Chapter Two

Haymitch, Maysilee, Darrien and Janica were soon ushered into the Justice building where they would be given ten minutes to spend with their families.

"Ten minutes doesn't seem fair," Janica mumbled before she was escorted to the first empty room on the right side of the hall.

Haymitch followed the Peacekeepers until they stopped in front of a small room, opening the door and shoving the tribute in. Haymitch quickly turned around to snap at the men, but only found the door to slam shut. He began to survey the room, taking in the white walls, floor and ceiling. Nothing in this room was comforting, but Haymitch decided he better get used to this feeling.

Haymitch turned around to face the door once more when it opened, revealing his mother, brother and girlfriend. His mother was holding back tears, no doubt trying to stay strong for her youngest boy who was already sobbing. He grabbed on to Haymitch, circling his arms around his brother's waist.

"Shh…It will be okay," Haymitch said, trying to soothe his brother. "I will be coming back home before you know it."

"B-bb-but the last t-t-time someone won from twelve was in the s-ss-seventh Games," he said in-between cries.

Haymitch got down to his brother's eye level and smiled. "Well, then me winning is a long time coming."

His mother said her goodbyes and reminded him to be careful before taking her youngest out of the room, giving Haymitch and Gemma a couple minutes alone.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around her boyfriend. "If there was anything I could do — "

"Don't say that," Haymitch cut her off. "Don't even think that."

Gemma smiled weakly before pressing her face to Haymitch's chest. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and rested his chin on the top of her head, breathing in her scent.

The hug only seemed to last for a second before the Peacekeepers came in, grabbing Haymitch. He pulled from their grasp and reached for Gemma, placing a kiss on her lips. He felt her hand softly brush his cheek as he was forcibly pulled away.

"I'll see you soon," he shouted. "I'll see you soon!"

Haymitch and the other tributes were taken out the back entrance of the Justice Hall, which conveniently led the tributes to the train. Haymitch was the third person on the train and marveled at the inside.

Purple suede couches and plush black carpeting, an elegant table dressed in white linen and gold-lined plates, and a small buffet with food Haymitch hadn't eaten — much less seen — in his lifetime. He wiped the drool that was starting to form when Aria walked over to the tributes.

"Isn't it just grand?" She squeaked. "It's a luxury to be able to be a part of this means of travel. Even if it is for a little while."

Haymitch stared at her. Did she just say that? What a bitch.

"Please," she continued. "Help yourself to the food."

Darrien was the first to accept the offer by taking a plate and loading up on meats, breads and desserts. Haymitch watched as he sat at the table, stuffing the food in his mouth as if it would vanish from his plate in the next thirty seconds. Surely Darrien would be sick later in the night.

"How can you eat at a time like this?" Janica asked.

"I eat through the pain," Darrien said with a cocky smirk. Dick.

Haymitch and Maysilee sat in the sitting area while Janica made a small plate of fruits and bread.

Aria was checking her makeup in her hand held compact when she noticed the two tributes sitting in front of her. "Not hungry?" she asked. "Well, no doubt today has been trying. But do try to eat. You must keep your strength up."

"What's next?" Maysilee spoke for the first time since her name was called at the reaping. "After the train?"

"Well," Aria started, closing her compact and slipping it into her small purse shaped like a pear. "You will meet your design team, begin training and hopefully gain some sponsors." Both Haymitch and Maysilee had skeptical looks on their face. "I know this situation — having no mentor to speak with — is difficult, but I assure you it can be done. I mean, I myself can talk with potential sponsors, but I cannot secure them for you. That will be your responsibility."

"And how do we do that?" Haymitch sneered. This woman is useless.

"Well, by your interviews with Caesar Flickerman and what the Game Makers see in you during your final performance and throughout training."

Haymitch suppressed an eye roll. This woman was far past useless. Haymitch got up before he saying something he would regret.

"Now, I have someone I want to introduce to all of you," Aria went on. "Where is that girl?"

Haymitch walked out of the sitting area and began to discover the train. The sleeping compartments were spread out throughout the next eight compartments. Haymitch opened the door to one of the rooms. It contained a bedroom, bathroom, closet and small viewing area. The room looked better than the small white room he was held in at the Justice building, but not by much. There were no interesting colors besides cream, no photographs or hardly any windows.

Haymitch shut the door and continued walking down the hall. He opened the door to the next car and took a step forward, accidentally colliding with another body.

"Sorry," he mumbled, bending down to pick up a notebook the other person dropped.

"No, it was my fault. I wasn't watching where I was going. Terrible manners," a female voice quickly apologized.

Haymitch handed the notebook back to its owner and she smiled. This girl in front of him couldn't have been older than him, what was she doing on this train heading for the Capitol? Haymitch also couldn't help but notice her smile: full lips, white teeth and a small beauty mark by her lip.

Haymitch took a moment to study the rest of her appearance. She had long blond hair that cascaded in curls down her back and wore a pink headband in her hair, complete with black feathers on right side of the accessory. She had on a simple black dress with pink lining on the bottom and black shoes with a small heel.

"I just get so turned around on this train," she laughed. "It's like I've never been on a train or something. Well, this is my first time alone on a train, but I've been on one before with my Dad."

She kept rambling about her first time on a train, no doubt out of nervousness. Haymitch wasn't sure why, but he kept studying her. Maybe it was the fact that he would be meeting only a handful of new people until he was sentenced to the slaughter? Or maybe it was the fact that she was different from anyone else on this train, almost like she was out of place?

Her blue-green eyes sparkled as she talked about a recent trip she took on a train. When she laughed, the small freckles across her nose and cheeks danced. Haymitch detected a slight accent in her voice, obviously from the Capitol, but it was endearing to her demeanor.

"Oh, forgive me!" she quickly apologized. "Here I go, rambling about trips when we haven't even exchanged proper introductions." Haymitch extended his hand and was about to introduce himself when the young girl cut him off. "You're Haymitch Abernathy."

Haymitch nodded his head as the girl took his hand and shook it.

"I'm the apprentice for the District 12 escort position," she smiled, beaming at her title. "Effie Trinket."