Pleasant Nightmare

Chapter 8

Author's Note:
First, I wanna apologize because of the delay, again. Yes, I was caught up with paperworks and the upcoming finals week.
Second, I wanna ask you how was your Mockingjay Part 2 experience? I watched it twice cuz it was so good (well, it's THG franchise, duh). I bought so many Mockingjay merchs and now I'm broke, but it was all worth it obviously.
Third, I just recently heard that theyre gonna make a THG prequel! Fingercrossed, I hope it's true!
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PRANG!

Oops, I guess I just break another vase into pieces. Haymitch and I are playing this game that involves a small white ball and a heavy metal stick. Haymitch said this game was called 'golf', and it's a rich people's sport in the Capitol. We are supposed to swing our stick and aim the ball to the hole on the ground. But alas, my swinging game is not as strong as my aiming game. We've been having fun though. We need to channel our energy and excitement of being on the way home, into something. We keep playing the game until it's way past lunch.

"Oh gosh, how long do we have to sit in this train." I whine to Haymitch for the hundredth time. We sit in the table to have our late lunch.

"Come on, it's barely 4 p.m., just eat your food, will ya?" I notice he keeps eyeing the collection of liquors in the corner of the compartment.

I eat my pulled pork sandwich silently while staring blankly, starting my daydreaming mode. Huh, at this time around, Cato must have arrived at District Two. Meanwhile, I still have a night to spend in this damn train. I'm not okay with the idea of not doing anything for the next 12 hours.

"Hey, Haymitch. We are not supposed to communicate to an Avox, right?" Because suddenly I have an idea to kill time.

"Yeah, we are not. Why? Oh, don't do stupid things, Kat."

"No, I won't." I smile and it's quite suspicious.

"Yeah, you certainly won't." Oh, did I just smell sarcasm? "Just don't do anything stupid enough to make you regret you won the game. I'll be in my own paradise." He means the liquor collections, obviously.

I finish my last bite of bread then head to the kitchen compartment. Inside the compartment, I find a boy around my age with light brunette hair and very pale skin. He has an okay build and a few inches taller than me. He wears a mandatory white-on-white uniform. He was having his lunch-bread and purple jam-when I walk in. I can't believe he had worked so hard to prepare our meals by himself, and he only gets two pieces of bread and some jam for lunch, while we get pork, chicken, and lamb. I get closer to him.

"Hey." I give my sincerest smile and friendliest gesture. "I love your cooking. I think your cooking is better than the ones in the Capitol." Now we are only separated by a kitchen counter.
He stops chewing and smiles. I'm going to assume that smile is a 'thank'.
"I'm Katniss, by the way. But I suppose you've known me." We share a silent laugh. "Can you tell me your name? Can you write it or something, if it's not too troublesome? Well, I know that the rule forbid me to talk to you. But screw the rule right, we are nowhere near the Capitol."

He nods, grabs a napkin and a pen, then write 'Rixton' on it. I like this kid, even if he only responds me with nods and silent laughs.

I keep telling him lame jokes. I help him preparing dinner. I push him to join me for dinner, but I guess that has crossed the line. I just can't stand the idea of this kid only having bread and jam three times a day, while I get to eat anything I want.

So with the last meal being put on the tray, Rixton rushes me to go to the dining compartment before him. He insists that he doesn't want to be seen with me. But he agreed that I can see him in the kitchen. So I'm good.

It's already 9 p.m. when I get to the dining compartment. I decided to freshen up a bit, because I spent quite a time at the kitchen, and the air was dull, no ventilation whatsoever. Maybe that's why Rixton agreed to meet me at the kitchen-there was no chance to spy on us without being seen.

By the time I get to the dining table, the meals have already been settled, and Haymitch is nowhere to be seen. So I scoop out a bowl of clam soup, some rolls, sautéed chicken, and a platter of fruits. I sit at the head of the table. The silence causes my mind to wander.
I wonder how Rixton's old life could be. We kind of have the same fate to think about it. We have been captivated by the system. We have lost our loved ones because of the Capitol. Our once innocent world has been destroyed by Snow.

If it's not for Rixton, I won't touch my food, because the thought is very overwhelming it leaves me no apetite. I gulp down everything and resist the urge to throw up-I can already taste the acid in my mouth. But alas, I make it to the last spoon of broth.

I finished my meal hurriedly because I thought I'd see Rixton again in the kitchen. But when I get to the kitchen, Rixton is nowhere to be seen. I check the time and it's barely 10-still too early to go to bed. But there's really nothing I can do being alone. So I slip on my pajama and force myself to sleep.

Haymitch instructed me earlier on the day that we'll arrive in Twelve at 4 in the morning. A prep team will help me get my make up done, and put the outfit Cinna made, of which they have brought all the way from the Capitol. Estimated time for my first appearance at Twelve is at 7, with camera rolling and crowd cheering-that's what Haymitch said.
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"Katniss!", I can feel someone shaking my shoulder. I wake up instantly. I'm left speechless to see that someone waking me up is Rixton. Rixton just spoke.

"What..? How..? I..", my sleepy brain has to adjust with the new information I was just given.

"Ssst. Tune down your voice. I need to speak to you. Just listen to me. We don't have much time before the train stops." I sit straight back on my bed and nod.

"Katniss Everdeen, my name is Rixton Snow. Yes, I am related to President Snow. To be exact, I am-or should I say 'was'-his grandson. I was casted out from the family because I published my school paperwork in which I questioned Snow's lifetime reign; how he created an unfair system that exploits the whole districts and in return he promises 'peace'. Don't ask me, I know you never get political studies back in Twelve-no district has, because knowledge about politics can be dangerous to Snow's presidency. My grandfather was threatened by my paperwork that somehow went viral-at least for the Capital folks. So he casted me out two years ago when I was 17, and made me an Avox but never got to cut my tongue because my mother would never let him. Do you know why I can't be seen with you? Yes, because I'm always being watched. Don't worry, now I'm safe, and the kitchen was the safest place we could be-I've checked. Listen, Katniss, I can't let you out this train without knowing the danger you have put yourself into. That man we called President is very dangerous, he even casted out his own blood. So please, be careful; play his game, do anything he wants, but always outsmart him. Stay alive. You are a nice person, I wish I could be your friend", with that being said, he peck my right cheek and leave into the darkness.

I am in an utter shock. I feel horrid because of the horror Rixton just dropped to me. Suddenly I have instant stomachache, cold sweat, and numbness. I remain sit straight for the next couple of hours until three people with Capitol fashion sense knock my door. Apparently we have arrived at Twelve, and it's almost 5 in the morning. I let them do their work while I remain silent, still captivated by the horror thoughts.

Then, after a solid hour of silence and fear, a sudden realization hits me. I have Cato to go through this together.