Chained Hearts

Chapter One

Chapter One

District 12 is the poorest district in Panem. Even though it's not surrounded with poverty and people aren't starving or ill, the district isn't as well off as others. So the residents are called the Poor of Panem. I still don't understand why. Maybe going there would help me understand. I've never met her but I do I know that my Aunt Effie runs an Etiquette School in the District. Maybe she'll end up sending me there. I'm sure it wouldn't be that hard to escape from an old school of polite spinsters. I could escape and catch a train back home, tell Miss. Paylor Effie sent me home. Yeah, I like that idea.

As I get off the train lugged with bags I take in my surroundings. The station is pretty much deserted-no-one on the train were going here, most of them were on board to go to districts 6-9. 10-12 aren't as popular for tourists and visitors because they aren't as fun and have no attractions whatsoever.

"Katniss!" A ear shattering shrill of a voice squeals. I whirl round as a woman in a spring green suit with six inch heels and who's blonde wig is bouncing wildly, in danger of falling off, barrels towards me. Is this my aunt?! The crazy woman in green batters me in a fierce hug, making me drop my bags in shock. God this is awkward, I hope she is my aunt and not some deranged mental patient escaped from an asylum.

"Aunt Effie?" I ask somewhat nervously.

"Katniss!" the woman cries in delight as she pulls away from the hug. "I'm so happy you're here! Yes! I'm Aunt Effie! Please, just call me Effie. 'Aunt' makes me sound so old don't you think?"

"Uh-"

"Oh how rude of me! I should introduce myself properly. My name's Effie Trinket of 12 and I'm going to whip you into shape my dear!" Effie twitters cheerfully.

"Whip me into shape?" I frown, slightly overwhelmed.

"Your mother has explained everything to me dear, and I'm so sorry," Effie sighs dramatically. She's acting like I've got some self inflicted disease or something. "And I'm going to clear your thoughts so the truth will be crystal." Truth? I know what the truth is, that's the problem! "Come on, we better get off this filthy platform before we catch something!"

Like what?!

I sigh and bend down to pick my bags up when my hands are slapped away by Effie. "Rule number one: Never do anything for yourself," she grins.

"Who does it for me then?" I ask, looking around the platform and seeing no-one; just the dusty station to my left.

"The slave obviously," Effie answers. Her eyes widen and she gasps. "I'm sorry, that was rude. It's probably not obvious to you, poor thing." I'm starting to feel like an incompetent five year old who can't tell right from wrong and it's very frustrating.

"There's no-one here," I reply, trying to keep the venom out of my tone-very nearly failing.

"Of course!" Effie exclaims. "I forgot, he's watching the car."

"Who?"

"The Slave of course," Effie smiles before shrieking, "Peeta! Get over here now!" I rub my ears after the shrill shriek cuts through them. I wonder how many decibels her yell could reach all at once? 

A blond head suddenly pops round the station wall at the end of the platform, probably checking they're at the right one, before coming fully around and approaching us. Before they even reach us the first thing that strikes me about them is the clear blue of their eyes. They have an almost luminous glow to them that both terrifys and fascinates me. I feel myself stiffen as they come closer and I realize who they are: It's Effie's slave. I chastise myself for being so naive and not realizing sooner who it was. When he reaches us he doesn't speak; he just stands beside Effie and looks at her expectantly, probably awaiting an order.