The Train Rides

Kronos Dethispher (18) - District 2

Ugh! I think to myself as my district partner Amber cries to her parents. I simply told mine that no farewells were needed, considering I would be back in two weeks or less. I will make sure of that. I comb my hands through my short cropped hair and sigh. I want to get into the games as soon as possible or I think I might die of boredom first. Finally stupid Amber has said goodbye and we are whisked away by peacekeepers.

A short time later we are on the train. I stroll around the magnificent sections, taking in the riches of the capitol. They make even my house look bad. And this, I remember, is just the train. Wait till I get to the actual Capitol where they have everything. But first, I need to do something. I ask a maid where I can find a TV. She points me to my room, in which is a huge 120-inch screen. I grab the remote, jump onto the bed and begin to scroll through the channels until I find what I'm looking for. The other districts Reapings.

First, I watch District 1's Reapings. Slim, sexy looking girl approaches from 1. Her name is Orphiness. The boy is a mountain, muscles almost my size. He chuckles when he gets to the stage, commenting that he will be the victor, easy. I pause the recording and laugh. Well mate, you haven't seen the District 2 Reapings then, have you? I know that I'm the best in these games, and it's me who's getting out of that arena alive.

Nicole Lyven (15) - District 4

I know, it's wrong. No one volunteered for me. I'm not a career, I wasn't accepted into the academy. And now, no one has volunteered, even though I know many girls are so eager to get into these games. I cry into my mothers shoulder as she pats me on the back, "there-there Nicole it's going to be alright." She knows in her heart, that it will not be alright. I'm not good with weapons and I'm not skilled at surviving. My hobbies include writing and hair styling, and I know that neither of those skills help you in a Game where people kill each other. My last words to my Mum is "I'm coming back!"

The train we are escorted to is beautiful in its interior, and modern in it's exterior. Hey, if I'm gonna die in an arena in front of Panem then I may as well enjoy myself while I can. I gorge myself on muffins and scones left out on large tables, reserved just for the two tributes and there mentors and escort. I haven't actually talked to my mentor yet, I only saw him at the Reapings. I decide to retire to my Room and watch some of the other Reapings. They will tell me how tough my competition is going to be.

By the looks of things, the competition is very tough. I am amazed by how strong and dangerous the careers look from Districts 1 & 2. District 3 is slightly less scary, with a pair of semi-competent tributes who look like they have missed a meal before. District 4 is appalling, but that's because of me and not Jake Giten, my Career partner. District 5 is interesting mainly because of how different the two tributes are. The girl is small and weepy. Laura, that's her name. The boy on the other hand, is an 18-year-old bull with well defined muscles and a face of stone. He merely grunts as the two are carried of into the justice building. After this, none of the tributes make an impression on me. District 6 and 7 give two mediocre looking tributes, and District 6 also gives a small boy. District 8 makes me cry because the boy who is chosen, Samuel Gertin, gives a small boy a kiss on the top of his head before he gets taken away. The small boy then begins to scream and is only calmed by his mother. District 9 is similar to district 5, where a mediocre girl is chosen but a large older boy is chosen as well. District 10 is mediocre. District 11 as well. District 12 however, catches my eye. The boy who is chosen says a heartbreaking farewell to a 12 year old boy and his mother. I suddenly feel very tired. Too much sadness I guess. Before long, I break into a deep sleep where nobody goes to the Reapings, and there's no such thing as the Hunger Games...

Bonnie Ricot (16) - District 7

Somehow, the train does not impress me. As I step on, I take in its beauty, then realize there is none. Apart from lots of food and hot showers, there's nothing in this train that really leaves me amazed. I'm exhausted from the Reapings and the farewells to my family. I know that I'm going to die in these Games, so I want to spend the last week of my life in luxury. Which I will.

I approach my district partner, Llyod Evony and ask him how he feels about the train. He replies with a short, "It's nice." I know that he's sadder than I am because he had to leave a family that actually cared about him. My Mother was a witch, who would slap me if I didn't make her tea in time. My Father was nicer, but he still hit me when I burnt a meal, or forgot my homeowork. I had no other siblings. My parents were all I had. Llyod on the other hand probably had nice parents. I know he had a sister, while I had nothing. I try and let him no this through eye contact but he was getting it. I was fine with that. I retired to my room to have a rest. After all, in a weeks time a rest could mean death.

Will Gordon (17) - District 11

I weep in despair as I am parted from my Mother. She's the greatest thing in the world to me and I have loved all my life. So, now I'm being forced apart from her. I yell at the peacekeepers to let me have 5 minutes, just one last talk about how I love her. But no, the peacekeepers roughly turn me in the opposite direction of the Justice Building and force me to walk. Soon, I'm on the train. I don't care about how nice it is,

Soon, I'm on the train. I don't care about how nice it is, at least not at the moment. I'm too busy thinking about my Mother. So busy, that I barely hear Thyla Mator, my district partner, ask me how I'm feeling. I try and answer with positivity, but all I can produce is a slightly strangled, "yeah I'm great!" She looks at me in confusion. "Don't worry, I'll be fine tomorrow." I try and say this a bit nicer, so she can't hear my silent tears as I run to my bedroom. I throw myself onto the bed. I should probably watch the other District Reapings and see what I'm up against, but for now, I'm preoccupied. When sleep finally comes, my eyes are closed before I can say no. Tomorrow, I'm going to figure it all out. Tomorrow...