Kill or be Killed

What's done is done || Athelea & Zane

My eyes widened as he pulled the chain from his pocket. I was curious to see if there was more to his token from home than a silver chain, no matter how pristine it was. Once the chain was fully revealed, I noticed a small weapon in the center, one that my father used to use at a young age.

“It’s beautiful,” I mused, admiring the small chain and pendant. It made my rusted old locket seem like so much less. The chain shone in the light from the chandelier, reflecting off small bits of light as it turned.

“I can promise you it will be something neither of you are expecting,” Nerida had walked over while Zane was showing me his token, apparently bored with the fashion talk of our escort. “Now less friendliness, let’s get down to business. We only have a little while before we arrive in the Capitol and by that time we need your appearances chosen and perfected to the tee,” her voice was sharp and to the point, her eyes never leaving either mine or Zane’s. “Any questions,” she said, with a sickly sweet smile splayed on her lips.

I stepped back has Nerdia approached. I had no questions for her so I stood silent. I lingered back to sit on a the sofa, chewing on a piece of cupcake. Nerdia looked at me to see if I had any questions I shook my head and just wanted to listen. I dont know what they are going to do all I know is that they will make us look desirable.

I slip back my token into my pocket. I decided to wear it after the parades. Just then a sharp pain felt my stomach. I raise my eyebrow in observation, feeling my stomach turn. "Excuse me." I say as I sprint to the end of the cart. "Which way is the bathroom." I say anxiously to the avox. The avox points forward and lifts 4 fingers. Room 4, I figure.

I sprint to the bathroom and began to throw up everything ive eaten in the last 2 days. The nervousness started to hit me, that I was in the Hunger Games. Nerdia came rushing over. "Oh sweetie its okay." She said helping me up. She helped me back to the couch. "Just rest a little while." She said and turned back to Athelea.

I laid on the couch, feeling nauseous. All I can think of now is what will happen in the games, and the death of other human beings.

What's done is done || Athelea & Zane

“Hello Nerida,” I said with a smile. I definitely didn’t want to get off on the wrong foot with the person who was more or less in charge of me until the arena. Just then our escort entered the room, obviously enthralled with whatever new fashion Nerida was wearing. A quieted and obviously one-sided conversation ensued between the two of them, leaving Zane and I to our own devices.

I was in my own world, when Zane whispered something in my direction. I have been unconsciously clutching the locket where it laid on my neck. “It’s a locket, actually,” I glanced down at the worn golden color. “I have yet to find out what it holds,” I said, looking back up at Zane. For all I knew, Maddox’ mother could have simply found an empty locket and thought of me. If there was anything my parents taught me it was to hold onto hope.

“It’s my token from home,” I said with a small smile. “What about you, did you bring something?”

I stared at the locket for quite some time as she was explaining it to me. It was so shiny, so clean. I look back up to Athelea to see she had finished talking. "Yes, I have something with me. I pull out a silver neckless with a bronze machete attached to the middle point of it from my pocket.

"Its a gift my family got me for my 14th birthday." I said holding the neckless high over my head. "Its pretty fascinating actually." I look back to Athelea, "So what do you think the arena will be this year?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

What's done is done || Athelea & Zane

“I bet it’s beautiful,” I said, turning back to give him a small smile before I pulled my eyes away from his again. Thinking of his parent’s farm reminded me of what I had back home. I found my fingers wrapping around the locket again, and I shook the thoughts out of my head. Just as Zane asked a question I wasn’t able to answer, our mentor walked through the car door, her blonde hair in waves around her shoulders.

“We will be to the Capitol in time for dinner,” she said with a small smile. I tried to recall her games, but I assumed they had been ones that my parents successfully sheltered me from. “I’m Nerida, I’ll be in charge of making sure one of you gets out of that arena alive.”

I stood back a little as I saw our mentor, Nerdia enter the room. "Oh okay." I replied. I peered out the window to see trees rush by. The hovering of the train almost made it feel like we were flying. I look over at Athelea who was wrapping around her fingers around some locket.

I walk over to her to see what it was. "Whats that." I whisper to her before looking back at our mentor. Before she could answer a number of possibilities ran through my head, as to why she has it. But I guess thats for me to find out.

What's done is done || Athelea & Zane

I took Zane’s hand in mine, and met his gaze. A simple handshake later and I was the first to break the lingering stare. I had known people who were able to see what you were feeling by what your eyes held, and I had things I’d like to keep hidden. I glanced around the car again, only noticing now that this was only one of many rooms we would be led to. The furnishings must have cost upwards of my parent’s entire estate.

“So, Zane” I asked turning around to look back at him, “I haven’t seen much of you around back home so it looks like we’re a blank slate.” I smiled back at him before turning around and grabbing a pastry off the silver tray. I inspected it, the fruit looking so fresh it seemed almost fake. Everything in the room seemed to have a look as though if you touched something the image would ripple and the mirage would fade away.

#sorry i fell asleeP!#train

I gestured my hand away from her. I glanced around the cart room looking at all the fine furnishings and paintings. I couldn't believe how clean everything was, it almost seemed unreal.

"Thats because im always working on my parents farm." I responded to Athelea as I watched her grab a pastry. I move towards the cupcake cart and grab a simply red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting on the top. I take a bite of it letting the soft sponge sink into my mouth. I never tasted anything like it, it tasted delicious. "Do you know when we will be at the Capitol?" I asked Athelea, taking another bite into my cupcake.

What's done is done || Athelea & Zane

Once we finally pushed through the crowd of families to enter the train, I audibly gasped at the furnishings. I had never seen anything so rich before, from the table full of enough food to feed multiple families to the plush carpet that made me want to slip my shoes off and bury my toes in it. I pulled at the hem of my dress as I was left alone with my district partner in the car of the train. I normally wasn’t nervous around people, but I was sure that despite my attempts at covering it up, one could see the few streaks of tears that I had let fall.

I clutched the locket that I had secured around my neck, and turned to my partner. The last living piece of home I had. “I’m Athelea,” I said with as bright a smile as I could muster, “it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

I walked onto the train, stunned at what has happened in the last hour. I looked on and see my District partner, Athelea. I didnt really pay attention to her through the reaping because of what Caleb had destructed but once I got a glance at her I saw...I saw that she was beautiful.

"Im Zane, its nice to meet you too." I said choking back the pain in my throat from being nervous. I gestured my hand over to shake her hand, while trying to keep eye contact with her. I knew that this was going to be a long adventure.