Light the Way

Thirty Two

Mags felt a buzzing feeling inside of her body, as if she wasn't really the one operating it right now. She was on autopilot, following the brunette girl who had called out her name on stage towards the train station, forcing herself to put one foot in front of the other. Followed by the blond boy and her brother, who couldn't stop staring daggers into her back.

Already plotting how he was going to take her out in the arena, no doubt.

"Hurry it up sister, the train isn't going to wait forever." Isaiah barked out and the two Capitol mentors turned to shoot him an annoyed look. 

-

The group made their way into the train carts, which were much roomier than the ones used in the past. There was a table set up with a spread of cheese and bread laid out for them, and a sitting area where they could relax. Olivia motioned for the Tributes to sit, her and Coriolanus taking to the opposite side of the table.

"Please, eat something. It'll be about a day's travel before we reach the Capitol since the train has to head through each District. Dinner won't be served until later in the evening." Olivia said warmly, offering a smile to the siblings, who stared back at her with blank stares.

"Forgive me for forgetting my manners," She laughed out, seeming to bring Isaiah out of his slump. "My name is Olivia, and this is Coriolanus. We're going to help you win this thing."

Isaiah snorted in return, shooting the girl a glare. "You mean help one of us win this thing." He peered over at his sister in response, and she offered no reaction. "Let me save you the trouble, you should focus on mentoring me. My sister wasn't built for this kind of thing."

Mags scoffed, jerking her chair away from her brother's, clearly offended. Olivia and Coriolanus shared a quick look, confused by the animosity between them. The loving sibling angle could have worked out well for them when it came to getting sponsors.

Coriolanus cleared his throat, bringing everyone's attention back to him.

"You're right, we shouldn't be so insensitive. Only one of you can be crowned the Victor, but you'll both benefit from our wisdom." He said smoothly, his eyes focused on Isaiah, a challenge. Either of them could win depending on how the sponsors panned out. No show of strength would matter if you hadn't eaten in days, and couldn't swim.

"So how do we win then?" Isaiah shot back, leaning forward onto the table, sizing up the Capitol kids that sat across from him. Wondering what made them so much more capable than him that their names would never be pulled.

Chewing on a piece of cheese, Olivia nodded her head towards Coriolanus for this one, hoping the less she spoke to Isaiah the more of a chance she'd have with winning over Magdalena.

"Well, this year there's going to be sponsors. People who can send you gifts to help you survive the arena. Water, food, and medicine. But you have to get sponsors, you have to get people to like you." Coriolanus enunciated the last part, directing it at Isaiah.

"If the crowd thinks you're a brute who publicly berates his sister they might not send you anything." Olivia huffed out, shooting the boy a deadly look who scoffed in return.

"What great advice – don't be yourself." Isaiah mocked, standing abruptly, and moving out of his seat. "I'll see you at dinner." He huffed out, stomping down towards the peacekeeper stationed at the door who showed him to his room.

Olivia rolled her eyes at the amount of toxic masculinity in the air and then turned to Magdalena.

"So Magdalena-" Olivia started.