Kate Whothorn POV
I sat in the stupid Justice Building alone. We're suppose to have people wish us luck or whatever, but there's no one left that actually cares about me except my brother. Ten minutes I sat there, doing absolutely nothing. I have no boyfriend, or any friends at all. The Capitol killed my parents during the war. They captured them and beat them to death. Or so my uncle tells me. He died, too from getting drunk and drowning in a pond. So far I managed to survive by stealing from the local stores and cow farms, if I'm lucky. My brother, Jimmy Whothorn, lives with me in our shack-of-a-house. Usually we're out in the streets scavenging for food, though. Jimmy got reaped for the stupid Hunger Games with me. I love him, but it's forbidden for him to see me right now. Stupid rules. I really do miss him, though. Even if it's only been like 30 minutes. I feel like a baby on the inside. But I can easily show no trance of sadness on my face. It's something you learn when you eat stolen food.
The doors to the building flung open and some Peacekeepers surrounded me.
"Come on," said one. He must dislike troublemakers. He squeezed my arm extra hard. I don't even know this guy or seen him but already want to punch him in the face with my fists.
"You're hurting me," I grumbled. Seriously. Show some respect for the girl who's going to die pretty soon. I think I caught a glimpse of a smile on his ugly face. He squeezed harder until I stood up. They escorted me to the train station where I was going to kick the guy's shin when something caught my eye. A huge luxury train was waiting at the station. It was silver and glistened in the sparkling sun. Usually we can't travel out of our districts. I never did, actually I've never ridden in a train or anything. We can't afford it without money and most of us in District 10 don't ride anything except maybe a tractor.
"Kate!" I heard a voice cry out from behind me. Inside a barricade of Peacekeepers is my brother.
"Jimmy!" I am relieved that he'll be here with me. "Look! A train!" He followed my finger and saw the beauty. Just then a swarm of people came pouring out. They either had a camera or a notepad in their hands.
"Over here! How do you feel?" One asks. 20 lights go off as they take pictures. It was blinding.
"I am live in District 10 with Kate and Jimmy Whothorn. Tell us, are you scared?" A reported says into a camera. She hands me the microphone.
"Uh," I begin. "Not really. Well, I guess maybe because I have to go in with my brother, but that's the only reason why." It was true, though. I know how to sneak up on a herd of cows and kill them with my bare hands. How different can killing people be? I gave the microphone over to Jimmy.
"I'm not either, really. I always thought I was going to die someday anyways. The odds of me winning are one to twenty-four. If any of us make it, I want my sister to." That's my brother for you. He's always so kind and gentle. I'm like the total opposite, reckless, heartless, and evil.
"And there you have it, folks. The brave brother and sister from 10." The lady said to the camera. She probably doesn't even care if we're scared or not. Only paid to pretend to. If you want heartless, just take a look at her blank expression.
The cameras film us waiting for the doors to reopen. I want to yell "That's all, folks! Go home!" And break a camera when the metal doors open.
"Wow," I say as I step in. The inside was wonderful. Think of a king's palace. Then picture it as the inside of a train. That's how luxurious it is. "This is beautiful." I run my hand across a painting. When you live in a shack, you don't see much that's pretty.
In the corner of my eye, I spot something move. Thinking fast, I grabbed the painting off the wall and used it as a shield as a knife sliced right through it. I heard a cold, hard laugh that reminded me of my father.
"Well, look who we have here." My father said.