Chapter 14
1786 Words
The story of how the girls got together was too good not to write. The other alliances will get stories too and then we can focus on individual development.
Yasmine Jackson POV
Toby seemed kind of sad, so I didn't want to bother him. I was pretty upset too, but I tried to focus on the one positive thing that came out of all this. Every year the Capitol showed off all the old Victors, and the best one of all was Erwin. He was so handsome and tough-looking with his mask. I always thought maybe we were related since we had the same last name. Of course he was married- which was so romantic- and I was too young for him anyway, but I just had to see him. I found my way to the Five car and poked my head in. The boy was watching the girl work with her mentor, Soleil. Erwin wasn't there.
"Excuse me, where's Erwin?" I asked the boy.
"He went to his room," he said.
"Thanks," I said as I left. The sleeping cars were at the end of the train. I ran as quick as I could so I could catch him before he got to his car. I switched between cars and there he was. He was right outside his door. I was just in time.
"Erwin!" I cried out as I ran up next to him. 'You're the best Victor ever!" Erwin looked down at me and glared. His mask looked even cooler up close. Butterflies filled my stomach.
"Go away, kid. I'm busy," he snapped. I tried to shake his hand but he waved me off, stepped into his room, and slammed the door on me.
He must be shy. I can wait, I thought. As I was making my way back through the Five car, I saw the Indian-looking girl talking to Sky. Sky shook her head and the other girl turned to me.
"You're not from Five. You're in the wrong car," she said. "Anyway, I'm Haber. Want to be in my alliance. It's girls-only." She glared at the boy's back.
She wants me? I didn't think anyone would want such a young ally. Heck yes!
"Yeah!" I yelped. I shook her hand like a grown-up and introduced myself. I got to meet my dream man and made an ally. For the worst day in my life, this kept getting better.
Myrtle Bloom POV
What was wrong with my stupid mentor? I give her a few tips and she just runs off on me. I didn't need her anyway. I can win the Games on my own.
I needed a plan. I knew how to swing an axe, of course, so weapons were taken care of. I was always a quick learner, and I preferred to stay away from the others, so I decided I'd teach myself archery when we got to the Capitol. Until then, I had nothing to do but stare out the window and eat the chocolates in dishes all over the train.
I was minding my own business snacking when two girls came into the car. There was the coppery girl and the thirteen-year-old. Sequoia and Allen left to talk or something, so it was just me.
"Lost?" I asked the pair.
"We're making an alliance!" the little girl said.
"Girls only," the coppery girl added.
You two? I don't think so. I was about to say as much when I thought about something. Suppose a Career came running after me at the Bloodbath only to notice a very small, very killable young girl right next to me? It might be nice to have a shield, at least through the Bloodbath.
"Girls gotta stick together," I said. The coppery girl pumped her fist in the air and the little girl smiled. Guess I was the third spot in the loser party.
Dominique Rindelle POV
Barley and I kept smiling nervously at each other. We probably both wanted to talk, but both of us were too overwhelmed. A few times I almost started, but then it reminded me of where we were both going and I felt lightheaded.
"Hi," I finally squeaked so lightly it was barely discernible.
"Hi," Barley squeaked back. I could do worse for allies. We were District partners, so we'd be popular if we stuck together. Barley was young, but he was also huge. The Careers might not go after him first just because of that.
"I was thinking-" I started, but then an opening door interrupted me. Haber, the girl from Eight, walked in. She looked like she wasn't even scared of the Games.
"Want to take a hike? This is private," she said to Barley. He was so surprised he actually left the car. I'd have to ally with him later. Haber slouched into one of the chairs and kicked her feet against the bar.
"Us girls are making an alliance. We're going to take out all the boys. They deserve it anyway," she said. "You want in?" It was impossible to tell which alliance would be the most helpful. The Games were never predictable. Haber seemed overconfident, but maybe she knew what she was doing.
"Who else is with you?" I asked. Haber ticked names off on her fingers.
"So far there's me, Myrtle, and Yasmine. We asked Sky, but she's too good for us," she said. The idea of a bunch of other girls was appealing. I could make the friends I never had and at the very least I wouldn't die alone. We could comfort each other and look out for one another.
"That sounds good," I said. Maybe Haber wasn't exactly a friend, but Yasmine seemed nice. Haber went off to get more girls, and I stayed behind. I didn't tell her, but in my heart I reserved one thing. If things didn't turn out, I could always run away.
Emmeline Blythe POV
Acee was the coolest mentor ever. When I first got on the train I wanted to hide under the table and never stop crying, but she straightened me out. I turned my fear into anger and focused on killing anyone who tried to kill me, especially the Careers. I wouldn't put myself in danger vengeance, but they asked for this. I wouldn't feel any guilt in killing them.
"Last year the Arena was indoors, so it probably won't be this time," Acee said. "You're going to need alternative supplies. Any metal weapons you can get without going to far toward the Cornucopia will be useful. The easiest thing to make with primitive supplies is a bomb."
"I don't like bombs," I said quickly.
"Why not?" she asked.
"Bombs make fire. I don't like fire," I said. Fire does things to people even I would wish on them. Acee looked at one of the cameras in the wall.
"Better get ready to see it then," she said. Of course the Gamemakers would do that. What better show than terrifying a girl with her greatest fear?
"Am I interrupting?" a girl said from the door. She sat down on the chair at the end of the table and smiled at Acee.
"I loved your Games. I especially liked it when the boy from Two's face melted," she said.
"I'm sure his family did too," Acee said. She folded her arms and tucked herself against the wall. I was reluctant when Haber asked me to join an all-girls alliance. Too many people might be conspicuous, and besides, Haber was really obnoxious.
"Do you have any fast runners in your group?" Acee asked.
"Dominique said something about running a lot," Haber said. I got what Acee was saying. For the Bloodbath at least, this could be useful.
"All right, I'm in," I said.
"Great!" Haber said. "Girl, you sure are lucky to have a mentor like Acee. My mentor won't even talk to me. Maybe I can come train with you guys."
"Sorry, I'm booked," Acee said. I knew just what she meant.
Elara Angelo POV
I'd never eaten so much in my life. Demi wasn't as good as a helpful mentor, but she was the best escort I could have hoped for. She kept ordering more food. That was all I needed.
"Would you like to see the rest of the train?" she asked.
"No thanks," I said. It was hard enough leaving home and going so far away. I didn't want to move from the car I boarded into. My stomach hurt from all the new foods I'd tried and my heart kept flopping as I remembered over and over that I was going to the Hunger Games. Every time it was like I heard it for the first time.
Demi had a lot of questions about life in Twelve. I didn't want to be rude, but it hurt to think of what I'd probably never see again. I didn't want to think about Twelve as my old home. I wanted it to be my home forever. I never wanted to leave it, even to go to the Capitol.
The scenery outside the window changed. The trees and dusty air of Twelve faded into a grassy plain. I watched the trees grow thinner and wondered which was the last one I'd see. Somewhere along the line we'd cross Twelve's border. Maybe we already had. I felt like if I closed my eyes, I would open them and be back home in my village. I wanted to grab the train and make it stop.
One of the other girls came into the car with us.
"Oh, it's Haber," Demi greeted her. What did shewant?
"You must be Elara," Haber said. "I'm getting together an alliance. Want in?"
"Can Ben come?" I asked. I had planned to ally with him so maybe Twelve could finally win.
"It's girls only," Haber said as she folded her arms.
"What's wrong with boys?" I asked.
"They're nothing but trouble. We're going to kill every one," she said. She looked at Ben like a shark, and I wanted to tell her to get out. She looked like he was her first target.
"You know what? You got another member," I said. I didn't want anything to do with Haber, but if I kept close to her I could keep her off Ben's trail. At least I could definitely count on her not backstabbing me until all the boys were gone. Haber made my skin crawl, but in this case, it was the best I could do for my District.
1. You caught me messing up last chapter. Sequoia should have called Asper "Allen".
2. Haber has Native American blood. That's why Myrtle called her "coppery".
- Writer
