We arrived at the train station and my escort, whose name I still didn't know, literally threw me out of the car. I fell to the floor, the rough ground scraping my knees through the thin material of my three-quarters. "Dammit." I hissed, sitting heavily on the ground and inspecting my knees. I looked up at the train in front of me, ready to take me to the Capitol. Tears pricked in the bottom of my eyes. This time yesterday, I was thinking about my upcoming birthday and spending it with my family and friends. Now I'd be spending it locked up with no one beside me. "Get up; onto the train." The man said behind me. I stood up and reluctantly began to walk to the train. "Will there be other people on board?" I turned my head backwards. My question had obviously fazed him.
"Yes, there will be the people from the other districts and of course, their escorts."
"So if you're coming with me, can I know your name?" I swallowed, not sure if he would reply. It took a few minutes before he said anything again.
"Clovis, my name is Clovis." I smiled.
"That's a nice name." He smiled back before turning his face back to an unreadable mask.
"Onto the train." Sighing, I nodded and stepped onto the train. Images of Davvid's face just before I left him floated in my vision every time I blinked. I made my way to an empty room which happened to be the dining car. I sat at the table and poked at some salad with a fork. A single crystal tear rolled down my face.
I must have fallen asleep at one point sitting at the table. I felt a hand shake my shoulder and I snapped up, holding my fork out menacingly. I snarled as I turned around and came face to face with a small girl who looked no older than 9 and she looked scared. I looked at my hand which held the fork and let it fall by my side. "Hi, what's your name?" I asked in a voice that I hoped wouldn't scare her more than I obviously already had. She stepped away from me. I tried to reassure her. "No, don't be scared, I just don't like being woken up." She looked down and wrung her hands together. Her shag cut brown hair fluttered lazily around her head and I could see that her cerulean blue eyes were filled with tears. "Hey. I'm sorry. I just, my best friend gave me over to these people…" The small girl looked up and frowned. "That's what happened to me…" Her voice was soft and tentative. "I was with my friend at the edge of the meadow. She told me to look somewhere and I did…The next thing I know, I wasn't in the meadow and I was on the train." I cocked my head to the side.
"Do you think that happened with everyone?" The small girl nodded slightly. The train slowed down immensely at that point. I got up from the table and went to nearest window. We pulled into the station and I saw a boy around my own age standing there, clearly not happy. He carried himself like a wild cat; alert and ready to pounce at any given moment. A white sign on the platform said 'District 2'. The little girl joined me at the window and immediately cowered away. "He scares me…" She said, snuggling into my side. I held her close as he boarded. He stepped into my car and looked around. I crouched down and whispered to her "Go in another car, trust me." She nodded again and nearly ran next door. The boy narrowed his eyes and pounced.
I ducked and rolled as he came at me. I twisted round and stood up just as he hit the floor. I walked over and placed a foot on his back; I watched him try and break free. "Are you going to play nice if I let you up?" He didn't answer me. Sighing, I let him up. Big mistake. He kicked me in the stomach and I fell backwards. His kick had winded me and I lay on the floor, struggling to breathe. He knelt on my chest and knocked the breath right out of me again. A fierce snarl came from behind his clenched teeth. I raised my arms and pushed on his chest. He wasn't expecting that and fell off me. I sat up, rubbing my chest. "What is wrong with you?" I snapped. The door behind me hissed open and I pulled up off of the floor, the boy too was pulled up.
"What did you do Miss Erwin?" That was the steely tone of Clovis who was holding the guy from District 2.
"Me? I didn't do anything! He just attacked me!" For the first time since he got on, the boy spoke up.
"As I recall, it was you who attacked me." My eyes widened. His voice was like liquid honey. How could he sound like that after the savagery he attacked me with? "You have got to be kidding me! I was here with…With whatever her name is and you came in and attacked me!" The boy's eyes narrowed.
"I honestly have no idea what you're talking about." He glanced up at the man holding me, who must have been his escort and said "Gideon, you believe me, right?" His eyes were wide like a puppy's. He's acting like the innocent party here.
"I believe you." Gideon released me and I stumbled forward. I walked up to the the boy and prodded his chest.
"This. Is not over."