Chandler Fenn, District Seven Male, 16 years old
When we're in the train I make sure to inspect Candella - she doesn't look fifteen and if I had to guess her age I'd say she looks more ten or eleven. As unfortunate as it is to say, she'll be Career fodder for sure. If she doesn't die in the Bloodbath, I can't see her making it past a day or two.
She's rather silent and doesn't say much, focusing more on what our escort says to us. I can't tell if that's a dumb move or not. Sure they know about the Games and can help us on how to act in the Capitol, but they also just see us as entertainment - how helpful is their advice really? Regardless, Candella takes in everything and nods from time to time.
When our escort goes and leaves the two of us alone, Candella doesn't say anything to me. Instead, she searches for some paper and a pencil and scribbles things messily. I assume it's a recount of what we've just been told, but I'm not sure.
"What's that?" I ask, elevating myself slightly to try and get a glimpse at the paper.
"Notes," She says simply, shielding it a little. It's obvious she doesn't intend to tell me and I can feel my hope of allying with her diminishing quicker and quicker. It doesn't hurt to ask, though.
"How about you and me ally?"
She looks at me, giving me a long stare up and down before shaking her head, "No, thank-you."
Bobbin Taper, District Eight Female, 12 years old
Phantom emanates a negative aura. I can feel it, I think our mentors can feel it and our escort definitely can. He mutters something under his breath about the tribute from last year and it's obvious he's talking about Velvet, our male tribute. He was mad and even I can see the association with Phantom. Even the name sounds off.
I try to sit as far away from Phantom as I can, choosing to remain closer to the mentors. He doesn't seem to mind, though I've caught him looking at me as if I'm some type of prey. He's menacing and I wouldn't put it past him to target me. I'll have to be careful with what I say to him - he'll thrive in the arena.
Our mentors give us some tips on how to survive and I listen just as intently as he does. My father believes in me so I should too and my mentors are going to be the best chance of survival. They don't tell us arena survival tips just yet, no, they tell us how to act when we arrive in the Capitol.
"Phantom, we think you should go for the charming angle," The male mentor says, looking at my male counterpart, "You seem to be a natural at it and we're sure it'll be a hit in the Capitol."
He even looks smug as he nods - it's as if he knew that and they're just boosting his ego.
"You're the only twelve year old Bobbin," He says, now looking at me, "We want you to be sweet. Think of yourself as the Capitol's Little Sister. Make them want to protect you and sponsor you - that'll be the greatest help to you."
My gaze goes over to Phantom as his does to me and we exchange a stare. We're going for very different angles and there's something in his eyes that tells me he's much more than the egotistical front he's putting up.
Blake Eden, District Nine Male, 17 years old
I don't pay much attention to anyone on the train ride. How can I? My mind is more occupated with important things such as my father and how I'm going to try my hardest to win.
What do the mentors know? They won their games ages ago - things change in the arena. You can't guarantee that you can win by hiding it out anymore. The academies surely adapt their teaching depending on how people win. The escort talks about nonsense. You can tell they don't care and, especially since we're not a district renowned for our victors, they don't put any effort in.
Laurel tries to be optimistic and tries to talk to me, but I blank her. She's too optimistic and I don't feel like saying to her upfront that the only way I'll ever ally her is to use her to get supplies before killing her. I'm smarter than that; I know if I tell her too soon she can expose me during the interviews and that'll only spell disaster for me.
The group of them try to include me in their conversation of strategies, angles we should take at all times and the like, but I've already got my plan. I'll be pleasant enough to draw in sponsors and, when I'm in the arena, I'll do whatever it takes to win. All their advice is useless to me.
It's clear they give up after a while, so much so that they all move to another carriage - not that I care too much. Laurel tries once last time as she's walking out of the door to persuade me to join them, but I blank her. I can see her figure droop and I can hear a sigh before the door closes.
Illea Augustine, District Ten Female, 15 years old
Everything's rather muted in the carriage. It's all grey so the only sound I hear is a low murmur.
Our escort is nice and spends the majority of the time trying to reassure us that we have a fighting chance and the like. Rumours have it that she was once from a District and was able to move to the Capitol.
Dion and I engage in a pleasant conversation too - there's no obvious tensions between us and that's a good thing. I'd hate to feel threatened by him - he's got the build to be threatening.
Our mentors run through the basic survival tips and tell us that we should act as natural as we can in the Capitol. They don't sugar coat it when they say that, by the time it comes to District Ten in any aspect of the Games, people are bored and want to get to the next big spectacle and subsequently we can be less uptight with how we present ourselves.
That reassures me - it means I'm not forced to act and risk looking stupid.
The atmosphere is very relaxed and we are all able to enjoy ourselves somewhat. Our mentors don't think we're completely hopeless and our escort is sympathetic - what more could an outer district ask for?
Brock Ushums, District Eleven Male, 18 years old
Our mentors seem to be happy with Ellie and myself - we both appear to be of fighting shape, though it's obvious I've got the physical strength and that it's only her spirit which is strong. The way she constantly asks for more advice is slightly annoying, but I can see past it - she's probably more scared than I am so any information to her could be lifesaving.
Our has changed her tone, after hearing the both of us speak and listing our strengths. Her monotonous tone has gone and instead she's bubbling with excitement. It's sick, really. Whilst my physical strength was no elephant in the room, it turns out that Ellie is allegedly rather good with a knife and the resilience she's displayed thus far makes her more and more threatening. She'll be a formidable opponent in the arena - it's easy to forget she's only fourteen.
Everyone in the carriage is a little shocked when I say my plan is to ally with the Careers when we're asked about what our alliance plans are. It contrasts greatly with Ellie's solo or singular ally approach. They're shocked at my plan, but they don't rule it out as a possibility - if I was from One, Two or Four then it'd only be natural that I'd be a Career. Besides, joining the Careers gives me an easier life in the arena - it'll be Ellie who'll struggle, not me.
Our escort keeps repeating how she thinks we have a chance, how we're both determined in our own way and she hopes that we'll at least be cordial to each other. We exchange a glance. Ellie seems like she'll be the type to be nice to me, but I can't say the same for her. Maybe I'll give her one chance, just to humour our escort. If she ruins the one chance, then I can't be held responsible for my actions.
Alys Lofric, District Twelve Female, 16 years old
The atmosphere in our carriage is hopelessness. I don't think Cadin believes in himself, I don't think I believe in myself as much as people think I ought to, our mentor gave us one look and sighed and our escort isn't as preppy as she once was at the reapings.
District Twelve tributes don't do well, that's no secret. Our tributes are usually Bloodbath deaths and, if they do make it far, they're tortured for the pure amusement of others.
Cadin and I are aware of that.
Our train ride is more attempting to boost the other's confidence, though neither of us talk too much so it's more just us saying a word of encouragement every so often. The awkwardness is incredibly strong and the tension could be cut with a knife.
It's a shame we don't get on as well - it'll make the next week or so before the arena extremely hard. We both mutually agree to act like we get along on the chariots - district solidarity has gone well for tributes in the past so hopefully it'll do the same for us.
It's going to be hard regardless, especially when none of the team who're meant to be helping us have any faith in us.
All the pre-Capitol stuff is done! Now we can get onto the exciting things!
I felt like it was slightly harder to write this set of train rides, purely because these tributes aren't as clear cut as the previous ones. Oh well, I like a challenge!
The chariots'll be in one whole page and then there'll be a day of training before we go for the evaluations which could possibly be split into two chapters, I'm not too sure yet.
As always, reviews make me happy~!
- Oli