Dangerous Charm [2]

06

|SMILE|

The rear of the train was completely glass at the top, the windows making it feel like a dome which had the effect of being trapped in a fish-tank or snow globe.

After the conversation earlier, Knox left to explore the sleek mode of transportation which was carrying her to her doom and ended up at the back in a room with windows on all three sides. She walked over to the cushioned seat at the end of the room and lay down on her back facing the ceiling and watched the sky as it went by.

"Bored?"

Knox peeked her head up, turning her eyes from the passing sky to the door, in front of which stood one Roland Hillus, his brow ever so slightly arched and his hands folded in front of him. She sat up straight and turned her body to face him, resting her elbows on her knees with a scoff, "Is that how you felt? Bored?" She inquired, bringing her hands together in a tight grip.

Roland tsked, wandering forward into the room, "Bored is something I haven't felt in a long time." He let out, "...and neither will you." Knox followed him with her eyes, keeping her head still as he sat down a few feet away from her and leant against the backrest, spreading his arms out at his sides, "Rhodes may be a halfwit but he is right about something. District 10 may well have a winner this year."

Knox shifted her gaze to the floor, carefully examining the fibres on the carpet, "It won't be me," she said with certainty, "I won't let Lenox die."

"Maybe not but he will,"

Knox turned her head towards him, her gaze hard and face set in a quiet fury.

"That look right there is exactly why you'll be a victor." Roland jabbed his finger in her direction, "That anger will push you through to the end and it'll only grow." He glanced toward the large window out at the approaching Capitol city, "but I don't want you to show it yet. Not until you're inside the arena. Keep it hidden for now."

Knox sat up straight and crossed her arms over her chest, "and what is it you want me to do for the time being?"

"Smile."

Smile. An instruction which made Knox want to do anything but until Roland explained. "You catch more flies with honey," he hummed, "especially in the Capitol."

⚔️

When the train docked at the station in the Capitol, it rolled to a stop with a jolt and Knox could see the eager crowds on the platform through the window. The doors opened with a hiss and Venable stepped out first, waving brightly to his fellow Capitol citizens. Knox glanced back at Roland who gave her an exaggerated bright smile, gesturing with his hands for her to look happy and smile herself.

She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, taking a deep breath. She felt Lenox take her hand in his, squeezing it comfortingly—though she wasn't sure whether it was for her benefit or his own—before she opened her eyes again and stepped towards the doors.

She squinted slightly at the brightness and allowed a smile to grace her lips as they stepped out of the train side by side onto the platform and were met with deafening screams of excitement from the many onlookers.

The crowd revealed itself to be even larger, the masses hidden by the limited visibly from the train's small window and Knox felt anxiety stirring in her stomach as they proceeded forward, dowelling Venable to beckoned them gleefully over to him and he led them inside but not away from prying eyes.

The mentors were no longer behind them, she noticed, as the two tributes were lead past the crowds. It was likely they were occupied with greeting their 'fans', Knox supposed, fighting the urge to roll her eyes.

Once they were away from prying eyes, Knox allowed her false smile to drop though she didn't release Lenox's hand and he didn't seem to want her to.

"Wonderful job," Knox jumped at the voice by her ear. She hadn't realised that the mentors had caught up to them. Roland chuckled quietly at her reaction, "You only have to do that a couple more times to make the Capitol fall over themselves to root for you."

"Surely they're not that brainless," she scoffed.

"You'd be surprised."