For some reason keeps posting this weird. Anyways It's a short chapter but I felt like I needed to get this out there so I did. Yes, the tribute train scene here is very very short but I really want to get on with the story.
My stomach churned, I wasn't nervous about leaving to Capitol I was worried on how I would face my brothers. They were probably both crying like weaklings wondering what would become of me. Finally when the doors opened Emerson and Marv threw their arms around me. My heart was going a million miles per hour thinking about how they were probably more scared than I was right now. When I heard Emerson's rocket ship fall to the floor I pulled away.
"You're being ridiculous," I stated. "Both of you."
"This isn't a joke Johanna," Marv's eyes narrowed. "If this is the last time we –"
"It won't be!" I didn't even notice I was yelling. "It's just a game." That's when Emerson began crying. He clutched onto my leg trying to hide his tears.
"It may just be a game to you," Marv rested his hands on my shoulders. "But this is much more than that; it's about remembering that we don't live just for Capitol's cruel games."
"What do you mean?" I asked. He seemed so serious. Sometimes father would talk like this and my mother would tell him to shut up, that there was nothing we could do about it. I never understood what they meant, I still don't understand. The important thing is that by any means necessary I come home.
"Let's just say now that I'm older I understand what Dad was talking about."
"Why now?"
"Because their taking my baby sister."
Just as I opened my mouth to ask Marv what father was talking about all those years the doors opened again. I was prepared for the peacekeepers to take them away but instead I found myself being suffocated by a pair of arms. My arms dangled at my side and I was having trouble breathing. I had no idea Allan was so strong. I pried him off of me and he stumbled back.
"No, Johanna you can't honestly be so calm about this!" Allan was trembling and I could barely understand what he was saying. "Just ten seconds ago it looked like you were having a break down. What's going on? You and Dane, he's pretty strong so watch out for him! Try to team up with someone. Also those careers, I know you can probably out smart them but they have been training all their lives. The arena will probably be something far from last year –"
"Allan!" I cut him off before he can say anything more. "There's nothing to worry about." He nods his head slowly holding back tears and more words he's decided to leave unsaid. I caress my hand against his cheek expecting him to hold it but instead he shoos it away as if I have a disease. He wants nothing more to do with me. In some ways I want him to embrace me again, but Allan is right. It's better if we keep distance; this way if anything does happen to me neither of us gets hurt. Allan is the only person who makes me doubt myself coming home. Perhaps it's because I know he's much smarter than I am. When Emerson reattaches himself to holding my leg I begin to run my fingers through his hair, brushing it into place. No one speaks. The only noise is Emerson sniffling.
"Emerson I –"
Just as I begin my words the doors open again, this time peacekeepers march in. They grab Allan and drag him away. Allan doesn't fight it, nor does he say goodbye. It's useless. I'm expecting the same from Marv but he pushes them away best he can to get to me. He reaches his arm out and I grasp his hand.
"It's more than just game Johanna!" They try pulling him away but I refuse to let go of his hand. I will hold onto it as long as I can. "It's much more than just a game!" Someone throws me aside to the floor and my hand slips out of Marv's.
"Marv!" I yell reaching for him but he's being pulled away. He's still shouting it's more than a game. I continue yelling for him but the peacekeepers remain pushing me to the floor. Finally I stop yelling for him to return to me when his voice disappears outside. I don't even see Emerson. The doors shut and my brothers are gone. My best friend is gone. Now I really am alone.
"Marv, Emerson, Allan," I whisper their names to myself. I'm lifted off the floor and they drag me, letting my feet scrape the ground. The second the doors open again bright flashes of light blind me. The moment is mine again. The games have already begun. I force my eyes to swell with tears and I choke on fake images of my future slaughter. Occasionally I shout for help or for one of my brothers. I see Dane ahead of me slowly stepping into the train trying not to make eye contact with anyone. He's so stoic and in shock he doesn't know how to react. Me on the other hand I'm already playing. I know exactly what I'm doing. I throw myself on the floor of the train at someone's feet. They're combat boots and could crush my head easily. A sharp cutting voice comes from above.
"Get up Sally Sob story." It pierces me like a knife. So cruel and snake like. I sit myself up wiping my eyes. I continue sobbing and asking for my brothers. "Would you shut up please?" The voice asks sarcastically. I have yet to take a good look at the strange voice but I figure this is Jet, my mentor.
"Are you Jet?" I stutter out. "I'm Jo-"
"Ah nah," Jet says. "Quite frankly I don't care to know either of your names."
I look up and to my surprise the stories about fierce, cruel, bulk Jet have been about a woman all along. She towers over me. She's slender but her muscles are clearly visible and most intimidating. Her black hair grazes over her eyes and barely reaches past her ears. No one has ever seen the victor of the 60th Hunger Games. Jet never leaves her home and when she mentors they never broadcast her on television. The tributes of our district always come out and say how Jet hates cameras. I was too young to see or remember her games but I heard Jet killed for laughs.
"Odds are neither of you will make it out alive," She shrugs. "If I learn your names I might get attached and I have no need to get attached to the cattle I'm raising for slaughter."
"What will you call us?" Dane asks.
"You're Neanderthal," She points to Dane. "Got it stupid?"
"I am not –"
"Shut the hell up," She looks at me. "You're sob story because god you cry a lot."
Jet escorted herself out of the room giving us a quick nod. She didn't turn back around for any encouraging words or some sort of comfort. She just left. As if we were never here.
"That's all you have to say to us?" I yelled just as she opened the door. My voice had suddenly transitioned into rage.
"Sob story you've got quite the temper," She chuckled out. "I'll remember that."
"Turn around coward."
"Coward?" Jet mischievously laughed. "My dear you are quite the personality."
"Your afraid. That's why you won't speak to us."
"What do I have to be fearful of?" She hovered directly over me giving me a nasty snarl.
"I'm not as fragile as you believe." My eyes narrowed in on her and I tried to restrain myself from ripping her face off.
"You didn't answer my question," She grabbed my pony tail and positioned my head to stare directly out the window. "What do I have to be afraid of?" She pushed. "The games? Losing more useless children? The god awful people who hunger for this cruelty? You and Neanderthal hurting me? The capitol?" My cheek was pressed against the window now and I could barely breathe. "Tell me sob story, what do I have to fear?"
"Jet let the child be," He insisted. "Get some sleep little girl."
"Get on to your room little girl," She tossed me aside without remorse. "I think this is going to be a very interesting year Altan."
Altan, that's his name. Golden, what a pathetic name for someone so gray. We cleared out of the room and I found my sleeping courters easily. I wasn't poor but my room on the train was so incredibly breath taking it made my entire house back home look like a prison. I slipped into bed quickly and tried my best to sleep. Of course when one is on the train to a slaughter, sweet dreams do not come easily. My mind was corrupted with distorted images of Marv, Emerson and Allan. They were screaming my name running form unknown creatures with horrible teeth. All the while I just watched from a distance with an axe in my hand. Then something grabbed my wrist. I flung my axe backwards jamming it into the owner of the hands that grasped my wrist. They fell to the floor gurgling blood muttering my name. Just as I turned the body over to see the face of the life I took away my eyes flickered open immediately. I was in bed on the train with the tracks making click sounds. I was startled when the clicking stopped. Everything grew quiet. I swallowed hard and threw my legs over the bed. Behind the velvet purple curtains preventing the sun from entering were hundreds of people awaiting my dismay. Just I began to move the curtains someone uninvitingly opened my door.
"Hurry up," Jet said squeezing the door handle tightly. "Wouldn't want to miss the show would you?"
Very short and yes I really want to get into the story. I promise there will be more development on Jet later on but I want you to think of her as unreasonable right now. Read and review, nothing nasty that will hurt my feelings okay?