"Well!" the woman with green hair exclaimed, "here it is!"
Evelyn hadn't been paying much attention to what she had been saying through their journey to what the two new acclaimed tributes assumed to be the Capitol. Their captain had simply pushed them out of the station wagon that carried them who knew how many miles, and then there they were- aboard a train.
"It's just lovely-" she rambled on- "I hope you find everything to your satisfaction- the food here is the finest in all of Panem!"
That's when the two tributes stopped listening. Suddenly, they were in a large, bright room, immediately inducing a trance that washed over their bodies like a warm comfort.
Food- everywhere- strewn on tables, counters, placed to perfection for the eyes to gape. Smells were mixed together into a delightful concoction that fluttered all around them. Evelyn didn't know what to do; her stomach was soon yearning for the festivities that were placed before them. A memory was then recalled to her, when quite a few years ago she and her brother had attended one of the finest parties all of London had to offer. Though she had been rather young at the time, she still remembered the faces of the queens and the dukes, the fair maidens and princesses that graced the ballroom floors that night. At the time, her father had worked on a mission from the queen of England herself, having been sent to Egypt once again to uncover one of her ancestors most prized possessions. As both brother and sister knew, their father did indeed find it: a rare gem stowed away deep inside one of the many tombs that was egypt- a land with never-ending mystery.
Evelyn had chosen her favorite dress to wear to the occasion, a simple blue one. When she got there, though, an immediate feeling of being overshadowed began brewing inside of her. Her brown eyes scanned the room- she saw the quaint ediquiteness glowing in every single person as they ate their meat, sipped their wine. Back then, Evy had wondered, where would I be if it weren't for life's perfection?
She had jumped within Rick brushed passed her. He saw her startled look, and grew concerned.
"Hey," he said softly, "I know you're hungry." Rick took her hand, pushing out a leather chair for her to sit down.
"It'll be like we're back in England again,"
Evelyn shook back her tears with a light smile and began filling her plate with the mouth watering food in front of them. It didn't matter that she was here, of all places.
Right here, right now, she was still with the man she loved; and that was more than enough satisfaction for her.
~*~
The sky had transformed into a burning auburn by the time Lindsey Hope arrived on the young victors' train. The twenty four year old walked in with a gracious smile, though Rick would sense the tiredness and stress unearthed in the deepness of her blue eyes.
"Good God Lindsey!" said the seaweed hag (as he soon began calling her), "just where have you been?"
Lindsey turned slightly to shut the door behind her, signing ever so slightly. "You seem to forget, Pricilla, that somebody here had to go run all your little errands," she muttered, dumping the contents of the bag she was holding onto the counter ahead.
"Did you get the caviar from district four?" Pricilla asked, finally turning her attention from her food to the damsel.
Lindsey fished around the pile of groceries for a moment before pulling out a thin box and waving it subjectively. The green haired lady let out a smile of pleasure, making Lindsey roll her eyes.
"Honestly I don't know why..." she started, before seeing the two new additions to the team. Evelyn opened her mouth to introduce herself, but not before Pricilla smoothed her hair, getting up in a jagged motion and gesturing to the tributes.
"Here we have Rick" -he gave a slight grin and a nod of the head- "and Evelyn "- who managed to get out quick "how do you do" before Pricilla continued.
"Isn't she just adorable? She's from that country..."
"Britain?" Lindsey answered easily, "yeah, I got that from the accent." She sat down next to the pair. "That was some show you two put on yesterday," she smiled. "It's the talk of all Panem! I mean, what're the odds of two people, both transfers from primitive countries, picked just months after they arrived?"
Evelyn stole a glance over at Rick, and signed hesitantly. "That's not even half of it," she muttered, as Rick put his arm around her.
"We're together," he finally got out.
They weren't sure what was more exciting- the besmirched expression washed over Lindsey's eyes or scream that protruded from the dab hand's mouth.
~*~
The sky outside was still dark when Evy woke up that next morning. Though she hadn't gotten much sleep, her mind was still set on the perpetual librarian mode of waking her up before dawn. Usually, this was a good characteristic to have, since it meant getting to work on time. But after two days of being sentenced to war, Evelyn thought, it would be nice to have an easy day or two.
The constant lull of the train tracks beneath her made it hard to concentrate on anything, so reading for the next few hours was out of the question. She let out a soft moan before climbing out of her bed, head feeling like a ton of bricks. Maybe she couldn't carry on a thought conversation with herself, but Evelyn Carnahan knew one this: she need a cup of coffee more than anything.
Quite a few times from the past she was considered addicted to the substance. Jonathan used it on her plenty of times when he clambered into the house stone drunk.
Evelyn closed her eyes tightly. She couldn't possibly think of her brother at a time like this.
Pulling on a silk bathrobe from a hanger in the gianormos closet, amidst a jungle of other items of clothing that made her feel like royalty, she strode across the dark hallway, knowing how ire Rick would be if she turned on the lights at this early in the morning. The silence enveloping her was both mysterious and comforting- hiding secrets of what was to come yet allowing her to have at least some peace of mind before it was too late.
Evy walked on the tips of her feet like a ballet dancer, the noise from her slippers barely audible. She stopped abruptly when the hallway ended, for there was a weak glow of light seeping from the closed door of the kitchen. Evelyn opened it slowly, causing it to creak rather loudly.
Lindsey looked up from her newspaper, startled. Once she saw it was Evelyn, though, she changed it into a smile.
"I knew you'd show up sooner or later."
Lindsey then pulled out the chair next to her, and got up to pour some more coffee for Evelyn.
"So," Lindsey started, "how have you been since the reaping?"
Evelyn looked up, slightly surprised that she asked that question, since absolutely no one had asked her for her opinion on anything in the last four days.
"If I said I was ok I'd be lying."
Lindsay smiled, and set a mug of coffee in front of her. "Of course you're not fine. I'd think you were crazy if you said otherwise,"
Evy was more than glad there was finally someone on the bloody train that acted friendly, but she didn't want to think about the games. Even when she was forced to, she'd never bring herself to think about how it would end. A victor. One victor. Not two, one.
"Hey." Lindsey spoke softly, seeing the tears pricking the sides of her eyes. "Ive been doing this for three years now. And it never gets any better. My first year, I had a bone skinny fourteen year old boy and a depressed sixteen year old girl. They both died within the first two days. The next year, I got a brawny eighteen year old boy and a tall, red haired girl. I really thought they would make it... The both of them ended in the top ten, but... They turned on each other. They were both amazing tributes, too. The boy killed his partner and ended up dying a few hours later due to blood loss."
Evelyn tried hard to concentrate. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because." she said forcefully, "never in my years have I seen someone with more determination as you. I mean honestly, what are the chances you had to endure not only a transfer to this God- awful country, fall in love, and then have to witness the darkest, most cruel event in this society? It's next to nothing. I mean, I know you're not as physically fit as Rick, but Evelyn... I see something in you- something I've never really seen in anyone before. With a little training, you could go far."
She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Mentally, she have a pitiful laugh. That wasn't even half of what she had been through. Evelyn was now aware of the tears that had been trailing down her checks for quite some time now.
"But I- can't kill people..." she chocked, impressed at herself for actually saying the word. "I don't know how to survive on my own... I can't do it."
Lindsey shook her head. "Yes you can. You just need to know what you're doing out there. Forget about the killing. The most important thing for you to have with you is Rick. Rick can survive. He's strong. I know he'll do anything to protect you. All you need to do is stay with him, and know how to get food. It's our only chance at winning."
Taking in a deep breath, Evy reached her hand forward and nervously drank some coffee, though it was starting to get cold. She knew what Lindsey was saying would most likely save her life in the very near future. She also knew that from this point on, she was going to have to start accepting the fact that the games were indeed going to happen.
Pouting and procrastination wasn't going to help with anything anymore.
Just as Lindsey opened her mouth to speak, the door opened loudly behind her. In walked in a tall, brawny man with broad shoulders and sparkling blue eyes; he was wearing checkered pajama pants and a surprisingly clean white shirt.
"What are you doing up so early?" Evelyn asked, trying to shield the fact that she had been crying. Apparently, it worked, because Rick O'Connell just laughed. "I always get up this early,"
She merely rolled her eyes towards him. "Yeah, right. Next you're going to tell me that you wash your clothes and put them away."
"I do sometimes," he muttered, knowing there was no chance at winning a debate with Evelyn. "It's the first day of training. I need the extra energy so I'll do better."
"Of course you'll do fine," Evelyn scoffed, "you've been running around the desert for three years. This is nothing for you."
Rick poured himself a cup, and sat down next to his girlfriend, across from Lindsey.
"True, but you're here with me." his eyes saddened for a moment. "I can't let anything happen to you."
A few seconds went by, maybe a minute or two; but Evelyn nor Rick knew how much time passed since he stared into her eyes. She felt as if she suddenly entered into an alternate universe, a planet so far away she could no longer hear the despair crying from inside of her. A safe place, where only the two of them existed. A place where death was only a figment of the imagination.
His eyes seemed to radiate with care and love- a beacon of hope through the unstoppable darkness. Evelyn was quite sure Lindsey was saying something next to her, but despite her British nature, all she cared about for the moment was having those special connections with the man she loved more than life itself.
Rick couldn't help but stare at her, he truly meant what he had said. He was aware of their mentor sitting with them, but he wasn't going to let that stop him. He just wanted to assure her... Nevertheless, as soon as he caught her glance, not even God himself could tear them apart. The intenseness of the situation quickly inclined, for his eyes began craving her rosy red lips, the tresses of dark curls... Her.
"I hope you all had a good sleep!" Pricilla said, as she slid through the door, an annoyingly mirthful tone ringing to her voice.
Rick jumped in his seat, almost knocking over his untouched coffee. Evy's face brightened.
"Lindsey, I could go for a drink," Pricilla half yawned, apparently not expecting an answer from any of them. She sat down in the last empty chair at the table; she was wearing a long purple dress with an eccentric sequin jacket. Lindsey gave her an exaggerated, icy stare, so maybe this time she could actually catch it. But, of course, the odd woman from the Capitol's ignorance got the best of her, and Lindsey slowly rose from the oak table, swearing hotly under her breath.
"Don't worry about it," Rick sighed, sliding his chair out and fetching the coffee for her. Lindsey gave him a thankful smile in return as she retook her seat next to Pricilla- this time though, scooting away from her a few inches so the reek of her perfume wasn't as intoxicating.
Just as Rick passed the coffee over to Pricilla, there was yet another person at the door. A tall, fierce looking man.
"Oh, Tom, so glad you could make it!" Precilla said cheerfully, standing up to introduce him. "This is Tom Davis, your trainer for the games."
Evelyn quickly exchanged glances with Rick, seeming quite intimidated at his sheer size. Even Rick looked insecurely upward towards him.
"Training for everyone starts in two hours," the man started, sounding surprisingly friendly. "Your clothes are already in your rooms." He gave a tiny smile, one so faint Evy wasn't sure it was even real. Then he walked out, as quickly as he had came in.
Things went quiet, something all of them were thankful for. Only the clicking sound of Precilla's trilling nails against the wood could be heard. Evelyn took in a hard gulp and glanced around nervously. He had said everyone, which meant she and Rick were going to meet their competitors. No, more than that. They were about to come face to face with killers. She mentally cursed her analytical mind for over thinking such things.
This was their first test. They would be judged- quickly dividing the predators from the prey. What would everyone think when they saw her?
Dead meat.
Wiping the sleep from an ironically sleepless night, Rick finally took a swig of the black coffee. His body was ready for training, for he had done this for almost four years of his life. He was used to the intenseness of the daily workouts- he quite enjoyed them, actually. He remembered his first day in the Legion. At there mere age of sixteen, he was grouped with monster like men; ones with bulging muscles, and that devilish snare to their faces. They pushed him- tossed him around like he was a useless kid. If only they knew what he had been through. Rick's experience in the French Foreign Leigion continued like that until he was no longer the fearful one- he was feared.
But, like every other topic conserving the games, everything always ended up back to Evelyn. It was a recurring scenario, and Rick despised it. Instead of jumping to conclusions, he tried seeing the games a different way. After all, not all the other competitors were going to be fierce terminators.
"Oh, and for the interviews," Pricilla began, ripping through his thoughts, "I have the cutest dress for you to wear Evelyn."
Evy darted her eyes towards her, just barely tuning into the conversation. She caught the word dress, and, with the expression on Rick's face, it wasn't hard to put two and two together.
"Oh... I'm sure it'll be lovely," Evelyn said, putting on a convincing impersonation of a smile. She was used to faking smiles due to the prim and proper ways of London, but ever since she and Rick arrived in America, politeness was a barely virtue.
She mentally filed through all the scenarios and images of what exactly her dress would look like. It was extremely hard not to grimace aloud at what her imagination brought her to.
"Actually, Lindsey was telling us before you walked in how she is an amazing costume designer." Evelyn said rather quickly, an impulsion that would only save her dignity when the time came.
Pricilla wore a confused face. "My dear, why would you say a thing like that? You'd have this shabby apprentice make you look presentable to thousands and thousands of people?" she said, her voice sounding quite hurt.
Evelyn just gave a pitiful smile, and placed her hand on her heart.
"I just felt so sorry for the poor darling. It's what we fine ladies of the British culture do."
"Fine, if it makes her feel that much better," Pricilla muttered.
Setting her hand down on Rick's, Evy threw her mentor a warming, mirthful smile. "Rick has been ranting on and on about how much he fancies your designs. I know he would just be delighted to have a suit made by you!"
His eyes widened, for he had tuned out the whole conversation after he heard seaweed lady said the word 'suit'.
"I would fancy..."
Pricilla lit up as if a fire just burst into chromatic flames. "Oh- Rick- this will just be amazing- how do you feel about a tuxedo? With ruffles- and sparkles!"
"Okay, we'll Evy and I have lots of work to be getting on with," Lindsay said, holding her hand to her mouth to keep from laughing. The two of them promptly rose from their seats and headed for the door, giggling and grinning like schoolgirls.
The door closed with a bang behind them, leaving Rick with a horror- struck look on his face.
"Wait- what?"