Day Z checked the schedule. The tributes had just an hour to say goodbye to their family and friends. She had to check the last minute details on the train out of District 7. The lithe young woman disregarded the murmured comments about her green skin and glowing face. She was too absorbed in minutia and too used to being an object of admiration to really notice. Had she noticed, Day Z would have been shocked at the genuine dislike the people of District 7 had for her. Maybe she was hated for her association to Panem, but more than that....<br/><br/>"She is a jinx." a young man hissed to his companion as she walked by.<br/><br/>"What did Dyson see in her?" a miffed teenage girl complained." He was happy with me before seeing that freak."<br/><br/>Day Z didn't hear the barbed words as she hurried onto the rooms where her charges were waiting.<br/><br/>"You need anything?" she asked Rye, glancing at her hand held computer to check off a list. When he didn't answer, Day Z looked at him sharply to find he was staring out the window. "Rye, Rye? Do you need anything?"<br/><br/>He turned his deep black eyes on her, looking through her, staring over her head but never acknowledging her as a human or even there.<br/><br/>Day Z's face turned a deep burnt orange as she felt herself blushing. She forced herself to smile a winning smile.<br/><br/>"Okay, then. All your needs are met and you are ready for your big, big, big, big day. I will be back in a bit to escort you to your suite on the train. Dinner will be buffet style. If there is anything in particular you want,all you have to do is place an order." She backed out the door, nearly bumping into a man, woman and two young girls. She knew at once they were Dyson's parents, Rye's parent, she corrected herself.<br/><br/>The woman broke away from the man and clutched her arm. Two Peacekeepers rushed to remove her but Day Z turned her brilliant smile on them, shaking her head.<br/><br/>"Don't do it again!" the woman begged.<br/><br/>"What?" Day Z inquired, truly confused.<br/><br/>"Make my boy fall in love with you. We done lost one and can't bear to lose the other, especially for a female of no substance like you."<br/><br/>The man tugged her loose and moved them on toward the doors to Rye's chamber. The littlest girl stuck her tongue out at her. Day Z felt in her pocket for her capsules. For a second she wondered who had removed the air from the room.<br/><br/>Hurrying on, Day Z consulted her watch. They were on schedule. She needed to check on Janiel. There were no people waiting outside the door with last hugs and well wishes. No one was in the room. Janiel was seated on a wooden bench, clutching her middle and swinging her feet. Day Z noticed the girl's feet didn't quite touch the ground.<br/><br/>Smiling brightly, Day Z asked her if she needed anything or if there was any food she wanted in particular.<br/><br/>Janiel's face lit up and she sighed,<br/><br/>"Oh yes, ice cream, hot fudge, lots of nuts and other toppings. I want to eat ice cream and nothing else before I die."<br/><br/>Day Z punched that information into her hand held device.<br/><br/>"Anything else?"<br/><br/>"Would you stay and talk to me?" Janiel asked.<br/><br/>"I don't want to  interfer with any family who might come to visit. You know you can only have one grouping at a time."<br/><br/>"There is no one." Janiel said, matter of factly.<br/><br/>"Oh, okay," Day Z sat next to Janiel. "What would you like to talk about?"<br/><br/>"I just wanted to say that I'm glad I was chosen as a tribute. I'm dying. Maybe today, or tomorrow, maybe in six months. but I'm dying. I'm just glad that there won't be a waste of a tribute this year. I just wonder if it hurts when you die."<br/><br/>Day Z looked at the girl in horror. She had never given thought to the tributes suffering and worrying. She had never given thought to dying hurting. Their deaths had looked so interesting on TV. Even when Dyson had been taken out by the mutts, it had happened so fast that surely he hadn't suffered.<br/><br/>Not wanting to be callous but not sure how to respond to the girl, Day Z said. "I need to put in your ice cream order to get you ready for your big, big, big, big day." She turned her back and hoped that Janiel had not heard the catch in her voice.