As we board the train, I get a glimpse of our mentor for this year, Chaff and Seeder. Chaff is a middle-aged man whose arm ends in a stump due to the games he won about thirty years ago. Seeder is woman who looks about sixty, but still looks strong.
I am assigned to a train car. When I have sat down, I get a good look at the good luck charm Daisy gave me. It is a necklace woven out of some kind of grass. On it hangs roughly cut wooden flower. "Oh..." I whisper, "thankyou Daisy..."
Jewel Ree comes to collect me for dinner. I am still wearing my reaping outfit, but it looks fine, so I stay in that. When we get to the table, I see Chaff and Thresh, murmuring quietly in the corner. Looks like Chaff picks his favourites, in other words, who he think has a chance to win.
I feel a hand on my shoulder, and look up to see Seeder smiling at me.
"Hello, Rue. My name is Seeder. I will be your mentor for these Games," she says seriously. I sigh with relief. Before I thought that Chaff and Seeder had picked Thresh as their favourite, but then I realise they have paired up male with male and female with female.
After dinner, I return to my train compartment and climb into bed. Everything feels so unfamiliar, from the way the train moves to the smell of the linen on my bed.
I wonder how everyone is faring at home. I wonder if they are still crying, or are silently praying to God that I make it through The Hunger Games alive.
Finally, I fall into an uneasy sleep, wondering if I will make it through the Hunger Games aswell.
