The Song of Eternal Winter

chapter 1

  

[Matty's Pov]

I woke up to a smell that immediately set me on edge: oil. Yes, I'm used to working on oil fields. Yes, the train is carrying a few tanks of oil, but I was in the front. I shouldn't be able to smell the oil from here.

Knowing something was wrong, I turned and headed into the car. 'Cypress,' I said with a sharp urgency. 'I can smell oil from the rear of the workers' car. How close are we to the Capitol?'

Cypress looked up, his green eyes meeting my black ones. He shook his head and stood, his eyebrows furrowing. 'We're still a few hours out. You sure you smelled the oil? It's downwind and a whole car away.'

I nodded and turned back to the door, waving for Cypress to follow. We left the dark metal box car and stood on the viewing platform, our hair waving slightly in the wind. Cypress lifted his chin slightly and sniffed the air. His eyes widened.

'Look.' Cypress said over the noise of the wind and the train wheels. He pointed at the dull metal of the oil tank and my eyes also widened. Dripping from a crack in the front of the tank was a sticky black liquid, slowly running down the metal in a stream.

Cypress wheeled around and slammed open the door to the workers' car. 'Oil leak! The front tank's got a crack! Get Finn!'

Those three sentences were enough to get the other twenty of the crew up and moving. Fifteen of them started moving everything to the front of the car, away from the oil tank. Three of them ran out of the far end of the car to find the engineer.

The other two, Venus and Diana were told to stay to the side. They were both only thirteen, and this was their first oil trip — it'd be safer for them to stand back and watch.

The next few hours were tiring as we worked hastily to help Finn with the crack. Thankfully, we had a spare sheet of metal that he was able to weld over it, but we would have to properly fix it at our stop in the Capitol.

The only downside was we didn't have any water to spare, so I had to wait to clean the sticky, disgusting oil off my clothes and body. I got lucky that it wasn't fresh from the ground; if it was, I would be dealing with some nasty burns.

Well, there were actually two problems. The second was the peacekeepers. They didn't help. They just stood there with their guns and got in the way. At least we only had a dozen to deal with.

After another hour, we pulled into the station at Capitol. Thirty other peacekeepers were waiting to disconnect and move the oil tanks to wherever they were needed.

The crew of twenty-five (including Finn and the conductor) was "escorted" into a "hotel". We would spend the night there while the oil tanks were emptied and the train was cleaned and resources were restocked for the journey home.

* - * - * - * - * - * - *

By the next morning, the train had been cleaned and the cracked oil tank had been dealt with. Not even two hours before the train was due to leave, I was informed that we had collected empty oil barrels, which had to be stored in the workers' car.

We would be able to transfer them to another train in District 3, which was our next and last stop before heading back to 14. Until then, I would have to find my own ride to 3.

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[Holly's Pov]

"JOLLY B.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU'RE SO HOT. I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! JOLLY B.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" members of the crowd yelled as I walked off stage. I rolled my eyes at the pervy comments, as soon as I was out of view. In all honesty, I wanted to throw my microphone at that one guy, but microphones are expensive and Seajus would kill me if he saw me break one. Plus, not good for my image, and Snow would be mad.

There weren't this many pedophiles at Glimmer's interview. Oh well. I walked down the steps just to look up at the two peacekeepers watching the backstage doors. Always hard for me to tell if their job is to keep creeps out or to keep me in. "Hello," I say to them. Like always, no response. "Oh, you did so well with those songs! Everyone just loved you, Jolly!" Effie said in her swirly capital accent. It's English, not a spiral, stop swirling.

"Just like every time, right?" I retorted. "And every time you do so well! My friends were in the crowd and they just loved it. My friend, Ladia, wanted me to give these to you!" Effie handed me a bouquet of roses. "...tell her I love them." I smile. Effie led me to wherever on earth we were going next. "Where are we going again?" I asked as I walked behind her and between the peacekeepers. "We're going to the home of the head game maker, he's hosting a dinner party just for you! Oh, how I wish I was you." Effie rambled on. Finally, food.

"Jolly B! Jolly B!" A man dubble my age ran straight into a peacekeeper. The man looked at me, "Hey pretty, got these for you." He tried to hand me a box of chocolate. The peacekeeper blocked the man but he would not give up. The peacekeeper tore the box of chocolate from the man's hands and yeeted it into the sunset. "I thought that might happen, so I also brought you this." He shoves a gift card in my face and says, "It's wind-resistant. Not as easy to throw."

The peacekeeper was about to throw it away but I stopped him. What perfect pop star would I be if I didn't accept gifts from my loving fans? "Oh thank you, you're too kind, I don't know what I would do without fans like you." I smiled and spoke real sweet. I tucked the gift card into my pocket as the man was drug away by Tod — that's what I call the peacekeeper with blonde hair, at least. Won't tell me your name? I'll make one up.

I followed behind Effie as camera after camera flashed in my eyes. The bright light flashed over and over again with no end in sight. Soon enough I had sunspots in my vision and a headache. I tried to shield my eyes from the paparazzi but Effie smacked my hand down. "Now now dear, they're just trying to take photos. You're old enough to know this."

"I can't see," I mumbled. "Yes, I know dear, but think about your fans. Don't you want to look nice for the photos?" She said as we walked. "Ok." I mumbled, knowing I wouldn't get my way. I turned, smiled, and waved at the paparazzi as we continued to walk by.

Soon enough we got into the limo, I slammed the door, "DoNT SLaM TEh DOoR!" Effie got all upset. I closed my eyes and leaned back into the seat. The driver turned on the radio and I heard Molly's voice over the radio "With my coat of many colors that my mama made for me," she sang over the radio. All she really does is cover Dolly Parton songs but it's good. Who am I to complain?

Soon enough we were at the head peacekeeper's house. I walked in, consciously going from normal fancy walking to walking on thin air, Disney princess style. I walked into the dining room, all eyes on me. I take a seat next to the head game maker. I sit still, quiet and pretty as I wait. I'm served my food, lobster and potatoes and salad and truffles and wine and rolls and... I can't name all that.

I look at the food, suppressing my urge to inhale it like the little pig I am. I slowly pick up the fork and eat in small bites like I have a stomach the size of a wall nut. Lobster and potatoes, people kill for this, but nothing beats momma's strawberry shortcake. After eating only a fourth of my plate, and wishing I could devour the rest and get seconds, I hear, "Alright, well, I assume you must get going?" The head game maker asked me. "Yes," Effie butted in and begrudgingly I followed.

I miss you food.

"By the way, Jolly dear. Someone will be sharing a train with you, alright?" Effie mentioned as we drove to the train station. "Ok, why?" I asked, "His train is full and you're both making stops in 3. He's riding with you till there and then getting back on his train to head back to 14." she told me. "Oh, he's from Alaska! Ok, they aren't known for being creepy, so it's alright," I proclaimed.

When we stepped on the train, I was greeted by something I can only describe as a human skyscraper.... "Tall..."