Chapter 3: Train to certain death
Kevin Thorne
Peacekeepers along with our district escort take us to the train station where a large crowd of people have gathered to see us off. I don't recognize most of the people I see, but the few that I do recognize have pained expressions on their faces. A few photographers from the capitol snap pictures of us as we are herded onto the train. I personally have never been a fan of getting my picture taken, a quick glance at my district partner tells me that she isn't a big fan either, at least that's how I interpret the way she hides her face from the blinding lights of the flashing cameras.
Once the door slams shut behind me I take a seat by the window and take in as much of district twelve as I can, seeing as it will probably be the last time I will ever see it. The last words I said to my family come to mind, my little sister's hope filled eyes. "I'll try my best." And I will try, at least for her.
Allison Winters
Once we arrive at the train station we are immediately swarmed by photographers. The blinding flashes produced by cameras is a little too much for me. I try to hide my face behind my arms and keep my head as low as possible. My district partner glances at me for a second then looks back somewhere else, giving me no other sign of acknowledgement as we board the train.
Once the doors are shut he takes a seat and stares out the window. I sit by the window on the opposite side of the train as it starts moving, watching as the last I will ever see of district twelve fades into the distance. I fiddle with the charm bracelet I received only moments before as I try to recall a happy memory of the time I spent in district twelve. There is no memory that comes to mind.
Kevin Thorne
I stay at the window long after we have passed the last few miles of my district; my home. A thousand memories come rushing back to me, the day I first set foot in the woods outside of district twelve, the first day of school, my father's endless ranting about the capitol, my sister's first word and my mother's last.
I find my room on the train before I notice the tears forming. I will never let them fall though, with so much at stake I can't waste any time crying. I will stay strong, if not for myself, then for my family who I know will have to watch me fight for my life in the arena. I wonder if my district partner is thinking about her family and is trying to get back to them.
Allison Winters
Almost exactly when the last of district twelve is out of sight I get up and go find my room, I find it easily and flop onto the bed, it's much softer than the worn mattress I slept on at home. Everything in this room seems so much more advanced than anything I've ever seen back in District twelve. For a train taking me off to be slaughtered, everything in it looks nice as far as I've seen. I take my hair out of the bun I had it in for the reaping and kick off my flats before laying back on the bed and drifting off to sleep.
When I awaken there is a soft knocking on my door and a way too perky voice calling me to dinner, no doubt it's Sapphire. I get up and walk straight passed her to the dining car, not concerned about showing up to dinner with bedhead. As I enter I see two people seated at the table, Kevin and a man who I assume to be my mentor, I don't remember his games or his name, I've never really been interested in the games at all, only dreaded having to watch them each year, he gestures for me to sit beside Kevin. I realize I still have on my dress from the reaping, but recycling outfits is the very least of my problems right now. I take my seat as a blonde haired server places several platters of the most luxurious food I've ever seen on the table. Sapphire takes her seat as we start eating and as I expected, the food tastes just as good, if not then even better than it looks. I try to take it slow and savour the different and foreign flavours of the food, back home I used to help out at the bakery or the butcher's to get food, sometimes I would even go as far as slipping through a hole in the fences surrounding the district to search for fruits and herbs, but nothing I've ever had before even comes close to how good the capitol food is.
"Oh excuse me could I have some more water?" I say to a server as I gesture to my empty glass. He nods and fills my glass to the brim with ice cold water."Thank you." He nods again and goes about clearing the empty plates off the table.
"Oh you don't have to thank the avoxes, it's their job to serve you." Sapphire says.
"Avox? What's an avox?" I ask.
"Someone who has committed an infraction, and as punishment, has been made into a server." She replies as if it's completely normal and obvious. My mentor leans toward my ear.
"They have their tongue cut out so they can't speak." He adds in a whisper.
"Oh…" The rest of the meal is fairly quiet until my mentor speaks.
"Alright, since I am to be your mentor, there are some things you should know, for one my name is Andrew Willner and I won the 76th games, now when we arrive at the capitol you will both be taken to the remake centre to prepare for the opening ceremony of the games." I nod as he talks, just like Kevin, he has the seam look. "And you may not like what they'll do and feel a strong need to express your displeasure, but don't. Don't resist at all, they are just doing their job and who knows, their work may actually help you get sponsors." He takes a sip of wine from his glass before continuing. "In some cases sponsors may determine whether you live or not, dying of thirst? If you have enough sponsors, I'll be able to send you water. No food? If you have sponsors it won't be a problem, in need of a weapon? Got you covered. As long as you make a good impression on the Capital, I guarantee you'll have at least a handful of sponsors. Now, off to bed with both of you, we'll talk more after the opening ceremony." We obey and go off to our rooms. As I'm about to enter my room a hand on my shoulder makes me jump. I turn around and find myself staring into a pair of gray eyes.