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THE TRAIN HURTLED THROUGH THE BARREN landscape that surrounded District 12, a stark contrast to the luxury Ares found himself in. He sat stiffly in the velvet-lined seat, his gaze focused on the window, though he barely registered the blur of trees and empty fields. His mind was elsewhere, far from whatever was happening.
In the seat next to him sat Katniss Everdeen, the other volunteer, her expression as unreadable as his own. She hadn't spoken much since they left the District. Ares could see the determination in her eyes, the same kind he felt when he had volunteered. She had done it for her sister. He had done it for Peeta. There was no point in small talk between them; they both understood why they were there.
Effie Trinket walked around, her bright purple dress billowing as she spoke excitedly about the coming days. Her voice was grating, like nails on a chalkboard to Ares. She clearly enjoyed the spectacle of it all, the "honor" of escorting tributes to their deaths.
"And you two will be staying in the finest accommodations the Capitol has to offer!" Effie chirped, her makeup even more garish under the train's lighting. "Oh, and wait until you meet your stylist team. They're absolutely divine this year!"
Ares barely spared her a glance. He didn't care about the Capitol's luxuries, nor the stylists. It was all part of the show, part of the manipulation. They would dress him up like a doll, parade him in front of the cameras, and then throw him into an arena to fight for his life. It was disgusting. But he'd play along. He had to. He wasn't here to make a point. He was here to survive.
"Are you even listening to me, darling?" Effie's voice broke through his thoughts, her tone sharp. She had noticed his lack of attention.
Ares turned his head slowly to face her, his expression cold. "Why should I? You're not saying anything important."
Effie blinked, clearly taken aback by his bluntness. She recovered quickly, though, plastering a smile back on her face. "Oh, I assure you, it's all very important! This is your chance to make an impression, Ares. You want sponsors, don't you? They can be the difference between life and death in the arena."
Ares stared at her for a moment, then shrugged. "I'll win without them." The boy mumbled, glancing down at the ground. He knew that the possibilities of winning without sponsors were below zero, but he had to at least believe in himself.
The woman sighed, not wanting to keep arguing with him. "I'm going to find Haymitch. He's probably in the bar car." She informed the two teenagers before getting up from her seat and walking out the car.
The door slid shut behind Effie with a soft click, leaving Ares and Katniss alone in the muted hum of the train. The rhythmic clatter of the wheels against the tracks filled the space, a dull, steady sound that seemed to echo in the silence between them. Neither spoke nor moved for a long moment. The atmosphere felt thick, almost suffocating, like the calm before a storm.
