The 53rd Annual Hunger Games

chapter 2 - The train

I walk into the train, and what I see blow me away. The walls, the floor and the ceiling are of metal, shining like silver. There is a dining table there, and some kind of servants is setting the table. The table is of wood, but it is so different from the rotten wooden tables and chairs back home. It is polished, and I can even see my reflection in it. I stroke my fingers over it, it is really smooth. "That is actually mahogany, from your very own district." Rietta says. "Oh, I didn't even know we had mahogany in 7..." I murmur. I have just been chosen to participate in The Hunger Games, trees are the last thing on my mind. It is also a blue couch here, with a small coffee table. "Hey, Rietta, who are our mentors?" Tandor asks. "Macor Cane is your mentor, and Blight is her mentor. But Macor had an accident two days ago, and he is in a hospital in The Capitol. He will be joining us tomorrow. Until then, Blight will be mentoring both of you." Rietta answers. "What? I get an old, sick guy while she gets a young man who won the games four years ago?" Tandor says angrily

"Macor isn't old; he won the 34th games, which is 19 years ago. And he isn't sick, just hurt. He broke both his arms and hurt his back. And he has been a mentor for a long time, so he knows what works and what doesn't. You should be happy having a mentor like that. In fact, he was my mentor too." A male voice says behind me. I turn around to see who it is. In front of me stands a young man with blonde curls, Blight. I remember him from the 49th Hunger Games. Tandor shakes hands with Blight. "It's an honor to meet you, one of those who stood up against The Capitol and won The Hunger Games." Tandor says with awe. "An honor? What honor? I didn't stand up against the Capitol, I did exactly what they told me to. Just because The Capitol told me to kill, I did. Those kids could've been my friends, but just because I was out on that arena, I killed them. And I am not proud of that." Blight answers and sits down in the couch. "But... but you had to kill, you had no choice!" Tandor says and sits down opposite to Blight. "You always have a choice, young man. Think of what would happen if all the tributes just refused to kill?" asks Blight, challenging Tandor. "I... I haven't thought of that before..." Tandor answers. He is insecure now, and his whole attitude is gone. "It's dinner time! Sit down, everybody!" Rietta squeals. I sit down next to Tandor. The food is overwhelming. It's many different types of meat and fish, and it's also some soups and a lamb stew. I have no idea what to choose, so I try some meat with fried potatoes and a brown sauce. It tastes lovely. I eat till I am full, which is something I have never done before. There are also many drinks here; I try something called hot chocolate. It is really warm, but tastes incredible! After dinner we sit down in the couch to discuss strategy.

"So, which angle do you guys want to have in the interviews and the parade? This is important, because it's your biggest chance to get sponsors. The Capitol citizens vote for "the handsome", "the cute", "the mysterious", "the killing machine" and several others. Being one of them can make you popular. "Blight informs us. "I want to be dangerous, a killing machine, a threat to the other tributes." Tandor says. "Are you sure? They'll just compare you with the careers." asks Blight. "Actually, I've been thinking to ally with the careers. They could need a guy like me." Tandor says, and smiles confidently. What is he thinking, that is madness! I turn to him and say: "What? Are you mad? They're gonna kill you! How can you possibly be that stupid?" He just laughs. "And why should they kill me?" he asks me, and looks at me like I'm stupid. "Because they're a group of 6 people who has trained their whole life for this, they don't need you!" I say, and try to convince him not to do it. "She's right, Tandor, that's really not smart." Blight says calmly. He has this calming attitude that can make everyone slow down and listen to him. He's is smart, and I'm really grateful to have him as my mentor. "You can pick that angle in the interview, but don't ally with the careers." Blight says to Tandor and turns to me. "What about you, Hamilee?" I get nervous, what angle can I pick? I'm not cute, or pretty, or mysterious. And I'm not a threat to the other tributes. "I... I don't know. I don't feel like I am any of those characters. I'm just myself." I murmur. I feel so insecure, what if the Capitol citizens don't like me? Then I get an idea. "What about rebellious?" I ask. I know that is a risk, but if I am going to be on a TV show that the whole Panem can see, I would like to say something to The Capitol. And they can't kill my family and my friends, because I don't have anyone. "What are you thinking of?" Blight asks and looks interested at me. "I just wanted to tell the people in Capitol how the Districts feel about The Hunger Games." I say, and now I feel more confident. "Are you sure, they're gonna make sure you die out on the arena if you say things they don't like." He looks me in the eyes, and now he's serious. "I don't have anyone they can hurt, and I was going to die anyway out there." I say.

We turn on the TV to watch the other reapings, and then I think of something. "Rietta, can you get me a list of all the tributes, with names, ages, pictures and what district they're from?" I ask Rietta; I want to know who my biggest threats are, and who that might be potential allies. "Why? You can see them on TV right here." asks Tandor. "Yes, but I won't remember everyone when it's done." I answer him, and Rietta walks out to get the list. We watch the reaping from District 1. They both volunteer, and they are both 18. Their names are Farrell and Shimmer. Why do people in 1 always name their daughters like they're shining diamonds? The tributes are athletic and beautiful. They both have blonde hair. In 2, they also volunteer. Both are 18. Their names are Micy and Shawn. They have black, straight hair and brown eyes. They look like killing machines. Then Rietta comes back with the list. I look at the ages of the tributes. All of them, except from five, are in the ages of 16-18. How am I gonna make it out of there alive?