--» 𝔡𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔩𝔦𝔬𝔫𝔰 «--

Chapter Eight

Katniss and I maneuver through the crowd of cameras as Peacekeepers detain our arms. They shove us into the back seat of a car, and we end up being smushed together in a sandwich of Peacekeepers.

The ride is short, so we sit in silence as we wait for our arrival at the station. As we pull up beside the tracks, cameras swarm the car, blocking all entrances and exits. Peacekeepers thrust them out of the way as they tow us from of the vehicle. It's too late to put on a stiff face, and for some reason, I don't want to. Faking it for Panem is useless. They don't care about any of the tributes, and the other tributes would see right through me anyway. There's no point in covering my pain.

Capitol reporters throw questions at Katniss left and right as we walk to the train side by side.

"What went through your mind when your sister was reaped?"

"Why did you volunteer?"

"Do you regret volunteering for her?"

They shove microphones in her face, but she doesn't reply or even acknowledge them. She stares forward and walks at a steady, confident pace beside me as the Peacekeepers and reporters scramble after us. Katniss and I stand outside of the blindingly silver train as the cameras snap thousands of shots of us. Haymitch pulls us onto the train once the cameras have all gotten our images.

The caravan shakes as the train powers on and lifts from the ground. It hovers fixedly in place, and we're off to the Capitol.