Oh no. Oh no. No no no no. How could this happen? My names only in there twice, I know kids my age with their names in there 10 times, and some of the 18 year olds with tesserae have even more! How did my name, in all those little slips of paper in that glass ball, come out? I could feel the crowd moving away from me, exposing me to the cameras. Cassia tried to let go of my hand, but I just held on tighter. I can’t! I can’t go into the arena!
“Sienna…” I heard cass say. I know I should be up on that stage, but I had froze. I couldn’t move. I can’t go up there! It’s one step closer to death! I felt tears streaming down my face, but the image of peacekeepers snapped me out of it. I didn’t want them coming and shooting me even earlier. Slowly, I made my way up to the stage, still unable to stop the tears. Up there, I saw two people sitting up there I didn’t see before. A girl with short dark hair who seemed like she was in her early twenties, and a blonde man who seemed about thirty. Suddenly, their faces clicked. They were two of the district seven victors, Willow Saule and Arbor Bosch. They were going to be me and my partners mentors and the people trying to keep us from dying.
The Capitol lady made her way to the other glass ball of names. “The boys now!” She said. She plucked a piece of paper from the pile, and read it out. “Jimson Duckweed!” A boy who seemed about 16 made his way up to the stage. He didn’t seem to hesitate coming up here, but he didn’t seem excited. “These are our tributes for the 70th annual hunger games!” The Capitol lady called out. “Sienna Elwood and Jimson Duckweed!” She motioned for us to shake hands as the two victors stood up. We shook hands quickly, and he seemed like he wanted this to be over as much as I did.
Two peacekeepers took us inside the building, and into two separate rooms where they told us to wait. I sat there quietly, trying not to start crying again. What were they gonna do to me here? The door opened, startling me. It was my parents!
“Sienna!” They said, grabbing me in a hug. I started to talk in panic about what will happen next, but my mother stopped me. We stood in silence for a good minute or so. “You’ll be ok. You’ll be ok Sienna.” My father said. They each gave me one last kiss before the peacekeepers made me leave. I was left there alone again. It was only a few seconds before the door opened again. Cass!
“Sienna!” She said, pulling me into another hug. “The peacekeepers only give us a few minutes in here to say goodbye, but they also let you bring something to remember your district by, a small token. Hold onto the necklace we made yesterday. Don’t forget about us. Don’t forget about me.” And for one of the only times in my life, I saw Cassia start to cry. We heard the peacekeepers coming, and she quickly wiped away her tears and grabbed my hands. “Don’t forget the promise we made.” She said as the peacekeepers grabbed her.
Great. Now I’m really alone. The door stayed open this time. The capitol lady led me and Jimson into a car that drove us over to the train station. No one said anything. As we boarded the train, we saw that the two victors were already there, standing around a table with a lot of food on it. Willow leaned against a small piece of wall separating the main car from another.
“Looks like these two are our new tributes. I guess it’s gonna be the same as every year. We can at least try, the big one looks promising.” She said in a sort of monotone voice that almost made it sound like she was teasing us, but I could tell from her expression that she wasn’t. Willow had won the games about six years ago, when she was fifteen. I was only seven then, but I still have faint memories of her games. She had climbed trees and went hunting at night, lasting until there were five of them left. I can’t remember the details, but I do remember her barely taking down a career tribute to win.
The Careers were the tributes from districts one, two, and four. They train their tributes to survive in the games, and unlike most of the rest of us, they actually volunteer. Those districts also have some of the best fed tributes. They usually team up, and are the most likely to win. I shivered as I wondered what the careers would be like this year.
Arbor looked at the food on the table. “Do you two want to eat something?” Me and Jimson were hesitant at first. My appetite had been basically destroyed with the shock of everything, but when I took a bite of some bread, I realized how hungry I was. I usually had a pretty good amount of food at home, but like anywhere in the districts, it was never a lot. I guess I should be thankful that I had more in district seven than some kids in districts like twelve might. We ate in silence, no one wanting to say anything.
About halfway through, the capitol lady, whose name we out found was Clio (she wouldn’t tell us her last name), came out of her room in the train and joined us for lunch. “What a wonderful group we have this year!” She said, in the high pitched capitol accent. No one responded, and I saw Willow and Jimson glare at her in the corner of my eye. Clio didn’t seem to notice, or care. As we finished eating, Arbor attempted to start a conversation.
“Jimson, Sienna. Me and Willow will be your mentors, and when we get to the capitol, we will try to help you as much as possible before the games. Willow will be with Sienna and I’ll have Jimson.” Willow looked at me, and smiled. It was a small smile, almost a smirk. “I think you two would want to go to your rooms? Maybe some sleep, we won’t arrive in the Capitol until tomorrow. Me and Jimson both agreed, and headed to our rooms, and Clio went off to hers.
There was a bathroom connected to my room, and inside was a shower. I stepped inside, only now realizing how many buttons there were to press. Soap, shampoo, water, basically everything. I felt refreshed, and I had pulled on a chunky sweater and pair of pants from a drawer. I placed my reaping dress on the top of the drawer, and found the wooden pendant. I held it in my hands, wondering what Cassia was doing right now. Did she keep living her life as usual? How different could it really be without me? I thought of my parents. They must be heartbroken that they’ll probably never see me again. I slip the necklace on as I hear a knock on my door.
“Come in!” I call, wondering who it was. Willow opened the door. I was sitting on the bed, and she stood in the doorway. My mentor seemed to examine me, maybe to figure out a way for me to win. A thought came into my mind. “What’s it like? Being a victor, that is.” I asked, remembering her comment earlier about it being the same as every year.
“…it’s better than being dead. At least I think. Not very sure nowadays.” She said after taking a while to think. “What about you? Would you rather die in the arena or make it out?” I paused. I’d much rather be alive, right? I’d see my family and friends again, plus have a house in the victors village.
“I’d rather be a victor… it would save the people I love a lot of grief.” I decided. She sighed, and sat down on the bed with me.
“You’d be surprised. That arena can do a lot to you, and you’re never really free from it, not with that President Snow.” This scared me a little. I had promised Cass I wouldn’t change in the arena. Did this mean Willow wasn’t always like this? She seemed so… detached from the rest of the world, while also noticing everything. “I’d better let you get some sleep. The Capitol awaits.” She said, standing up and leaving. I didnt feel tired at first, but after I while I had passed out, with willows words still echoing in my head.
