shot through the heart (marvel, the hunger games)

chapter six; marvel sanford

    "Super rich kids,"
                 "With nothing but LOOSE ENDS."

                           ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

   The Peacekeepers escorted Bella, Glimmer and I to one of the district's military trucks, which I assumed was the ride to the train station. I could hear enthusiastic chants from outside and see crowds gathering around the truck. 

All I could do was awkwardly wave out the window as the vehicle started up and made its way through the town.

Belladonna cleared her throat, interrupting my admiration of District 1's signature architecture, as her bracelets chimed against each other on her wrist.

"Have the pair of you met before?" I looked across the other side of the truck to glance at Glimmer, whom I locked eye contact with. She shrugged, and I frowned. We had, but she was ignoring the fact, acting all nonchalant.

I didn't say a word and kept my gaze firmly on the sights outside the window. Glimmer wasn't my type, and I certainly wasn't hers either. I was happy to leave it that way.

Bella didn't press further and continued to chat with the pair of us individually. She questioned me on my skills and I replied politely, laughing at her little jokes and grinning at her when necessary, but my head wasn't there in the moment. All I could think about was the future, yet to come. 

The truck arrived at the train station, which was again, filled with crowds of people.

"MARVEL! MARVEL! GLIMMER! GLIMMER!"

Blinking, I felt overwhelmed. I knew how big the games were for people of District 1, I always had, but I didn't remember it being this big. Scolding myself internally, I pushed down the moment of discomfort and let a crooked, charismatic grin spread across my face as we were led through the crowds. 

This is what you've always wanted. Embrace it, Marvel. Man up.

Stepping onto the train and hearing the zip close of the door behind me was like a breath of fresh air. The adoring screams outside were now muffled and I sat down in the closest armchair, accidentally dismissing the carriage's interior.

It was Glimmer's small gasp that brought me to look up, to take real notice of the elegance, embroidery, and ebony. Even coming from the wealthiest District out of the 12, my mind was blown.

If this is how ridiculously fancy a train can get, I wonder what on earth the Capitol has in store for me.

"Oh! It's so delightful, isn't it? I always forget that my sweets have never seen such interior design before!" Bella let out a content sigh, resting her gaze on Glimmer and I.

"It's beautiful." I agreed, rising from out of my chair to reach up and touch the main chandelier with the tip of my finger. We had a chandelier in the Sanford family home, but nothing as gorgeous and expensive as these. 

I made my way over to the closest window, watching the crowds outside slowly pull away from us as the train moved away from the station.

I let one last bashful smile cross my face as I waved goodbye to the crowds, before letting it fall and leaning against the glass to face the rest of the room. Glimmer wandered around the carriage, picking up certain items to gaze at curiously as Bella followed her, putting in little facts about each trinket as they went along.

"When do we meet our mentors?" I asked, stepping away from the window. Belladonna lifted her head away from Glimmer's shoulder, blinking at me for a moment before letting a theatrical smile spread across her powdery face.