Secrets

Chapter Twelve

DISCLAMIER: This chapter was heavily inspired by Katniss's experiences on her train in the first book "The Hunger Games".

No one says goodbye to Clove.

So when the Peacekeepers came to get her out of the room, she was emotionless. Which is good. Showing a sign of being sad or angry that someone didn't show up can sometimes not work well with the audience. They can get the impression that maybe you don't want to be there.

But she does.

The Peacekeepers lead her towards Mercy, who's waiting at the small car that will take them to the train station; only two minutes away on foot. Cato isn't there when she approaches the blonde-haired woman.

"Clove, darling. You say your goodbyes?" Mercy asks, fixing her wig.

Clove nods, "For the most part."

"Great, good!" Mercy smiles, then motions for her to get into the car. "Cato should be here shortly."

On cue, he walks up to us. His dress shirt a bit undone, hair tossed like he kept running his hands through it. He looks stressed, but the cameras aren't here to see it.

"Cato, dear, get in the car would you please?" Mercy lets the Peacekeeper help her into the car then pats the spot next to her, "We need to catch the train."

Cato glances at me before sitting in the spot next to Mercy. As we begin to go, I watch the Justice Building behind us slowly fade behind other massive stones. When we get to the train station, camera crews are lurking at every corner. I glance at Mercy who plasters the biggest smile on her face before standing up.

"Up, up! To the train we go!" Mercy says, motioning for us to get up.

Cato gets up first, looking around the area as a Peacekeeper helps me out of the car. The suns rays beating down on my face has caused me to warm up immensely. I can tell my cheeks are flushed red and small beads of sweat threaten to drip down my forehead. Mercy wipes her palms against her dress then leads Cato and I towards the train.

Cato and I are told to wait a few minutes in the doorway of the train so cameras can capture our images. Once the doors open and we are allowed inside both him and I step in together. I can tell he's just as hot as I am because when we step into the cool train car, we both let out a breath of relief. The train takes off as soon as Mercy steps through the door.

The speed at first takes my breath away. I've only been on a train once, a long while ago around the time Elijah's funeral happened. It was a small trip to District One; out of all places. But that train was nothing like this train, which is decorated similarly to how the capitol is made up to be. Bright colors, patterns, and expensive silvers. Not to mention, the train I was in never could reach the 250 speed this one typically runs at. Our journey to the capitol will take less than a day.

As the train continues onward, I take a look out the window. District Two hasn't ever been super gaudy. It's masonry, which is what we are known for, covers most of the land. Although forest and mountains surround the area, if you were to look at the district from above, it would look like a concrete jungle.

In school, they told us that the Capitol was built-in a place once called the Rockies. Which just so happens to be around where District Two is. In our area however, the weather is unpredictable. Since we are so high in altitude we typically get random snow falls and chilly days, but in the Capitol seasons are apparent and occur as if they lived in District Five.

The tribute train is almost like a mini apartment and even fancier than the rooms in the Justice Building. Cato and I are each given our own "chambers" that have a bedroom, a dressing area, and a private bathroom. When I'm in my room, I open a drawer filled with fine clothes. Mercy had told Cato and I to help ourselves to anything we so choose. It's all at our disposal.