NOTICE !
I do not own Johanna Mason, the Hunger Games, Catching Fire or Mockingjay! Let alone the world of Panem, all 13 Districts and the concept/idea of the Hunger Games.
The Hunger Games trilogy and characters is property of Suzanne Collins!
Captain, Masque, and other names mentioned[ Such as the Twenty-Two other Tributes, Mayor Orbenkleine, Tair, Osceroe, Jordy, Arik & Mallisomn, ], with the exception of Johanna Mason, are copyright to me, Writing Assassin!
[ C h a p t e r 3 ]
Captain stared down at the necklace, running a thumb across the charm. It was smooth, it would be hard to believe that this little necklace had been through so many Hunger Games before Captain. Not a scratch on the surface. It was very well taken care of. It also represented his District. District 7 was the lumber District of Panem, and the loggers often used axes with the signature red-tipped blade to chop down the surrounding trees. Captain had gone back to when he chopped his first piece of wood. It was with his father's help, of course, because he was only around eight. And he hadn't used a giant axe like he did now, it was small. Considerably a hatchet, a smaller version of an axe. The wood wasn't big, either, and it wasn't getting chopped to be shipped from the lumber District. It was winter then, and they needed wood for the fire. He remembered the crunch of snow beneath his shoes, how cold he was, and seeing puffs of hot breath escape his nostrils and lips whenever he breathed out.
Arik set aside a piece of wood he'd splintered and helped Captain raise the hatchet. Granted it took a few minutes for the younger boy to chop it due to him being weak and never having chopped wood befoe. Oh, he was so thrilled! Look at him now, though. Taller, muscular, and perfect at chopping wood and hauling it back to the yard...
The door opened again, and since he'd pretty much seen everyone he wanted to see, he thought not of a visitor. It wasn't. The guard allowed the officials in to retrieve the boy. They were going from the Justice Building to the train...
Captain had ridden in waggons, so this ride was none different, with the exception of the fact this wagon had a cabin. The wagon was pulled by two black overo Gypsy Vanners. Possibly to make Masque and Captain look better while riding to the station. Usually vehicles were brought along to transport the Tributes from other Districts, but roads were lacking here, it was usually dirt path and sawdust or mulch, due to the lumber that was carried all over District 7. The dirt paths would be almost completely impassable with a car. It would get stuck, because the paths were uneven.
The teenaged boy couldn't help but start feeling a little queasy again, but it seemed to be growing progressively worse. He was almost happy they were seated in the back of a stagecoach. Captain rested his head against the window of the coach, hiding silver hues and clutching his stomach. It was nerves, to the extreme, he couldn't remember ever being this nervous, or ever being this sick. He was never nervous, so he didn't know how his body would react to such a feeling. It also had to do with the fact he had eaten nothing for breakfast, and only took a few sips of water before the Reaping that morning. Masque was staring at him, probably wondering what was wrong, but she'd never said a word. The cameras and the station came to view, as well as the steam engine. It was big, bold and black. Intimidating.
This was the end of the line, he knew it. As soon as he stepped foot into that train, there was no coming back to the somewhat peaceful place he knew and called home. Everything would change after the Hunger Games was done and over with. The stagecoach stopped, and the horses grunted and snorted. You could hear the chatter amongst the people awaiting Captain and Masque's arrival, cameras clicking and rolling, then the stagecoach's door was opened by the driver. The people were held at a distance by officials as the Tributes stepped out and approached the platform. It smelled of burning coal...Osceroe, Johanna and Tair emerged from further up the platform. They must have taken a different source of transportation. Masque and Captain were ushered toward the train, the doors sliding open automatically and a step popped out from the trains undercarriage, to make the step up easier for individuals that were shorter. Which, as opposed to other men, Captain was on the short side. But the step was not needed. For Masque, quite possibly.
Osceroe and Johanna stepped up into the train first, Tair, Masque and Captain had stood near the train and allowed the cameras to finish up their shots. The teenage boy's face twisted awkwardly when Masque stepped up into the locamotive, "You alright, boy?" Tair rose a brow and offered a look of concern, he was holding onto a bar that was placed there purposely, so one could easily haul themselves up. Captain gave no response, tears pricked his eyes and he might have gone a bit green in the face. His left hand groped for the side of the train, for assistance in holding himself up when he lurched forward involuntarily. Whatever he had for dinner the night before spewed from his mouth and absolutely drenched Tair's shoes. The audience that had little scattered gasped and continued snapping pictures and rolling the cameras. Tair threw up his hands, and wore the most disgusted face a man of his composure could muster.
Captain recoiled, he felt embarassed, blowing chunks while on camera, he was probably a laughing stock right now. Masque was barely in the train at this point, and turned around, as well as Johanna, looking down in shock at the scene. The women had to hold back their giggles, both putting their hands to their mouths when the initial shock had left their being, "I-I-I..." Captain struggled, he wanted to apologize, but he wasn't sure how. His jaw quivered faintly due to the small muscle spasms in his lower jaw, reacting to what had just happened. His mouth cracked slightly, and there was no doubt that some of the regurgitated food and stomach acid stuck to his chin. Tair motioned for Captain to climb aboard the locamotive, "Just go..." The man sounded aggitated, but he was also trying to keep his character. Serious, uncaring. Expressionless.
Johanna and Masque moved away when Captain climbed up into the train, and instantly went to search for a restroom. Luckily, he ran into Mr. Styner who gladly helped him find the nearest one.
"That. That was disgusting."
Masque commented, pointing down the small corridor. Johanna nodded, agreeing completely, "Absolutely." She couldn't help but release a small chuckle and make herself comfortable on the nearest piece of furniture, which turned out to be a black leather couch, rested upon a deep red carpet. The train floor was crafted with wood panel flooring. Deep, dark oak, it appeared. The grain especially brought out by the high gloss polish and silver crowning the walls provided.
When Captain emerged from the restroom with Osceroe, he caught Masque and Johanna conversing with one another. Johanna still seated on the black leather couch, her legs were kicked up on the coffee table just mere feet away from the sofa, and her arms were extended across the support of the furniture. Masque was seated on the opposite side of the L-shaped couch, however, was laying horizontally with her hands folded across her abdomen, her head rested on a brown show pillow, brown hair draped over her shoulder, legs crossed and all. She looked as though she already owned the place. Huh, women... The two looked in his general direction and Captain stopped in his tracks, rising a brow at them both, "What?" His voice was stern, was he really something to look at? Then again, he was making it some issue because he still felt sick and was rather embarassed by his arrival. Johanna bent her arm at the elbow and pressed her clenched hand to her head, "Geeze, what crawled up your pants and bit you in the ass? Calm down." She commented, turning her attention to Masque, who could only praise Johanna's comment. Her bright golden brown eyes looked at Captain, "Yeah, chill." She added, Captain rolling his eyes in response. I'm not even going to start. Save it for the arena, Cap, save it for the arena. He walked away and found Tair emerging from the opposite end of the train. He was clad in sleek black pants now, and was waddling around barefoot. Sure, he may have been an escort, but his socks were practically worn and had holes near the toes. Definitely not presentable. He had changed his entire outfit. Now wearing a nice gray suit, accented with vertical silver pin stripes, a white under shirt beneath it all.
"I'm sorry, sir, I really am, I was just so nervous and I-"
Tair ceased the boy's babbling by holding a palm up in his direction, "It's alright." His voice was naturally bold, but he had shown no sincerity at all. Naturally a serious man, it seemed. Tair dismissed himself and walked in the direction Captain had come from. Looking over his shoulder at the escort, the boy could only scrunch his nose and continue down the hall. He was searching for his own room. Really, he needed to relax for a while.