The Demigod Games Book One: Knives of Blood

Chapter Two: The Train Ride

Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or the Hunger Games

Chapter Two: The Train Ride

The moment the anthem ended, Piper and Jason were taken into custody. A group of Peacekeepers marched them through the front door of the Justice Building, where they were taken to a room and left alone.

Piper nervously ran her hands through the velvet on the plush couch to calm herself. She knew that she couldn't show weakness, that she couldn't leave the room with red, puffy eyes. She had to be strong. For Lacy. 

Lacy came in first. She wrapped her arms around Piper while Tristan sat beside them.

"Lacy," Piper said, "Don't take any tessera. Dad, take care of her. Dylan-" Piper shuddered at the name, "can bring you meat." Hopefully, she thought.

"Here, Piper." using her free hand, Lacy wiped away her tears and reached in her pocket. "Take this as your token."

Lacy handed her a small charm bracelet that her mother had bought for them just before she disappeared. Smiling, Piper clasped it around her wrist. She kissed Lacy on the forehead and hugged Tristan before the Peacekeepers took them away. As soon as Lacy and Tristan left, Dylan came in, grinning.

"Not you!" Piper stood up and backed away. "Dylan, go away!"

Dylan winked at her. "You'll be fine in the Games, Piper. Just think of our love and let it guide you."

Piper gagged.

"Get out, Dylan! Go away!"  she said, exasperated.

With a sigh, Dylan stood up and left.

"Miss," a Peacekeeper said, "it's time to go."

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Piper sat silently on the train, not trusting herself to speak. She was silent at dinner, even when Jason nudged her.

"Hey," he whispered, "what's wrong?"

Piper just shook her head. 

They watched the recap of the Reaping. Jason stayed quiet as they watched a huge girl volunteer in Two, and a fierce-looking one in Four. The competition looked much better than Jason and Piper.

As soon as Effie left them to go to bed, Haymitch, their mentor, started vomiting. Then he fell in his vomit.

Piper sighed, but her and Jason shared a look. They came to a decision, and with another sigh, Piper helped Jason carry Haymitch to his bathtub.

As they rinsed him off, neither of them spoke. Finally Jason said, "So how's your boyfriend?"

"I don't have a boyfriend."

"Oh really?" Jason smirked. "You and Dylan seem awfully close."

Piper rolled her eyes. "I hate Dylan. But he knows how to hunt, and my family needs the food."

"Really?"

"Really. I despise him."

They were silent for another moment. Then Piper asked, "Why didn't your brothers volunteer for you?"

Jason shrugged. "I've never been really close with my family. I mean, my mother's a monster, and my oldest brother isn't much better. My old man's alright, but he's pretty distant." Jason sighed. "And I love my sister, but of course she can't volunteer."

"What about your other brother?" Piper asked.

"He spends most of the time away from the house," Jason said. "Honestly, I don't blame him."

Piper laid her hand over his. "Well, you have me now."

Jason cleared his throat and pulled his hand away. "We shouldn't... I mean, we're probably gonna die in a few days."

"Right." Piper tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "We should focus on our own survival."

They were silent for the next few minutes. After Haymitch was clean, Piper and Jason shared a smile before they headed to bed.

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The next morning, Effie woke Jason up early. He stumbled to breakfast, still yawning. Piper came in a few minutes later.

"Here." Jason handed her a mug of a creamy liquid. "It's called hot chocolate. It's delicious."

Piper sipped the hot chocolate gratefully and smiled at him before turning to Haymitch. Jason stared at Piper, wondering how someone could be as beautiful as she was. He couldn't decide what color her eyes were- they seemed to shift from blue to green to brown in the light. Like one of those kaleidoscopes he used to play with as a kid. 

His attention turned to Haymitch when he heard him open another bottle of wine. "Do you do anything but drink?" Jason asked.

Haymitch stared at him. "I watch you tributes die," he slurred.

Suddenly furious, Jason sprang up and knocked the bottle out of his hand. "You're supposed to give us advice," he seethed, "and all you do is get drunk!"

Haymitch stared at him a moment before punching him in the jaw. Reeling, Jason watched as Piper picked up a knife and drove it between Haymitch's finger and the bottle as fast as thought.

Haymitch surprised them both by suddenly laughing. "What's this? Did I actually get a pair of fighters this year?"

Turning to Piper, he asked, "Can you hit anything with that knife besides the table?"

Piper promptly picked up the knife and threw it at a painting on the wall, nailing the person in the painting in the eye. Haymitch whistled appreciatively. "You've got skill, girlie," he said.

Piper just glared at him.

"Well," Haymitch said, "you're not entirely hopeless. You're both pretty attractive. Especially you. " he gestured towards Piper, who crossed her arms. 

Jason glared at Haymitch. "Will you help us?" he asked.

"I'll make you a deal," Haymitch said. "don't interfere with my drinking, and I'll stay sober enough to help you."

Jason and Piper looked at each other before nodding.

As the train pulled into the station, Jason went over to the window and waved at the Capitol citizens gawking at them. Piper joined him. Jason stared at her in surprise.

"We have to get sponsors, right?" she said, winking. Then she blew a kiss at the crowd.

As they entered the Capitol, they both knew that only one of them could make it out alive.