Goodbyes & Train Rides

Signy Freyda, 15

District 10 Female

Signy kept her eyes on her feet as the crowd clapped half-heartedly and a Peacekeeper grabbed her arm to pull her away. She followed willingly, not wanting to cause a scene, but her heart was pounding.

The Peacekeeper brought her into the Justice Building and left her in a room with stained floral wallpaper and creaky floorboards. A cream couch with a musty smell was the only furniture in the room, which was hot and stuffy. The windows didn't open.

The door opened with a crash as Signy's mother sprinted into the room. She immediately pulled Signy into a tight hug, crying into her shoulder.

"Baby, oh, my baby," she whimpered, squeezing Signy a little too tightly. Signy hugged her back, the tears finally falling.

"Mom, I'm scared," she whispered.

"I know baby, I know," Silvia murmured, stroking Signy's hair. "But you can't give up, okay? You can't."

"I won't," Signy promised without thinking. "I won't stop fighting to get home to you."

More tears followed, and Signy relished every last moment in her mother's arms. She gripped her gray cardigan, the way she used to do when she was a toddler and had nightmares.

The door opened again and Cady came in, eyes red and puffy from crying. She joined the hug almost immediately, and Silvia welcomed her into it. Signy sniffled, squeezing them both tighter before pulling back to get some air.

"I'm going to come back," Signy said, wiping her eyes. "I am."

"Of course you are!" Cady agreed vehemently. Silvia just sniffed a little and took Signy's hand.

"I love you," she told her daughter as a Peacekeeper knocked heavily on the door.

"Ten minutes are up!" he called.

"I love you too," Signy squeaked. "Both of you." And with one last hug, they left.

Signy dried her tears on the hem of her dress and then walked to the door, where the Peacekeeper was waiting for her. He placed a heavy hand on her shoulder and guided her to the train.

The train was beautiful, decorated in shades of pink and pale gold. Connor was already onboard, sitting at a glass dining table and sipping a glass of water.

"Hi," Signy said, taking a seat across from him. He just gave her a nod.

"Hey you two," someone said, entering the train car. Signy turned to see Belle Wurth, District 10's second victor. "How are you doing?" Her words were gentle, but her tone wasn't. Connor's hand tightened around his glass.

"I'm going to die," he said flatly. "So, not too great."

"You might not die," Belle pointed out, rather unhelpfully. Connor shot her a look out of the corner of his eye.

"I'm going to my room," he announced, before standing up and storming off. Belle sighed.

"You'd better go check on him," Darcia said, coming to sit at the table too. "You're his mentor this year." Belle just nodded, hesitating for a few more seconds before following him.

"Hi. Signy, right?" Darcia asked. Signy nodded. "You'll have to forgive Belle. She's not the most sociable person out there, but she means well." Signy just nodded.

A woman dressed in white approached, a platter of cookies in her hands. She set it on the table and stepped back.

"Thank you," Darcia said. The woman nodded. "Can we have two glasses of milk?" She nodded again and left. Darcia picked up a cookie with cinnamon on it and gestured for Signy to take one too. She chose one with chunks of chocolate.

"So, Signy, tell me about yourself."

Signy took a bite of the soft, warm cookie before speaking.

"I'm 15," she said. "My birthday is in December. I live with my mom. I'm in Year 10 at school. I like to paint."

"Painting is a nice hobby," Darcia said. "My eldest son, Bo, has shown an interest in it."

"Victors have kids?" Signy asked without thinking. Her cheeks flushed and she looked away, slightly embarrassed.

"Victors can, if they want to," Darcia said smoothly. The question didn't seem to bother her. "I have two sons."

The woman in white returned, setting down two glasses of chilled milk. Darcia thanked her politely before turning back to Signy.

"You're a painter. Do you have any other skills that could be useful in the arena? Any weapon experience?"

"I, um, I work part-time at a butcher's shop," Signy said. "So I can handle a meat cleaver. Does that count?"

"That'll work fine," Darcia said with a soft smile.

They discussed skills for a bit longer, and then Darcia brought up the topic of allies.

"I think I want some," Signy told her mentor. "I don't want to be alone in the arena."

"Yes, I understand that," Darcia said. "But you have to be careful about who you choose, and how much trust you put in them."

"I will," Signy said. "I don't plan on getting stabbed in the back."

"No one plans on it," Darcia said morbidly. "And yet, it still happens." Signy swallowed, hard.

"Another important thing to keep in mind is that the Capitol is always watching. And judging. This is entertainment for them. They want someone to root for, or against. So you've got to make yourself likable, or at least play up an angle. I don't know you well, but you handled being reaped very well. You don't have to play the 'weakling' angle."

"Does 'humble artist wanting to go back to her mom' work?" Signy interrupted. Darcia smiled.

"Focus on your art, your love of home, and love for your mom. Play up your determination, and your kindness. It'll be perfect."

Hi all! Here's the next chapter of Signy's story! If you give it a read, leave a review and let me know what you think :)

Have a nice day, be kind to each other, and never stop reading!

- Fiona