Train Rides: District Six

Garratt Treen, District Six

I've been on this train for only ten minutes, and already it's so awkward that it's almost unbearable.

Being from District Six, I'm expected by most to be pretty savvy on a train. Instead, I've managed to trip and knock over the entire dining table (don't ask), gotten lost three times (I still have no idea where my room is), and awkwardly wandered into my district partner's room while she was taking a shower (hey, I thought it looked like my room!). Now I've been locked by my escort in a windowless car with my morphling-addicted mentor to keep me company. Fun.

After trying the lock for like the fiftieth time, I finally turn to face the gaunt bag of bones that happens to be my mentor. I think his name is Silas or something. His once handsome face is pale and wan, his neatly groomed hair is now long and unkempt. But the creepiest part about him is his eyes. They're empty, lifeless. Although it's hard to believe, he's actually one of the better mentors in Six, especially when compared to the other victors. Mainly because he's new and morphling hasn't had time to waste him completely away yet. Right now, however, he still looks like he's about to fall over and die. Which would be the perfect way to top off my day.

Better to start now than never. "Hello," I carefully venture. "My name is Garratt." I say as slowly and as deliberately as I can. It's a pretty stupid way to start a conversation, but what the heck. If he's heard me, he doesn't give any sign of it. I might as well be talking with a rock for all my effort. At least a rock won't suddenly die from a morphling overdose. "Any advice?" I ask him. Still no reaction. Why do I even bother? This is getting so frustrating that I could scream. But that would be rude. Not to mention that it would probably make things even more awkward.

Just when I'm about to go back to kicking the door, he speaks. "Inception," he croaks, as if just speaking is costing him a tremendous effort—which is probably true. "It's all in your head…don't trust your eyes…" he manages to choke out. Then his head lolls and he begins to snore. He's fast asleep. He actually snores pretty loudly for someone who looks like he could die at any moment.

Well, this sucks.

I start kicking the door again. What the hell does he mean by "inception"? I remember looking it up in the dictionary once, when I was younger, but the only thing I came up with was "the act, process, or instance of beginning", which makes absolutely no sense here. And "it's all in your head"? What am I supposed to do with that? Are they going to give us drugs and turn us into hallucinating junkies like Silas? This is making my head hurt.

The door opens. In comes Ivy. I determinedly stare at the ground. Don't look at her. Don't look at her. Don't look at her. I look at her.

"Dinner's ready," she sneers. "Two cars up from here. Don't get lost again."

Ivy Langral, District Six

Dinner is awkward, to say the least.

Garratt has been released from the prison car and is sitting as far away from me as he can, picking at a loaf of bread without enthusiasm. The two mentors, both hopeless morphling addicts, just sit there and awkwardly stare at the food like they can't make up their mind whether to eat it or not. Kree, our escort, is sitting sullenly and reapplying her makeup after her first few attempts to start a conversation have been met by needle-dropping silence. And I'm just sitting on a hard, uncomfortable chair and staring at the others, wondering what the heck has gone wrong with the world. We're an amusing little bunch.

Garratt finishes his bread and pushes his plate back, wincing as the sound reverberates throughout the entire car. The silence is getting painful. Kree stands up and stomps out of the room, her ridiculous high heels making loud clicking noises with every step. Garratt stands, pushes in his chair with an awful screech, and shuffles out of the door in the opposite direction, probably still looking for his room. Which leaves me and the two vegetables sitting there silently in the darkening dining car.

The TV at the end of the room automatically flickers on and the seal of Panem shines merrily, with patriotic music playing in the background. It must be the reaping recap, or, in this year's case, the recap of the bloody substitutes they've replaced reapings with. The two mentors are completely engrossed by this new phenomenon, by the flashing colors and the blazing music. I think I'm going to be sick.

Since they don't have time to show all twelve of these miniature Hunger Games, we thankfully just get a short glimpse of the kills and victors from each district. Brutal Careers overpower their competition in One, Two, and Four. Some genius girl literally blows the entire arena in Three. In the other districts, the deaths go by slower, with the tributes waiting each other out as they starve to death one by one. Altogether, the whole thing is just horrible.

And then there's us. They show Garratt going on a tearful rampage, nearly having a mental breakdown every time he kills a tribute. They show me, drifting through the arena, stealing and scavenging supplies from others, avoiding confrontation until I'm finally forced to fight the lone remaining girl. They show the whole, bloody scene as I evade her attacks, wearing her down, and when she finally lets her guard down, they show me—

I throw a dinner knife at the screen. Electricity crackles and the TV goes dark. I'll probably get in a load of trouble for this, but who cares? I'm a killer. I took another's life so that my own would be spared. I'm a monster. Hopefully, someday I'll forget. Someday.

If I don't do it again.

So Garratt knows the secret now but doesn't know that he knows ;). Straightforward enough, huh? And it looks like Ivy's having second thoughts about being a victor. Train rides are so much easier to write than fights to the death, so expect me to update a lot sooner these days. Thanks to everyone that reviewed! You guys really motivated me to wake up this morning and finish this thing :D.