A Rebellious Spirit | Book III

Chapter Fourteen | Entering the Capitol

{Shout out to...bandsarehappiness01 , @missymoola, @bronzelove | I can't thank you three enough for sticking with the series! I'm so happy you guys are enjoying it so far! bandsarehappiness01 since you've been very active with your support from book I, please inbox me so I can give you the information I need from you for your tribute. REBELS all of that being said, I want to awknolege all of you! So first 3comments from you guys on this chapter who haven't gotten a shoutout yet will get a shout out!}

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Quinn didn't get all that much sleep after she woke up. She tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable. But every time she closed her eyes...she didn't want to have that dream again. Or anything like it. So she distracted herself by getting up early, before the sun had rose completely. Instead the sky was just faded from pink to dark, dark blue. She woke up, pulled back the blinds completely and then found a dark red top to wear with a pair of black jeans. Then she found a paid of black combat boots to wear. She brought everything into the bathroom and hoped in the shower.

As the water ran over her and she used the nice smelling soap-- she tried to think back to her first time on the train. As a tribute, she had been angry about being in that position. Being pampered only to be tortured in the arena. Then be replaced by more tributes...it was sickening. She couldn't help but think about the two favourites. The Victor and the citizen of the Capitol.

They probably all voted for themselves, she thought to herself. Ever since they were children, they played with fake swords pretending to be in the arena-- as if it really was just a fun game. They probably all jumped at the chance to experience it themselves.

Quinn couldn't help but feel sorry for the citizen. They wouldn't have a chance at all. While everyone else in that arena had experience, they had nothing but fantasies about the arena and about their own victory that they had no chance at.

Once Quinn had gotten out and had gotten dressed, she decided she would go and see if breakfast had been set out yet. So she made her way out, and saw that it hadn't so she returned to her room. She hated just sitting there, alone.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Quinn had gone to breakfast as soon as she saw a servant walk by with a cart of food. She took a seat, and was soon joined by Remilda. She was sporting light green hair, with a light blue dress and makeup to match. She seated herself at the head of the table and smiled kindly at Quinn.

"I'm glad to see you on time for breakfast." she smiled, "And you look lovely."

Quinn smiled a bit in return, "Thank you." she said simply. "I thought I should look decent for the...the favourite reaping at the Capitol."

Remilda nodded, "Yes, of course. Very smart of you." she said, her smile faltered a bit as she began to pick and choose at the food before them. Quinn did the same, and silence surrounded them until Remilda broke it. "Quinn," she said softly, "I know you'll be a wonderful mentor."

Quinn sighed and continued picking strawberries out of the mixed fruit bowl and putting them on her plate. She said nothing, she didn't even look up at Remilda.

"When something happens to Mags," she said in a sincere whisper, "Please don't take it personal, next year will be different."

"I'd rather not talk about it, Remilda." she replied, "Okay?"

She nodded, "Of course..."

Quinn let silence surround them one more time. "Remilda," she paused, "If I am the favourite...could you...could you maybe see if you could help Annie get Finnick and Mags sponsors?"

She looked up from Quinn, a bit shocked by her request. "Don't you think Annie is capable of it?"

Quinn didn't say anything for a moment, "She's really close to them, she just might...not be thinking straight."

Remilda gave her a weak smile and nod, "I'll do what I can." she replied.

Quinn sighed and smiled a bit before she turned back to her breakfast. It wasn't until Mags found her way to the dinning car. She smiled at Quinn and gave her shoulder a pat before she poured herself some coffee. Then a bit more time had passed before Annie found her way there, and then Finnick. They all ate in silence, only asking each other to pass the strawberry jam or the honey. Quinn couldn't help but notice the tension from the day before...

"Annie," she paused, "I'm sorry for snapping at you yesterday day."

She shook her head, "No, you are right. Both of us need to have our heads clear." she said, looking at both Mags and Finnick. "Besides, you need someone to show you the ropes of being a mentor." she said, smiling a bit.

Quinn let out a long sigh of relief. The last thing she wanted was for her and Annie to be working together with tension between them.

As they ate breakfast, the sun rose higher in the sky-- and a familiar sound filled the train car as darkness filled the dinning car besides the lights. They each turned their attention to a window, watching the tunnel. Then watching the sparkling city get closer. From the looks of it, nobody would have guessed that in only a few days people would be fighting to the death.

"Smiles on!" Remilda beamed as she clapped her hands together and looked at the train station that the train was slowing in through a window. Her eyes flickered to each of them, none of them seemed to be taking her advice. When she saw that, her excited eyes calmed down and she didn't seem nearly as happy about arriving.

The sound of cheering penetrated the train car, and Finnick and Mags both got up to take their position to wave to their fans greeting them. That had been the advice that every single tribute got every year...

Quinn sighed in relief, she hadn't thought of that. They knew how to get people to like them, they didn't need that sort of advice. They didn't need advice for inside the arena, they knew how to survive. They just needed a connection to the outside world.

"Seems like just yesterday day they were cheering for you, doesn't it?" Remilda asked, turning towards Quinn as she stood up.

"I guess so..."

Quinn tried to think back to her games. Everything seemed like a blur now, she knew it all happened. But she felt like it had been someone else, not her. It hadn't been her that Snow paid a visit to before she entered the arena, it wasn't her who blew up during her interview...she came out of that arena a new person. She wasn't the same person who had arrived at the Capitol.

She was pulled from her thoughts at the sound of the door separating the dinning car and the sleeping car slid open. One thing she remembered almost vividly was seeing Damien for the first time in the train-- being convinced that she knew him. He had been her only friend besides Finnick in the Capitol when she was a tribute. He hadn't deserved what he got, he didn't deserve to be beaten up. He hadn't deserved any of that.

A group of peacekeepers walked into the car to escort Finnick and Mags to their stylist, and then Annie and Quinn to the reaping of the favourites. The exact thing that Quinn had been terrified of since it had been announced. Because she knew Snows goal was to get rid of both her, and Katniss.