ODDS

stay alive

The air in the train car was brutally cold against my burnt skin.

I stared out of the window, watching the world go by in quick and brief pictures that my eyes picked up. Green as far as the eyes could see. I was used to the foamy green of the sea, and the forest of emerald was just too mesmerizing for my troubled mind.

“Oh, children! Come, come!” Freya motioned up to stand and follow. “Dinner is ready!”

I giggled as the male tribute, Sander Holloway, rolled his eyes at her giddy babbling. He’d most definitely not enjoyed having the escort follow us so closely. It was obvious despite not a word coming from either of us since we’d boarded the train.

But at the sound of my giggle, his eyes became distant, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was thinking about his sister, Tora, as much as I was thinking about my own family. My heart grew heavy at the thought of the family I’d never see again. I’d never eat another meal with them, never embrace them or splash them in the ocean. I’d never again celebrate birthdays, or watch my sister get married, or have a simple, weekly family dinner. It was all gone, all taken away by the Games.

Sander’s forlorn look must have matched my own.

“Alana, dear, come on!” Freya urged. “Dinner is ready!”

I rolled my eyes as soon as she turned her back, causing Sander to snicker. It lifted my spirits for a moment. I guessed all I had was moments, now.

As we sat in the plush chairs, stomachs growling in anticipation, the food was set before us, and I felt my eyes go wide. I had never remembered a time where I had gone hungry. Thankfully, because of Morgan’s relationship with the fishermen at the docks, we had always had plenty to eat. Still, as the Avoxes set out platter after platter, I couldn’t help but drop my jaw at the sheer magnitude of food.

And they were so colorful. Fruits and vegetables of every shade littered the table, their juices shining and glistening under the train car’s lights. Rolls and cheeses and meats sat in intricately designed patterns as the Avox to my right poured some sweet smelling liquid into my glass.

I met Sander’s eyes, and he seemed just as overwhelmed as me.

Before I could do or say anything, the door on the opposite side of the train car opened to allow three people through- one big and burly man, an older, petite woman, and a young man with sandy hair and green eyes.

The bigger man took the seat beside me, wasting no time in digging into the piles of food before us. I almost didn’t hear the older woman speak.

“Hello, dear.” She smiled kindly at me. “My name is Mags. I’m going to be your mentor.”

I blinked, not quite registering her words until a few moments later. I cleared my throat quickly. “I’m Alana. Alana Knight.”

She nodded, turning to smile at Sander, who sat beside him.

He muttered, “Sander Holloway.”

“It’s nice to meet you both.” Her smile calmed my frayed nerves. “I wish it could be under different circumstances.”

Suddenly, the man beside me, through a mouthful of food, spoke up. “I’m Zane.”

Mags scolded him, shaking her head, but as I giggled, amusement glittered in his eye. Mags couldn’t hold her own smile back.

The other boy took a sip of his juice as Mags looked to him, coaxing him with a nod of her chin.

“Finnick.” He said simply, finding my eyes across the table.