Chapter 3: Capturing Darkness

Iris' POV

Everything's dark as I lay on my bed in my room of the train. It's a nice train, something that we only hear about in District 11. It moves fast through the country of Panem and I wonder how long it will take to get to the Capitol. Probably only a day.

I don't bother in turning on any lights, I just let myself absorb the darkness around me. It's how I feel inside of me, so empty and dark that I just want to cry. I grasp my hand around the necklace my father gave me. It had been my mother's, well not the necklace but the ring that hung on the chain. It was her wedding ring and somehow, I don't know why, it made me feel secure whenever I held it.

And then I wonder, is my mother with me now? Watching me with the sadness and fear she always had about the games? I remember asking her what life was like before the games, if it was fun and carefree. She said it was better, not as much darkness and fear with less blood spilled also. But it wasn't perfect, far from it actually.

I hear a knock on my door and hear Sarina tell me dinner's ready. I sigh; I'm not particularly hungry, I ate a bit this morning, but the impending doom I felt didn't help my appetite. But I get up anyways and walk out. My hair is still a bit wet from the shower I took earlier, but my outfit stayed the same. I didn't want to wear the Capitol-infested clothing.

I move through the train in silence as I come into the dining room. Sage is there, pushing his food around with his fork, and so is Sarina. Another man sits there also; he's tall with tan skin and light brown hair. His eyes are a dark brown and he just barely glances at me before returning to his food. This, I know, is our mentor Jake Gold. He had been in one of the first years of the Hunger Games, but he was the only one we had.

"Finally," He mutters, "You need to eat up, kid, you're not going to survive with how small you are."

I bite back a sharp comment before sitting down and putting food on my plate. I force myself to eat as Sarina explains our schedule. It sounds dull and horrible, but not nearly as horrible as the fear in my gut I now feel all the time.

Jake soon stops her and says, "Do you have any talents?" His voice is rough and his brown eyes are narrowed in speculation.

"I can use a bow and arrow," Sage murmured, looking up from his barely touched food, "my father made me practice it with his."

"What about you?" Jake grunted, nodding to me, "Can't you do anything useful."

"Of course I can!" I exclaim, my gray eyes flashing with annoyance at his attitude. But I take a deep breath to calm myself and say, "I can use knives, swords, any type of blade really. My father taught me after my mother died two years ago."

"I didn't need all that information," Jake snorted, "But it's good to know I have some talented people this year." Then he slides a knife towards me and says, "Throw a knife right here," He gets up and bangs a part of the wall with his fist. He then steps back as I stand up.

I hesitated, but then I reach back and let the knife fling out of my hand. I frown when it misses and I feel frustration crawling up inside me. Couldn't I have hit it and try to impress them? No, I have to do a shitty job and miss it.

"You've ruined the wall!" Sarina exclaims.

"Tough," Jake waves his hand dismissively.

She just mutters something as Jake puts down the knife.

"You need to work on your aim," Jake grumbles, "Do that during the Practice Session."

"What about me?" Sage asks.

"You show off," Jake says, sitting down and drinks some water, "You look tough and strong and you need to keep your image staying like that."

Sage just sighs and shrugs while I lean back in my chair, concentrating on what he says. There's silence as Jake finishes up his dinner and heads out. He may have a bit of an attitude, but at least he's not a drunk. Sarina mutters something about him before heading out herself. Then it just leaves Sage and me.

Then I wonder if I'll ever have to kill Sage. I hope not, he seems like a good guy, I don't want to kill anybody! But I'll have to, I know that. I try to push the thought away.

"Good luck out there," He says quietly before standing up, "You have a good chance."

I just shrug as he walks out, because we both know that my odds are lower than his.

But I'm not going to give up now, I refuse. I'll fight till my last breath.

A/N: Please Review!