THE 69TH HUNGER GAMES - Book 2: Trainer

Chapter 6 - Klieo's Piece of Coco

I suddenly jolt up from my sleep. I look around the room and notice that bright sunlight is shimmering through the huge glass window pane. The sounds of footsteps echo from the lounge room outside. Mark Lillian barges into the room that same instant and smiles at me.

“It’s time to go get some sponsors,” he beams.

“Where is Dean and Lianka?” I murmur, rubbing my eyes.

“They’ve gone to training,” Dean says. “Falafel, Valencia and your sister are in the living room discussing plans for the interviews with Caesar Flickerman.”

“Oh,” I mutter.

“Well, I’m heading off to the betting centre,” Mark says. “Make sure to convince Klieo to invest in our sponsors.” Mark informs before leaving the room.

I nod, then get out of bed. I slip into a pair of shirts and a red sweater before tying my hair up into a causal ponytail.

“Perfect,” I murmur to myself before leaving my bedroom and heading into the living room.

I notice Falafel, Gina and Valencia at the dining table busily discussing outfit plans for the interviews.

I leave the room and head to the elevator, which takes me to the ground floor. Outside is a line of taxis, which according to the front desk guy, I am free to take.

I strut out into the windy air and walk over to the nearest taxi. I knock on the window of the vehicle, and the glass rolls down.

“Hi,” I mutter sheepishly. “Can you take me to Klieo’s mansion?” I ask.

“Hey, you’re Hyora Coco, aren’t you?” exclaims the taxi driver in delight.

The driver has strange blue hair and piercings all over his nose.

“Yeah, I’m Hyora,” I answer.

“Well, hop in. I’ll take you to Klieo’s mansion,” the driver says. “The main issue is getting inside.”

“I don’t think I’ll have a problem with that,” I murmur.

I step into the luxurious and air conditioned vehicle cabin, and the driver immediately accelerates. The sight of beautiful Capitol buildings zooms past as we speed down an unnaturally clean and polished road. I see enormous glass skyscrapers, followed by a cluster of overly large and gaudy residential mansions. That was probably where all the wealthy Capitol citizens lived.

The taxi ride only takes about twenty minutes. I finally reach the front gates to an enormous white contemporary mansion nestled on a very steep mountain surrounded by tropical-esque bush and forest. On the front gates read ‘The Klieo Mansion.’

“There you go, hun,” mutters the taxi driver.

I give him some money, and leave the vehicle. The taxi leaves, leaving me in silence. I look up at the front gates and sigh at how grand and wasteful everything here is.