(Chapter 10: James)
We arrived at the train station, which was jam-packed with reporters and camera crews, all pointing directly at the car, waiting for us to get out. Someone opens the door for me, and I step firmly out of the car, beaming confidently at the cameras and answering the majority of the questions thrown at me. Based on past games, I've learned that people like it when you're confident and talkative, especially if your district is the Capitol's right hand. They expect us to be smiling and creating conversations.
"Excited for the games James?" a reporter says, shoving a microphone at my face. Although I am severely annoyed and have an urge to slap the microphone to the ground, I smile.
"Of course! I can't wait." I replied. This is completely not true.
The doors of the train slide open, and Lilly and I somewhat gracefully step in, and we wave and grin as the doors close behind us. The train begins to move. The train is from the Capitol, so it moves at about 250 miles per hour.
My smile drops and my cheeks hurt. I frown at her and try to find my way to my private chambers. Tribute trains are fancier than what I'm used to, but it's exactly what I expected, so I'm not very surprised. When I find my room, I slump onto my bed. The mattress is perfect, the pillows are fluffy, and the blankets are the perfect material and thickness. I close my eyes, and I drift off to sleep.
Pretty soon I'm awoken by a rude banging at my door. My eyelids shoot open.
"What?" I groan, sitting up slowly so that I don't feel dizzy when I stand.
"Supper. Unless you're not hungry." Sylvia says.
I quickly fix my hair and open the door, following her down the hallway and into the dining room. I make an effort not to look out the windows, because the motion speed will probably make me sick. I take a seat at the table next to Lilly. At the table are also our two mentors, Calista Stirling and Atlas Buford. Both are in their 20's and from the Capitol, and are the District 1 mentors, given that we don't have any past victors to mentor us, unlike other districts.
Supper is served, but I don't eat much. I have a little bit of the stew, and some bread, but I really don't feel like eating. Lilly doesn't put much on her plate either. It was pretty awkward, everyone was silent, and all you could hear was a faint crunch of somebody eating, or a slurp when somebody eats soup.
After supper we all go to another compartment and relax on the couch, watching a replay of today's reapings. Everyone goes silent as we watch Cleo stabbing herself again. Afterwards a camera zooms in on my face and my mother's in the crowd. I'm grateful I don't look like I'm about to cry. I can feel everyone's stares burning my skin. I try my hardest to keep my poker face.
We watch as other children's names are called, old, young, or somewhere in between. Children cry, there are a few shouts from the crowd, some hugs and kisses from those around them before they walk themselves to the podium, their thoughts plastered on their faces. District 12's was almost as shocking as ours. We watch their mayor and escort do their speeches, and then a girl, Elora Yarrow is called. The camera zooms in on her face. I take a breath, and stare at her face on the screen. This girl was breathtakingly beautiful. She looked about my age. Her wavy blonde hair framed her delicate features, her stern grey eyes startling. Then the girl is suddenly forced out of the crowd by Peacekeepers, and marched onto the stage. Then there is a male voice yelling, and the camera turns to a tall boy, about eighteen, fighting his way out of the crowd and punching a peacekeeper, screaming "No!". The boy looked a lot like the girl, leading me to believe that he was her older brother.
The boy is shot, and he falls to the ground. There is a collective gasp from the crowd, followed by complete silence as blood stains the boy's shirt. Elora looks shocked, tears swelling in her eyes. She just watched her brother die trying to save her.
Lilly laughs, and I scowl at her.
"How can you be so insensitive? The girl's brother was just shot in front of her. Don't you know how traumatic that would be?"
"Pffft. That trauma is good for me in the arena. She just showed everyone how weak she is. I can use that against her." Lilly smiled cruelly.
"Lilly is right, James. Think strategy. Now is not the time to be sympathetic towards weak opponents. Have a think about who your allies would be in the career pack." Calista says, followed by Atlas and Sylvia nodding.
Even after the replay is over, I can't get that girl's face off my mind.
She's gorgeous.