Oblivion

The Journey

Mom and Dad rush into the Tribute holding room. I hug my crying mother, Ilya hugs a silent father, we don't even hear the Peacekeeper say we have 5 minutes. I tell mother to stop crying, and to be waiting for Ilya to come home, but I don't  think she realizes what I've just told her as she cries over to Ilya. Speaking of which isn't shedding a tear at this. Dad comes over to me, casting a shadow on me. "You know that there is only one victor" he states as a matter of fact, "and we won't hate you if you cant save her, as long as you don't kill her." he is whispering in my ear now as he hugs me. Then he hands me a ring he made, it is in the shape of a snake eating its own tail. "It's an Ouroboros. It has multiple meanings, and I know you will figure it out, I love you son" My father says as the Peacekeeper comes in and escorts my sister and I out of the room, through the building to the Capitol's train. 

Our train station is in a building that is also connected to the Govenor's building so we go in through the side entrance, and as we step through the doors we see our friends and family waiting to say goodbye, or at least see us off. We climb the steps behind our blue haired mentor, and watch from the window as the train begins to pull away, and we wave at the small crowd. I audibly gasp as we leave through the tunnel into the blinding light, and Ilya asks worriedly what's wrong, to which I tell her the truth, "I saw someone on the edge of the crowd, and they waved at me and mouthed good luck." With the sun in her eyes she has to squint at me when she says, "So? There was a crowd, a lot of people where there." I look away from the window and walk to one of the plush couches throwing myself down on it and locking my eyes with hers as I reply, "It would of been fine, if a dead person wasn't waving at me." She turns from the window looking spooked. "If it hadn't been Alex who waved at me and wished me good luck." Ilya gasps and turns pale and silent. And I... I remain silent the rest of the journey.

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We rush over the Capitol Dam. The crystal waters reflecting the sun and turning the water into a mirror of the sky, which is blinding to look at. But Ilya stares out at it as though it is a lovely picture, and not a image trying to melt your eyes. I'm still in the couch, rolling the ring around my palm, when he walks in, blue hair and blue eyes watching me and my sister. Then he speaks, and I immediately want to punch him in the throat. "My name is Elphrick Dioynus, and I will be your Tribute escort. As for your Mentor, let me find him.", I can't hold my anger at bay anymore. My sister sees my movements before I go through with it, but she stays seated as I bolt for the table, grab a butter knife, turn and throw it at Elphrick as he walks toward the door. It cuts his neck and lodges in the door frame. He freezes in his tracks, midstride. I already have fork in my hand now, as I hiss at him, "You. Your the reason he's dead. Do you even remember  his name?! You sentenced my best friend to die, and now me and my sister!" He looks at me, "Well then the odds were not in his favor", he replies. I'm about to put the fork through his throat when our Mentor walks in.  He walks with the grace of a snake. He is a tall man, but shorter than my father, yet he is of similar build. It is a strange thing to see him move so precise and easily, as though he doesn't belong in such a large frame, but he obviously knows how to control it. He says in a calm voice, "I wouldn't do that if you want to live. But good news, you have a chance at winning the Games." I look at him and now my eyes. I can hear the screams of the Capitol's people. "They want a show? Fine, I'll give them a show" I say as I punch Elphrick so hard his face hits the glass and his nose breaks, and the crowd laughs and yells a chorus.