CHAPTER 2
I didn't have to look back to see that Cynthia's fear had tripled in intensity. My mother was probably crying in my father's chest right now. Percy, Gilligan, and Wade all looked at me with shock. They wanted to say something or volunteer even. Fear itself kept their lips sealed. But I wasn't an idiot. There was no one going to save me.
"Remy Dubois," Pearl said impatiently. When her eyes sat on me, she knew I was the tribute. No one carried that look of fear. "Come on. Don't be shy." People started making a way for me. I held my head up and walked through the crowd and on the stage.
I looked at the other player in the game: Destiny. She looked about my age or a bit older. We both looked at each other like complete strangers. From her tan skin to her bronze-colored locks, I knew this girl had never lived in the Marsh. Finnick got out of his chair and was standing between us. He didn't say anything but he did smile. But it didn't faze me. I was just feeling numb.
My kind kept recalling the past years when someone would get reaped and someone volunteered instantly. But today wasn't like the other reaping days. This was the 74th Hunger Games, my cause of death.
Just when Pearl was going to ask for any volunteers, a chuckle erupted in the crowd. The chuckle then broke into a full-blown laugh. How could anyone laugh at our situation? I could only see the Capitol doing that. But it was the weary shut-in Sheldon.
An impulse to attack had me running for the man. I was prepared to jump off the stage but Finnick grabbed the back of my shirt. He wrapped his muscular arms around me and I knew I couldn't escape him. The mayor took the podium to get things under control. Pearl was standing to the side, looking like she wanted to turn him into a fish.
"I give you District four's tributes for the 74th Hunger Games! Destiny Sanders and Remy Dubois," he said. From the sound of his voice, I guessed it was supposed to be a compliment. It didn't help in the least.
Finnick finally let me go and motioned for us to shake hands. To my surprise, Destiny outstretched her hand eagerly. I gave her a perplexed look. Kindness tended to rub me the wrong way when it came to strangers. They didn't know me so why feel guilty if they were mean? But since I was going to be in an arena with people having every intention to chop my head off, I better accept friendship and not reject it.
The anthem played and then we were escorted by Peacekeepers into the Justice Building. Destiny and I were put in different rooms. The room was really classy and thankfully didn't smell like seafood. But with me leaving home I should probably hold on to it.
The door opened and my family came in. My parents embraced me with so much strength that I was feeling lightheaded. We stood in silence for a few seconds. And then we remembered that we had a time limit.
Dad reached in his shirt and pulled out a necklace with an alligator tooth on it. "You can have one token in the arena. Take this."
I thought about the salamander pin in my pocket. Was that supposed to be my token for the games? "You know I can't. The tooth will be viewed as a weapon and will be confiscated. I can't take it," I said.
He gripped the armrest on the couch. The games were still in the way. "We understand. You don't need it though. You can win," my mother said.
That was a lie. Like I said, I didn't have any expert survival skills. Unless I was given a survival guide in the arena, the odds weren't gonna be in my favor. But I just nodded. My mind refused to believe it though. "No matter what happens, I'm trying for you."
Mom broke down and Dad held her close. They moved to the side so Cynthia could approach me. She looked at the velvet couch and tried to form the right words.
"I guess he was wrong," she finally said. How was that for irony?
"Cynthia, don't cry. I'm still here."
"Not for long," she said in a fading voice. Cynthia wiped her eyes but her lips were shaking as she tried to continue. "I'm so sorry."
"You don't have to be sorry. Just make sure everyone is safe. That includes Percy and the others. Can you do one more thing for me?" Cynthia nodded. "Kill Sheldon for me."
"Who's Sheldon?"
"The guy who laughed," I replied.
A fire glowed in Cynthia's eyes and I knew she was actually considering it. "I'll work on making it an accident."
The doors burst open and the Peacekeepers were coming to retrieve them. Our time was up. I knew my dad wanted to fight and get me out of here. But who knew what the Capitol would do my family then. And then the doors were closed.
I threw myself on the couch but kept my tears in. And then Percy, Gilligan, and Wade were tumbling through the doors. We got in a huddle and you could cut a knife through the friendship between us. It was like we were conjuring a swarm of memories and mud wrestles and alligator fighting. These were my people, my Swamp People.
"Do you have a strategy?" Percy asked.
I shook my head. "I'm just preparing myself for death. It's depressing."
"Join the pack of Careers. You'll be safer that way," Wade said.
"No, I'm not going to be friends with those spoiled brats. I'd rather play the games with the less impressive districts. At least they've got integrity," I said. And the way they rarely won, they'd probably welcome an ally from District 4.
"Just win," Percy said bluntly. "I'll be waiting for a wrestling match when you get back."
"And you would live in the Victor's Village with Finnick!" Gilligan said in a soft girly voice. He even simulated the girl fainting at the reaping. And we all laughed.
Once again the Peacekeepers arrived to clear the room. I shook Percy's hand, knowing that it would be the last time I did. Gilligan and Wade gave me thumbs-up before they left out the door. That was it, my goodbyes to my friends and family. There had to be one more visitor for me. And to my surprise, when the doors opened, it was to escort me to the car to get to the train station. Sheldon the shut-in was probably cleaning his TV screen at this moment, anticipating my death in the games.
We arrived at the train station to find reporters all around. I caught Destiny's eye and she looked bored, depressed even. Perhaps she didn't have any family to say goodbye to. Maybe that was why she was being friendly to me. She had no one else to give it to.
The train was one from the Capitol and had the nerve to be even classier than the Justice Building. The second I got in my own room, I went to find some new clothes. The fish-scented clothing was making me homesick. I found a black shirt and pants to wear. I was just in time too. Someone was knocking at my door.
"It's me," Finnick said. I instinctively rolled my eyes. "I'd like if you join Destiny and I in the dining room. I'd like to discuss-"
"I'll be out in a second," I interrupted. Before I left, I remembered the salamander pin. I retrieved it from my other pants and looked at the dumb thing. I should've just thrown it out the window or flushed it down the toilet. But I couldn't bring myself to do so. In a way, it kept the fire in me alive. And that fire may just help me out in the games.
After fastening it on my shirt, I left my room. I almost had to clutch the wall for support because of the speed of the Capitol train. In the dining room were Destiny and our mentor. Pearl was also there and was tapping her nails on the table. Of course talk of a battle-to-the-death match would even bore Miss Pearl Harbor.
"Please sit," Finnick invited. I took the seat across from him. "Let's get this meeting started. As you know, my name is Finnick Odair. I succeeded in winning the 65th Hunger Games. I was lucky enough to receive a trident from a sponsor."
I laughed sarcastically. "I wouldn't say lucky," I muttered.
Finnick ignored me. "Anyway, you cannot rely entirely on sponsors. Sure they can help and I can pull the strings but it's you that wins them. It's your job to win their hearts. Give them their own show. While we're on the matter, do you have any strategy suggestions?"
Destiny raised her hand. "It may be obvious but joining the Career Tributes is always an option. And will certainly keep us alive. They always gain control of the Cornucopia so that includes food, shelter, and protection."
"It's a luxury for a short time. Especially if they deem you too weak, they'll off you then to save the time. And you must be wary that as the games go on, the more primal you become. Survival kicks in and deception splits the pack up. Of course if you escape before that happens, you can steal some supplies and be on your way." Destiny looked pleased with the new info.
"It doesn't work like that," I argued. "Remember that one Hunger Games where the Career hid a pool of quicksand and his pack all got sucked in. It is dirty moves like that that make it impossible to trust anyone."
Finnick and Destiny had all eyes on me. Even Pearl was interested in some conflict. "So what strategy do you propose?" he challenged.
I hadn't thought about a strategy of my own. But I didn't want to look stupid in from of my mentor. So I used the advice I was given. "Adapt to survive," I said.
Finnick ran his fingers through his bronze hair. Who knew what he was thinking of? He always came off as a bit of an airhead pretty boy to me. "It could work. Change with the surroundings." But he didn't give a clear judgment.
"So Finnick," Destiny said. "How many sponsors can you pull? Does their money go to the item you choose or to their desired ones? Is there a limit?"
Finnick laughed genuinely, like the questions made him seem like he was all-knowing. "You let me handle them. Just do your best to impress them at the Tribute Parade. After your stylists get you fixed up of course."
"Because that's all it is," I said. "It's about physical attraction. That seems like a pretty vain strategy."
Now Finnick looked at me with annoyance. "And it works just fine for me," he said.
I glared at him. I even eyed the sharp silverware on the table. Seeing this, Pearl whistled and people began bringing plates of food like mashed potatoes, meatloaf, baked beans, grapes, plums, soups, and salads. All that I could think of was right out in front of me.
"Let's eat away this stress," Pearl advised. She took a plain salad without dressing. It was pretty tame compared to the other extravagant food.
"Can I offer you a shrimp?" Finnick asked me, holding up a platter of shrimp and cocktail sauce. On his face was a mocking smile. He was going to the Capitol and would come back after this was over while I would die in the arena. Or maybe I was reading too much into it and making him evil. Nonetheless, I didn't take the shrimp. Not only did it remind me of home, but it also reminded me of the shrimp given to Sheldon the shut-in.