The train walls muffle the noise from outside. Inside is peaceful, and full of beautiful furniture. Had I seen this when I was younger, I would have thought it was a dream. Unfortunately, the cynicism from my past four years of hell only allows one thought, So this is what they do with all our money.
I walk into the living room where a beautiful white suede furniture set, dominated the center. The couch and easy chairs were covered in white suede, as well as the lamp shades and curtains. The rug is royal purple and looks like fur. I slip one foot out of my boot to feel it with my toes and I let out a happy squeak. If it is fur, it's as soft as goose down, and as thick as velvet. As much as I've always resented District 1 careers, I have to admit, they know what they're doing.
Slipping my boot back on, I wait in the entryway for Leo. His back is turned as he opens the door since he's staring at the huge crowds of reporters. I can tell from the hard set of his shoulders, that he's terrified. I spring forward as quick as a cat and clamp my hands over his eyes, dragging him backwards, into the train. He gives out a startled cry and starts to flail.
His hands hit a button on the wall, and there's a hiss as the train door's air lock kicks in. I giggle and pull him around until he's facing the living room, my hands still firmly over his eyes. Outside I hear an uproar as the reporters, and no doubt, Verdandi, realize that I've just dragged my fellow tribute into the train with me and locked the door. I giggle again as I picture Verdandi standing on the platform, looking stupidly helpless at the locked train door.
"Picture the most beautiful dream house you can imagine." I say.
"Wha-what?" Leo stutters in terror and confusion.
"I said, picture the most beautiful dream house you can imagine." I repeat, stifling another giggle.
"I-it has h-huge w-wi-windows…"Leo begins, but I cut him off.
"Don't tell me, just imagine it." I say. I let him think for a minute, his tears lubricating my hands. "You picturing it?" I ask.
"Yeah." Leo says, with just a hint of a whimper.
"Does it look something like this?" I ask, removing my hands and revealing the living room. Leo gasps, his mouth hanging open, stupidly.
"Sorry for scaring you." I apologize, "But you should have seen your face!" I break down in giggles then. Leo tries to glare at me, but before long, the relief has him giggling too.
"You scared the shit out of me!" He says, punching my arm. The punch is supposed to be hard, but it doesn't hurt at all. Poor kid. I think again.
Just then, Peacekeepers burst through the opposite door, guns pointed at us. "On the floor! Now!" One of them barks. Leos eyes widen, but I manage to drop to the floor as bidden, despite the protest from my bruised midriff. "You okay kid?" the Peacekeeper asked Leo, keeping his gun trained on me.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Leo says.
"You sure? You worried us back there." The Peacekeeper asked.
"Yeah, it was just a joke." Leo said.
"Can I get up yet?" I growl.
"Um, sure, I guess." The Peacekeeper said. I stand up slowly, tugging at my skirt which has started to ride up again. I notice that the Peacekeeper still keeps his gun trained on me.
"What, was that about?" Verdandi yells, entering behind the Peacekeeper, Belinda and Gorath are right behind him.
"It, was just a misunderstanding." Leo says, nervously eyeing the gun, "Why's everyone so upset."
Verdandi's about to go apoplectic, I recognize the signs from being around mom so I cut in. "I think it's because you accidently hit some sort of button that locked the train door. They probably thought I was trying to start the games early." I say.
"That," Verdandi growls, "Is exactly what we thought!"
"They said it was a joke, but I don't see what's so funny." The Peacekeeper says, finally lowering his gun. Apparently he decided I wasn't an immediate threat.
"No; I was trying to play a joke on Leo, and it was funny until you burst in yelling and pointing that gun at us!" I say indignantly.
"Well, the point is, no one got hurt. Next time, try not to hit the door lock, okay?" Belinda says, coming forward. She places her cane on the Peacekeepers toe and leans her weight on it. He pulls his foot away cussing, nearly unbalancing Belinda. The Peacekeeper stalks out as Belinda regains her balance. I'm not positive, but I think she winks at me before saying, "Dinner will be in an hour, your rooms are in the car behind me if you'd like to freshen up." She says it like a suggestion but the look on her face says we don't have a choice in the matter.
I stalk past Verdandi, biting back the urge to stomp on his toes in passing, with Leo close on my heels. Verdandi follows us to our rooms, more like a stalker than an escort, making sure we find them. As soon as I enter my room I hear a click as the door locks behind me. Jonathon, did they treat you like a prisoner as well? I wonder in frustration.
I throw myself onto the big royal purple comforter, which feels like thick velvet, and wince as I stretch my stomach again. I should see if they have some of that cream. I decide. I think of Ian and then Jonathon, and before I know it, I'm crying huge sobs. I haven't cried this hard since dad died. Big howling sobs that make my stomach hurt even worse.
Pretty soon, the sobs are reduced to sniffles, and the tears dry up. I can feel how puffy and red my eyes must be, but I don't care. I think of just lying on this bed all night, I really don't feel hungry; but I can't afford to skip a meal, not now when it really counts.
I hoist myself off the bed, by stomach reduced to an endlessly throbbing ache, and walk into the bathroom. Stripping down, I take a long, hot shower and let the water relax my sores. I find a honeysuckle and lavender shampoo that reminds me of the wildflowers we had back home. You might never see those again. I think, so I content myself with the smell of them in my short hair.
When I get out, giant dryers blow warm air on me until I'm completely dry. I give my hair a ruffle and put on my Reaping outfit again since it's still plenty clean. There's a full boudoir with hundreds of makeup products on it. I skip over the makeup and look in the cupboards, rummaging around for some numbing cream. Bending over hurts so I have to straighten up as soon as I give everything a quick glance. Guess you'll just have to grin and bear it.
I take a quick peek at the clock next to my bed. I mutter a few choice cuss words as I note I only have a minute to run to the dining car. Sprinting out of my room, I almost run into Leo, who is also sprinting out of his room. He must have taken a shower as well because he's wearing a new dress shirt and black slacks.
"Sorry," he mutters.
"No, I'm sorry, I should have been more careful." I apologize.
"Door's unlocked." He notes, and I realize he's right.
"Yeah," I say, "Um, since we're both equally late, wanna walk together?"
"Of course, madam!" He says, bowing comically and offering an arm, "May I have this stroll dear lady?"
"If you insist, kind gentleman." I say, mimicking his formal tone. We're both laughing as I take his arm.
"You're kinda short for a 16 year old, unless I'm really tall for a 14 year old." He says.
"You're really observant, aren't you?" I say. Now that he mentions it, we're almost the same height. I've been short my entire life, but I never really paid much attention to it.
"Yeah, it's like my one strength." He says, blushing. I notice that he has the same kind of splotchy, all-over blush that Ian has. I haven't seen him blush in months though.
"Yeah? Well it's a good strength." I say.
"You really think so?" he says, looking up at me through thick, dark eyelashes. Jonathon had eyelashes like those.
"Yeah, I do." I say.
"Well, maybe if we, you know, survive the bloodbath…" Leo murmurs, averting his eyes.
"Woah, hold up! You want me for an ally?" I ask, surprised.
"Well, yeah. I mean, you're quick and smart, and I could feel how strong you are when you grabbed me; no one will be expecting that." He says. Now it's my turn to blush.
"Thanks. Hersh said the same thing, but I didn't want to believe it." I say. Hersh did say that, when I asked for a job and the only open position was as a fighter. I hadn't trusted in my skills then, but he had.
"Oh. Is Hersh your boyfriend?" Leo asks. I can tell he's straining to sound passive. 'he likes you' says a little voice in the back of my head. So what? This is the Hunger Games! So what if he likes me? He'll probably die anyway! I argue with myself. The little voice wants to come back but I squash it like a horsefly and ignore it.
"No, my boss." I reply. Leo smiles and the relief in his eyes is just a little unsettling. My stomach does a little flip as I smile back, but I ignore it.
"So?" Leo asks, leaning up against the door to the dining car.
"So what?" I ask, confused.
"You never answered my question, do you want to be allies?" He asks.
I think it over. Maybe it's because he seems so helpless, or maybe because his mop of hair and soft facial features reminds me of Ian; Maybe it's because a very tiny part of me is thrilled by the thought of having a friend, but I nod. "agreed." I say.
"Allies?"
"Allies." I confirm, pushing open the door.
"Your late." Verdandi says, the minute we walk in. He gives me a suspicious glance as Leo walks in right behind me.
"Give them a break, they've just had the most shocking day of their lives, punctuality is the last thing on their minds. Am I right?" Belinda says. We both nod and take our seats. Leo sits right next to me, close enough to bump elbows. I don't mind though, because just then I'm distracted by the most delicious smelling food in the world which has been set in front of me by a pale server.
I don't know what to start with; it all looks so wonderful, so I start with everything. My portion could have given Jonathon a run for his money – and he'd eaten like a horse. I pile on rolls and cheeses and fruit, and three bowls of soup.
"You planning to eat all of that yourself Princess?" Gorath asks, raising an eyebrow. I take it as a challenge to eat wolf it down with as much dignity as I can.
I'm about to reach for seconds, to the astonishment of Gorath, when Belinda warns me there's more to come. I can hardly believe her. The table is already laden with enough for three meals and there's supposed to be more? But Belinda is right. Soon the servers are back, replacing everything with platters of tender roasted beef, pork chops, racks of ribs, turkey with garnish, and more baked vegetables and sides than I could ever imagine.
Both Leo and I stuff ourselves full. He gives me an incredulous look as I reach for fourths but says nothing. At home, we were all big eaters until dad died. We certainly haven't starved since then, Jonathon and I made sure of that, but it's against my nature to let the food go to waste.
Just as I'm finishing up my fourth plate, the servers return with desert, pies, cakes, pudding, and a few I've never even seen before. Despite my full stomach, I still manage a piece of cheesecake and a serving of something called Baked Alaska, earning Leo's respect and a comment about having hollow legs from Belinda.
Thankfully, none of the adults try to talk to us about the games. They talk about other mentors they can't wait to see, and speculate about new Capitol trends and how to incorporate that into winning over sponsors, but mostly they talk about inconsequential things. As soon as I've leaned back, full and satisfied, I bring up the games.
"So, what's first? Is there anything we have to discuss?" I ask, because I really have no idea what to ask.
"The Recap will be in ten minutes or so." Verdandi says.
"Yes, and until then, we have no idea what you're up against. We can't really make any plans until then." Belinda adds.
"Then what are we waiting for?" I ask, getting to my feet. I know I ate far too much really rich food, and my distended bruise is killing me. With my luck, I'll have indigestion tonight and look horribly tired tomorrow.
"I like the way you think!" Gorath says. He gets up and grips my elbow with his rough hands, leading me out of the room and back into the living room.
"Let go of my arm!" I hiss, yanking out of his grip.
"I meant what I said." Gorath says, leaning against the door.
"What?" I ask, sitting down on the soft suede couch.
"I like the way you think. I like your attitude, and I like that you're a no-nonsense, rough-and-tumble gal hiding behind the face of a princess." Gorath explains, crossing his muscle bound arms over his jean vest.
"Um, thanks?" I say, not really understanding why he's complimenting me like this.
Gorath snorts with amusement. "What I mean is, I want to mentor you personally." He says.
"Okay, but isn't that your job anyway? To mentor me?" I ask, staring at him. He really is a mystery.
"I normally don't, I can't stand weak sniveling tributes. They don't stand a chance, so why should I bother with them? I only come along because it's mandatory for mentors." Gorath snorts.
"Mandatory?" I ask, puzzled.
"Yeah, it's a chance for Capitolites to moon over their favorite past victors; and for the government to keep a check on us. They don't tell you that little nugget about winning, do they?" Gorath replies. What he says makes sense, I guess I never thought about why all the mentors from the other districts go. Some of them have more than three, and the career districts have at least a dozen each, there's no need for them all to go but they do anyway. Course, the Careers have so many sponsors it must take a dozen mentors to handle them all. I think snidely.
"But you're gonna bother to help me, huh? You think I got a chance?" I ask, not quite believing it.
"Yeah, I think you do." Gorath says. Just then, Belinda, and Leo walk in, closely followed by Verdandi. I can see Gorath wants to say more to me, but not in front of them. Maybe having a ruthless killer on my side is an advantage. I think.
Leo plops down next to me. "What was that about?" Leo askes, giving me a questioning look. He can do that thing where you raise one eyebrow and lower the other. I find it funny, in a sad sort of way. Ian always wanted to know how to do that, Dad could do it but none of us kids can pull it off. I quickly shake my head to clear it of these thoughts.
"I don't know." I lie, "Maybe he's a pervert."
"Well, if he does that again, let me know and I'll kick his ass." Leo growls, but there's a twinkle in his eye as he says it. You act so tough, just like Jonathon, just like Ian, just like me. But the arena is going to chew you up and spit you out just so it can trod on you. I think sadly. He's such a sweet kid. Then it occurs to me that maybe that's his angle, that he might really be cold and ruthless, but I immediately dismiss the idea. All it takes is a single glance to know he's not a fighter. The way his shoulders slump forward and the merry twinkle in his eyes, his perpetual little smile that his face seems to be set in, all accented by the obvious fact that he's just half an inch away from breaking down into tears. Dad once said that looking into a person's eyes is like looking into their soul, I find that's not always accurate, but in Leo's case, it is.
"Thanks big guy, but I think I can handle him." I say.
I'm saved from having to say anything else because just at that moment, Verdandi flips on the T.V. and the recap begins. I tense up as the volunteers from Districts 1, 2, and 4, step forward. The boys are all over six feet and the girls have the ferocious look of piranhas and the lean build of a panther. They'll be my biggest competition so I make sure to take careful note of each and every one of them. At some point, I faintly registered that my hand is rhythmically stroking the suede of the couch as my nerves build.
The kids from Districts 3, 5, and 6, are all quaking and crying, and rather small and pathetic. I note that the tributes from District 5 seem to know each other, though they don't share a name. They must either be cousins or friends, either way, they'll band together. The girl from 6 is 18 and built like an Ox, but she bursts into tears and she has the same slouching posture as Leo. I know she has the potential to be a physical threat, but she doesn't appear to have the determination of a Victor.
District 7 is actually decently built. Both tributes were 12 but the boy had an 18 year old volunteer for him, though, surprisingly, not anyone related to him. Both look determined, and the 18 year old might actually have a chance, even if he's not as big as the Careers.
Districts 8 and 9 both pass without any noticeable tributes, but they're not tiny so I decide to keep my eye on them. And then it's our Reaping. The commentators laugh when I talk back to Verdandi, and they laugh even harder when Verdandi mocks it when he recalls-out to Leo. I glance at Leo out of the corner of my eye. His face is flaming in red splotches and his lower lip is quivering. I reach out my stroking hand and take his hot sweaty hand in my cold one and give him a comforting squeeze. He smiles and squeezes back.
Districts eleven pass by without another incident, both scrawny and underfed per usual. I do feel bad for them, especially District 12 because their only mentor is always intoxicated. The kids from District 11 looked like they might have some muscles from manual field labor, and I know they'll know every edible plant in the book, so I decide to keep my mind open to allying with one of them.
"Well, nothing too unusual. We can definitely work with that." Gorath mutters.
"Well, my old bones are tired and it's gonna be a big day tomorrow so I suggest we get some sleep." Belinda says.
"You coming?" Leo asks, rising to follow Belinda.
"In a little bit." I say, he gives me a look so I add, "My mind's too preoccupied to sleep, I just need some alone time."
"Well, okay. I guess I'll see you in the morning then." Leo says, walking out. Verdandi follows him out so it's just me and Gorath left.
"He likes you." Gorath comments.
"Yeah." I reply, crossing my arms.
"Do you like him?" Gorath asks.
I snort.
"I see." Gorath says, "But maybe you can use that to your advantage."
"I'm already allied with him if that's what you mean."
"Good girl, I knew you were smart."
"So what did you want to say earlier?" I ask, the curiosity finally overcoming me.
"I wanted to talk about strategy." Gorath says.
"What strategy?" I ask. Tough girl? Or, god forbid, Sexy? I wonder.
"I want you to act like a sweet little angel around the other tributes." He says. I open my mouth to protest but he cuts me off, "They don't know you're a fighter, they don't know you're strong, I'm not saying pull a Johanna Mason since I want you to do well in your private training, but the other tributes will overlook you or think you're too sweet and innocent to kill anybody as long as you're convincing."
"But won't that turn off potential allies?" I ask, biting my lower lip (yet another nervous habit that I haven't done in forever).
"Only the ruthless ones, which are the ones that will stab you in the back the first moment they can." Gorath says, rising from his chair. I take that as a cue to stand as well so he's not towering over me. "I'm telling you this now so that you can start the charade tomorrow."
"Okay. Thanks, I think." I say.
"You gonna be a good little Princess?" Gorath asks, giving me a hard stare. I meet his eyes, steadily and agree. "Alright then, Belinda's right, go get some sleep, tomorrow's gonna be a busy day." He says.
He escorts me to my door. No matter how many rumours there are surrounding Gorath, having him on my side has to be an asset. After all, he knows what he's doing since he's still here to tell me about the Games. I whisper "Good night." and slip quietly into my room. Striping down to my underwear, I crawl into the big soft bed and pull the soft fluffy blanket over myself. I thought my mind was far too awake to go to sleep, but soon the shock and weariness over take me and I'm fast asleep in no time.
I hope you like the story so far! Tell me what you think of Gorath and Leo! I'm open to story suggestions! In short: Review! Review! Review!