Goodbyes and Hellos
I was escorted from the stage to a small room in one of the District's office buildings. The Capitol worker told me to stay and locked the door behind him as he left. "I can't believe this," I muttered to myself and I sat down on one of the chairs in the room. I heard voices coming down the hallway and approaching the door before it was opened. My mom rushed into the room, her eyes red. "Fox, oh my little fox," she cried, and my father entered after her with my siblings. My brother had a dark look upon his face and my sister was like my mother with red eyes and tears streaming; she pushed forward and hugged me tightly. "Five minutes," the guard snarled and he walked outside to let me alone with my family. I looked at them but I was surprisingly calm in comparison. "Fox," said my father, "Use your brains. You are the smartest person I have ever known; use that skill to your advantage in the arena." My brother nodded in agreement, and I actually turned red from the praise. My mother stroked my red hair and looked me square in the eyes. "Come back to me," she cried, "Come back to me Fox. I can't lose my little girl." Finally the realization of the situation became clear: this was it, the last chance I might have to see my family. Chills ran through me as the shock of being selected wore off. "I promise," I told my mother, "I'll do everything I can to come back to you!" My mother sobbed and hugged me even tighter. The guard burst into the room and ordered everyone out. "Five more minutes," asked my mother and the guard shook his head. "Go mom," I said, but she refused to let go of me. "Ma'am," said the guard, "I said move!" He grabbed my mother roughly by the arms and dragged her out while she kept her teary gaze on me. "Come back to me Fox!" and then nothing as the door closed.
Around a minute later the door opened again and in stepped Trim. I was glad to see her, and I was even happier when I noticed she wasn't crying. Her jaw was set, and I could see she was holding back tears. "Piper," she said as she sat down beside me. She attempted to speak again, but her throat choked up and the waterworks began to flow. She hugged me, and we sat in the room crying together. "Piper," she managed to get out at last, "I love you; you know that right?" I shook my head yes. "Then win for me, okay?" I nodded. "I need you back here; I can't lose my best friend. Remember that time when you had the flu and couldn't go to school for a week?" I thought back into my memory and remembered. I was ten at the time. On the third day of being absent Trim came to my house and was in tears asking where I was. I remember my mother telling her I was sick and how relived Trim was because she thought I died and nobody told her. She even planned a funeral for me at school which they held over lunch with my classmates. "I thought I lost you then Piper and remember how upset I was? I can't lose you, I just can't!" "I'll win," I said, a new determination building inside of me. "Yes you will," Trim agreed and she pulled out a small bracelet from her pocket. It was made of beads all carved from wood. I recognized it at once; I gave Trim the bracelet for her fifth birthday. "Take this, please Piper," she said, pressing it into my hands. "Time to go," yelled the guard from outside the room, and Trim gave me a quick hug before walking to the door. "You must win, Piper. I know you can."
The door closed behind Trim and I was left in the room alone again. I had no idea what to expect until the Parade of Tributes. Traditionally, we watched as the tributes were led to the Capitol's helicopters but we were uncertain as to what happened from then on. I waited in the room for about an hour until Yzzay came in. "Well Piper," she said grinning, "Are you ready to go and see the Capitol?" "No," I replied, "The only thing I want to see is my home." Yzzay's face fell for a split second before it brightened again with a sickening false smile. "Well, once you see the Capitol I'm sure you'll cheer up." I rolled my eyes, "Yep, just what I've always wanted. To go to the place that kills children." Yzzay's eyes tightened and she spoke with less good nature this time, "That type of attitude won't get you far, young lady. I would watch my tongue if I were you." Her words rung true and I understood. I was part of the Games now whether I liked it or not. My best chance of survival is to go along with whatever the Capitol wants: please the crowd, you please the Capitol. Please the Capitol and one gets sponsors. I know I need them!
Yzzay told me to follow her and I did. She left the building and escorted me to a field where a helicopter was waiting. I boarded it and saw Current was already on board, his head in his hands. I sat down next to him and figured I had to get acquainted with the boy who would probably be my only ally in the Games. "Hi," I said and he barely acknowledged my presence. I tried to speak again but he told me to shut up so I did. I understood, he wanted to be alone. I tried to remember if I even met Current before, but I couldn't recall him from anywhere. He probably was from the factory aspect of the District, whereas I was from the power company area. The helicopter began to fly after a few minutes but the trip wasn't long. It directed us to an alternative part of the District, the outskirts area, where a long train was waiting. The guards and Yzzay directed Current and I onto the train; I was stunned at what I saw.
Glittering trays of food, televisions, and beautiful furniture adorned the inside of the train. Yzzay noted happily the awe on my face, saying, "I knew you would be surprised." District 5 is far from one of the poorest Districts but I couldn't believe the amount of food available for me to eat, and the furniture was so comfy! I sunk into the nearest sofa and oh the pillows were so soft! I saw that even Current's expression brightened when he saw all the food available to eat.
"I think it's time you meet your mentor," said Yzzay after Current and I finished eating. I nodded, and wiped my face with the napkin provided. Mentors are essential for winning. If I play nice with them, then maybe they will support me more than Current. A pang of guilt ran through me as I thought of the way I was already trying to pick off my opponents…and this was my District partner! I reminded myself that I can't think like that anymore. Current and I might be partners for now, but a time will come when I might have to kill him. It saddened me to think that as I'm not a very violent person.
Yzzay led us further down the train to a small compartment upon which she knocked. I had seen the mentors on the television before, but not a lot was known about them. Usually, the Capitol focused more on tributes like Finnick Odair. When the door opened I instantly understood why our mentors aren't shown a lot.
Morphling addicts, the pair of them. They each had saggy yellow skin and sunken eyes. "Dot and Asimov," said Yzzay, "I would like you to meet this year's tributes. This strong, young man is Current, and this lovely lady is Piper." Asimov looked at me and gave me a sloppy smile. I shuddered as his eyes went up and down my body. "I'll leave you to get acquainted," said Yzzay and she closed the compartment door. "So…" I said hesitantly, "What is our strategy?" Asimov shrugged and went back to injecting himself with a strange liquid; Dot just stared at me as though I asked her to explain the meaning of life. "Um...hello?" said Current and we glanced at each other as Dot began to draw a picture on a piece of paper in the room. "Great," I muttered in Current's ear. Dot turned around and held up a picture. On it was a painting of a red-haired girl, whom I recognized as me, killing a tribute. "That's helpful!" I snarled and stormed out of the room, disgusted with my mentors.