Chapter 5

Trains and Avoxes

We are taken away. Taken away from everything dear to us. Taken away from every form of happiness. Taken away from . . . everything. Dominic and I, along with Mags, Finnick, and Dedra, board the train to the Capitol. It is the fanciest train I have ever seen. It looks like some sort of mansion fit into the size of a train. Fancy chandeliers are hanging from the ceiling, there is a kitchen somewhere because I can smell the delicious food, and as we pass through a section of the train, I see a long dining room table meant for twenty people. This is definitely property if the Capitol.

Dedra shows us to our sleeping compartments and tells us dinner will be ready in a an hour or so. Then, she leaves us to get cleaned up. Dominic immediately goes into his room and shuts the door. That leaves Finnick, Mags, and I awkwardly standing in the hallway. Mags walks off towards the kitchen and then I see Finnick looking around the hallway nervously as if this is the most uncomfortable space he had ever been in. It probably is. It was only two years ago that he was on this very train after being reaped and had to go through what Dominic and I are about to go through. When I look back at Finnick, he gives me an apologetic look like he knows what I'm feeling – sadness, frustration, scared, and lots of anger towards the Capitol. Then, he walks off after Mags. I finally enter my room and it is possibly the fanciest thing I have ever seen. The bed was huge with silk sheets and a beautiful quilt, the wardrobe was big enough for me, Dominic, Finnick, and Mags, and the bathroom – the bathroom was bigger than my house back in District Four.

That was when I lost it. I stumbled onto the bed and cried. These people are giving us what ever kid dreams of having – big fancy rooms, a bathroom we could live in, and we're going to the "happiest" place in al of Panem, yet, they are only making us look good so that they can have a better time murdering us. It's cruel. I cried until there were no tears left in my body and my face was stained with tears.

I finally got up from my bed and decided to take a shower. The warm water pounding on my back felt amazing. I then put on a clean pair of pants and a shirt and put my hair into two pigtails. Then I decided to head down to the dining car. I see Finnick and Madge talking at the dining table and Dedra is looking over some kind of notes. I take a seat next to Finnick.

"Hey, Darcy." he says.

"Hey." I reply.

"Holding in there?"

"Sure."

"You'll be okay, Darcy. You have amazing potential. Your prep team will make you look outstanding and as long as you train hard, you'll be ready."

"Of course, Finnick and I will be right by your side." said Mags. All I could do was nod and give them a reassuring smile. Just then, Dominic walked to the table.

"Dominic. Glad you could join us." said Mags as Dominic took a seat next to her. Dominic just gave her a half smile and gazed off into some other land. Thats when Dedra looked up from her notes and said, "Oh good, we're all here. I have a few things to go over before we begin our dinner." Everyone gave their attention to Dedra as she began going over the schedule.

"Alrighty then. Tonight and tomorrow we will be on the train riding to the Capitol. We should arrive there about mid-afternoon or so. Meanwhile, all of us will go over the other Districts Reapings tonight after dinner and then tomorrow I think Mags and Finnick have some things to go over with Darcy and Dominic." Dedra said, looking at Mags and Finnick. They nodded.

"Good, good. Now, ah yes, that is all we need to go over at the moment, and right on time. Our wonderful feast!" Five different waiter-like people came out carrying trays and trays of food. There was everything from lamb to stew to fish to ham to turkey and it did not stop there. There were at least ten different types of cheeses, three bottles of wine, some cider, sparkling grape juice, too many types of meat to count, and then there were desserts. Cakes and pies and brownies and pudding and the list went on and on and on. If this was how the Capitol eats everyday, I wouldn't be surprised if they were all fat.

Everyone finished their dinner and then the "waiters" came back and cleared the table. Then, we all went into another car that had couches and a television. That was where we watched the Reapings from the other Districts.

Districts One and Two were normal. In District One, a boy names Logan volunteered for the boy that was originally Reaped and in District Two, a girl names Paisley and a boy names Cain volunteered. Being the two main "Career" Districts, volunteering is normal. District Three was nothing special either. No volunteers, but the Tributes are young. Both are thirteen years old. Both won't make it very far based on District Three's performances in the past. They've had two winners, which isn't too bad, but still. Then it showed District Four. I saw myself walk up onstage and then Dominic. I looked nothing like a Career Tribute should, but Dominic – there was no mistaking he was a contender.

Districts Five and Six were boring, but finally District Seven had a performance to give. The girl named Lena, who is only thirteen years old to begin with, was Reaped. Then, to make matters worse, her brother, Ronald, was also Reaped. In the history of the Games, I don't think there has ever been two siblings Reaped in the same Games. This is going to be intense.

Districts Eight, Nine, and Ten were boring and by this point I wanted to fall asleep. I wasn't even bothering to look at the notes Dedra was giving me of all the Tributes. Districts Eleven and Twelve Reaped two twelve year olds which is always heartbreaking. They are normally always the first to go. Other than that, their Reapings were normal to.

Once we had finally finished all the tapes, we could all go to bed. Dominic got up and walked straight to his room, not even saying a word. I told Finnick and Mags goodnight and went off to my room. When I opened the door, I saw one of the "waiters" from dinner picking up the clothes I had left on the floor and putting them in the wardrobe.

"Excuse me." I said to her. She just looked at me and continued what she was doing.

"You don't need to do that." I said to her again. Her reaction was the same. Not a word. I let her finish picking up my clothes and when she was done she looked at me and pointed to her mouth. I didn't understand. Then she shook her head. I still did not get it. When she saw that I still did not understand what she was trying to say, she found a scrap piece of paper and a pen. On it she wrote:

My name is Janelle.

I cannot speak.

I am an Avox.

I had heard about Avoxes before. They get their tongues cut off because they have committed some unspeakable crime. In my opinion, most of the things Avoxes do are hardly crimes. I would be an Avox if the Peacekeepers heard half the things I say about the Capitol. District Four may be wealthy and highly favored by the Capitol, but I am not one of those people. I hate the Capitol. I hate what they are. I hate what they do to people. There is nothing they could do to make me change my mind. They are purely evil.

I take the paper from Janelle and write a note back:

Hi Janelle.

My name is Darcy.

I'm so sorry.

Janelle and I exchange some more notes to each other and I learn that she used to live in District Twelve. She was out hunting in the woods with some friends (which is against the law in Twelve) when they were talking about the Capitol. They were saying how horrible it is and how one day it will fall, even if it was up to them to start a rebellion. They even started brainstorming ideas of how they would assassinate President Snow. That was when a jabberjay flew by. Then next day Janelle and two of her were being dragged out of District Twelve and onto a train to the Capitol where they were going to get their tongues cut off. I can't imagine going through physical pain like that. I didn't want any of the details from her.

After a good talk with Janelle, I decided it was time for me to go to bed. I told her goodnight and told her I wanted to talk more the next day. She left the room and I got ready for bed. The sheets were so silky and it was nice and warm. I did miss the sound of the sea back in District Four, though.

That night I had plenty of nightmares. Nightmares about the upcoming Hunger Games. Nightmares about my tongue being cut off. Nightmares about Carmella. And, Nightmares about mom and dad.

A/N: Hey everybody. I hope you're liking my story. Anyways, I just wanted to ask if you guys wouldn't mind reviewing my story. I would really love your feedback and what everyone is thinking about my story. Thanks guys!