Performer, Provider, Protecter

4

The Peacekeepers lead me down a long hallway and up a short flight of stairs--6 steps to be exact--before we exit the building and emerge onto a small concrete platform. A train lies in wait for both Tomlin and I, along with our escorts, and Mentors. 

I crane my neck over the broad shoulders of the Peacekeepers surrounding me. No sign of Tomlin. 

"Excuse me?" I say to anyone listening.

One of the tinier Peacekeepers grunts in affirmation of hearing me.

"Do any of you know if my District partner is already on the train?"

The puny Peacekeeper nods his head slightly before he turns away. 

The biggest Peacekeeper, adorned with badges of all sorts, reaches up and slams the butt of his riffle into the face of the smaller Peacekeeper. I let out a gasp as the crumpled form falls to the ground. 

I hold my breath. My heart throbbing so hard I can hear it in my ears. I try to inhale oxygen, but I can't. Maybe I wasn't holding my breath... My body just wouldn't let me breathe. I'm furious.

The Bigger soldier offers a string of curses and a reprimand on speaking to me as the Smaller one sits twitching on the ground. And when the Smaller one didn't answer the question the Bigger one asked him, the adorned Peacekeeper started kicking him.

I can't take it anymore. I hit the bigger Peacekeeper, who is laughing as he effortlessly injures the Smaller Peacekeeper, so hard that he stands shocked at my actions. Heck, I'm shocked at my actions. 

The Smaller Peacekeeper lets out a whimper and it sets my over the edge. I leap onto the Bigger one, knocking him to the ground and continue to beat the life out of him.

I get about 12 hits in before anybody reacts. 

"Get... her!" The beaten Peacekeeper strains to say. 

I feel the butt of the rifle hit the back of my head, and the last thing I see is the bloodied, almost lifeless, corpse of the Peacekeeper I attacked.

                                                                                    . . . . . . .

I wake up with a jolt. My head is throbbing. My stomach aching. My eyes are watery. I wipe away the excess tears and scan my surroundings. I'm lying in a bed—a bigger bed than I've ever seen before at that—there's a window next to me with objects flying past me so fast, I feel faint.

 I'mon the train, I think, A cold sweat running through my spine, chilling me to the bone.

Before I can burst into tears, my door opens. The Capitol escort who so graciously chose my name out of the Reaping Ball steps into my room.

"You've got some temper, now, don't you!" She says more enthusiastically than the comment should have sounded, "Well...You definitely know how to put on a good show!"

"Yeah, I'm a real hoot," I say in a dull and sardonic tone.

The escort ignores my comment and introduces herself as Rega Ellamenapey. 

"I'm Corsica. In case you forgot after reading my name yesterday and ruining my life," I say as I extend my hand towards her for a shake, in one very sarcastic movement.

Rega looks at my hand and grimaces, "We have some work to do... But before we get started, I'll need to introduce you to your mentor! Come come! Were already four hours late!"

I jump out of bed, using this opportunity as an excuse to see if Tomlin is alright.

Rega leads me out of my room, down a hallway, and into a room filled with food. More food than I've ever seen in one place at one time. Swirled bread pastries with white icing on top; Yellow chocolates in the shapes of flowers; a full table dedicated to soups and stews of all kinds. My mouth is watering.