CHAPTER FOUR -
The next two hours travel in a blur of panic struck faces and mindless walking through narrow corridors. The reaping ends pretty abruptly. All other tributes that did not get reaped or volunteered themselves were shuffled out in to another corridor, one I didn't even known existed. They were undoubtedly shipped back to their districts. I would call them the lucky ones, if I was not so certain I was going to win. When all twenty four of us finally reach the station, there is no one else there. Well, what did I expect? We're still underground...well, I assume we are, who's going to show up? The station is barley a station. It's nothing more than a couple of feet of platform next to an opening tube where a train waits patiently for it's travellers. It's nothing like the bustling streets of last time. Flora shuffles her way to the front of the line of tributes, her extremely high heals clicking against the concrete floor. "All right everyone!" She squeals. I swear if she carries on this way she's going to end up with a knife in her back, and I can tell by the facial expressions of the other tributes that I'm not the only one whose considered this option to get her to shut up. "We have a train lined up for each district! Each train will leave ten minutes after the one before. District One, you're first, so all aboard!" Bliss and Marvel share a look, as if to say 'is she for real?' before following her to the train side doors.
We stand in silence for a small while until Flora trots back to the front of the cue; back to us. "Right, District Two, your carriage awaits!" I can't help but roll my eyes and shake my head, what goes on in that mind of hers, god only knows. I would bet it's not much, though. I hear a snicker to my right and look over. Cato's noticed the expression of annoyance on my face, and the fact that I am irritated is amusing him. "I suppose, I'm funny to you?" I say, maliciously.
"You amuse me, yes." He replies, coolly. I am about to retaliate when Flora jumps in. "Now, come on you two. We're all waiting." I narrow my eyes, my gaze fixed on him as he begins to walk ahead of me. I am listing the possible ways I can torture him as we step on to the train. I instantly, forget all of that though as I make my way through the carriage. It's so... luxurious. Remember what the previous train was like? Well, times that by ten and you're just a little short of what it looks like now. The walls are lined with paintings that look as if they took forever and a day to create, backed with complex wall paper patterns and finished with an almost glossy polish. In the centre of the cart lies a large buffet table, filled with goods that I could only imagine. I've had amazing food in my time, being from a generally well-off area from District Two, but those were nothing in comparison to what is laying before me. Large leather couches filled the four corners of the small room and hanging on the ceiling above us hung a projector which cascaded a large frame of light on to the wall directly in front of us. This was amazing. "Woah..." I hear Cato mutter to himself. "I know, I know!" Fauna coos as she strides in to the centre of the room. I stare directly ahead, there is a large pane of glass taking up a the whole curved surface area of the wall. It looks like a window, but there's nothing to see from it but the other side of the concrete tunnel and a faint outline of District Three's train as it draws closer. "Well, I better go get District Three sorted out. Enjoy all of this!" She beams, before hurrying off the train and leaving Cato and I are alone.
Some time passes. I nibble at some biscuits and stare blankly at the TV. Cato had gone to his room long ago, leaving me alone in the main carriage. I don't know why he's being such a diva, after all, it was me who should be me not wanting to see him, not the other way around. Oh well, like I care. I continue flicking through channels, hoping to find something about the Quarter Quell, but there's nothing. It's like, it isn't even happening. There's no reply footage, no spectating, no interviews, no anything. "Wondering why your not being nationally broadcasted, Clovey?" My head spins around instantly, and guess who's in here with me. "I should have known you'd be looking for yourself, careers may be expert killers, but god are they vain." Conall sneers, looking down on me like I'm some kind of vermin. God if murder was legal... No. Stop. I can't be so cutting in my speech any more. One word and he could stop me from entering the Games. And by the childish smirk on his face, he knows that.
"I'm not vain." I state calmly. This is the hardest thing I've ever had to do... "I'm just curious to the fact why none of the Reaping has been shown."
"It has been..." He states like it's obvious. "...earlier.
"Well then, why are there no reruns." I ask, becoming impressed at how cool I can stay.
"The Capitol have made these Games very exclusive. Everything's live all the time. There are no reruns."
"Oh...uh... OK?" I ask more than state. He chuckles and I can't help but feel anger boil up inside me. He sees me as inferior; he sees me as weak. Well, he wont for long.
I jolt up suddenly, like something has just clicked in to place which sends my spine to be perfectly upright, like a metal rod. I gasp for breath. It wasn't real. It wasn't real. I tell myself, but I can't help the fact I am covered in a thick layer of sweat and my heart is racing a mile a minuet. My fingers cling to the bed spread as I come to terms with where I am. I quickly slip out of the sheets and grab the silk dressing grown hung on a hook by my bed. I wrap it around me, even though I am perfectly warm. It's more a security thing than anything else. I step out of my quarters and head down the passage way until I get to the main living area. I watch out from the window again, still nothing but concrete. I continue on my way slowly, wondering if the whole thing will be held underground. Wondering if I will ever see the sunlight again. I sit myself down on one of the supple animal skin sofa and just think for a while, not about anything in particular, I just think. I think about The Games, then District Two, then winning for District Two, then death, and how it felt like when I died. It wasn't how most picture it. It wasn't like a walk-in-to-the-light kind of thing. Everything just kind of... faded. Nothing was there any more. I wasn't there any more. And even though I was dying, I felt strangely OK with everything all of a sudden.
Somewhere in between the daydreaming and philosophical thoughts I lose my consciousness and fade in to a dreamless sleep. It only feels like a few moments have passed when I awake. Although, it is actually morning. I lift my head up from laying on my arm to get a better view of where I am as I slowly draw myself back in to reality. The sudden flow of blood descending through my veins sends a tingling sensation down my arm. It feels strange, but as I gradually come to it seems to slip my mind. My jittery eyes dart back to the window. Concrete, still. I don't know what I was expecting to see, but I can't help feel slightly disappointed. I slowly bring myself to stand up. I guess I'll head back to my quarters for the next hour or so until I'm called for breakfast. Yet, just as I am about to turn away, a sudden bright light shines through the room. It's so blinding I have to lift my hand to shield my face from the harsh rays. As moments pass my eyes soon begin to focus and there, right in front of me, the light reveals the outside.
For a moment, I am frozen in place, standing upright in front of the large pain of glass. Large evergreen trees stand perfectly in order along the tracks and bright emerald strands of grass lay perfectly against the earth as the train rushes past. I must have been standing there for a while, because when I bring myself to look away from the window, I realise Cato is standing next to me. I'm about to come out with a quick witted comment, when I stop myself. It's been ages since he's seen light too, maybe I should just let him be for once, even if he wouldn't have done the same for me. I exhale deeply. This isn't like me, holding my tongue when I have something to say, but I guess once wont hurt.