Lem Davenport's POV:
Thorne runs alongside the car as it moves slowly though the crowds to the train station, we said our official farewells in the justice centre but there aren't any peacekeepers pulling her away from me now.
"About what you said" she shouts through the crack in the window of the car "did you mean it?"
"I think so, I mean yes" I reply "I really like you, as more than a friend."
"I didn't want you to admit it like this" she cries as the car moves around the corner and she has to shove past a crowd of older men staring at our car.
"I didn't exactly plan for this" I reply "But it was the truth! I love you!"
The car speeds up as I shout my final declaration to her and I watch her vanish with the trees.
"So beautiful" sighs 'call me Nymph' our escort. Yes our, in my final moment with Thorne I'd forgotten Amber the girl who was coming with me to die in the Games.
"I wish someone loved me like that" Nymph continues "Do you have a special man Amber?"
Amber shakes her head and continues to look out of the window. Ours is a large District and so the Square and the train station are quite separated, I don't know exactly how long it will take me to get there but unlike Amber whose begun to cry as she watches the trees vanish behind us, I will look to the future. Just the other week I couldn't climb a tree but soon, yes soon I will return home a Victor. I know I will, I will because I must. Because death isn't an option, because death is the end and I'm not willing to let my life end now. Not when I've finally got something to live for with my love for Thorne.
Cy Morris' POV:
The moment the train door close on our little group I lunge for Marena, how dare she cause my name to be pulled out of that bowl. How dare she force me into the games after I'd decided not to volunteer. I barely get a punch to her however before Roman tackles me to the ground and starts to scream in my face about respect.
"I'd respect her if she didn't want me dead." I shout back "I'd told her I didn't want to volunteer so she has my name drawn from the bowl anyway."
Lysandra laughs "no-one can rig the reapings stupid, this is just karma for going back on your word to Marena."
Roman stands up and I get back onto my feet "This isn't karma" I hiss at Marena "Its a sick punishment for my father isn't it? It always pleased you to know I was training behind his back and now he's been humiliated in front of the whole country and he's going to lose his only son!" I'm shouting by the end of my sentence and Roxanna who'd disappeared off to the bathroom when we boarded the train appears in the small corridor.
"What all this commotion" she cries "We're barely out of the District boundaries"
Boundaries, The District, in a few moments I'll leave my home forever and there is only one way to return.
"Well screw you Marena" I shout "Screw you and your vendetta, I'm going to win these games and I'm going to kill Lysandra too and I'm going to go home to my abusive son of a bitch of a father and there's nothing you can do about it!"
"That's the attitude" laughs Roman, slapping me firmly on the back "Marena, you keep the girl, I'll take this one."
Marena looks like she's about to explode, she probably hoped that they would work together to mentor Lysandra and just leave me to die once their sick joke with my father was played out.
Marena storms off in a huff towards the rear of the train and Lysandra and Roxanna run after her, I follow Roman in the other direction and sit opposite him in the dining car. Trying to hide how stunned I am by this beautiful train car, which must be one of Twelve all designed to carry tributes to the capitol. I allow myself to sit down opposite Roman and he looks at me closely.
"You don't like your father then?" he asks, a strange question, I thought he'd ask about my fighting skill first.
"He's a control freak" I answer "I hate him"
Roman nods, "Keep that from the capitol crowds" he says "they're big fans of respecting your elders. You'll also have to hide your hate for Lysandra too; the careers are putting up a united front this year."
"So I'm to join the career pack?"
"Of course, I've spoken to the other mentors about this. We want a classical career pack, One, Two and Four only. None of these hangers on."
I nod "A classical career pack" I repeat, trying to let that sink in, I'll be a career in the games. The District Four Male when I win I'll join the likes of Roman, Finbar and Salton and the Victors of old like Shad Carp and Finnick Odair.
The thought terrifies me, the thought exhilarates me, the thought fuels me.
Demi Quinlan's POV:
"Okay then Hugh and Christine" says Cornelius with a clap of his hands "We have a six hour train ride until we reach the Capitol, there are rooms for each of you with showers and clean clothes and we shall be eating in the dining carriage in three hours time."
"I don't want to shower or eat" Hugh sobs, he'd managed to keep it somewhat together as we'd climbed on the train but the moment it had pulled away the tears had started. Meanwhile I was remarkably impressed with my ability to hold it together despite what I'd just done.
Was it illegal to impersonate someone in the games I wondered, of course volunteering was all part of the apparent fun. But I hadn't officially volunteered just stood up there and then I'd cried out my own name to my sister in the crowd.
Hugh slumps off towards the TV carriage with Cornelius where Nina and Carter sit talking between themselves as the reapings continue to play on the large TV screen and I for a want of anything else to do follow him.
"Ah here you both are" smiles Nina "Come sit down, we can watch the whole thing if you want"
Hugh nods and sits on the couch beside Nina, the young mom looks lots more relaxed than she did last year when she almost gave birth to her baby on the reaping stage.
"Christine are you joining us?" she smiles looking up, I look at her smile and her sad eyes and Carter sitting drinking some concoction that smelt like Dad and I shook my head.
"I'm going to go look at the view" I answer as I turn towards the back of the train. I'd remembered seeing a large window in the rear carriage as we'd climbed aboard.
I move quickly to the back of the train passing peacekeepers and servants as I go, the peacekeepers ask me where I'm going and I answer them politely while the servants say nothing. I wonder if they are the strange Avoxes I'd heard about, mostly through the taunts of Christine and her friends. But it would feel rude to ask them; anyway I had more pressing things on my mind like how I was going to keep up my charade or even if I would be able to.
I reach the back of the train and am glad to find that I'm alone again; perching by the long glass window I watch the walls of Five disappear over the horizon and say a quick goodbye to my home. Then I get to task planning my next move, I was Christine yes, and Christine didn't mope and sulk, she was confident and strong and bold. These were all things I knew I could be if given the chance and I'd just given myself that chance.
I was lucky that Hugh didn't know me and I didn't know him or my charade would be over in moments. He seemed like the type to let something big like this slip, I could picture him now looking for support from our mentors and crying about the home he'd left behind. I try and think what kind of home that could be, from the few things he told Cornelius on the trip to the train station, both his parents are scientists and he cousin died in the games a few years back, I didn't remember the kid, it doesn't do well to focus on stuff like that.
I look out of the window wanting to enjoy watching the scenery when the door opens behind me, I turn around in shock to see Hugh stood there watching me.
"What do you want?" I snap at him without really meaning to.
"I've just been watching the reapings" he says
"You picked out which career you'd rather split your throat then?" I don't know why I was being mean to the kid, just the Christine in me coming out I suppose.
"You're not Christine are you?"
"What?!" my poorly constructed Christine mask falls away and I stand up opposite the fourteen year old who though young seemed to tower over me suddenly, was he always that tall?
"You're her twin" he says "I'd say you're Demi and Christine is still safe back in Five."
"You can't tell a soul" I blurt, sitting back down in a slump "I have to do this as her."
"But it just doesn't make sense to me" Hugh says, his eyes scrunched up as if he were figuring out some huge mystery, "If you love your sister enough to die in her place, why not just volunteer?"
"You don't understand" I say "I didn't take her place because I love her. It's because I hate her, I'll get to die in the games now but Christine will have to be Demi for the rest of her life"
District Eight's Lurex's POV:
I'm rather impressed at my ability to stay so calm as this golden train drove me to my death. I was scared of course, terrified even but I hadn't let it show. I mask my fear by talking, mostly asking questions. What was the capitol like, what was the training centre like? Who would my stylist be? All inane nonsense designed to keep my captors talking while I planned my next move.
Yes my next move, I had no plans for playing the Games, I was going to live, I was going to be a teacher.
"You must be so excited to see the capitol" my escort Sors says with a wide grin as I ask him about the climate in the Capitol.
"Well I've always been interested in seeing the Capitol Justice centre" I say "and the parliament buildings. I've learnt all about them in school."
Sors laughs "Oh dear, I'm afraid we won't have time to go over to the Government Sector once we get there darling. Lots of busy things to do." He smiles. I think he's trying to make me think he's being kind. But I know what he really means; I'll be far too busy learning to kill and smiling for the crowds to see any of the real Capitol.
Yeah, that's not happening, first chance I get I'm out of here.
The train takes quite a few hours to reach the capitol and once Sors gets bored of me I get some time to make a plan. They'd given me loads of new clothes, in a ridiculously large room that I've been given on this train. Ones that fit in with the Capitols masses and though I couldn't ask for any scissors without arousing suspicions I managed with some hair clips and hair spray to re-style my hair so it looked nothing like it did when I was reaped.
I look at my face, I still look fresh faced and young nothing like the Capitol women I've seen on TV, with their painted faces.
Surprisingly there is a draw of make-up in my room, I doubt another tributes ever given it a second look. After all once they arrive in the capitol, its makeover time. I grab and armful of the stuff and take it through to the bathroom.
I find some paste that is a few shades darker than my skin and rub it over my face as evenly as I can. My hands shake as I open a pot of powder and I manage to throw half of it in the sink, I dust it over my face and look in the mirror. I certainly look less pale but I still look like me, if only I actually knew what half this stuff was for I could completely transform myself.
I grab a jar called 'eye shadow' in a similar blue to the dress I've laid out on the bed to wear and carefully wipe it around my eyes. The mascara is a little complex but I get some on and I figure out the lipstick pretty quickly. I look in the mirror again, I'm still obviously me, but I think if someone had only seen two seconds of me walking up to the reaping stage then I could probably convince them otherwise with a little bit of confidence.
Confidence.
I grab the dress of the bed and swap it for my drab reaping clothes, which I leave on the floor. The train is slowing down now and looking out of the window I can see the Capitol drawing nearer. I spot a jewellery box out of the corner of my eye and throw on a necklace and a few bracelets and rings. Probably too many but I'll need some money once I get free from the train.
The next move would be the tricky one, how to leave the train, leaning up against my door I can't hear any peacekeepers, escorts or mentors so I open the door. The others will be near the middle of the train now, where the main door is getting ready to depart so I head to the front of the train.
Confidence.
I'm almost positive the train is driverless, but there's a front compartment with electronics and stuff in with a door, I'll make my escape from there.
I make it through the dining cart and the TV cart and two other train cars with various couches and plates of food in before I'm at the front of the train.
"Lurex, where are you, we're almost here" Sors screeches up the train and I make my move, I force the door open and dive into the room as the automatic door closes behind me, I look up.
The rooms empty.
"Good call" I mutter to myself as I duck down under the bank of electronics that control the train, as I do so I feel it pull to a stop with a sudden jolt.
Peaking out the window I can see the crowd around the train growing and when I feel it's as busy as It's going to get I force open the exterior door and jump out of the train. The crowd are too absorbed with watching a rather confused looking Cecil climb off the train as he nervously twirls a cigarette in his hand to notice little old me.
Confidence.
"Have fun in the games" I mutter as I turn to leave the station, my heart is beating and my head is spinning from all the adrenaline rushing through my body. I don't really know which way I'm running until I bump into a peacekeeper.
"So sorry" I squeak. As the large man looks down and looks at me, I smile and I slow down to a walk, keeping my back straight and my face up with a fake smile like Sors' 'nothing to see here' I think 'just a snobby young capitol woman who's leaving the train station'.
I reach the door and pause, this is it. I'm free.
As I move to make my next step a hand hits my shoulder and my heart stops; "So keen to get to the training centre this one, she's done her own makeover." Sors says, with a shallow giggle. I feel myself dragged towards him and look up to see two peacekeepers looking down on me.
"Let's get you to the stylists my dear, your mascara looks a mess" he drags me away from the door by my shoulder and turns me back into the station where Cecil waits by a tunnel with 'Welcome Tributes' written above it in large flashing lights.
"Stupid girl" Sors says, still smiling that fake smile of his, I hate that smile now "A Simple District girl like you wouldn't have lasted an hour in the Capitol. Anyway those Peacekeepers were ready to shoot you on the spot and bring one of your friends here instead, just to punish them for knowing a stupid girl like you. I would have let them, but of course if I lose you, it'll be my head on a spike, won't it stupid girl."
Nina Ricci's POV:
I've been in the small room where Nox left me for weeks, days, months even. I don't know, I've lost track of all time in here.
It's not really a cell, more like an office, maybe I'm somewhere in the Government Sector. There's a desk and a chair and not much else, kind of like in cop shows. It's an interrogation cell isn't it? I panic, I'm going to be interrogated, but I've not done anything.
I begin to scream and moments later the door flies open, Nox stands there, looking worried.
"What happened?" she gasps
"I'm being held captive by you" I scream "I've been in here for days; I've missed the Hunger Games haven't I?"
"It's about four hours before the tribute parade Nina" Nox sighs "you've always been such a dramatist; you should have gone into acting"
"How long will I have to stay here?" I ask "Till It's safe for me to leave."
"About twenty minutes" Nox replies "We're almost done out here"
She shuts the door in my face and after screaming in frustration and kicking at it a few times I decide to just sit down for twenty minutes.
Nox opens the door again and leads me out of the small room and I discover I've been sat all this time in a small office in the corner of a large warehouse. Around the large open space are several banks of computer monitors and a couple of workstations. The room is completely empty though apart from one man standing over at a workstation.
He doesn't look up as we walk over, keeping his concentration on something in his hand, as I get closer I realise I know this man, its Marcus Long. He's been the District Three stylist for about five years now. We've never met in person before as his tributes don't tend to do so well, but I've seen his face around. I look down to see what he's designing and see he's not got any fashion drawings on his desk but a collection of technical drawings.
"What are you..." I begin to ask as he holds up his hand.
"shhh.. working" he hisses as he fiddles with a pocket watch in his hand.
"Marcus" Nox snaps back "You need to give Nina her lipstick"
I frown, my what?
"Oh yeah here" he passes over a small metal tube.
Nox takes it from him and starts to walk away "What in Panem" I cry "Am I doing here."
"The president doesn't want you dead"
"What!"
"We need you" she says "we're trying to throw the whole system into chaos, but we need someone who isn't already on their radar."
"The presidents watching me"
"No really, not like she's watching me or Marcus or any of the others we have working with us. You're the only one I can trust for this task."
"What task?"
"Nina, you're my friend right"
"Yes of course"
"Then you know I don't ask this of you lightly, but I need." She pauses and takes a deep breath; I can see she is genuinely worried "I need you to plant the bomb"
"Bomb?" I gasp, picturing a cartoony black ball with a fizzling string coming out the top, during my first year as host the Gamemakers threw a load of these at the tributes randomly, it was very funny to watch.
Nox holds out the lipstick; "In here is enough explosive to destroy the presidents podium. All I need you to do is drop it under the podium before the tribute parade. Marcus and I will take care of the rest."
I pause for a moment, fully expecting my answer to be no, the president didn't actually want to kill me after all. I was being used wasn't I? I picture a large explosion killing President Snow and throwing the whole parade into chaos. How thrilling it would be.
"I'll do it."
A/N: oft and breathe... That was an intense chapter to write and I've been working on it piece by piece for weeks. Please please leave a review with your feelings on the tributes and Nina's storylines. x
