The 55th Hunger Games

Chapter 5

        I take another sip of the warm chocolaty drink they call hot chocolate. My night had not at all been restful. It had taken me a great deal of time to fall asleep, and when I finally did, I was roused by a rather sickening feeling in my stomach and throat. I had jumped up from my bed in a hurry and rushed to the toilet just in time to throw up my meal from last night. It was not a familiar or pleasant experience. The rich food had not done good for me in the end it seems.

        I could not get back to sleep after that and decided to try out the shower. I decided not to try out any of the silver buttons lining the walls as the warm water felt good against my trembling skin, and I did not want to tamper with it. After the shower I slept a few more hours. It did not feel like enough, but I was too wakeful to sleep more.

        When I got to the dining room I was served an enormous platter of eggs, ham, piles of fried potatoes, as well as a tureen of fruits and a basket of multiple varieties of bread by a Capitol attendant. My tall, clear glass was filled with orange juice, and two mugs were filled with brown contents unknown to me. The smell of one was not at all appealing to me, but the other smelt milky and sweet and tasted even better.

        I was a little hesitant at first to eat, because the thought of throwing up again was not a pleasant one. But the smell of the baked goods were too much to turn down.

        I drink only from my mug of what I know now is hot chocolate, and chew on a buttery, moist, warm sort of bread the Capitol attendant also told me was called a croissant.

        So far I have not seen anyone this morning with the exception of Krissy who seemed to be up even before me. I am glad of this because I have no wish to see any of the others, in fact I had hoped that by coming out to breakfast early I would not have to face any of them until we reach the Capitol, which will probably only be in a few hours.

        Seamus had said I had passed stage one, however I'm not entirely sure what stage one was. I had not done or said one thing to him. Maybe that was just the reason I had passed. I had beared his unhelpful and insulting remarks for one day.

        He had told me that stage two would not commence until we reach the Capitol, but my rising fear has only mounted since then because I am very, very sure I will disappoint him when we reach the Capitol. How exactly will he react when I tell him I do not plan on killing anyone? Not well probably.

        I drain the last of my hot chocolate and get to my feet. I'm beginning to think that maybe I'll get away with my plan of staying away from my travelling companions when I, with a sinking heart, run into Samantha just down the hall coming out of her compartment.

        Thankfully she pretends she has not seen me and walks off in the direction of the dining cart where I had come from.

        Then I go and shut myself in my room. This will be my last chance to relieve my aching emotions before we arrive at the Capitol. No one bothers me for a very long time, which I am grateful for.

        I begin to examine Cole's wooden band, which is still around my wrist. The swirling designs around it are intricate and carved with a steady, careful hand, as are the seemingly random letters written around it. C-H-O-O-P-U-R-A-G-E-E, I read. I scrunch my brow. Is that a word?

        I am jolted from my thoughts by a loud wrapping at the door.

        "Taslim, we are just coming into the Capitol now." Krissy calls. "Come out into the dining room with the others. Seamus will probably have some last instructions for you."