Chapter Text
At the end of the tunnel was the capitol, and it wasn’t like anything I had ever seen. The sun was gleaming off of the tall building that towered over the train. There were even more banners than district 1. And I was amazed.
Nova smiled and looked at us.
“It never gets old does it.” she sighed.
Jewel looked at us. “You should probably get ready.”
I nodded and stood up. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Alexander stuff something in his pocket—I think it was some of the Capitol food. So I took some too—I might want it later today, or tomorrow.
The train stopped and it was about 5 minutes before peacekeepers opened the doors of the train and let us out. When we got out the peacekeepers directed us towards a big building with big doors and small windows.
As we get in the outside elevator I look at the buttons, Nova presses the button that has the number one on it.
“12 buttons?” Alexander asks “there has to be more than 12 floors, right?”
“Oh no Al!” Nova says using the nickname she gave him on the train. “There are 26 floors! There is a kitchen, a lobby, and 2 floors for each district! That’s what the numbers are for, they take you to the first floor of each district!”
“Oh.”
The big elevator doors open revealing a big, beautiful hallway lined with paintings of district one victors of the past. The hallway leads to a room with pale pink walls and a TV, 4 couches and a large circular table with a
silver tray of desserts in the middle. I could smell the yummy puding from across the room. I looked at Jewel and she shook her head—that’s okay, there will be time for pudding later.
Nova showed us to our rooms and she told us that it was getting dark, so we should go to sleep immediately. But as soon as she left and the lights went out, I snuck out of bed and tiptoed down the hall to the big table in the main room. As I reached for the big bowl of fancy pudding I thought of Raynne and how we would sneak out of bed when we were young to eat the candy Mom hid behind the cupboard. I closed my eyes at the painful thought of Raynne and images flashed behind my eyes—Raynne proudly standing on the stage in front of the Justice Building, Raynne walking through an icy field as a small girl with a dagger creped up behind her.
I pulled back as the memories flooded my mind. I tripped over a chair and I crashed loudly onto the ground. Seconds later 3 people came rushing in. I looked up to see Alexander, Coen, and Jewel towering over me.
Great, the last thing I need is these 3.
“Gemma!” Jewel scolded. I noticed she looked rather distraught—so did Coen. “what in the world! Are you trying to scare us to death!”
“We thought something was wrong!” Coen exclaimed.
Jewel helped me up and half dragged me back to my room.
“Nova said to go to sleep! So go to sleep!”
And this time I had no problem doing so.