The Hunger Games - Through the Fire and Flames - Book 1

Chapter 5

Just as he had told me earlier, Cinna came along and my mother and father greeted him warmly. I guess he wasn't lying when he said him and my parents were really close. I watched as Cinna took my mothers hand into his own and kissed it before he gently released it.

"I can't say its nice to see you, especially on these terms. Either way it has been a long time" Cinna said.

I thought for a moment that the words he spoke sounded a bit rude until I realized the full meaning. I guess he didn't like the fact that they are only meeting again because we are in the games. This man named Cinna truly cared.

It was my mother who cut their visiting time short as she looked at her watch. "I think it'd be nice if we got a bit of food in our stomachs before we settled in for the night. Cinna would you care to join us." My mom asked.

He nodded his head. "I will soon join you but I must return to my team and go over the wardrobe for the next week."

My mother and Cinna exchanged a friendly peck on each cheek before him and my father shook hands. The just as quickly as he appeared he left. I nestled into my mothers arms and watched as several other Tributes -much larger then myself- walk by staring at my family and I.

"What are they looking at mom" I asked.

She looked up and smiled as she wrapped her arms around me. "They are just curious to see the son and daughter of the District 12 champions."

"Oh" I say.

Without another word my mother and father guided us to the elevator where we took it back up and got out on a floor that held a banquet like room. My eyes grazed the room as I ached to eat the many foods that were laid out along the tables that lined the walls.

"Do we get to eat all this?" I asked my mother.

She nodded her head. "All you can eat."

I took a step forward and looked around. Several times I blinked hoping that this all wasn't my imagination. I mean sure my family was fed well but never had we been able to eat the scrumptious delicacies that were laid out before us. Only a fair few of the dishes I recognized but I had a feeling that they would be of better quality because they were from the Capitol.

My brother took my hand and pulled me forward. He handed me a large plate and took one for himself. We moved side by side pulling a little bit of every onto our plates before we took to a table and sat down.

I picked up a fancy looking fork with intricate designs along its handle and speared a piece of interesting looking meat and stuffed it into my mouth. The moment I began chewing it was as if a burst of flavor erupted into my mouth.

"This is so good" I said to my brother who nodded his head in agreement.

After 30 more minutes of eating in the dining area I deemed myself full and rose to my feet. My mother joined me at my side and escorted me off to my bedroom while my father did the same for my brother.

"Tomorrow you have training, I want you up bright and early to grab a good breakfast." My mother told me.

My moms idea of a good breakfast is one that has settled before the busy days began at home. I supposed that is what she meant for me because I had a habit of stuffing my face at the last minute and then getting sick while I was active at home.

"Yes mom." I sighed as I crawled into bed.

An older red headed woman entered the room and nodded towards the blankets. I think she wanted to tuck me in. I shook my head at her and reached my arm out to my mother.

"It's alright you may leave." My mother said cheerfully to the woman. "I will tuck her in myself."

The red headed woman nodded her head and then walked back out of the room. My mother braided my hair into one long plait and then settled me into the bed. I yawned tiredly as she took my hands into hers.

"Who was that lady?" I asked her.

My mother looked around the room, searching as if someone was eavesdropping before she spoke. "That was an Avox, they are here to serve the tributes."

My mother kissed me on the forehead before she tucked me in. Before she left she sang to me and I was out like a lightbulb.

I dreamed of a bird that night fluttering about and singing. I was following it through what seemed to be a forest before it disappeared. I could still hear its singing but it seemed to be growing distantly to my ears. Suddenly its song disappeared all together.

My eyes opened and I looked around. The pale decor of the room made everything seem so bright. I held my hand before my eyes as a brightly painted lady entered. Behind her was Cinna and the rest of his style team.

"Hi Cinna" I said tiredly.

The team stood hovering over my bed watching me. What were they doing? What were they waiting for I thought.

"Oh sorry" I said as I got to my feet.

The moment my feet touched the ground they bounded on me like a pack of lions taking to a gazelle. First I was tossed into the shower by the brightly color woman who scrubbed me down and then I was dried off before I was suited up.

"Breakfast?" I asked as my stomach growled halfway through doing my hair.

Cinna looked at me and shook his head. "Your mother had them clear everything. Something about you not waking up like your supposed to." He moved over to a cart and pulled back curtains revealing a small platter. "But I snuck this for you. Its not much but its food."

Cinna placed the platter on my lap and I looked at it. An orange, eggs, potatoes, a muffin and grits. He was right it wasn't much but I was grateful because it was food. My mother told me stories about how she and my father rarely had any food because of being poor. After winning the Hunger Games my parents were never hungry again and nor was my brother or myself. We were given three meals a day and that was what my stomach was used it. When I missed a meal it hurt my physically and when I ate and didn't wait an hour before I did anything extreneous I also got sick and vomited my food back up.

"You know my mother is going to eventually find out I had food once I lose it all over the training foor." I spoke to Cinna as I took a bite of my muffin which I had saved for last. He smiled as he finished fixing my training uniform which hung a bit long in my arms. "My mom is not a i***t you know, she will connect the dots and find out it was you who gave me food."

Cinna shrugged his shoulders. "Well hopefully my friend status with your mother will keep her from taking off my head." He joked. "I can't exactly work efficiently without it."

I couldn't help but laugh at his joke. My mother was right when it came to befriending Cinna. He was a good man and I felt lucky to have the opportunity to have met him even on these terms.

Finally I was finished. I rose to my feet and turned to look in the mirror. I looked decent, maybe even a bit pretty. I smiled as I turned to Cinna. Without a second of hesitation I threw my arms around him and hugged him like I did my brother.

"Thank you so much!!" I said to him. The moment I stepped back he looked at me. He held out his hand and opened it. Sitting in the palm of his hand was my mothers golden pin. I've seen this several times on her person, it was the only item she would never take off.

"That's my mothers" I whispered in awe.

"Your mother wants you to wear it."

I watched curiously as he fastened it in place above my heart. The moment he stepped back I turned to face the mirror. Only this time my mother was standing in the doorway a tear sliding down her face. Before I could blink she quickly wiped it away.

"I see you've been eating" She finally says after a few seconds of silence.

I turned around and looked at her. "I'm sorry mom I snuck some food." I lied.

She shook her head as she walked forward. "I already know it was Cinna. I knew what he was up to the moment he passed me with his cart smelling like oranges and grits." She laughed. "Its okay just try not to vomit everywhere I don't think the other Tributes will like that."

My mother pulled me into a hug and kissed me before we headed out of the room. We made it to the elevator where we took it to one of the higher floors and got out. Walking the length of the hall I stopped once I saw the training room. This place was fascinating, I thought to myself as I looked around. Truly fascinating.