REVIEW RESPONSES

Guest said-

So there will be two girls from district 10 or what?!

I'm pretty sure I made it clear that there is one tribute for each district. Only one. ONE.

So no. There will not be two girls from district 10. I don't really recall anywhere stating two girls...

Oh well!

nikitabella said-

Oh gods, I'm so happy that you finally updated! I love the story already and I hope that you'll update soon! Please update soon! :)) Great job

Thank you for your support :) I can't believe it, I love your stories and here you are reviewing a little thing I wrote!

I WILL! I WILL UPDATE SOON :D

Now on with the story :)

EVERYTHING MADE FOR THE USE of Titans is made beautifully.

The express train was glamorous and luxurious-very elegant and regal. It has a large carriage for each district filled with rooms for the mentor and tribute. I didn't pack anything to take on the train-mainly because they didn't let you or you just didn't need to. They provide everything you need-more clothes than you could ever have in a year, feasts filled with delicious treats and delicacies straight from the Titans, a beautiful stay in a stunning train that accommodates all these above. It's marvellous-but it will only last for a week or so. After that you prepare for torture.

In front of me is the carriage that has the golden number 10 painted on it. I meet Aphrodite as I enter the train-she greets me warmly and asks how my thoughts are towards this situation. I can't give her a proper answer before asking myself-What am I feeling? Proud? Nervous? Scared? Worried? Confused?

Proud of my actions: if that means not regretting anything, then yes. Nervous at what lies ahead: yes. Scared about my fate: yes. Worried about Lacy and Mitchell: of course. Confused about everything that is going on around me, the look I caught from the Fates, Silena's attitude, the badge that is attached to my dress: yes.

So I tell her that I haven't cleared my thoughts yet, and that I don't know-though after having said that I must be mostly confused.

I am led to a room by a servant of the Titans. She gestures to a door, which I assume is my room, and I turn the golden handle.

The room is filled with regal white furniture, a vanity, a large bed in the middle, silk curtains, two doors situated on the side. Aphrodite tells me to come out for lunch later. They both leave me to continue staring at the beautiful room in awe.

I had always heard about the luxury the Titans live in, but this was just too breathtaking. My dress seems a part of the room, white and frilly. I walk across slowly, observing every little detail of everything. The whole room must be bigger than my house in the village. Or any house in the village. And they must take everything for granted.

I suddenly realise that the room has no windows though. Beautiful as it is-I feel trapped. Imprisoned.

It's only twelve o'clock-lunch is at twelve thirty so I lie down on the bed and decide to think out the bits and pieces that replay in my head from today.

Waking up. Smiling at Lacy. Lacy giving me the dandelion. Going towards the factory. The bright pink fabric. The dandelion again. The strawberries in the field. Mitchell. Mother's scent from the dress. The ribbon in my hair. Lacy's red dress. The Reaping. The boy. The Fates. Volunteering.

Then I flash back to the last parts, after the Reaping.

Mitchell. Lacy. Father. The boy. Silena. The badge.

I replay the day again and again, trying to take in the memory of today-memories of them.

Mitchell. Lacy. Father. The boy. Silena. The badge.

I take the badge of my white dress, and observe it again.

Mitchell. Lacy. Father. The boy. Silena. The badge.

I want to cry. It all happened so quickly. Everything just slipped away from my hands-and now I am in the clutches of the Titans. I want to run away, escape this cruel harsh world. But I know I cannot bury myself away-I may be able to run but I can't hide.

I decide that it is probably time to leave my room. I don't know how long I've been locked up in there. I slip on some shoes nearby.

I slowly open the door and try and find my way to the dining room. I feel paranoid as I walk through the corridors of the moving train. It seems as if an earth quake was going on. There once was an earth quake in the village-though it was only small, it was frightening.

I place my hands on a golden handle of a door and push it open.

There is a table filled with a fair amount of food. The surroundings are elegant and regal-like the bedroom. The table is made of glass. It's pretty big and two chairs are on either side. Aphrodite looks up and sees me. She's sitting in one chair and gestures for me to sit in the other. I follow her instructions and sit down opposite her. I don't like the how expensive everything looks-I like the simple way of living with nothing flashy. Just simple. Aphrodite studies me.

For a while, we don't say anything. I just play around with the salad with my fork. The table offers salads of different kinds and buttered bread. It isn't much-though I know why they haven't placed out such rich food. After all, some tributes come from poor districts and their stomachs can get upset if they are suddenly given a large portion. The salad tastes nice, so I take another helping. Aphrodite watches me closely. I wonder what she is thinking about. Maybe about how I might die. Or maybe she's hoping she's been given a stronger tribute this year. I almost feel sorry for her for all sorts of different reasons. She's probably upset that our district doesn't have born fighters. The other tributes are displayed as strong, fierce, violent, smart, strategic...and then there's District 10-weak old District 10. The most neglected District of all time.

I feel sorry for the disappointment she is to face-I'm not any different from the other past tributes. I am not strong. I don't know how to fight. I'm not fierce or violent, smart or strategic. I'm just...useless. Useless. Useless. Useless.

I remember how I promised Lacy I'd come back. I could only do that by teaming up with the right people. And I could only do that by making myself seem worthy.

"Is it good?" I almost forget that Aphrodite is in front of me, still watching. It takes me a while to realise that she is talking about the food.

"Very nice, thank you." I say.

She nods approvingly. "The chefs are the best here,"

They didn't really do anything. Just grabbed some vegetables, made some dressing and they were done. But I think of how I could never live up to such qualities in the kitchen, so I nod and take another bite.

"I suppose you never get much food in the district." She comments sadly. I'm glad she didn't say it pityingly. Pity is the last thing I need. She seems genuinely upset about the state we are in.

"Oh no, we almost hardly ever get anything on our plate," I say. She nods. "But I do sometimes sneak out to get some vegetation from the fields of the district. My cousin Mitchell and I always snag a bit out of there, I suppose it would count as stealing-but we're the only ones that brings the fruits and all to the houses," I find myself telling Aphrodite all about my life in District 10, Lacy and her sweet ways, brave Mitchell, the beautiful and kind Silena. I even tell her about the story of my mother. How she used to nurse me. How she used to sing to me. How she did this. How she did that. How much she meant to me.

Aphrodite smiles at some parts of when I recall the memories of her hugging me and giving me those affectionate kisses. She listens-and I'm surprised though I don't show it-because of how I let her hear all of my thoughts and the effect her death had on me. All the things that I had kept bottled up in me.

"And I miss her because-after she died, I felt as if it was all up to me to help our family out. Mitchell was there too, but he had his own home and I had mine. He is my cousin but he wasn't my brother. He couldn't share the pain I felt losing not only my mother but also my father." I gesture to my dress. "This was hers, and it's as close to her as I can get."

"It's a very pretty dress."

"Yes, it is." I look up at her. "I'm sorry; I guess I just had to let it out."

"Don't apologise," she says. "I loved hearing about everything. And I think you're a brilliant young woman, you volunteered-sacrificed yourself-to save a young boy. Do you know how amazing that was?"

I really don't know how to respond. I understand that what I did was phenomenal, but I was just doing what I thought was right-what was right.

"How are you feeling now?" she asks softly. Her bright blue eyes look at me kindly. I shrug.

"Afraid." Because truthfully I am. This experience today was far too over whelming. I can only come up with the following conclusion. "I'm afraid off what will happen now." It's not surprising, any one in my position would feel the same way. But that is the only thing I can confirm feeling. Anxious. Nervous. Scared.

"You would be," she gently wipes her mouth with the napkin in her hand. Her response isn't very reassuring, but I suppose she doesn't have anything else to say.

Then Aphrodite sighs and tells me to go wash up after I finish eating my lunch. But I don't feel like eating anymore, so I thank her for our conversation and leave the room. She reminds me that "First impressions are everything" as I walk out.

I walk into the bathroom and hop into the shower. Showers are available for us at home, though there never is enough hot water and we usually end up taking baths instead. Here I could adjust the temperature and choose from a variety of shampoos with different scents. The water is warm, and once I've finished I'm immediately dried by a machine. Skipping out in a white robe, I walk over to two doors-the wardrobe. Aphrodite had told me I could choose whatever I wanted to wear for the replay watch of the Reaping tonight. Where all the other tributes will be.

I decide on a white top and black pants, it's simple but I do not intend on making myself look like another frivolous tribute of District 10. My hair is left out, I brush it gently with a comb nearby. I almost forget the pin when I see it attached to my dress. I place it to my shirt.

A few flowers are in a vase next to my bed. I observe them with interest-they are very pretty, all different colours. I remember the dandelion Lacy had given me this morning. It was simple, hardly any more colourful than the flowers here-but it meant something to me. It was important in its very own way.

I decide that today I will make note of all the tributes and what they might be good at. First impressions are everything, so I wonder what they will think of me. Not very highly, I suppose. Idiotic, maybe. Weak, I would assume.

First impressions are everything.

I don't know how I will be able to give an impression on the other tributes today. I just need to hope that they don't see my tears in the Reaping. I'll have to prove my strength in training-if I manage to find my strength that is.

When I think that it is later in the evening, I come out and a servant leads me through the train. We have to pass through all the carriages, each separated with sliding doors, 4...

Tonight we'll be having dinner in Carriage 4. The servant gestures for me to enter the dining room.

Carriage four is filled with greenery everywhere. Flower pots placed in every part of the tables, vines hanging from the ceiling, different shades of green painted on the walls. Carriage 4, District 4-Agriculture.

There is a lady with dark hair and eyes and she greets me politely. Aphrodite comes up from behind me and makes me sit down next to her on a lounge that stretches across the room.

"Very nice choice of clothing," she says studying the top and pants. "Simple but nice."

I don't reply and I just stare blankly at the screen in front of me. A few others have come in, though I don't acknowledge them in any way. I just want to get this over and done with. Aphrodite seems a little too cheerful at first, but then she sobers up when all the tributes arrive.

I only glance around the room once, briefly looking at the faces. I, of course, do not recognise anybody; though I spot a girl with features I have definitely seen somewhere. But before I can think about anything else, Aphrodite taps my shoulder.

"It's starting," she whispers.

I don't want to watch. But I do anyway.

First up is District 1-electricity. Power. A boy is called up, he looks strong enough. Already one career tribute. Next District 3 a large boy is called on, but another volunteers.

I can hear the hush over the crowd as Perseus Jackson is accepted into his third Titan Games. He surely volunteered for a family member-for their safety.

One victor-two career tributes.

District four is a girl. So is District 5. District 6 calls on a girl tribute as well, and it's her. She has startling, fierce grey eyes and curly hair. She makes her way up to the stage. And now I recognise her.

She was the victor from two years ago. Annabeth Chase.

Annabeth's expression is emotionless and she just stares out into the crowd.

Two victors-three career tributes.

District 7 has a boy, District 8 a girl. 9 is a boy. Then the Reaping scene of District 10. I want the floor to swallow me up when I see the small boy walking slowly towards the Fates. His expression makes my heart ache.

Then I can see me, running forward screaming. Pushing him behind me. You can see that nobody expected it.

You can hear the murmur in the crowd. The little boy is behind me and he questions my actions, and you can hear my words.

"I can't let you do this." And then he's taken away shouting.

I shut my eyes tight-I don't want to see this again. I feel Aphrodite patting my back reassuringly.

Everyone is silent when I state the fact that I do not know him. You can see that nobody expected this. I see myself looking at Mitchell and Lacy, then turning away.

Everyone must think I'm insane now. But I don't care. Why would I care?

Both District 11 and 12 present a boy. Then District 13, a girl with dark brown hair and skin comes to the front. She doesn't look the same age as me, like the others, but I'm positive that she is older than Lacy. You can see some fear in her golden brown eyes, but her mouth is pursed tightly in a determined way. I already admire her.

The commentators sum up the names of the tributes for this year, showing the brief photo shots of us.

I quickly study all of the faces of each one again. Each body build. Each and every detail. It is essential for me to remember them, either they be allies or rivals. Friends? No. I do not need to witness dearest ones dying.

The commentators bid farewell. They say that it will be one interesting year for the Games, and everyone watching at home.

The anthem plays and then the screen turns black.

Sorry for not updating as quickly! I promise that the next chapter will hopefully come sooner.

Please review, it means a lot to me :)

Oh and don't forget to check out my other stories!