The Quater Quell: 50th Hunger Games

Chapter 5

         Peacekeepers escort me to a train and we take off heading towards the Capitol. Cicero invites us to join him for lunch in the main car. Our mentor, Walt's older brother, Waylon is awaiting us at the dinner table. "Good afternoon." He greets us. Dean and Waylon make eye contact and Dean gives his cousin a nod to assure he is alright. Dean, Larten, Maizey and I gather around the table and are served lunch. "Eat up while you can. You're going to need the extra pounds in the arena." Larten laughs like this is all a joke. I glare at him and he shoots me a wink. "So sugar tits, you and me tonight. My train car. What do ya say." Larten says with a mouth full of food. Before I can tell him to piss off, Dean slams his fist on the table and stands. "Don't you talk to her like that EVER again!"

           "Awe. Cute. Or what pencil dick? You gonna kill me? We're all dead anyways." Lartens spits out. "Dean! Sit down. Now." Waylon tells his younger cousin. Dean looks at Waylon and sits down with a loud thud. "That's not true you know." Maizey speaks up for the first time. "What isn't?" I ask. "That we are all going to die. One of us will win as long as we listen to Waylon. Right?" she hopefully looks over to Waylon. Waylon sighs and tells us that will will win only if we listen to him and manage to get sponsors.

        With a scoff and his eyes rolled, Larten leaves the table and bumps into Dean on his way to his train car. Dean looks over to me and says "I'm gonna kill him." Cicero cuts in and makes a good point. "Well, not trying to tell you what to do, but, wouldn't it make sense to work together so you'll district will have a better chance of having a winner? That way, your entire District will win food and presents all year." Dean doesn't like the idea but agrees with Cicero. We watch the recap of all of the reaping's from each District. The careers look fierce this year, especially the girl from District 1. District 7 had a set of twins reaped and in District 11 it appeared a young boy volunteered for his older, handicapped brother. Just watching made me want to cry.

         District 12's reaping was also sad. A girl volunteered for her best friend. They were pretty and had blonde hair. They held each other and the peacekeepers had to break them apart. Jade didn't volunteer for me. I say to myself. Pushing that though out of my mind I focus back on the projected television before me. Another 12 year old boy was reaped followed by someone who caught my attention. "Haymitch Abernathy!" yodeled their escort. A handsome boy around my age walks up to the stage with a look of pure hatred and disgust on his face. He wasn't afraid to show his emotions to the whole country of Panem. I felt connected to him and also afraid of him at the same time. A boy like that is dangerous.

          After we finish the recaps, Maizey asks me to tuck her into bed. I run my fingers through her hair and tell her a story while she falls asleep. She reminded me of my younger brother who passed away in a farming accident. Brave, friendly and hopeful. He had a true love for people. I didn't see how this little girl was going to be able to survive in the arena let alone kill anyone. She didn't seem sad or scared. Maizey was optimistic and told me how she cant wait to try all of the new foods and make new friends. I wanted to tell her that I don't think we are going to be making too many friends where we are going but I knew that would crush her.

         I find my way to my train car at the back of the train. I think its called a caboose or something. I let my dress fall to the floor and kick of my boots. I jump into the shower and almost squeal when I feel how hot it is. I've never had the privilege of taking a hot shower before. I've had baths but an endless shower of warm water? That was unheard of. I push buttons on the control panel and am squirted by dozens of jets with different types of soaps and oils. I like the smell of Cashmere the best. I stand in the shower for what feels like hours with my eyes closed. When I open them, I glance down and notice my skin is a bright red as if I was being cooked in the shower.

          I step out and dry off. I throw my hair up into a messy bun and then I slip into a silky, red night gown and lay down. Unable to fall asleep. Since I cant sleep, I step out of my train car and walk outside onto the small porch of the car. It is night fall so I cannot see my surroundings but I can smell salt in the air and vaguely can see white caps, popping in the distance. District 4. I think to myself. The district by the ocean. If somehow I win these games, District 4 is the District I would like to see the most on my Victory tour. I've read all kinds of stories about their ocean and way of life. They know how to swim and fish. They have big nets that they take out on actual boats! It is so peaceful out here. A warm breeze was in the air and, even though the train was going at least 300 mph it was silent, so I could hear all of the waves lapping onto the shore. I rest my chin on my hand and begin to doze off. I head back to bed and eventually fall asleep.

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