GASP!!!! There's comotion everywhere in the crowd. Everyone is talking all at once, til the peacekeepers have to step in. If the crowd doesn't calm down it could mean trouble for members of District 7! Rule number 1: Never "defy" the Capitol. If you do anything that looks like you're trying to "defy" the Capitol, mostly meaning President Snow, he will make your life twice as miserable. Thats also not saying much.
I was still standing there in shock not knowing what just happened. Thinking to myself, Wait did she just call my name? Daphne was searching around for me. "Birch, Where are you? Oh come on now don't be shy." I slowly ambled my way to the stage as everyone made a path for me. How is this possible!? How could I be chosen for the Hunger Games!? The odds were supposed to be in my favour, right? So many thoughts are rushing through my head that I feel my brain could explode at any minute. I catch a quick glance at my father and mother and their expressions are horrifying. My mom's face was so blank as if she was in a trance. I'm sure she didn't expect this to happen. My father looks like he is about to break down and cry. I can't look in their direction anymore, or I will break down too.
As Daphne helps me up onto the stage, I see my sister in the crowd, and sure enough, she's crying. I know exactly what she is thinking right now too. She would've volunteered for me in a heartbeat. The slight probelm is that she is a girl. I can see the expressions on everyone, and they are just as confused as me. How can the two most prominent families in District 7, have their kids going off to the Hunger Games? It finally dawned on me that the odds were infact not in my favour.
"Well now isn't this just exciting everyone!?" Daphne is still talking in the ridiculous voice. There's silence through the crowd. I'm staring off into the crowd, my mind just slipping away. "Well go on now, shake each others hands." Is Daphne trying to put a show on for the Capitol, or is she just that perky all the time? I take a glance at Marietta who is already looking at me with a blank space. We don't shake hands because we're still in shock. "I hope you all have a grand day, and remember, Happy 72nd Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favour!" With the end of that, four peacekeepers lead Daphne, Marietta, and I into the Justice Building. I keep looking back at my family wishing I was with them. The doors than shut and I can't see them anymore. Who knows, I may never see them again.
Normally we would get 5 minutes with our family to say our goodbyes. However the rules changed 12 years ago when a boy's parent tried to sneak him out of the justice building. It didn't work out too well for any of them. The boy ended up dying in the bloodbath on the first day, and the parents punishment was one of the worst punishments ever. They were turned into Avox's. I cringe at the thought of not being able to talk ever again. So because of them we don't get to say goodbye to our families anymore.
Daphne pulled us aside and went through "orientation" with us. "Now the train will be arriving in thirty five minutes to transport us to the Capitol. By the way, if you didn't already know, this train is the fastest moving train in all of Panem. All thanks to District 6 and their knowledge and tools used for transportation. I know this situation is probably not what you wanted, and your stay isn't for long, but I would try to make the best of it while you can. Now once we arrive at the Capitol, they will immediately send you to the prep team and your stylist will take it from there. We will than be escorted to your rooms that you will be staying for the short while. Than there's the Interview's with Caesar Flickerman and the chariot ceremonies, OH and how could I forget the most important part of this journey? The training center, where you will show the Gamemakers your skills and try to get sponshorships.
I drowned Daphne out about half way through her talk, because my mind went other places. I know Daphne means well but her voice and how she treats this situation is starting to get annoying. She seems like another one of Snow's puppet. I still should be easy on her though. She's lived in Capitol her whole life so that's probably all she knows. How I long to be back in District 7, In my parents furniture store. With all the neighbors coming in to buy the furniture. I loved seeing my dad get happy when a customer comes in, and buys a table or chair, especially the rare items. Or the smell of the wood burning in the fireplace at home. Or even in the forest. With all of the birds chirping and the Mockingjay's singing. I wish to be high up in a tree so I can feel the wind through my face and hair. Then it occurs to me that I may never see District 7 again.
Just then I hear someone calling my name louder and louder."Birch. Birch? Birch!" It's Daphne. " Sorry to wake you up from your dreams, but the train just arrived, it's time to go to the Capitol. Are you ready sweetie?". Did she just call me, sweetie? Wait, how was this even possible it seemed like only five minutes have passed. That's awkward, I must've dosed off a bit too much.
Once I boarded the train I tried to locate Marietta and the rest of the group. I was surprised by how nice the train was. I've never really been on a train this nice before. All the woodworking was so beautiful, with the perfectly carved edging. Oh and the furniture with the nice wood trimming. My favourite part of the train was all the mahogany. It must've took them months to craft all the wood. Than again, I should know, since we were the ones who made half the furniture on this train. Back home we have a couple of mahogany trees, and I really enjoy the smell of mahogany.
I walk down the hallway a few feet before I enter this door, which appears to lead me to a lounge area. I see Marietta sitting at the table not speaking a word. Johanna is sitting over by the couch, while Daphne rambles on about something. Frankly, I think Johanna could care less, and her facial expressions would agree. I walk to the table and sit down on the opposite side of Marietta. She notices that I just sat down and gives me a half smile. I try to be nice and return the smile, but it's hard when there's nothing to be happy about. I examined the table, and all of the silverware was really fancy. The cool part about the knives were that they were shaped like ax's. Somehow they must've know that District 7 would be riding this train. I wonder if they have a train for each district?
Just then Johanna gets up from the couch and walks over to us. She pulls out a chair and just sits there staring at us for a solid 5 minutes, of silence. Daphne got up and went somewhere on the train, probably to adjust her wig. Just then Johanna began to speak. "So you're the tributes I have to work with this year?" I can't find the words to come out of my mouth, so I just sit there in silence. Marietta sits there in silence too, looking really intimidated. Johanna begins to speak again. Her pitch rises as each sentence is said until its a shout."Uh, hello. I was talking to you!" Johanna doesn't look impressed. Marietta begins to speak with a shaky voice. "Forgive me, my name is..." Johanna gets up from the chair she was sitting in and cuts off Marietta in the middle of the sentence. "Frankly I don't give a damn what your names are. Lets get one thing straight, I'm not here to be your friend and this is not District 7 anymore! This is the Hunger Games, kill or be killed, understand? All I care about is if you can fight and win. That is if you make it far enough to see another day. Understand that I will not be the mentor that looks like a fool who cant teach their tributes how to fight. And by the looks of it, you won't last 1 day in that arena. We're going to have a lot of work ahed of us if you're even thinking about surviving. Lesson number one, if you want to survive, you can't be a wimp! You got to show everyone in that arena that you're not afraid of a fight. That includes President Snow. Show him that you're not afraid of him and that he can't win by forcing us into an arena to fight to the death. That's exactly where you two come into play." The look on Johanna's face put chills down my spine. This is definitely not the sweet Johanna I remember from long ago. Poor Marietta, she looks so scared that she could cry.
Johanna sits down and begins to speak again. "So, how exactly do you plan to win the Hunger Games?" My reaction was probably not the best, because out of curiosity I answer with, "I thought that was what you were here for." I immediately regret what I just said, because Johanna looked like she was about to kill me on the spot. "Well smart one, I can't be in the arena with you, so you better start figuring something out on your own." Marietta starts to speak, "Well I suppose my plan of action is to run away from the cornucopia. "Well no shit Martha! However in your case I would just get it over with." The snickering and disrespect from Johanna was starting to get annoying. I decided against arguing with her just for my own safety. How were we even supposed to survive if our own mentor doesn't believe we can do it.? I haven't really thought about my plan of action considering I didn't even expect to be here right now. "I would try to find a weapon of some sort to protect myself, preferably an axe. Than I suppose I would form a group of allies so they could protect me."
"No, that's a terrible idea! I literally jump out of my chair due to the fact that she is screaming and hovering over us now. "Unless you plan on using weak and frail as your angle, don't make any allies! Johanna was mostly directing this towards Marietta. If you do end up making it to a point of winning, you don't want to have to kill a friend. Take it from me, I would know." Just then I remember back to last year when we were watching the games. The final two came down to Johanna and a fellow ally from district 4. Johanna ended up having to kill her. From the looks of it, we could tell that over the course of being in the arena, Johanna and her, were close. It must of been heartbreaking to kill a friend.
There's another moment of silence before Johanna finally gets up. "Whatever, you're wasting my time, I'm going back to my room." My rage builds up so much to the point of snapping, just like a twig. Johanna was being completely disrespectful and I wasn't having it. She may be mad at the world for everything, but she was our mentor whether she likes it or not. The only way me and Marietta have a chance of surviving, is if she starts giving us some decent advice. All in a swift movement, I feel my hand reaching down for the table. The next thing I know, I'm hurling the axe shaped knife through the wooden wall boards next to Johanna, stopping her from leaving. I'm panting now from releasing all of my anger. I didn't even notice that Daphne had reentered the room. She was furious now, because the knife almost took her hair off with it flying into the wall. Daphne gasps and begins to speak, "That is Mahogny! She also goes on to ramble about how rude my actions were and how I need to apologise. I think I even surprised Johanna.
Johanna now has the biggest grin on her face, "Wow, looks like we've got ourselves a fighter." In her confusing sarcastic voice. "Save it for the arena!" Johanna starts to exit, but stops herself and turns around. She than gets so close to my face that I can hear her breathe. "And if you ever cross me like that again, it will be the last thing you ever do." She than exits the room and I'm left there in a state of suspended animation.
"Look everyone, were arriving in the capitol!" says Marietta.