Fire is Raging On (A Hunger Games Fanfic) [#Wattys 2016]

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Gale's POV

They lead me down the halls of Town Hall, the entire time I don't see Madge at all. Where is she? Wouldn't they be bringing her to the train now too?

"Excuse me, are they bringing Ma- the female tribute to the train now too," I ask the Peacekeeper walking beside me.

"That's none of your concern," he hastily says, walking faster toward the hall.

I'm not sure if I should take that as a good thing or a bad thing. It could be good because they would be bringing Madge to the train with me, and I would know she's safe for now. It could be a bad thing because they could be doing anything to her now, and I wouldn't be able to stop them. It worries me either way, and it will continue to worry me until I can see her again, hopefully that will happen soon.

We soon reach the back entrance of Town Hall, and a car waits there with Haymitch sitting in the back. Madge sits nervously beside him looking at her hands. I walk faster to make it to the car. As soon as I'm in the Peacekeeper roughly shuts it behind me.

"Madge," I breathe.

She looks up at me, her eyes ringed with red and puffy from crying. Mine must look similar. Madge rings her hands and sniffles.

"Gale," she says her voice hoarse.

The door to the car opens again. I turn to look and see Effie climb through the door.

"About time you get here," Haymitch grumbles.

Effie glances at him and swats at his arm. "Oh, don't act like I took forever," she huffs.

Before either Madge and I could comment, Haymitch says, "We'll talk on the train."

That's all he says, no one says anything as we take off and are carried away from downtown District Twelve. Most people are gone from the Town Square, only a few linger, and they recognize our car. As we pass them on our way to the train station, they raise three fingers in farewell. Tears once again burn in my eyes, but I don't let any fall. I've done enough crying for one day. I look over to Madge and see the tears running down her face. I wrap my arms around her in the only comfort I can offer her. I can't promise it will all be okay because I don't know if it will.

It doesn't take long to reach the train station, but this time it seems to be taking forever. Every little detail engraving itself in my brain. When we make it to the train station there's no one around. Effie and Haymitch quickly exit and we follow behind them. They lead the way up the steps like they have so many times before. Of course the train is top of the line, newest model, out there. It's like saying, "Only the best for our citizens we've decided are going to kill each other for sport. We better give them at least some taste of luxury before they're killed off by their peers." It's rather welcoming, you know.

As Madge and I follow Haymitch and Effie through the train to an unknown car. The trains that carry tributes are designed differently than the ones for the general public. They're private cars so the customer gets all the luxury items they want. Haymitch and Effie seem familiar with the setup so they must design all the previous Tribute trains like this.

We're lead into a long car with a huge buffet table. Haymitch and Effie wordlessly take their seats beside each other leaving Madge and I the seats across from them. The table is laden with food of every kind.

"It's kind of like a last meal for you two," Haymitch says, "Except it's not your last meal."

"They're real kind, aren't they?" I say sarcasm heavy in my voice.

"Sarcasm won't help you in the Capitol, kid," he says back before grabbing something off a platter.

"That is the last time I'll District Twelve, isn't it?" Madge asks quietly.

I want to deny it, tell her everything will work out, that everything will be okay. I know I'll protect her but that can only offer her so much comfort. I can only offer so much comfort when everything is falling apart.

"Oh, no, sweetie, it won't be the last time," Effie says, her voice is soothing. She's probably used to trying to comfort people in this situation. It used to be her job after all; the same job she would do year after year, never changing except the faces she would see. Those faces she would never see again.

"I suppose now is as good of a time to talk as later. Perhaps before seeing your opponents this will be best," Haymitch says.

"What will be best?" I question.

"We talked to Katniss and Peeta before they came to see you," he says nodding toward me. They must have literally just came from talking to Haymitch right before talking to me. "They talked about a revolution, correct?" I nod my head and can feel Madge's questioning eyes on me. I haven't had time to tell her about my talks yet. "We talked it over. It's what this country needs with Snow in charge now," he whispers the last part. "Pretty much we need you to act like another pair of star-crossed lovers like Peeta and Katniss. It should be easier for you two though, than it was for them because your romance is real right now."

"So what we need to do is just be like Katniss and Peeta?" Madge asks.

"Yes, just make it your own story so the Capitol gets captivated," Effie says.

"What happens then?" Madge asks.

"Hopefully, if everything works to plan, a revolution will spark again and we'll be overthrow Snow once and for all."

"I think I just need to lay down," Madge says pushing away from the table.

"I'll go with you," I say, pushing away myself. I just want to spend time with her now. I haven't gotten to talk to her about all of this, and I need to, we need to talk.

"Alright, go down two cars and there is a bed in there," Effie says.

We head the direction we're told and we find the bed without much trouble. The room is dark and Madge just flops down on the bed. I follow and lay down beside her, pulling her against my chest.

"We haven't talked about any of this," I whisper into the darkness.

"I know," she whispers. "Why us?"

"I don't know. I've been wondering that this entire time."

The train continues to move smooth as ever, carrying us closer and closer to the Capitol for their little game they've never been forced to participate in. I wonder how they would feel if someone close to them was forced into the Games. Maybe then they would rethink supporting them.

"How did Snow ever get out? How did she ever get into the President's office and kill Paylor? How did she do anything?" I question aloud. "When I was working with her, I never dreamed she had this kind of stuff in mind. That will always be one of my deepest regrets. I wish I could take it all back and maybe we wouldn't be in this situation. Everything going on right now is partly my fault."

I crack myself up guys. If you didn't know I'm writing a story about my life. It may have just gotten a rating of mature because my cussing tendency and because I was talking about dicks in the most recent part. For specifically, the fact that my friend has a "musical" dick. I'm going to start writing the next chapter to FIRO and maybe stop talking about musical dicks. ~ Alexis