Dawn Beneath The Mentor

Chapter 3 - The Games

The reality of it being another games is finally hitting Caspian. Something feels weird about this games. I feel I care about the tributes more and care more about the thought of them dying and me and Caspian not being able to see them again after today. Caspian seems to feel the same.

"This year feels different. Training and all went by so fast. And we had those tablets too, why haven't we talked about those yet?" He asks, looking at me with a grin.

"You tell me. I've been wondering about those ever since training." I respond with slight laugh.

"I find it funny how the Capitol had to imprint on the back that they owned these tablets. I feel like we would've known, right?" He says.

"Yeah. That day was so worrisome. For me, probably not you. You were so calm. How do you do that?" I ask.

"Calm? I wasn't calm. Well, I played it off as calm. I only pretended to be calm to ensure that you wouldn't be so scared. That you would see me being so peaceful and would think everything would be okay. I saw you so worried. I couldn't risk getting you worked up." He says.

"Oh, Caspian. You didn't have to do that for me." I tell him.

"But seeing the worry leave your eyes made it all worth it." He says, his voice dropping.

"I could never ask for a better partner. Thank you for everything you do, Cass." I say softly.

"I'd do it all again. I'd go through the Hunger Games again for you." He tells me.

This whole scenario confuses me. Caspian is acting different. He's paying more attention to me, and making a point, desperately trying to find a reason to talk to me.

"I wouldn't let you," I say as my hand grazes across the side of his left cheek.

"You know I love you." He says, his voice fading out slowly. He pulls me close and kisses me.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself. The resistance was eating me alive." He says, laughing.

And now, we're saying goodbye to Anabeth and Cash. Tears falling down Caspian's face, he wishes them the best of luck.

"I'll miss you two." He says, wiping a tear away from his cheek.

I've never seen him this upset about the games ever since he was reaped. The terror in his eyes. The tears falling down. We bring them over to the pods, they step in, and take a heavy breath. I try to remind myself that their training scores were a 12 and an 11, but the fear overcomes me. And Caspian doesn't seem too ecstatic either. He's trying his hardest not to cry, but both me and him know he's on the brink of tears. He's never cared so much about a tribute. He's never phased when they're killed and the cannon blows. But things might not be the same this year.

"I still remember my mothers face. When I got reaped." He says to me softly as Cash and Anabeth wait in their pods.

"It must've been hard. But you won for her, if I had to guess?" I ask.

"Yeah. I did. I remember you telling me how you won for your friend. In the arena. She was a career, right?" He asks me. The memories flood my mind. I remember the drained, pale look on her face when she saw me in training.

"Sapphire. She was from District 1." I say in answer.

"How did you know each other? With the fact that we're from district 4 and she's from district 1?" Caspian asks me.

"Me and my father were delivering fish to the Capitol. We had to make a stop at district 1 because we volunteered to bring a box of necklaces and bracelets to the Capitol so they didn't have to. I dropped a box of fish when Sapphire noticed. Everyone else stood around while Sapphire decided to help me. Every time my father had to deliver items to the Capitol, I always volunteered to go. Just to see my friend. It was basically once every week. I remember telling her that her eyes were beautiful. They were sapphire." I say softly, lowering my hand from my heart.