A/N: Hi everyone, apologies for the very long and unexplained wait for this chapter. I put on my profile and my Discord server that I was taking a break from SYOTs, but I never mentioned my hiatus on this story, and I apologize for that. I'm currently slowly but surely getting back into things, so I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Velmire Hyeondae, age 18
District 6 Male Tribute
Train Rides
"Welcome," our escort says with a bright smile as the train starts moving. "Preston should be here soon to talk with the two of you."
"Should we wait here, then?" Hinoka asks, her eyes wide as she scans the extravagant room.
"That would be preferable," Miko says, walking over to a chair and sitting down. "Come and sit down if you want, make yourselves comfortable. The first Reaping Recaps are in…" She glances at a clock on the wall. "Forty-five minutes, at 12:30 on the train's clock. It's currently… 1:45 PM in District 6, but we'll be using Mountain Time on the train and in the Capitol, so it's 11:45 AM right now. Other than that, supper is at five, Mountain Time, and aside from the Reaping Recaps and supper you two are free to do anything you want on this train. Do you have any questions for me?"
"When will we arrive at the Capitol?" I ask.
"If there are no delays, tomorrow morning," Miko says. "You'll arrive at the Remake Center for a physical examination and makeover. Then you'll take a car ride to the Training Center, where you'll be shown to your apartment. You'll be able to train with the other tributes starting the day after."
"Wait, so we can't prepare for the Games before then?" I ask. "No sparring, no learning about things, no nothing?"
"That's an interesting question, Velmire," Miko says, raising her eyebrows, "but I believe preparing for the Games outside of Training is not illegal for tributes Reaped into the Games. There isn't much available in terms of equipment, but as long as you don't cause injury or harm, I don't see why not."
"Great," I say with a small smile. "Are there books on this train? Or anything that'll teach me important things like how to deal with a wound?"
"Every tribute train comes with a library, yes," Miko says, smiling as she stands up. "I can show you it if you want. You too, Hinoka."
"Yeah, that could be useful," my District Partner says, nodding. "What about Preston, though? Didn't he want us to wait here for him?"
"I would've thought he'd be here by now," Miko says, frowning slightly. "How about this? You two can stay in this room while I go look for Preston and the books you wanted. I'll try to bring at least a few titles for each genre."
"Just informative books will be good for me," I say as I finally find a seat in the room. "What I mean is, you don't need to bring anything fictional for me."
"Same," Hinoka says, plopping down onto a seat next to mine. "If you could find me a book on human anatomy, that'd be great."
Miko blinks. "Of course," she says with a nod after a pause. "Alright, Hinoka, Velmire, stay in this room. I'll go find your books and your mentor."
"Okay," I say, as Hinoka nods. Miko gives us a thumbs-up as she leaves the compartment, leaving the two of us alone.
"So, Velmire, was it?" my District Partner asks, turning to me.
"That's right," I say, smiling and holding out a hand for Hinoka to shake. "Pleased to meet you."
"That's actually a really smart idea, learning things from books when you're not training," Hinoka comments as she takes my hand and shakes it. "I'm going to have to use it. Anything to help me get home to Corrin."
"Feel free, but I'm going to be fighting as hard as I can to make sure I'm the Victor," I say.
"Likewise," Hinoka says coolly. "I'd like to propose a tentative alliance, though. Because if I can't win, I'd like you to."
This was unexpected. "What? Why?" I ask.
"If I win, District 6 gets Parcel Day," Hinoka explains. "If you win, District 6 will also get Parcel Day. If I don't win, the next best thing would be District 6 getting a Victor and Parcel Day, which would be good for Corrin."
"I see," I say, nodding because Hinoka's logic makes a lot of sense. I realize that if I don't win and Hinoka does, that would benefit my mother. It wouldn't be as beneficial as me winning, but it's the next best thing. I hold out my hand for my District Partner to shake.
"It's a deal," I say resolutely.
"Deal," Hinoka says, shaking my hand.
Mishel Lavender, age 18
District 8 Female Tribute
Train Rides
As soon as the train doors close, our escort, Garnet LeBeau, and our mentor, Woof Hemsworth, approach us.
"Do you two need anything?" Woof asks, quietly but urgently. "Water, snacks, some rest?"
"What's going to happen?" I blurt out, because an answer to that question is what I need most right now. "Are they going to send us into the Games when we're-"
"We can't go into the Arena, right?" Redmond yells, his eyes wide with fear as they dart around the room. "They're going to let us live, right? Right?"
"I don't know," Garnet says with a hushed voice. "I suppose we'll find out by the time the Games begin. The President or Head Gamemaker will likely address the issue soon. They have to."
"But what if they don't?" Redmond wails. "We're dead! We're dead! We're alive but we're dead!"
"Don't you two have communication with the Capitol or something?" I ask Garnet and Woof. "Can't you let someone in charge know that there's an urgent matter going on here?"
"I'm afraid not," Garnet murmurs as she glances desperately at Woof, who shakes his head slowly and fearfully. "The only people we'll be able to talk to until we reach the Capitol tomorrow morning are the staff of this train."
"Then talk to them!" Redmond yells. "They gotta know something, right?"
"Right," Garnet says with a firm nod. "Woof, can you keep Mishel and Redmond comfortable while I try to get some information?"
"I can do that," Woof says, slowly but firmly, "but maybe it can be a good idea for us to keep the TV on while you ask around? Maybe something important that's related to our situation will be broadcasted soon."
"Right," Garnet says, nodding as she moves to turn on the TV. "Do you need anything, Mishel, Redmond, before I go gather intel? Food, drinks, anything?"
"Snow," I blurt out. "Can I just take a big snowball and eat it?" When Garnet and Woof look at me confusedly, I add, "Sorry. It's just that ever since I got pregnant I've been craving a lot of snow."
"I can get you some crushed ice," Garnet says as she turns on the TV. "Will that be alright?"
"That would be great, thank you," I say as I glance around the room. "Can I sit down, please?"
"Of course you can, you didn't have to ask," Woof says as I take a deep breath and smile wearily. I feel nauseous as I find a comfortable seat in front of the TV, which is currently playing a Reaping that doesn't look like mine. Redmond stares at the TV intently, as if willing it to tell us what we want to hear.
"Redmond, would you like anything?" Garnet asks.
"A ticket out of here," my District Partner says bitterly. He glares at our escort. "Go. Go find out what's going to happen to us."
"Right," Garnet says, nodding. "Mishel, I'll be right back with the ice."
"Thank you," I say, though I'm also watching the TV intently, my heart pounding in my chest as I hope for some kind of miracle that gets me and Redmond out of this hell.
We're all silent as we watch the live broadcast of the Reapings. A cold dread envelops me as Districts pass, children are Reaped, and nothing is said about me and Redmond. I eat all of my ice even though it makes me colder. I feel sick. The District 12 Reapings come and go, and there's still nothing.
"Maybe there'll be something during the Reaping Recaps," Garnet says quietly.
"There had better be," Redmond says, no longer yelling.
"Should we keep the TV on?" Garnet asks.
"Please," I say, though I'm starting to lose hope.
Garnet, Woof, Redmond, and I make anxious small talk as we wait. Then a Panem Presidential Address plays, sealing my fate.
A/N: Chapter questions: Once again, I just want to know what you think of this chapter. Please let me know what you think about Velmire and Mishel's POVs!
Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you all soon!