The Hunger Games: Separated

Chapter 5- Train Ride to the Capitol

Chapter 5- Train ride to the Capitol

"Hi, I'm Lily." I speak shyly in reply back to Seeder. Even though I've never met her in person before now, I can't help but immediately trust her. She seems genuinely concerned for my safety.
"I'm sorry for what happened to you, I'm going to do everything I can to bring you home to your sister." Seeder says with a tone of determination in her voice.
"Thank you." I whisper in reply, chocking back tears as I imagine Ivy sitting on our double mattress sobbing.
"Here I'll show you to your room."
"Okay."

Seeder leads me down a hallway and opens a door on the left hand side.
"Here it is. I'm guessing you want to be alone for a while, so I'll come and get you for dinner."
"Thanks." I reply softly, wondering how she read my mind. She leaves, and I walk into the room. I am immediately flabbergasted just by the size of it. Just this room alone is probably three times the size of Ivy and I's bedroom, add on the bathroom, and you have a living quarters twice the size of my entire house! Even though the thought of the money that has gone into buying all of these things make me feel guilty, I can't help but get excited as I explore the place that will be my home for the next 17 hours.

I start with the bedroom, jumping on the bed, and looking through the enormous chest of draws next to it. Inside there is every sort of clothes you can imagine, dresses, shorts, t-shirts, pyjamas, and even some things made for cold weather! Next is the bathroom. It contains a huge thing that I think is called a shower, plus a bath. It also contains a sink with a vanity underneath, and heaps of fluffy white towels. There is taps that give you hot water in an instant. At home we have to boil water if we need it hot. I rummage through the draws underneath the vanity and find about ten different types of soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hairbrushes and some fancy stuff that I think you use to clean your hair. It seems a little excessive having so many types of everything.

Now that I've finished exploring, I sink down into the softness of the bed, and begin to wish that my family and Rue were here to share it with me. I can just imagine what each of them would love. Ivy would love the big chest of draws filled with clothes, I can just imagine her putting on the hundred different outfits, and looking at me for approval. Rue would probably love the size of the place, she would most likely run around trying everything. Millie and Abbie would probably love the big bathtub, and my parents would just love to see us all happy. I feel a tear slip down my cheek, and realise the fact that I will stop at nothing to protect them. I have to survive the games, I have to do it for them. No matter what it takes.

Out of nowhere I hear a soft knock on the door. I hastily wipe the lone tear off my cheek just as Seeder walks in and sits down next to me on the bed. "Lily, you don't have to hide your tears from me, I understand how you feel." Seeder says softly.
"I just didn't want you to think that I'm weak." I reply.
"You're not weak for crying, I did exactly the same when I was in your position." She replies as she pulls me into a hug.
"I just miss my family that's all."
"I know, you'll be back with them soon I promise."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. Now lets go down to the dinning car, we need to get some food into you."
"Okay."

As I follow Seeder down to the dining car, I feel glad that Seeder is my mentor. She is better than anyone I could've hoped for. I wonder if William's mentor is as nice as Seeder is? I hope so because even though in a few days he will be trying to kill me, he deserves a good support system. As we arrive at the dining car I am dumbfounded by the amount of food on William's plate. He is sitting next to a tall, dark skinned, drunk man with only one arm, and they are both eating like there is no tomorrow. Sunshine is sitting across the table from them, and is looking at them in disgust as they shovel down the food.

"Lily, this is Chaff, William's mentor." Seeder introduces. "Chaff this is Lily the female tribute."
"It's nice to meet you sir." I say as I chew on my fingernails, trying to be polite.
"Sir, who's this sir?" Chaff laughs.
Seeder shoots him an angry look and guides me into the seat next to Sunshine, before sitting down next to me. "Don't mind him." She whispers in my ear.

Out of nowhere a waiter appears and places a bowl full of soup in front of Seeder and I. I can't help but pick up my spoon and dig into the soup which appears to be strawberry flavoured, hungrily. Sunshine warns me to save room for the next course, but I finish the soup anyway. The second I put my spoon down after I have finished, the waiter reappears with a plate of some sort of stew. I pick up my knife and fork trying to eat politely, but still scoff down the delicious chicken and apricot stew in an instant. I have only ever had chicken once before, and it was when Ivy and I were visiting our aunt before she died.

I realise that next to my plate of food there is a cup, and a few jugs of different drinks are along the table. I pour myself a glass of orange juice, just as the waiter is taking my plate and replacing it with a new one filled with fruit and cheeses. I scoff that down too, wondering if I helped to harvest some of the fruit. This procedure continues until I'm completely stuffed. I have never felt like this my entire life. Ivy, Rue and I always gave most of our food to our younger siblings, so we were always hungry. It's really strange to feel full, but it's nice to get rid of the emptiness that normally makes up my stomach.
I wish that Ivy and Rue could feel like this right now as well, but they are most probably starving back home.

I am just about to ask if I can go to bed, when Sunshine bounces up from the table, and says its time to watch all of the reapings. Great I forgot about that. Now I have to see all of the really strong, brave, and heartless kids that in a few days will try to kill me. I walk into the next carriage with Seeder right behind me. She seams to sense my fear, and when I sit down on a couch in front of the TV, she sits on the couch next to me, with her arm around me. William and Chaff enter the room, and the reapings start.

I try to remember as many of the tributes as possible, but it's really hard. The District 1 tributes are typical careers. They have trained all their lives to be in the games, along with most of the other children in their district, and Districts 2 and 4. The male from District 2 is the same, but the female is only twelve like me, and looks petrified when her name gets called, someone from the crowd screams 'Gemma!' as she walks onto the stage. The District 4 tributes both volunteer, and like District 1, are typical careers. I don't remember any of the other tributes until District 8's reaping comes onto the screen. The girl looks to be about 13, and she just sticks out for some reason. Next thing I know my reaping is on the screen.
I witness my name being called and Ivy hysterically screaming again. A tear runs down my face, and I look away from the screen. I completely miss District 12, because I'm crying and Seeder is comforting me.

Now that the reapings are over, Sunshine announces that William and I should get some sleep. Seeder seconds this, but Chaff just continues to drain a bottle of alcohol. William says goodnight and obediently strides to his room, and I wrap my arms around Seeder one last time before following suit. When I reach my room I take off my reaping dress, and put on the most comfortable pyjamas I can find, before climbing into the comfortable bed. I think about how much I have cried today. I almost never cry, so this is really strange for me. Ivy is probably lying on our double mattress by herself right now, I hope she is okay, I hope that Rue and my parents are ok too. Millie and Abbie don't understand that their big sister could be dead in a few days, so I'm sure they are fast asleep by now. I wonder how Ivy is going to cope without me there, at least she has Rue.

Authors note:
Again it's 12:50am as I'm writing this, so if you find any errors please comment them below so I can fix them. By the way, I appreciate any feedback that you give me.