Hey guys :) I try and update everyday or two to keep you interested. I've started doing the train rides but I'm not sure if they're good enough. Please review giving your opinions on this change. I'm not putting too much detail into the train rides as I want to focus on the games and interviews :) Please review, PM and follow. Plus, I still need the escort for District 12.
Velora Demont, 13
This is the worst day of my life. I'm being taken away from everything I know and am being thrown into the path of death. The Reaping was the worst of the whole day, predictably. What made it especially worse is the fact that our escort, Carmen Lucia Jones, has a stutter and I could barely hear my name being called. I had a whole life plan sorted. I never really considered being reaped as I'm only 13 and have only had my name put in the bowl twice. Once my name was called out, my life literally flashed before my eyes.
All my memories rushed into my head, good and bad, and I felt like my head was going to explode. One memory that has always stuck with me is when it was Christmas and I saw there wasn't a box for me that year. I was so disappointed. I thought I hadn't been a good girl even though I was sure I was. I turned to my parents but could only see my dad. He was smiling, what's going on? Why would he be smiling at me when I'm sad? I looked around, hoping he'd hidden the present somewhere. Nope. I asked where mother was and he just chuckled. Something's up. Should I be happy or has my dad gone completely psycho? I heard a bleat come from the kitchen and quickly swivelled my head to see mother with a baby goat in her arms. This is what I get for Christmas? A goat? This is the best Christmas ever, I thought to myself. I asked mother how she got him and her reply was that her friend's goat had some babies but they couldn't afford to keep them so they sold them instead of killing. Mum got her for free as she owed a favour. My mother told me I could sell milk the goat, Maisie, produced. All I can remember after that is giving my parents a huge hug and going off to play with the goat.
I came back to reality where my name had just been called and I was already feeling nauseous. I started walking to the stage when I realised I couldn't move. My friend gave me a nudge because she knew how much I was struggling. A tear was rolling down her cheek. I walked over to the stage and once I walked up the stage, I couldn't control my arms as they were shaking so much. I couldn't even hear the name of the boy being called out. I even think we had a volunteer. All I could see was he had black hair and fairly muscular arms. I was taken to the Justice Building and talked to my parents, crying, until time was up.
Now, I'm on the train. I must admit, it's pretty nice. It's like I get one chance to see beauty before I die. I've just seen my family for the last time ever and that thought just makes me break down. I feel a warm sensation on my shoulder. Carmen is holding my shoulder. She's not saying anything because she knows being quiet and letting me vent my feelings is best. She seems nice. She's been an escort for nine years and knows how I feel. She gestures me to sit down at the table. It's so beautiful. The table is a solid oak. I know that because I'm from District Seven, whose main industry is lumber. There is a giant, glass chandelier hanging above the table. The chairs look like thrones for royalty and the food is just gorgeous. Foods of every colour is shining right into my eyes. Red, blue, green, yellow, purple and colours I don't even know the names to. I sit down and stare at the food, trying to name each food. I can only name three, that's how different the Capitol is to the surrounding Districts.
"Well don't just sit there, staring. Eat," Carmen says, giggling, "you need it." That's true. I have a very small body and I only have a bit of muscle due to working in my District. I grab everything that looks appealing and shove it all in my mouth. Carmen starts laughing. I don't care about etiquette, I just care about actually eating. I don't think I've ever had a meal this good. My District partner suddenly walks in, completely dazed.
"Ah, Zahir. Sit down, we've just started eating," says Carmen, beckoning Zahir to sit down.
Zahir Ashford, 18
I instantly regret volunteering. I only did it because my friend was having a laugh, telling me to volunteer. He was obviously joking, but I guess there was something in my mind telling me to actually do it. I know exactly why my mind told me to do it because of my dad. He's never appreciated me and told me I haven't brought pride to the family since mum died. It's just me and him. No family, just us. He hasn't been the same since mum died 6 years ago. I guess he'll never be the same again. He's never said one nice thing to me so being in the Games was the best way to get away from him. I'll most likely die but as long as I'm away from dad, I'm fine. Thankfully, I don't have any siblings to share the burden with.
I join Velora and Carmen at the table and start putting things onto my plate. I've never seen food like this before. It's incredible. Is this what Capitolites eat? That's so unfair. Well, if I'm going to die, I may as well die happy. I have no hope in myself for the Games so I'll just go with the flow. I try and smile at the group while I'm eating but I can't. I feel horrible. I barely eat anything before excusing myself and going to my room. For a train, my room is massive. A huge double bed with a fluffy, blue quilt. Two white pillows stand in front of the sky blue headboard with the names of the 248 past tributes from District Seven, since the Games began. I only recognise a handful of names but what really catches my eye is a male with the last name "Ashford." I remember my dad telling me his dad impregnated his mum at 17 then ran off. Maybe he didn't run away. Maybe he was taken away. I look at the bathroom and it's so fancy, considering I'm only going to be on the train overnight.
I lie on the bed for about an hour. I feel like going to sleep as it's so comfortable and I hadn't had any sleep the night before. Before I actually fall asleep, I force myself out of the bed and go into the carriage where we had our food, earlier. I see the group and greet them as politely as I can. A little wave.
"Just in time, Zahir," Carmen says, "you're just about to meet the past victors and will gain some knowledge on strategies. Sit down." I sit down and the past victors walk in. I don't recognise any of them. They're all very old and there are very few of them. District Seven isn't known for fishing out victors every few years. They all sit down in front of Velora and I and introduce themselves. I only remember Zak's name because it's simple. The rest are very complicated. They tell us how they won their games and the majority was by luck. Not helpful. They tell us to focus on training and not get caught up with the Careers. They also tell us to forget the Cornucopia, to just stay on our island. That makes enough sense.
"But what about supplies?" I ask them.
"Your island will have general District Seven supplies around the island," Zak answers, "there should be an axe and some water around somewhere." What a relief.
After about two hours of discussing tactics with the past victors, we're told to go to bed as we have a big day tomorrow. I already know how the bed feels and I can't wait to get back in there. It's so comfortable. Tomorrow we'll be arriving in the Capitol. This is the first time I've ever actually felt excited for something.