ChApter Two
The walk to the train station is bitter. My classmates look at me, their faces expressionless but pale. The harsh wind clips my face, leaving red marks. I wrap my arms around my body. It's unseasonably cold here in Four. I look over at Kiefer. He is shivering under his coat. There are cameras everywhere, I try to stay strong, to appear tough, but it's hard to appear tough when you're at least a few years younger than most of the Tributes. My brother is ahead of us. I forgot that he was to train us.
We are hurried onto the train by Cecily.
"Okay!" She yells excitedly. "This has been the most unusual Reaping since the last Quarter Quell, but we have more important things to focus on. Like training you guys!" She points an exuberant finger at us and grins a million-watt smile while jumping up and down. I glance over at Finnick, he unsuccessfully tries to conceal a mocking smile.
"Well," Finnick says before Cecily could say anything more, "Two staff-members will escort you to your rooms. There are clothes in the drawers. Cecily wants you to dress professionally for dinner." He whispers the last line while Cecily is checking her clipboard. A man and a woman enter the room we are in, and guide us by the elbow to our rooms. I enter to find a neatly-decorated room with a plush bed. I go through a side door to find a bathroom. I strip my clothes off and enter the shower. I press the set of buttons that I usually do at home, adding a scented lotion to the end. I don't feel cold anymore from the walk outside.
I open the dresser still wrapped in a robe. There are multiple sets of clothes. I pick out a red flowy dress with a faux animal fur shrug. I brush my hair out, and it tumbles out in waves down my shoulders. I wander around the train until I find the dining room.
Everyone gradually enters the room and sits down at the elegant mahogany table. Servers set out food in courses. I eat with my utmost manners, not wanting Cecily to mother me about my table habits. Finnick grins at me when Cecily isn't looking, because he knows that at home I would never be so anal about my etiquette. I look down and pick at my lamb stew, embarrassed. Kiefer is trying to copy my manners. More than once do I find him glancing over at me and trying to mimic my behavior. I gently kick him under the table and half-smile.
Cecily begins talking about strategy over dessert.
"Well, Kiefer, I expect you are going to have no trouble when it comes to finding food," She begins.
"If there is a lake," Finnick interjects.
"I don't think that there wouldn't be one since the desert Hunger Games,"
No one speaks for a minute or so.
"Anywho!" Cecily shouts. "What about you, Philippi? What are your strengths?" She cocks her head to the side.
"Well, I can fish, I know wilderness survival skills," I smile at Finnick, "I know how to use some weapons, and I'm fast," I keep my gaze on Cecily who is writing what I said down.
"Well!" She continues, "That is not what I expected from a twelve-year-old like you! I think that you are going to start out well in the Games!"
Finnick stands up and slams his hands on the table with authority. "What do you mean 'start out well'? She has good chances! She can win!"
Cecily snorts and puts her hand over her mouth. "I highly doubt that. Take one look at those Careers, and you'll see the odds. Don't be so unreal, Finnick, she's small and untalented compared to the other Districts. The only people I could see her killing is District Twelve!"
"Excuse me!" I yell. "I may be twelve, but I am more skilled than most of the Districts out there! I can fish, I can use a knife, I can start a fire, I know what plants are poisonous and not—
"But there is size! The Careers could crush you like a berry!" Cecily runs a hand through her seafoam-green hair agitatedly.
"Don't talk about my sister like that!" Finnick screams. He runs over to me and stands behind me, his hands on my shoulders. Kiefer just sits in his chair with a death grip on his silverware, looking forward, his eyes bugged-out in anger. I turn around and storm out of the dining room. Cecily and Finnick chase after me. They stand in the threshold to the corridor, watching me. I stand a few feet down the hallway. I punch the wall and leave a large dent in it, a few inches in. I swing my head toward Finnick and Cecily; I didn't realize they were following me. Their eyes are huge. A smile creeps up on Finnick's face.
Cecily ruins the moment.
"Punching a hole in the wall doesn't improve your odds!" she sings. I grunt and go to my room.