𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞

── promise to keep

          𝕯espite the opulence of the room around me, I felt trapped. My breathing was unsteady, and I scrunched the dusty green velvet beneath my hands as I tried to keep myself calm. Thresh's words echoed in my head. We couldn't look weak.

He was right, so I bit back the tears, tilted my head to the ceiling and wondered who would come and visit me first. I only had an hour before I needed to get onto the train and head to the Capitol. 

Maybe no one would come and visit me.

I knew my parents would be upset, more so than anyone else. I was almost out but I had volunteered for a little girl who shouldn't be forced to confront death at an age so young. Hopefully, in time, they'd understand.

The doors slammed open and I shot up, looking at my parents, both of whom had tears in their eyes. They watched me for a moment, before wrapping their arms around me.

"What did you do?" My mother was clinging to me, stroking my hair as I took another deep breath. I couldn't cry. I had to stay strong. "Bunny, what did you do?"

My childhood nickname almost made my knees buckle again, but I stayed standing, clinging to them.

"I had to..." I murmured, shaking my head. "I had to. She's only twelve. She shouldn't have to do this..."

"You silly girl." My father chided, pulling away to glare at me. "You have to win, you hear me?"

"Da..."

"You have to win!" He reiterated again, eyes dark and determined. "Find a scythe or a spear, something that you're used to working with. Stay in the trees, like you used to do at the orchard, learn how to make snares, find clean water and shelter. If you have to kill, do it with no hesitation. You've killed animals before, it's exactly the same with humans."

I didn't even want to think of the possibility of having to watch someone's life leave their eyes. I didn't particularly like doing that with animals, though I knew it was a must, but humans were a whole different species.

"Your father's right. You know which plants are good to eat and what's not. Stick with Thresh for as long as possible, make a plan." My mother nodded her head, before smoothing my hair back and pulling her wedding ring off of her finger. "Take this. You bring it back when you come home. You understand, Mitzi? You bring it back when you come home."

"Ma..." I shook my head. "I can't..."

"Mitzi Kennedy, you listen to me and you listen good." My mother's rough hands grabbed onto my cheeks, forcing me to look her in the eyes. "You are going to come home to us. You are going to win. Do you understand?"

"Yes." They nodded, taking deep breaths as the door opened once more.

"Time's up." A peacekeeper appeared, pulling my parents from the room and slamming the door again. I almost sat down when someone else entered the room. Rue's eyes were wide and fearful as she lunged for me.

"Why...? You promised." She muttered, as I clung onto her just as tightly.

"I wasn't going to let that happen to you. You've only just turned twelve." I muttered, looking down at her. Even for twelve, she was small for her age. "Stay safe, don't provoke the peacekeepers and don't accept any of the tesserae. You understand?"

"You're going to win, right?" Rue looked up at me, brown eyes wide as I sent her a smile. "You are, aren't you?"

"Of course." I smiled, though I wasn't sure if I meant it. "I'll win and I'll come back. I can do that."

"Please come back." The peacekeeper opened the doors again and Rue looked like she wanted to cling onto me but I stood and nodded to her. "Mitzi? Mitzi!"

"It's alright, Rue. It's alright." I sent her another smile as they grabbed onto my arm and dragged me out of the room. I shot the little girl one final look, before turning back to the front. Thresh shared a look with me, both of us still trying to be as stoic as we could.

"Come, you two." Aurelia appeared, a wide grin on her face as a car pulled up to the front of the Justice Building, something that I had never been in before. It was a rather tight fit, with Thresh's muscular figure and the wide shoulders of Aurelia's dress and I wondered whether all cars were like this. 

The journey was smooth and as we drew closer to the station, I began to notice just how many reporters were buzzing around with cameras trained on our faces. I took a deep breath, reminding myself to keep the fear from my face and eyes and tried to relax, as much as I could.

I took one last look at my home, trying to take it all in as Thresh and I had to pose for a few moments in the doorway of the train, allowing the cameras to take photos of us from all angles. I kept my face stoic, as best as I could, before we were finally allowed inside and away from the flashing lights.

The train was unlike anything that I had ever seen before. Everything inside of it was made from velvet or silk, with plush carpets and diamond chandeliers. Candied fruits, and other delicacies lay in platters on expensive wooden tables. Precious metals were inlaid into everything and I didn't feel comfortable touching anything, feeling like I was not rich enough to do so.

Thresh and I were both given our own chambers with a bedroom, a dressing area and a private bathroom with both hot and cold running water. Something like this was practically unheard of back at home.

Aurelia told us to get changed before we met our mentors at supper and that we had less than an hour. 

I had never had a shower before, so the entire experience was rather bizarre though I supposed I enjoyed it. It was like standing beneath the dark skies of spring storms, tasting the rain on your lips and it made me miss home. I almost didn't want to leave, but I knew we had to meet our mentors.

When I stepped out, I dried myself swiftly, before pulling on a pair of loose pants and a golden shirt that reminded me of the corn fields. Spinning my mother's wedding ring around my finger, I padded out and found that Thresh was waiting for me.

"Thought we could go together." He muttered as I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I hadn't been forced to go alone. 

"Thank you. I fear that even if we are on one train, I would get lost." I joked, drawing a small laugh out of him. We took off down the wobbling corridor, before emerging into the dining carriage and looking around. Aurelia sat on one side of the table, already dressed in a different dress and at the head and side of the table sat, who I supposed, would be our two mentors.

The younger one was the most well known of the Victors from District 11, of which there were only six in the first place. Jasmine Whitiker had won the 66th Hunger Games at the age of seventeen, having climbed up trees and killed her enemies for above. She was drumming her fingers on the table, looking around her cautiously but the other Victor sat completely still. Geare Lowthork was as intimidating in person as he was whenever you saw him on the screen.

He stood taller than anyone else on the train, muscles rippling up and down his arms, barely hidden by his shirt. It was a stark reminder that the reason he had won his Hunger Games, the 35th one, was by ripping his opponent's limbs off using brute force.

I supposed that these were our mentors. He caught sight of us, leaning back in his chair as we both paused in the door.

"So, you two are our tributes." He sent us a smile, though I wasn't sure whether it was supposed to be comforting or not. "You've made quite the first impression already."

Was I supposed to say thank you to that?

"Come and sit." Thresh and I crept closer, as I took a seat by Aurelia, opposite Jasmine, and Thresh sat beside her. "They look strong."

"I suppose so." Jasmine glanced up, stopping drumming her fingers to watch both of us carefully. Behind her dark eyes, you could see the calculating look, as I straightened my spine on instinct. "Chaff and Seeder have given up mentor duties to us this year. I'm Jasmine, this is Geare."

"They most likely already know that." Geare rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Do you two know each other?"

"Mitzi and I grew up together." Thresh muttered, as I nodded.

"We used to work the harvest together and we went to school in the same year." I added on. "It was supposed to be our last year."

That dulled the mood for everyone but Aurelia.

"You two are alright to be allies then, I take it?" Geare questioned, though it sounded more like a  command. Thresh and I shared a look, before nodding. "Right, this is going to become very hectic the closer we get to the Capitol so take the time now to relax, watch the other Reapings, sleep and eat something. Once we arrive, we won't be able to stop or rest."

Thresh and I nodded, as the food was brought out to us. It was rich, with multiple courses of soup, salad, lamb chops with buttered potatoes and greens, cheese and fruit as well as a large cake. Neither Thresh or I had ever seen so much food in our life, both of us eating as much as we could until our stomach protested. It was only then that we leant comfortably back into our chairs  and sighed.

"Go, sleep and watch the Reapings. We'll see each other in the morning before we arrive at the Capitol." Jasmine was already standing as she spoke, her and Geare walking in the opposite direction to where we were going as Aurelia teetered along behind them.

I said goodbye to Thresh at the door of his suite, before continuing down until I reached my own. Turning the lights off, I grabbed the remote for the TV and pressed the large red button, watching as it flickered to life. I didn't need to do much after that, as the TV was already at an appropriate volume and it was on the channel that showed everything I needed.

There was about half an hour or so of reruns of old games, discussing potential arenas and who the victors might be, before they finally showed the Reapings. It went in order, from the highest number to the lowest, so Thresh and I were second to last.

District 1 was the same as it normally was. Both looked like careers but not as intimidating as they usually were. The boy, Marvel, was tall and skinny but definitely smaller than Thresh, whilst the girl, Glimmer, just smiled prettily for the cameras. I wondered what they could do.

After them came District 2, and these were the ones who truly intimidated me because they looked like they could kill me. The girl was smaller than I was, named Clove, and despite her button nose and small smile, she looked anything but innocent. The cameras zoomed in, showing her face and I could see the look in her eyes. It was cold, calculating even, and in some ways, it reminded me of Jasmine.

The boy's name was called, but before anything could happen, a shout of 'I volunteer' from the eighteen-year-olds section had everyone turning towards the back. In the Career Districts, they'd been trained since birth to take part in the games and honour their district. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they came out of the womb wielding weapons.

Unlike when I had stepped forward, there was cheering and clapping as he announced his name and turned to his female tribute. 

Cato. 

His name was Cato.

I scrunched my nose before nodding to myself. He seemed like the type of person to stay far, far away from if those muscles were anything to go by.

District 3 had two mid aged teenagers, but nothing stood out about them. District 4 had a small boy, who looked barely older than Rue. A pang of pity appeared in my heart, but I batted it back. We were to be competitors and I couldn't feel sorry for him. Not if I wanted to make it home. District 5's female tribute had a similar calculating look in her eyes similar to that of Clove and Jasmine, making me hum to myself and make a mental note. She could potentially be an ally.

The remainder of districts 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 were relatively uneventful. It was the same procedure over again. Someone was called, no one would volunteer and there would be a child standing beside the Capitol escort. I didn't pay that much attention, not wanting to think about who I might have to kill to get out.

Then we reached District 11. My district.

I watched as Aurelia picked the paper from the bowl, reading out Rue's name. There was only a brief glimpse of me in the crowd but I could see the look of panic on my face. I watched myself surge forward, standing tall as I volunteered for the girl. I looked slightly proud, though I knew that I was actually terrified.

Rue's face, something that I hadn't seen at the time, looked so relieved at not having to fight. She watched me, her eyes determined, before hurrying back into the crowd as I started towards the steps. Even I had to be impressed with myself, because you could not see the fear in my eyes or the shaking in my hands. In fact, I almost looked determined.

The two commentators, Caesar Flickerman and Claudius Templesmith, were going crazy in the background, talking about how rare and courageous it was for someone from the outer districts to volunteer. They talked about how I might give the Careers a run for their money (unlikely) and then how Thresh looks like he would be able to rip someone's head off as Geare had done near to forty years earlier (more likely).

The final one was District 12 and it shocked me how similar it had been to my own Reaping. A little twelve year old was picked, but someone came running from the crowd, shoving the girl behind her and volunteering as tribute in her place. The commentators went crazy once more, babbling on about two volunteers from the outer district in one year but I was far more focused on the sixteen year old. With how similar our reapings had been, it was likely that we were going to be pitted against each other. 

They called the boy forward, who kept glancing at his female counterpart throughout the whole affair, before the fanfare played and the screen went back to the two commentators.

So, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, the District 12 tributes were most likely going to become mine and Thresh's competitors, not to mention the tributes for District 2.

I began to un-braid my hair, still listening in to the commentators. They nattered on before finally coming to a conversation of some use to me.

"So," Caeser Flickerman always hosted the games and somehow never aged over the years. He was dressed in a midnight blue suit, that sparkled as he moved, with powdered dark blue hair. "Who do you think are the standout tributes this year then, Claudius?"

 Claudius looked equally as ridiculous, but I began to listen in, intent to know their thoughts. They normally had insiders information on some of the other tributes, which could be useful.

"Obviously, Cato Hadley from District 2 already looks like a force to be reckoned with. He's eighteen years old, so it's his final year of the Reapings and was handpicked for his strength with a sword." A picture of Cato flashed up on the screen as I stored the information that he worked with a sword. If I could stay far enough away from him, he might not be able to harm me. Cato's blue eyes stared out of the screen, telling me that perhaps that was wishful thinking. "But, this year it seemed that we cannot rule out some of the outlying districts."

"Yes, District Eleven and Twelve both had volunteers and the tributes look like they could provide some competition." My picture flashed up on the screen, one that must have been taken as I stood at the podium, and I scrutinised myself. I looked calm, which was good, though a bit grimy but that couldn't be helped. "Mitzi Kennedy is the female tribute from District 11. She volunteered in the place of little twelve-year-old, Rue Morningstar, in her final year of the Reapings."

"Well the sponsors are really raving about her." Claudius nodded his head in a seemingly all knowing way as I cocked an eyebrow. I hadn't even done anything yet. "Despite all that grime, she's considered to be beautiful and she was very collected walking up to the podium. They like that."

I rolled my eyes. This was typical Capitol behaviour. They picked the pretty tributes and only focused on that, with none of their other attributes being mentioned.

"And we can't rule out their male tribute, Thresh Hans-"

"Are you watching that?" Thresh asked, leaning in my doorway as he looked at the screen. It was now displaying his picture. I hummed in response, patting the space next to me as Thresh slumped down.

"Apparently, they think you'll give the careers a run for their money and the sponsors like that."

"What about you?"

"I'm pretty and collected." I shrugged. I'm not quite sure if that was a positive thing. "I don't know what to make of it but apparently the sponsors like it."

He nodded, before the last contestant appeared on the screen. Katniss Everdeen, from District 12, stared back at me, a harsh reminder of my competition.

──⭒─⭑─⭒──

Hiya,

So have another hunger games chapter because I'm really excited for it. Cato has been introduced and Mitzi is intrigued. I also really love her parents and her relationship with Rue.

Let me know what you think,

Love Li xx