Predator

Chapter 3

A peacekeeper came in to escort me immediately after I heard the main doors of the Justice Building close. They kept an arm on my shoulder, ensuring that I wouldn't try to run away, but they knew that no one would.

Not after what happened to the young girl who had tried around 30 years ago, a brutal horrible death which everyone had learnt a lesson from.

They had their hands on me - even until we arrived at the train station, where I was reunited with my district partner, then they let go of us - to walk by ourselves. I suspected that it was protocol, as they didn't want to make the Capitol workers seem bad on all screens around the country.

When we walked into the station all cameras were immediately turned to us, and everyone began to shout questions over one another. I looked over at Michelle, and could see her face was down and she was crying - I guessed she was overwhelmed by all that was going on.

As they kept on asking questions directly at me, I thought of what to do. I decided to keep my strategy from the ceremony, and look like the confident boy I definitely didn't feel like at that moment.
Playing into the part, I made direct eye contact with both reporters and cameras and made sure to smile as we were quickly rushed into the train.
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As soon as the doors shut, the train lurched forward - making Michelle fall to the floor and making me stumble, before finding my balance.

The first thing I noticed was the smell of food. Fascinated, I looked around to find that the Capitol put as much effort into the train as the Justice building. The walls were a nice, blue wallpaper and had dark wood trim going along the top and bottom.

Feeling adventurous, I opened the door closest to me and investigated the room. It was then when I saw the massive pile of food on the table. That's where the smell must've been coming from.

It had everything I could ever imagine, so much colour, with foods that I couldn't even tell you the name of. I was about to walk towards it, when I heard the voice of Effie Trinket enter the room.

"Ah yes, sit down and eat all you want!" She said, seemingly excited to show off what was prepared. I complied and sat down, and I saw Michelle's coming to do the same. Not knowing what to do, I just stared at the pile of food.

However I wasn't looking for long - as an arm coming from next to me reached over and started loading up her plate - some food even falling off with how much she was trying to fit on there.

Effie gasped, acting like she was personally wounded before exclaiming something along the lines of 'there would always be seconds and that she could at least have manners.'

The girl didn't seem to have heard her though, and started stuffing her face, which made me look up to see Effie's expression.

Her face was contorted in utter disbelief and disgust, and I couldn't help but quietly laugh at her. She didn't seem to care as she kept her eyes locked onto my district partner.

Only when my stomach growled that I started to put food on my plate, making sure not to put too much - as I knew my stomach wouldn't be able to handle it after so many years of scraps.
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When I was halfway through my plate the door slammed open, revealing a somewhat drunk Haymitch - with a metal flask in his hand. He stumbled over to the table and sat down before also putting food on his plate. He never looked up at us to greet us before he began eating.

I was going to speak up, when Michelle beat me to it. "Are you not going to teach us how to survive?" she asked shyly.

Haymitch looked up at her and bluntly said, "What's the point? You're going to die anyway, just make the most of what you have now."

Rolling my eyes, I answered back to him, "What's the point of having you as a mentor then?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him. But he didn't look up after what I said, only reaching over the table to grab something.