So Chapter Two is up! Sorry about the wait, I have been busy with homework and track, but it is over now, so I will try to have more time to write.
I hope you guys like it and please review, it means so much to me. I only got three on the first chapter, so hoping for many more. I love hearing what you guys have to say about what I write, even if it's constructive. Special thanks to reeganl for reviewing!
This year the Game makers won't let us see our loved ones before we go into the arena. It seems like they just want to make the Games harder than they already are. I shrug and follow two muscular Peacekeepers into the high-speed train that will take us to the Capitol.
Aquamarine, my district partner, stares straight ahead, as if nothing matters to her anymore. Her previous confidence disappears and I feel the hurt coming from her.
I rub her back to comfort her, and a small spark of hope shines in her eyes. "Thank you," she mouths, not wanting to attract any attention from our babysitters. I nod and my hand falls from its position. Maybe we can be allies.
We stop at the door to a massive, polished-silver train, the same one every tribute from District four takes to the Capitol. I trace the Capitol emblem that is carved into the side of the machine and indicates the fact that we are poor and they are not.
The double doors leading to the interior of the train open, and we step into the luxury Capitol residents live in. I can sense the fear of other tributes in the air, trapped from so many years of the horrific Hunger Games.
Anelise is waiting for us when we walk in, still wearing her reaping outfit. "Follow me, I will show you the rest of the train," she says. "Right in the middle of the train we have the dining room," Anelise announces. A large oak dining table complete with elegant chairs fills the middle of the room, a small crystal chandelier hangs above it, and intricate paintings hang on the walls.
Nodding our heads in approval, Aquamarine and I are led to the back of the train. "This is my favorite, the living room," Anelise smiles. White couches face the windows with an excellent view, a cozy fireplace takes up one wall, with a huge flat screen TV above it, and a small coffee table sits beside it.
Then we get to see our bedrooms, mine is painted blue with patterns of fish and the sea carved in the walls. It feels like home. The image of my crying parents fills my head when I look at the decoration, and makes living in this room almost unbearable.
I know that the Game makers did this to drive us to the point of no hope, must be another twist they add. But I won't fall for it. I simply sigh and throw myself onto the king-sized bed that is now mine. Looking out the small window on the opposite wall, I see my district home slowly fade into nothing.
Anelise calls, "Don't get too comfortable, we have to watch the other reaping's soon!" Great, we get to see who we're going against, I think.
Exhausted, I rest my head on a pillow and fall into a deep sleep.
"Finnick! Finnick! Wake up the reaping's are on!" Was this all a dream? Is that my mother?
Suddenly I jolt awake, and ice cold water seeps into my skin. I scan the room to see four people doubling over with laughter. Definitely not my mother. "What was that for?" I jokingly ask Anelise, Aquamarine, and a pair of unfamiliar faces that stand beside them. "The reaping's are starting in a few minutes, and you wouldn't wake up!" Anelise answers innocently, making everyone laugh even harder.
I glare at her with a scolding look, then turn and ask, "Who are you?" to the unidentified man and woman.
"My name is Mags, and this is Bracken," the woman said. "We will be your mentors."
Mags looks old, around 60, with already graying hair, but there is a comforting aura about her. I make a personal note to train with her, because she has a kind presence, much like my own mother. The only thing I question about her is the way she won her games.
Bracken, on the other hand, was tall and very strong. He had a well-weathered face framed by dark brown hair, which could have gotten him sponsors in his game. It isn't surprising that he won, due to the fact that I am intimidated with him in the room.
"Ok, now we have to go see the reaping's they are coming on any minute now," Anelise repeated for the fortieth time.
Anelise practically throws us out of my room and into the living room at the back of the train. The second we sit down, a live broadcast of the reaping's comes on.
"Told you!" Anelise says in a matter-of-fact tone.
Caesar Flickerman and Claudius Templesmith, the announcers of the Hunger Games, fill the screen. "Everyone's getting ready for the 65th Hunger Games here at the Capitol, time to see who the tributes are!" Caesar recites with a grin.
As usual, District 1 and 2's tributes look like good competitors. No one in District 3 catches my eye, and now it's our turn. I know what happened, so I look away from my distant home. Aquamarine does too, and I look at her with a reassuring glance, we are feeling the same thing. I look back at the television when our district is done.
District 5 looks promising, then the girl from 7, the boy from 8, and both tributes from 9. The male tribute from District 11 looks very strong, but the female is unusually slim and well-built as well. Maybe I really won't win this thing. The last district, District 12, isn't much of a threat, so Anelise turns off the TV.
"What do you think?" Anelise asks.
Aquamarine answers for me, "They look really good this year, but we will still try our hardest to win."
I nod my head, and go to eat dinner with Mags, Bracken, Anelise, and Aquamarine.
I slid into a chair at the head of the table and waited for the rest of our guests to come.
Mags is the first I see, she walks in gracefully and sits next to me.
"Remember, if you want to try to win, you need sponsors." She whispers, wanting only me to hear.
"Alright, I will, anything else?"
"Make a few allies, but don't trust anyone, get a trident that's a weapon you'll need." She whispers again but softer.
Mags hands me a golden-chained necklace with a trident on the end. Surprisingly it looked real, the tiny points were sharp, and the hilt glinted in the sunlight.
"Thank you." I manage before Aquamarine, Anelise, and Bracken joined us for dinner.
We eat lobster, shrimp, and fish, all hints of our old district. Anelise makes vague remarks; Aquamarine makes us laugh, and Mags gives wise advice.
Anelise looks at her clock and announces, "We're almost to the Capitol, hope you're ready!"
A feeling of dread hits me like a train and I sit in my chair, clenching the trident necklace.
She was basically asking us, Ready to die?