So this is the edited version of Chapter Two! It's very different, as you can tell from the first sentence. I'd love it if you review and tell me if I'm doing okay with the edits! Thank you for reading and I would love it if you review, just saying that again.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games, just Violet, Castor, and any characters you don't recognize.

Chapter Two: Vulnerable

After what seems like a minute, Effie steps into my room. She glances around until she sees me in a crumpled heap on the floor in the corner. She hurries over with a surprised squeak and bends down beside me. It's silent for a minute, besides my dying sobs and the occasional whimper. But soon enough I realize that she's standing there looking a bit worried. I try to pull myself together and wipe the tears from my cheeks and eyes.

Effie seems relieved that I've stopped crying, but is still silent for a moment. After I've seemingly recollected myself, she begins to speak. I don't even have the energy to cringe at her high pitched voice anymore. "Come on, go take a warm shower. Dinner is ready, but you need to get cleaned up," She tells me as softly as she can.

Effie actually helps me up and walks me over to the shower. I step into the bathroom, shut the door, and peel off my dress. I let it fall to the floor and I take out the black ribbon in my hair. I've got it, that'll be my token. A ribbon from home. It'll stay on my wrist. I look in the mirror and I'm surprised at my appearance. My red hair had fallen in waves around my tear stained face. My eyes are red and puffy, and my hands are shaking. I've never seen myself like this before, I usually hold my emotions inside and not tell anyone about them.

I turn away from the pathetic sight and turn on the water for the shower. I step in and squeal in shock at how utterly cold the water was. I mean, I usually have lukewarm water in the bath, but this was freezing! I push a few buttons and the water turns to a pretty hot temperature. I sigh in relief and let it run down my hair. I finally get clean, but stay in there for a moment more. It really helps me to think.

I try to recollect myself. I mean, I have no reason to cry. I need to stay strong for Castor, so we can get sponsors to help me save him. I'll be in control of my own death, not let anyone else take it into their hands. I'll stay as myself for as long as I possibly can.

Soon enough I shut out the water and step out onto the rug beneath me. I wrap a towel around my body and shake out my hair. I step outside into the actual bedroom and see Effie standing by the closet. She hands me a few clothes and I step back inside the bathroom. Why was she helping me at all? I mean, I've taken care of myself for so long. I've taken care of others for years. I was so unused to the shear amount of vulnerability I have in this moment.

I slip on the comfy black shorts that hug my thighs. I'm surprised to see my slightly tanned skin clear of any soot or dirt. I pull on the red halter top that hugs my curves better than m Reaping dress. It shows off what curves I have very well, and tries to hide the fact that I'm underfed. The strings at the top tie behind my neck, and it's a bit low cut in the front. The back doesn't have a lot of fabric, and the fabric stops at the bottom of my back, just clinging to my sides and lower back. The rest is showing my skin.

I step back out into the bedroom and Effie smiles at me with her perfectly white teeth. "Oh, you look a lot better, already," Effie states. I'm grasping the ribbon firmly in my hand, and she seems to notice it. "Your token from home?" She asks, in which I nod in reply. I don't trust my voice at all in that moment. She takes it softly from my hand and ties it around and around my left wrist. It looks like a very pretty, black silken bandage around there, but it's not leaving anytime soon.

Effie brushes out my hair and pulls it into a bun with a braided piece tied around the side of my head into the bun. My red hair looks nice and shiny after being washed. My emerald eyes aren't so noticeably puffy, and only a bit of red remains. I smile softly back at Effie in thanks. She stands up quickly and struts to the door. "Come on, we're late for dinner," She states, hurried tone back in her voice. I stand up slowly and follow her out the door and towards the dining car. And what I see surprises me.

The room is full of delicacies we so rarely get at home. There is food that I've never even seen before! The soft smile grows on my face as I sit down beside Castor. He looks so happy, with wide eyes and a grin on his face. He's still in his Reaping clothes, showing me I was the only one to shower so far. He's already dug into the food, as well as everyone but Effie and I. Cato sends me a look but I just glance back down at my plate.

I pull a little bit of food onto my plate, not wanting to eat so much that I get sick. All this food could feed the district for weeks, so I don't want to over stuff myself as easily as it could happen. I begin picking softly at a roll as the mentors try talking to us. Castor immediately begins talking with Cato, them discussing things about the arena. The other mentor is Enobaria, and frankly, she scares me.

"How old are you?" Enobaria asks, and I notice the gold tipped, sharp teeth in her mouth.

I glance up from the roll and reply with a single word, not really wanting to talk. "Eighteen."

I glance over and hear Castor discussing last year's Games. I hear him talking about how I wouldn't let him watch the final battle. And then Cato tells him about it, because Castor asks about it. "Castor!" I finally scream, my voice raising an octave. Castor is learning about something Dad never wanted him to know about.

The table falls silent and everyone turns to face me. Castor looks surprised at me, and confused. My breathing shaky, I snap in a low mutter, "Dad would be ashamed." Castor seems to look surprised, that had hurt him. And honestly, I didn't mean for it to come out as harsh as it did. But he needed to know that Dad would not be happy with how he was discussing it so simply.

"Well, let's go watch the Reapings, shall we?" Effie suggests, standing up and leading everyone to another car. Effie sits down in a leather chair, and the mentors and Castor sit on the couch. I plop down simply on the floor, leaning against the empty chair. The television flips on and the recap of the Reapings comes on. Did I really want to watch?

I glance over as a large boy leaps up to volunteer, along with a typical District One girl. Castor won't meet my gaze, he's really upset with me. Wow, I've really done it this time. Mentioning Dad was crossing the line. But I won't apologize, because in a way, he deserved it.

It's typical District Two, and the appearance of the boy just frightens me, much like Cato did last year. And the look in the girl's eyes is what unsettles me most. The rest of the Reapings are mostly normal, but what breaks my heart is the small sobbing twelve year old girl from District Nine. And then ours is last. I look relatively strong as I step up to the stage. Ceasar makes a comment about the hand tapping I had with Genevieve. And when I fall to my knees, there are a lot of comments. Finally, they take note of the secrecy between the second hand tapping motion. They label me as mysterious.

It's silent as the Reapings end once more. At the recap of it, I begin thinking of the rest of my family back home. Mom wouldn't have it in her to cook the celebrating meal we always have the night after the Reaping. They wouldn't drink the orange juice I save up for every year just for that occasion. They wouldn't, because two members of their family will be fighting for their lives. I wonder if Genevieve got that letter yet. Would she show it with Mom? How is Kaz doing? Oh, I know that answer. She'll be in tears all night, because I'd told her I was safe. But I wasn't safe. I was going to die soon and she'd have to watch. And the sad thing is, everyone knows it, too. I just don't think we can all admit it just yet.

I climb to my feet and don't say a single word. I don't want to talk to these people at all anymore. I walk back silently towards my compartment. I peel off my shorts and shirt, crawling softly into bed. The bed is large, silken, and white. It's beautiful, and very comfortable, and I fall asleep quickly.

In my dreams, I'm running. I don't know what I'm running from, but I don't stop. I'm in a forest, much like the one at home. And then I run right into a tree. I fall to the ground in a crumpled heap, and groan in pain. I feel blood running from my forehead, that tree hurt. Just as I'm going to stand up, that boy from District Two slams me back on the ground. And Opal steps out into the clearing, the bite on her neck still visible. "Opal!" I scream, tears in my green eyes. "Please, help me! He's going to kill me!"

But Opal just stand there, a smirk growing onto her face. Her voice sounds gravelly as she states, "No, I told him to. He's going to kill you, and I'll get my revenge. You let me alone, Violet. You just let my die because you were to scared to go get help."

"No! No, I...you can't, Opal! I stayed with you! I didn't want my twin to die alone out there! I...I'm sorry...," I whimper, the boy holding my head in a tight grip.

"It's too late for that, Violet. Just be ready," Opal states, nodding slightly. The boy twists my neck at a gruesome angle and then I fall limp.

I sit up straight in bed, panting as I recover from my dream. It was so vivid that I unconsciously touch my neck softly. It was so bad that I was having nightmares now? I glance out the window and see it's still dark, it's not even morning yet. I lay down again and shut my eyes, trying to tell myself that it's only a dream. It was only a dream and Opal isn't really trying to kill me.

The dreams about her were back, all because I brought up the memories yet again. It was so awful, it really was. But I won't cry. I have to stop it again. I can't seem weak. In public, I'll be strong. Alone, I'll be vulnerable.

I didn't even realize I fell asleep again. Until something soft hits my face. I groan, hating the fact that I was woken up yet again. Why couldn't they just leave me alone? Effie wouldn't throw something at me to wake me up, and Castor knew not to wake me up so early. So it was either Cato or Enobaria. "Leave me alone! I'm trying to sleep!" I scream, rolling over and slamming my face into the pillow. I hear a chuckle, and move the pillow so it's on top of my head. Could I really not get any sleep around here?!

"Violet, wake up!" A familiar voice yells with amusement in the tone of voice. I hear multiple sounds of laughter erupt in the room and I groan. Okay, apparently Castor doesn't know better. And someone else is helping him wake me up. Is this really necessary?

"Up at at 'em, Twelve! We're here!" Cato bellows, grabbing my ankles and pulling me off the bed. I hit the ground with a thump, and groan in response. I keep my eyes close and refuse to wake up. However, freezing cold water is dumped on my head, and I jump up with a scream.

Castor and Cato are standing there, Cato smirking and Castor in hysterics. I've never seen Castor laugh that much, that genuine. Could this killer actually do that for him? I shake my head and step into the bathroom, slamming the door shut. I don't bother talking to either of them, and groan after hearing the bedroom door slam shut. They've left, finally.

I take a quick shower, wondering how the first day here would be. I soon step out though, and dry my hair with the technology in the room. I slip on black pants and a white blouse. It was rather comfortable, and that was all I cared about. I let my hair fall straight around my face.

Effie waits on the train as the other four of us heads down to the Academy, as it's called. Enobaria explains to me that it's where the kids are trained for the Hunger Games, starting with when they are seven years old. However, during the Games nobody is training, so we have it to ourselves.

Okay, I'm a bit nervous, I'll admit it. To them? No. But to myself I will. Enobaria makes me change into black workout shorts that hug my upper thighs tightly, but I'm able to still walk comfortably. Then into a blue sports bra, showing my abdomen freely. She said it's easier to train like that, everyone does it. However, they also don't have a flat stomach and ribs poking out a bit from not getting enough food. Enobaria won't let me change, however, and drags me out to begin.

Cato and Castor are nowhere to be seen, but Enobaria gets me started right away. She has me stretch, and mostly I can do them with ease. Then it's to build strength. Crunches, situps, pushups, pullups, just everything I could ever imagine she had me do...a lot. I was very sweaty about halfway through it. How did people do this everyday?! I pull my hair up into a ponytail and then she has me stop.

I groan and she snaps at me for it. I'm not allowed to? "Now, you're going to go running the track. I want you sprinting as fast as you can, for as long as you can. Got it? Let's go," Enobaria snaps at me.

I stand ready, and when she shouts go, I start running. I've been told by Kaz I'm a fast runner, but endurance is hard for me. About halfway through a lap, I'm panting. Enobaria shouts at me to keep going, and after a lap my lungs are burning. I feel like someone's stabbing my stomach and I slow down.

"Keep going! Another lap! Now!" Enobaria screams. She scares me, and so I comply and do as she asks of me. I think I'm about to pass out by the time that second lap is over. I actually do fall over and groan. Suddenly she picks me back up and stares at me in the eyes. "Good. Speed and endurance at the same time is important. Do that, and you're set. Let's work on weapons, then we'll be done."

Enobaria drags me over to where so many weapons stood waiting, and more targets than I thought possible. That's where Castor and Cato were, Cato was showing him how to use a sword. Oh gosh, I remembered him using a sword as his best weapon. He was showing Castor how to use that weapon!

I shake my head and grab the knife that she hands me. "Throw it," She snaps at me. I nod and aim at the target nearest me. I flick my wrist and throw the knife at it. The blade of the knife hits far right of the center. Okay, I'm not a natural knife thrower. That one would take a bit of practice...but at least I could hit the target!

Enobaria glances up in surprise as Castor's voice calls out, "Hey, Violet, Cato and you should have a sword duel!"