Rue POV

I tried to block out any other sound around me as I board the Capitol train. I guard my face from the flashing lights of the cameras going off around me. I was so stressed that I could of sworn I could hear my own heart pounding out of my chest, and the swish of blood running through my veins. I closed my eyes tightly before they snap open when I feel a reassuring hand on my shoulder. I look up to see Alex.

"You're taking this considerably well for an eight year old." Alex states as he sits down next to me.

"I'm almost nine." I correct him as I relax slightly from his presence.

"Sorry," He mumbles. "You're taking this considerably well for a nine year old." I can see him trying to hide the smile that's forming on his lips.

"Well, I'm trying to stay as sane as I can right now. Though, I do miss my family dearly at the moment. " My gaze shifts towards the window, watching the trees fly by, not wanting to see how this subject obviously makes me upset.

"It's okay. I do too." He awkwardly says as he doesn't know how to exactly comfort me. "Just stay as close to me as you can. Oh, and another tip...Ignore the other tributes for now. No allies just yet."

I was confused on what exactly the word allies meant, but I nod like I know what he's talking about.

"Alex, what exactly does the...games do?" I ask in a small voice, not sure if he will make fun of me or not."

Alex is obviously caught off guard from my question as he tilts his head to the side. Alex, thinking I would know everything about the Hunger Games considering I am from the family of not one, but two victors, asks the question. "You don't know anything about them? Nothing at all?" He looks utterly confused.

I shake my head at him, telling him that I don't know anything. "Nothing at all, no." I confirm his thoughts.

"Well..." He begins, then stops what he's saying as he rethinks how he will go on about the subject. "They're 13 districts. But, 13 is no longer included in the games. Well, I'm not quite sure if they were ever included in the Games, actually. But anyways, there is a boy tribute and a girl tribute chosen from each district. That totals in 24 tributes for the Capitol." Alex looks at me to see if I'm listening.

I nod, showing him I'm paying attention to his story, and make a circular motion with my hand in the air, as if to say "go on."

"And, all the tributes are sent to the Capitol. We're trained on survival skills, techniques, weapons, special skills, camouflage, how to tie ropes, how to use a knife...Ect. You get the picture. Then, the gamemakers put you into an arena. The arena's can range from a hot, sticky island surrounded by shark infested waters, forests of endless terrors, or simply snow-capped mountains where we could freeze to death. But, the gamemakers like blood, gore, fighting, not some slow death where you die from the cold..."

The door bursts open and a flustered looking Effie walks in.

"Children, children. Time to get inside." Effie shrills. I see a mass of white uniforms forming behind her as If to say that there is no way out.

I smile to Alex before we're led into different sides of the huge building of what must be...the Capitol.