Chapter 2
The speed of the train, coming in for a stop blew my hair completely in front of my face, blowing out the clips that mother put in my hair. Before I knew it I was on the big blue train, taking us to the Capitol.
I was escorted to the dinner table, alongside Haymitch; my drunken mentor, Effie; my capitol escort and Peeta Mellark; my fellow district partner. We all were served a light chicken broth, alongside crescent rolls, and a plate of tender stake. No one said a word but Haymitch, occasionally.
He reached his hand for the wine bottle when Effie smacked his hand away. He stared at her oddly.
"Not now" she whispered.
Haymitch just glared at Effie, and when he was about to start an argument, Peeta changed the topic.
"So, how has it been working for the capitol?" He asks Effie.
You can tell by the way Effie looked at him, no one has ever asked her that question before. She's just been used to taking on some scared kids, that don't try to make a new relationship before they die.
"It's good." Effie said back.
I think she realized that it's going to be harder this year than it has been before. But what's so different about this year? Does she see something in one of us? She is usually giddy, and filled with glee. But right now, she appears to be quiet and sad.
"You ready to watch the reaping's?" Effie jumps up and says happily.
Shoot…spoke too soon. I guess quiet Effie is over, and it's back to the cause of headaches Effie. Peeta, Effie and I take a sit on the couch. Peeta is sitting bent over and his elbows are resting on his legs. Effie is sitting up pit straight and her pink wig looks like it has a mood of its own, which turns out to be joyful, just like Effie.
On the other hand, I'm sitting as if I was just run over by a car. My back is buried into the red velvet couch, and my arms and legs are all spread apart on the arm of the couch. I look over to see what's holding up Haymitch. When I turn to see him, he is chugging down that bottle of wine, which Effie had earlier taken away from him. I turned my head and rolled my eyes.
The reapings started in order. District 1, 2, and 4 looked like typical careers, but district 2 this year really scared me. Frankly District 5, 6, and 7 were quite boring. Along with the other district's too. Then the words "District 11" popped up onto the screen and one little girl caught my attention. She was around the same size as me, but she had a dark skin tone, and a rougher complexion. You could tell she was weak, but she put on an act, as if she wasn't scared. I thought she was pretty convincing, until i looked into her eyes.
Those same eyes that I used on Katniss that morning. Those same eye's that I was wearing today. They were full of fear. Fear of the capitol. But the only difference was that my fear was for the capitol. Hers were for the fear of death.
Then, reality slapped me in the face. Death. How could I have been so clueless, and stupid? I had never truly understood how effective these games could be. I was only used to knowing that someone was not coming back. And this time it would be me.
I gulped, and my head shook back and forth. What would happen to Katniss, Gale, and my mother? All those years that Katniss tried to keep me alive and well feed, now all seem useless. My eyes were still filled with fear, and now they were also filled with tears.
I broke down sobbing on the floor, right in front of Effie, Haymitch and Peeta. I looked up and I didn't even say a word, because they knew what I was going through. Well at least Effie and Peeta did. They knew what I was going through, because my eyes said it all. I swear they can tell a story. And I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad one.
To be Continued….