A Rebellious Spirit | Book III

Chapter Twelve | The Train

[Authors Note]

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Quinn was escorted to the train with Annie right away. There they were seated in the dinning car, and learned who was who's mentor for the games. Annie still hadn't recovered from the reaping, but when she heard that she was Finnick's mentor, the reality hit her. Finnick was going back into the arena. She would have to make sure he had sponsors, even though that wouldn't be hard to do-- everyone loved Finnick. Quinn had been paired with Mags, which was a lost cause. Quinn couldn't deny that, Mags was old, frail, and didn't have a mean bone in her body. She had won her games simply by hoping that she could maybe make it to the end.

That was why she had volunteered. Both Annie and Quinn, even if Annie didn't show it much, they could fight if they had too. They both had years ahead of them while Mags only had a few. Then they were told that as soon as soon as they arrived to the Capitol, unlike usual years where Mentors went to make sure the penthouse was prepared, they would be escorted to the reaping of the two favourites.

Quinn pushed away the thoughts of that, she decided not to think about it until she absolutely had to. At that moment, she sat next to Annie, listening carefully to the instructions that she was being given. The woman who was explaining things had dark, auburn hair that was in a tight ponytail. She wore a white uniform, similar to an avox's uniform. Her skin was pale, with a pinkish colour that made her look like she was running a fever or something-- it wasn't flattering.

"Wh-who will be the mentors then?" Annie said, her voice was soft but she sat forward as if she was trying to sound more confident and prepared for the tasks ahead. "Of the tribute that the Victor was mentoring? Then who will be the favourites mentors?"

"Well, Ciruss Hayeden, Victor of the first Quarter Quell--"

"He's mentoring?" Quinn cut the woman off. She had heard next to nothing of Ciruss, and only knew he had returned to mentoring District One the year before.

The woman nodded pleasantly, "He wanted to mentor the Favourite Victor," she replied, "The mentor for the Favourite Citizen will be Madam Kelsey, one of President Snow's most trusted assistants, then the mentor for the tribute of the Favourite will be mentored by the other mentor of the other tribute." she explained nicely.

Quinn sighed heavily, shifting in her seat uncomfortably. The woman's voice, and the kindness that seemed to be in it. Nobody who did anything for President Snow in any way, shape or form, shouldn't have had a bit of kindness in their voice. Then again, President Snow himself had a charming side, he was a good speaker. Quinn couldn't deny that...

"Anyway," the woman let out a long sigh as she poured herself a cup of tea, dropping in a few sugar cubes. "After the reaping," she paused as she took a sip. "The favourites will be brought to their assigned stylists, and the mentors will be off to prepare for the evenings events."

Quinn sighed as she leaned into the table, and resting her head on her hand. It felt like there was boiling water in her stomach, she could feel herself growing more and more uncomfortable and unprepared to be a mentor. Annie had a few years of experience, she had none.

"I think I'll go..." she sighed, "Get a bit more familiar with the train." Quinn said as she pushed herself away from the table. But as she straightened herself up, the door to the train slid open, and in stepped Mags. Then a step behind her, was Finnick.

"I'll let the four of you chat," the woman said as she quickly finished off her tea. "I'm sure you've got plenty to talk about."

Then with that, she pushed herself from the table and left-- stepping into the next car. Leaving the four of them, in silence. The silence however didn't last long before Annie quickly threw her arms around Finnick, fresh tears streaming down her cheeks as the two of them embraced each other.

Had the Capitol known that they had been together? That if Finnick loved anyone, it was Annie? Was that a way to torment the two of them? Send one into the arena and leave the other to watch?

Annie falling apart, sobbing over Finnick already wouldn't help at all. If Quinn ended up in the arena, she would have to be responsible for both Finnick and Mags. If it had been Quinn instead of Mags and then Mags had become the favourite-- the thought of having such a broken woman as a mentor...it wasn't hopeful. A mentor had to have a clear head, at least clear enough they could think of ways to help their tribute. But Annie, she just wasn't capable of something like that. Not now, not with Finnick as her tribute.

"Annie," Quinn stated, she snapped out of the thoughts that were swimming around her head. Her arms were crossed and she was practically glaring at the back of Annie's head. But Annie didn't seem to hear her. "Annie," she said again, this time putting a hand firmly on Annie's shoulder and giving her a light tug to turn around.

Annie turned, her cheeks were covered with tears and they were still falling from her eyes like a endless waterfall.

"Get a grip," Quinn stated simply putting a hand on both of her shoulders. "How the hell are you going to be a mentor if you can't last more than ten minutes without sobbing?"

"Quinn," Finnick snapped.

Quinn dropped her arms from Annie, "One of us could still get put in the arena, Finnick." she retorted, "If it's me, she'll be Mags' mentor too. If she can't think straight, how will she be any help to either of you," she paused. "You said yourself before last years games Finnick, a mentor has to have a clear head."

The group fell silent again. The only noise was Annie's sniffling as she dabbed her eyes to dry them.

"You're right..." she muttered quietly, Quinn didn't feel any relief like she knew she should have. She should have felt bad snapping at Annie and Finnick like that, but it just came out before she could really stop herself. After a moment of Annie gathering herself enough to talk, she took the chance to explain things so Quinn didn't have to. Which was probably a good thing, Quinn could still feel frustration boiling inside her.