, they were young and seemed easy enough to manipulate. I'm young too but I could almost ensure I'm much more clever than them, I could get them to do all my dirty work and then backstab them when I no longer need them.
"I wouldn't recommend that but-" She's interrupted by the sound of cheering. "Ah, go say hello! Go on!" She cries and we rush to the windows, outside are funny looking people wearing extravagant clothing much like our escort. I wave franticly and put on a huge smile, these would be the people that would soon be begging to be in my presence after I win.
We soon pass and the train comes to a stop at a train station a few miles away from the crowd. We've made it to The Capitol.
A/N: Not an amazing chapter but I just wanted to get one out ahaha. I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless and you are reminded of a few of the people that you may have forgotten about. The SYOT began just over a year ago and I plan on continuing it to the very end. Of course, if you'd like to leave a review that'd be great.
- Neb