Into the Flames [Watty Awards 2012]

Chapter 7

Everything outside my window was black. I could see nothing. I pulled on a t-shirt and shorts and hurried out to the dining car. As I left, I saw light start to seep through the window. I ran up to it and stared out. I tunnel lay behind us, but before us was a big bright, silver city. I rushed back out the door. I stepped into the dining car to see River staring out the window. “Waterlily! Come look at the city!”

I grinned. “I saw a little bit of it in my room.” I stepped over to the window and knelt down on the ledge. The buildings were so tall and well built. Very few of the buildings were the same shape and size. Almost every single one was different. After a couple minutes we pulled into the train station. another train pulled in right after us a couple tracks down.

“Okay you two. It’s time to get off the train. You are going to follow me to the remake center and go to your floor, floor four. Your stylists will meet you there. Try not to make too much contact with the other tributes.” Coelia grabbed a clipboard from a table near the door as the train doors opened. I followed Coelia off the train. I watched as a girl from the train that pulled in after us, exited her train. She was told and very well built. She looked like she had been training all her life. As we passed her I heard her talking to her partner. “The capitol isn’t too hard to navigate after you have been here for a little while. You’ll get used to it.” Why would she know about the capitol?

“Interesting girl huh?”

I nodded as River walked up next to me, matching my fast pace. “Who is she?”

“That’s Ethelreda Rosamundi. She lived in the capitol as a child and started training at a very young age. She moved to District Two just so she could be in The Hunger Games. She is said to be better than any victor living.

“Who is?” Finnick walked up behind us playful concern on his face.

“Apparently the girl from two is better than any victor alive.”

“Guess I’m not alive then.”

I let out a laugh. It was the first time I had laughed since my father got sick. “Guess not Finnick.”

“Well, if we can catch up to Coelia and May, and get to the remake center on time. May and I can get you enough sponsors to last you a lifetime!” Enough sponsors to keep me alive? That would be great!

I broke into a run. Finnick started running, just keeping up with me, but River lagged behind. “Come on River!” He laughed and lunged forward to join us. Together the three of us ran to the remake enter never stopping to rest.