I sat there fuming on the train.

Mikasa sat opposite saying nothing.

After Mikasa volunteered, everything had become a bit of a blur. I could barely believe that I had been reaped for the Games, let alone Mikasa volunteering for the little girl. Of course Hanji had loved it, gushing away, whilst the cameras eagerly zoomed in on Mikasa's stoic face. In the highlights tonight I bet there'll be a special feature on District Twelve. Although common in some of the wealthier districts, our district has never had a volunteer before.

After the final speeches, we had been whisked away into the Justice Building. Apart from a few acquaintances at school and at the Hob, we didn't have anyone to say goodbye to. We rode in a car all the way to the train station. A car, can you imagine! Apart from the occasional wagon ride, I travelled everywhere by foot.

As soon as we had got onto the train, it was like we were in another dimension. Soft cream carpets, sleek mahogany surfaces and supple leather chairs. And the food! Upon the table in the initial car was stacked a little pile of cakes upon a fancy silver tray. From the ceiling hung a glass chandelier and there was the sweet scent of roses in the air. Me and Mikasa have been given our own chambers complete with a bedroom, dressing area and bathroom.

Hanji tells us that everything is at our disposal and we are free to wear whatever we want. I open the drawers in my bedroom and find that there are a variety of different fine clothes. I peel off my sweaty shirt and head straight for the shower.

I've never had one in my life. At home I've often scrubbed myself down with a bucket of water and a sponge, or if the weather is particularly hot, traversed deep into the forest where there is a huge lake and gone for a swim in it. The hot shower is particularly wonderful, soothing my agitated nerves, washing away my worries.

I stand for a while, letting the water soothe me and my thoughts wonder. However the temporary bliss comes to a halt the moment I think about the reaping. At the moment everything has been a bit of a faze and I haven't had a chance to take everything in properly, but now the cold hard reality hits me; the fact that I was chosen for the games, Mikasa volunteered and both of us were going to our inevitable deaths, like pigs to the slaughter house.

With these thoughts swirling around darkly in my mind I suddenly let out a raw cry and sink to the bottom of the shower. There I cannot stop the tears as they pour down my face, along with the shower water droplets. The shower no longer feels soothing and I begin howling with despair, the pressure of the Games been thrusted upon me; how the other districts are going to fare so much than me, only Mikasa or I can make it back, everyone is going to be watching me, the strawberries sitting on the table uneaten. I sob into my hands, feeling hopeless and exhausted, with the reaping having emotionally drained me.

After a while, I cease crying as a new emotion enters me. It is anger. And not just simple anguish. It is full on rage. Angry at the Capitol. Angry that they exploit us each year for their own perverse enjoyment. Angry for being cheated, despite the fact the rules are set up to look fair, the Games are anything but. I'm pissed off at them and now I'm spurred on by a new passionate anger. Me and Mikasa are going to beat them, win their silly games, prove that we aren't just another pawn.

I've no idea how I'm going to do it, but I want to do it. Do it for District 12, do it for Mikasa and do it for myself. For now I've found my resolve, I'm going to beat the games and bring me and Mikasa home.

Deep down in my heart I know only one person can win the Games, but this year is going to change. I'm going to change, change the Games.

I get out the shower and change into a soft brown long sleeved t-shirt, and a darker pair of trousers. I'm still fuming and know that I have every right to be.

"Dinner's ready!" comes a sing song voice through my door.

Dinner right. This should be interesting.

I walk out of the door and Hanji is there waiting for me.

"Mikasa has already gone down and we're all just waiting on you," Hanji chatters away as we walk down the corridor, "just you see what the food is on offer, quite a spread for our dashing tributes."

We reach the food car and a neatly laid out mahogany table is covered all sorts of fancy silverware, obviously brand new and ready to be used just the once. I think of the chipped and battered spoons and forks at home.

Hanji sits down next to Mikasa and I take my place between her and our mentor. He's more shorter than I had realised and had a surly expression on his face. I worry about trying to make conversation with him but luckily the food comes.

It arrives in courses; a thick vegetable soup, green beans, succulent chicken breasts, creamy mashed potatoes, pasta in a tangy tomato sauce, wild rice, an array of exotic fruit, gorgeous chocolate tart with cream piped on the side.

Even though I'm still angry, it has subsided down enough for me to tempted by all of this rich food. Never before have I seen such a vast array of food. I don't mean to, but I stuff down as much food as I can manage. I can see Mikasa, although having slightly better table manners than me, still gobbles plate after plate of food.

If this is just the stuff they serve on the train, then I can't imagine what they eat in the Capitol. Heck I can't even imagine them eating this stuff all of the time. The things that me and Mikasa eat in District 12 seem so laughable, the meal here is enough to last a small family about a week in Shiganshina.

"You should have seen last year's pair of tributes," Hanji commented sipping on a glass of fizzy water (even the idea of fizzy water seems so absurd to me), "ate themselves silly. They ended up throwing up all the food they had eaten in the first night." With that I immediately stop eating, feeling my stomach crying out in protest. Mikasa is looking a little green as well.

After the meal, Hanji leads us down into another apartment where we sit together to watch the recap of the other reapings. Apparently in the Capitol they have enough free time to spend the whole day watching the reapings, which is why they are staggered out. However in the evening they have condensed it all into a two hour viewing so everyone can watch them.

I try and make note of any other tributes as the districts are shown one by one, starting with One and ending with Twelve. A couple stand out in my mind; the absurdly tall boy and short girl from One, a short blonde boy from Three, a horse faced boy from Five, a girl with black pigtails from Eleven.

Then comes ours and I watch myself on the screen, my name being called out and the cameras trying to find and focus on me within the crowd. I see the stricken look on my face and then walking reluctantly to the stage. The next part is more haunting, as Winry's name is called and she immediately bursts into tears. The commentators try and make a point, that being the youngest and smallest in the competition, the odds aren't stacked in her favour. However when Mikasa volunteers herself instead, she is seen as the hero of District Twelve. Although she is stoic, I see as she's walking up to the stage, her façade slips for a moment and see a look of real reluctance, has she made the right decision.

The program ends with the shocking revelation that Mikasa is actually my sister, allowing for lots of awwing from the commentators and the camera zooms into our faces, mine full of anger whilst Mikasa's is unwavering. Then a final comment dubs us as the reluctant heroes of District Twelve before finishing.

"Well wasn't that splendid?" Hanji asks excitedly, "You two are certainly going to go down in history as one of the most memorable pairs. Isn't right Levi?" She nudges Levi who has sat the whole time with his legs crossed, slowly sipping his cup of coffee.

"Yeah maybe," he replies. He stands up and puts his empty cup on his chair, "I'm going to bed now."

"Wait a minute," says Mikasa standing up, "Aren't meant to sit and discuss tactics now?"

"Oh my, we have an eager one this year," Levi says, "Well sweetheart, it's late we can discuss more in the morning."

He walks out of the room before Mikasa has a chance to reply and I turn to Hanji to see what she makes of his behaviour.

"Is he always like this?" Mikasa asks.

"Well he can be a bit grumpy sometimes, but he's right. We'll have enough time to discuss this tomorrow morning after we are all well rested."

I suppose she's right and I should just focus on trying to get some sleep. It has been such a long day, with the reaping and all, I can barely believe that was just several hours earlier.

I slip into my bed, the silk sheets soft to my touch and fall instantly into a dreamless sleep.

Hey everyone once again. I know I said I would update once a week and this is slightly later and shorter than I planned but I did it. It's more of a reflective chapter but after they reach the Capitol hopefully the pace of the plot should pick up.

Until the next time we meet, may the titans be ever in your favour!