Pieces in the game. (The Hunger Games)

Chapter 3: The journey to the Capitol part 1

Lilly's POV.
As soon as the anthem ended we were taken into custody. Not literally arrested and handcuffed or anything but, a group of Peacekeepers marched the four of us through the front door of the Justice Building. I wonder why they do this, perhaps tributes have tried to run in the past. It's not something I've ever seen though. Once inside Katniss and I are directed into a room and then we are left alone. It's the richest place I've ever been in, with thick, deep carpets and a velvet couch and chairs. The only reason I know velvet is because mom has a dress with a velvet collar. Katniss and I move hand in hand to the couch and then we plonk down on top of the sofa. I can't help running my fingers over the fabric repeatedly. I take a deep breath to calm myself ahead of the next hour. It will be horrific! I can't cry. I can't let them see I have a weakness. The next thing I'm aware of is the door opening and mom and Prim enter. Katniss holds her arms out and I scoot over a little so Prim can get in between us. We both cuddle up to Prim and mom embraces us from her position on her knees in front of us. For a while we just say nothing. Then Katniss starts telling them all the things they must remember to do. Katniss reinforces that Prim is not to take any tesserae. I tell them they can get by, if they are careful, on Prim's goat's milk and moms small apothecary business. We left the book on where to find the herbs mom cannot get herself and that someone from the Hob will bring game, they probably won't ask for compensation but try to trade them some milk and cheese or medicine. They both listened carefully and took in everything we said.

While Katniss continues on about fuel, trading and the importance of Prim staying in school I turn to mom and grip her arm. "Listen to me! Are you listening to me?" I whisper yell at her and she nods, probably scared by my intensity. "You can't leave again," I say and mom's eyes turn to the floor. "I know. I won't. I couldn't help what-" she starts to say before I cut her off. "Well, you have to help it this time. You can't check out and leave Prim on her own. We are not there now to keep you alive. It does t matter what happens. Whatever you see on the screen. You have to promise me you'll fight through it!" I kept my voice low so as not to alert Prim as to what I was saying to mother because she'd probably give out to me for being cruel or something. Mom pulls her arm from my grasp, anger at herself or at me, who knows. "I was ill. I could have treated myself if I'd have the medicine I have now" she says. Whether that's true or not it's a sickness we can't afford. "Then take it! And take care of her!" Katniss says. Hmm maybe we weren't as quiet as I had thought. "I'll be alright you guys," Prim says clasping one of my hands and one of Katniss's in hers. "But you have to take care too. You are fast and brave and smart. Maybe you can win". We can't win and Prim must know that in her heart. The competition will be far beyond our abilities. Katniss, Gale and I train together, even though technically it's illegal! Katniss can hunt and shoot, I'm good with close combat and we are both good at running and climbing but we can't compete with the kids from the wealthier districts.

Boys who are two to three times our size and girls who know twenty different ways to kill you with a knife. Oh, there'll be people like us too. People to weed out before the real fun begins. "Maybe," I say, I can't have given my mother that whole tirade about not giving up if I have given up myself. Plus it's goes against our nature to give up without a fight even when things seem insurmountable. "Then we'd be as rich as Haymitch," I joke and for a split second we all crack a smile. Suddenly everyone sobers up. "I don't care if we are rich. I just want you both to come home. You will try, won't you? Really, really try?" Prim asks. "Really, really try! We swear it," Katniss answers. I know that because of Prim we'll have too. Then the Peacekeeper comes in and signals our time is up. We are all hugging each other so hard it hurts and all we can say is "I love you both!". They say it back and then the Peacekeeper orders them out the door and the door closes behind them. I bury my head into one of the velvet pillows and Katniss rubs my back, I have always been the more emotional of the two of us. I look up when I hear the door closing and I'm taken aback to see that it's Peeta Mellark's father. I'm most surprised to see him because we will soon be trying to kill his son. But we know each other a bit, he knows Prim even better. Usually Katniss or I will go with Prim when she goes to trade her cheese at the bakery, me more often than Katniss but mostly because I want to see Peeta. But we always make sure that the bakers wife isn't there because she's a witch. The baker sits awkwardly on the edge of one of the plush chairs. He's a big, broad shouldered man with burn scars from years at the ovens. He must have just said goodbye to his son.