Ok. I'm thinking of making my chapters longer. If you like it tell me if you like the way mine are right now say so. This chapter is a trial. So yeah. Beware if you like the new format than the updates may take longer.

Sorry for the long time this chapter took, I stopped like half way through then again right at the end. Hope it makes sense.

Chapter 32

The worse thing about having a private train was that there was no body to talk to. Mackenzie flipped a card, then a another card, then another card. The districts raced passed outside. His dad was nowhere to be found but his dad didn't normally play cards anyway. Annoyed Mackenzie pushed the deck across the table and glared at the view. "Food," He decided getting up. He walked to the dining carriage; his dad was talking on his phone and almost attacking his computer. Mackenzie sat down at the bar and waited…for a second. He reached over to the bell and started dinging it. Over and over and over and over… "Hello, master Mackenzie, hungry again?" Mackenzie shook his head.

"I'm bored, train trips take so long." The waiter forced a smile. "It would take longer by car." Mackenzie shrugged. "I want that fruit stuff." The waiter nodded and disappeared to the kitchen. Mackenzie spun off his chair and sat down next to his dad, leaning over to see what he was doing. He didn't understand most of it and he grew even more bored. The fruit stuff came out. He sipped at it. "Enjoying that?" His dad asked. Mackenzie leaned back and shook his head.

"It was better the first time."

"I thought you were a sweets person." His dad poked his finger in the drink and sucked it. "Mhmm. This is good. Did you have that add extra sugar again?" Mackenzie shook his head annoyed. "No! Of course not." His dad chuckled and returned to his work. "Why are you playing, Kenzie?" Mackenzie shrugged. "I'm bored."

"Well we should be there soon…ah." His dad looked closer at the scene. "That's it. And Jessia couldn't find it. Honestly. I think the move is getting her all up in the air." Mackenzie nodded and stood. Food was boring. He walked up and down the train, trying to find someone who knew how long it was until they arrived. He finally found a man dressed in a different uniform. "Excuse me, do you know when the train will be getting there?"

The man turned around. "Should be in a few minutes actually. You're…Mackenzie Hawthorne aren't you?" Mackenzie frowned. "Most servants call me master. Are you not a servant?" he man shook his head. "No, no, I work for the train. You know what? How about we go to the front of the train, that's where everything is controlled." Mackenzie lit up. Entertainment! "Really? Can you show me?"

The man nodded and turned around; they headed down to the front. The man walked funny and Mackenzie tried to sense his mood. Backs are hard to sense mood. "How long does it take?" The man glanced back. "Not long, we'll be there before we arrive."

"I don't even want to go, District 12 is boring." Mackenzie said crossing his arms. The man nodded with seriousness then kept moving. Mackenzie followed. "What's your name, mister?" The man turned again. "My name is Cole, and this is the front of the train." Mackenzie looked around. "I don't…" Then suddenly Cole leaned back and a dark shadow landed behind Mackenzie. The train start to slow.

"Oh man. I can't believe the plan worked." A squeaky voice echoed below him. Mackenzie stirred slightly. "It hasn't yet, don't get cocky, just because we're counting on the bureaucracy of the division doesn't mean the police won't catch us first. After all the kid might look suspicious." A female voice came from ahead. They were moving at a steady pace, he felt like he was being carried. His head was playing crazy as it healed, he could almost hear the buzzing of nanobots working.

"Oh come on Boss, look at him, isn't that the most innocent face you ever seen?" The body carrying him stopped. "And what about us then? Do you really think we look like the rightful guardians of Mackenzie Hawthorne to you?"

"Ah…no?"

"This is why I'm the Boss. Ok, Slade set him down here." Mackenzie felt himself be dropped to a soft piece of grass. He groaned. "Not so roughly! We won't to get top dollar, ok? That means not a scratch." Mackenzie started opening his eyes. "Damn it. Slade you woke him up. Cole, tie him quickly. Mackenzie struggled as the man, still wearing the uniform tried to bind his hands. "Shitty kid, stay still." Mackenzie glared at the woman, she was shaking a can. "Look at me, kid. Cole not so aggressively,"

"You the one that hit his head," Cole groaned. Mackenzie kicked Cole, gasping as he struggled to get out of the grasping hands. "Slade little help…" Cole hissed. Mackenzie pulled at the grass, but it came away revealing dirt…and a worm. He screamed and tossed the clump of natural nature. The woman curse and tried to spray his face, he twisted around. "Let me go! Who are you? What do you want?"

The three people tried to restrain him, Mackenzie kicked and hissed. Cursing flew. He got to standing. Pushing away from them, he ran into a tree. The big man named Slade moved forward. He looked around. Escape…escape. There was none. The man was on top of him. He felt his nose trickle with blood. Fear enveloped him. "Daddy…" he felt tears in his eyes. Then an ant climbed onto his skin. He screamed again. Jumping away from the tree, into the big man. Surprise him so much that the man fell over. Mackenzie twisted in fear, climbing over the mountain of the man.

The other man was stunned but the woman lunged at him. Mackenzie stepped aside, running into the woods. He ran for ages. His feet tripping on branches. The woods looked different from back in district 2. Because this is district 12 he thought with fear. Where was his dad? What happened? Who were they? He tried quickly. Gasping for breath. He found a small hut. It was made of cement and didn't look very pretty. He embraced the man-made place. Sobbing he sat down in the room. "Daddy…"

Gale buried his face in his hands not quite believing it. He suppressed the tears that he could feel were coming. It had been two hours and already everything had gone wrong. "You've lost the trail? Are you sure they weren't there?" The man shook his head. "There was evidence of a fight but all bodies were gone, what evidence there was of a person moving through were minimal and we lost it quickly on all six occasions. I would say the retreated with a hover craft but the usual signs aren't there. That's all we have for now."

Gale shook his head. "No, thank you, you used your best tracker you say?" The man nodded with a frown. Gale moved forward. "Where is the site?"

He sighed not quite believing it. He had lost the trail. After years of being in the city he had forgotten the woods. At least he had known where his son had gone, though he almost wished Mackenzie hadn't escaped the kidnappers, it would have been easier to get him back. He sighed again and knocked on the door. A girl answered her eyes instantly suspicious. Gale knew he had come to the right place. "Hello, can I see your mother?" She scowled. "Just a sec." She closed the door.

"MUM! SOMEONE'S AT THE DOOR AND THEY WANT TO TALK TO YOU!" Gale blinked as the reply came. "GOT IT!" The door opened and Katniss came into view. She looked happier than the last time he saw her, in made a bad situation better. She frowned. "Honestly, every time I see you your hair is a different colour." He smiled. "Lye-li go help your dad cook." The girl scowled and followed her mother's orders, muttering as she went.

"So it's nice…what's wrong?" He closed his eyes. "I need you help…I've…lost my son." She gave him a look. "Gale, are you serious? That's not something I expected to hear from you, find the police…"

"I did, but they can't follow his trail…and I…ah…I'm a bit out of practice."

"Tracking not something you forget."

"Well I did."

"…Ok…where is the track?"

Mackenzie sat dry eyed, hungry and bored. His feet hurt and he could go anywhere, not willing to go any from the cement hut. He watched from safety as a group of baby birds played in the water. "…your boy is pretty good at hiding considering…honestly…I can't believe you…stop calling me that! I'm helping you…wait…this is…" Mackenzie stood coming away. There were people coming. He hid in the building, crawling into the corner, willing the people not to be the strangers from before.

"Mackenzie!" He jumped and crawled out. His dad stood at the edge of the meadow. Mackenzie looked at him, trying to apologise. His dad looked sad for a second then he was angry. "Why? Why would you follow strangers? What did they offer you? Dammit. Mackenzie, tell me." Mackenzie stood as his dad closed the gap between them and grabbed his arm. Tears started to go down his face, disgusting as it was he couldn't stop. Then his dad had watery eye too and he let go of his hand and brushed Mackenzie's face. Mackenzie stood, the tears slowing as his dad muttered words Mackenzie couldn't understand. "Never, never do that again, alright? I thought you were dead." Mackenzie nodded and they walked home.