The Capitol Tribute

I hate The Games. The Hunger Games were the most inhumane, sadistic, and stomach churning form of torture I have ever heard of. And I know of many tortures brought upon by President Snow. The Hunger Games were just the most public form of torture he had. His private tortures lie within the districts like 11 and 12. District 12; I've watched their reapings for as long as I can remember, not just because my mother is their district escort but because they intrigued me more than any other districts.

I however, do not compete in the games. I'm from the Capitol, the most prestigious and wealthy part of Panem. At least, that's what Snow tells us. Often, when he talks to the citizens in the Capitol he reminds us that we have the highest class and eloquence in all of Panem. And I suppose he's right, the Capitol has endless buildings that contain things from dazzling clothing to food that will call your nose a mile away. People are always walking around with bright expressions on their faces and gossiping with anyone they recognize.

Not that we have much to compete with.

The 74th Hunger Games were different this time though. I was being forced to follow her around for the reaping of District 12 and assist her as they train for The Games.

"What did I tell you about saying you were forced into helping me Katniss?" she asked as we walked out of the car to District 12.

"Fine. I can't believe Snow 'strongly encouraged' me to help you during The Games. Who are you kidding, mom? You know that wasn't just a suggestion!"

"Katniss, now is not the time for this conversation," she responded in a strained voice. She was walking to the town's Justice Building at such a fast pace, her powder pink wig was bouncing around all over the place.

My mother doesn't like when I say any quips about President Snow. It's not that she's unaware of Snow's creepy character or the tortures he sentences people with. She just prefers to stay negligent and enjoy the perfect world she is fortunate enough to live in. She likes to make excuses, like how people deserve the punishments Snow gives them, even if she doesn't know what the person did to "deserve" the punishment. We both try to see eye to eye on things, but one of the few things we have in common is our stubbornness. So in the end we awkwardly drop the dispute and change the subject. But lately I haven't been letting her drop the arguments so easily.

"Something isn't right and you know it!" I called after her.

That stopped her abruptly and she turned around on her heels, "Katniss Trinket. In two hours you and I are going to be on camera for all of Panem to see. Including our friends in the Capitol. Including President Snow. I will admit that his offer had very odd timing but right now we cannot think about that. Right now we must focus on keeping our smiles big and bright, and remember our manners. That being said, put on your shoes and keep up with me." I stifled a groan, not just because she was able to avoid a conversation this important for later, but she was making me put my heels back on.

Being from the Capitol, I am expected to dress "properly" for everything, especially for events like the reapings. I am probably one of the only Capitol citizens who prefers to dress as modest as possible and put my hair in braids. Well except for my personal designer, Cinna. He too dresses more normal than most of the other Capital citizens. That's the reason I begged my mother to choose him as my designer. When I got to know him more I found out we got along very well too. And he's a great designer so even my mother was pleased with our decision. The outfit he had chosen for me today was a simple blue silk dress with short cup sleeves and three diamond buttons. He originally had sparkly flats for me to wear with it, but my mother insisted for me to wear heals instead.

"Welcome Ms. Trinket. Happy Hunger Games," the mayor said tightly as we walked into City Hall.

My mother smiled widely at him and his daughter, "Hello and happy Hunger Games to the both of you. Allow me to introduce you to my daughter, Katniss." I smiled awkwardly at the both of them and shook their hands.

"Hello. Happy Hunger Games. I'm Madge," the mayor's daughter squeaked. She was naturally pretty with blond hair and a little white dress that had a gold circular pin pinned to it . She looked about my age and was built similarly to me. I could tell by her handshake and her eyes that she was afraid. Probably because though the odds are in her favor, she could be the next to go into The Games. For some reason I felt like she feared me too. Maybe she thought I was another one of Snow's Capitol Clones.

I prayed she didn't think this.

"Well, we have a big, big, big day ahead of us! Shall we head out to the stage?" my mom beamed clapping her hands. None of us said anything, but instead followed her bouncing wig outside to take our places.

Slowly the huge sea of chairs became filled with petrified, hopeless faces. Most of them showed signs of severe hunger through their stained shirts and dresses. I felt painful stabs of guilt in my stomach as I looked down at my perfectly manicured hands. How can I be pampered everyday when so many people don't have an ounce to their name?

Haymitch Abernathy wobbled on stage and plopped into the open seat next to me. I turned to my mother for help but she just patted my hand and gave me an encouraging smile.

"Whatsthematter sweetheart? Intimidated?" Haymitch garbled at me.

I felt my mother's eyes boring into me so I smiled sarcastically, "Intimidated by what, Haymitch? Your obvious charm of your vile stench of puke and scotch?" My mother covered her mouth in shock, but I could tell she was hiding a small smile.

Luckily for me, Haymitch was far too drunk to care what I had to say because he probably wouldn't have taken my comment too nicely. He slumped back into his chair and looked at the sky while the mayor walked up to the podium and began the yearly speech about the history of The Games.

I started scoping out the kids and sizing them up. A few caught my eyes staring at them and we'd quickly look away, embarrassed. I easily found ones that were orphans who looked so hungry they could probably eat a hand if it were offered to them.

I hate being from the Capitol. The endless and pointless parties, the fruity people, and the constant feeling that Snow could come up behind you at any moment is suffocating. Looking at these people only a few feet away from me made me ashamed of my life and my stomach which has never gone five hours without food. Am I the only person in my home that has a conscience? Am I the only one who's not oblivious to these poor people's pain?

As I wondered this my mother popped up from her seat and danced to the podium, "Hello everyone! Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor! Shall we begin with the ladies?" I found myself holding my breath as she walked over to the large glass ball with all of the girls' names. Not Madge I thought please not Madge. My mother was taking her time and I started to bite the inside of my cheek. If it was this painful for just me to hear the name, I couldn't imagine the agony the children must be in.

"Primrose Everdeen!" she finally sang into the microphone. There were some gasps in the audience and I hunted the crowd for the girl.

I spotted her walking towards the isle, she looked so small in back row. As she slowly stepped forward I got a better look at her and realized she was very small, with blond hair, and a simple black and white outfit that was too big for her. Her hands were clenched into fists, trying to stay strong but you could easily tell that she was terrified. Primrose was about three fourths of the way to the stage when I noticed her blue eyes which had dark circles under them. She looked like an aged woman in a child's body.

"I volunteer," I whispered. Then I gathered more strength I had ever used, "I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!" Then everything stopped. No one moved or said a word. Everyone was looking at me with wide eyes, including my mother and Haymitch.

I stepped up next my mother and tried to say as forceful and brave as I could, "I volunteer as tribute."

"Bu...but you can't volunteer!" my mother breathed.

"Why not? There isn't exactly a rule."

"Katniss you can't do this!" she cried.

"If it's such an honor to be a tribute then why can't I? I'm volunteering to be District 12's tribute." People started murmuring their agreements and questioning what I was doing.

"You're not from District 12 though! And...and you're from the Capitol! We don't compete in The Hunger Games!" My mother tried. Everyone was looking around for answers and wondering what to do with me.

"Call President Snow and ask him yourself, there isn't a rule saying I can't volunteer myself as tribute." Once I said this, a peacekeeper started to call President Snow.

Now I started to get scared. What would this man do if he heard what I just signed myself up for? What if he took his anger out on Primrose? She was looking at me, little Primrose. Her eyes looked like they were searching for answers that I sadly didn't have. Answers like why I volunteered for her.

Why did I volunteer for her? It's not like I could do much better than she could in The Games. I don't train for The Games like careers do and I don't have anything specially taught in The Capitol that other districts don't teach, besides etiquette, but that wouldn't help in the arena. Volunteering is a death wish here and I know I wasn't the only one who thought I was practically committing suicide. I mean I know I feel horrible that Primrose undoubtedly already has a tough life living in District 12, but this type of action could get my tongue cut off. I already got on President Snow's wrong side after his last get together. When he finds out about this outburst who knows what he'll do?

The peacekeeper stopped mumbling into her phone and cleared her throat, "Katniss Trinket has been approved by President Snow as the volunteer for District 12's female tribute." He did? Oh no. The one thing I did not expect was that Snow would allow me to do this. Or maybe I did, he'd enjoy watching me die. Actually I don't know what I expected. The man is full of surprises and he never disappointed people when it came them. But when Snow allows something there is usually a hidden meaning behind it, something worse he will do to you or something he'd gain from.

I looked round to see their reactions. Primrose looked up at me from the ground with wide eyes and just when I thought she was going to cry, she pressed three of her fingers to her lips and held them out me. Then, slowly everyone in audience followed her gesture and held it for a good minute. I didn't know how to respond so I stood there like a tree and hoped it was a good sign.

My mother had stayed in the same position she was in when the peacekeeper broke the news. If she wasn't wearing so much makeup I'd say her face had gone pale. She was supposed to start announcing the new male tribute but she wouldn't move an inch. I didn't know what else to do besides stare at her, improvising isn't something I'm very good at as you can tell.

Haymitch limped forward and broke the silence by grabbing the first he name touched from the boys bowl, "Perry Melons."

That snapped her out of it, "Mr. Abernathy please go sit back down and give me that slip! Ah, now where we? Peeta Mellark!" We all looked around for the next tribute. I saw him walk up from one of the closer rows to the stage, this meant he was older, probably my age.

When he stepped onto the stage I studied him a little better. He had blond hair that slightly covered his forehead with eyes that were bluer and softer than my dress. His jaw was square and he was an inch taller than me (in four inch heels). His arms and mouth were tight, he too was terrified as much as I was about what was happening. But his involvement in The Games wasn't his choice, mine was.

"District 12 and Panem I present you with your new tributes! Now shake hands you two and we'll be on our way," mom announced. Peeta held out his hand, I took it and though we only touched for a few short seconds I felt how strong they were; they were firm but also soft and I could have sworn he squeezed my hand comfortingly. Or maybe it was my imagination, after all in less than a week he and I would be forced to kill one another.

I looked to my mom as the peacekeepers lead me into the Justice Building to prepare for the family and friends visit. She gave me a sympathetic face and walked over to help Haymitch gather himself together.

I didn't see why they were making me do this tradition, I don't have any real friends, and even if I did they would all be in the Capitol. I didn't know a soul in District 12 besides Haymitch. So I waited patiently for the time to pass on one the red velvet couches.

That's what I thought until the little Primrose girl came running into the room with a woman I assumed was her mother. She stopped and looked at me with teary eyes then hugged me, her tiny twig arms squeezing as tight as they could. She mumbled something beneath my dress but I couldn't hear her through the silk.

"What did you say?" I asked gently pulling her back to look at her.

"I said your dress is really soft," she laughed lightly through her tears.

I laughed a little too, "Thank you, my designer made it for me, it's one of my favorites." She smiled but it soon disappeared and she started sobbing again. This sweet little thing was going to make me break out in tears too which I knew I couldn't do if I wanted respect for sponsors.

"Please stop, you're going to break me if you keep it up."

She sniffled, "I was so scared. But you saved me." She was breathing heavily and it was getting harder to understand her.

"Why did you do it?" her mother spoke softly.

"I...I couldn't stand the thought of someone as young as her going into The Games if there was something I could do." It was the first thing that came to my head and though it probably wasn't the entire reason, I knew it was partially the truth.

Mrs. Everdeen pondered this for a moment, "Thank you, I wish I could repay you in some way."

"Keep her alive, feed her better if it's at all possible. I don't care how you do it, just take care of her. I can't die in vain," I responded harshly, my voice getting hoarse towards the end.

"No. You mustn't think like that Katniss. Please, try to win. You're from the Capital, surely your friends there would pay at any cost for you to win right?" Primrose stressed.

"Er...I guess they might. But I don't know much about surviving," I told her.

"Then learn, really try your best Katniss. Promise. For me?" I looked at the aged pale blue eyes of the girl I'm practically giving my life for.

"I promise. I promise I'll try my best to win for you Primrose." I meant it too. If I was going to die, I needed to die trying. And if this girl was worth saving, she was worth fighting for too.

I hugged her one more time and her mother embraced the both of us too before the peacekeepers came to tell them their time was up. They were taken away and Primrose waved at me one last time.

I was surprised enough that Primrose came to see me, so when Madge came bursting through the doors with a grave face and hushed urgent voice I was even more shocked, "Katniss you must take this and wear it during the games."

"Take what?" She had certainly changed since our last encounter, I hardly took Madge for a rebellious type girl.

She thrust her gold circular pin into my hands, "Please wear this as your token." I looked closely at the little pin, it was half the size of my palm and centered in the circle was a small mocking jay. Such a peculiar pin, then again Madge was proving to be quite peculiar.

"But why this?"

"To distinguish you from the other tributes," I had a strange feeling there was more to this than being distinguished but I let her continue, "I think you're very special Katniss. The moment you volunteered I knew this would be a good symbol for you." I still wasn't sure about it. A mocking jay? What could that possibly symbolize? All I knew about mocking jays was that they mated with jabber jays after they were released in the wild during the rebellion. Jabber jays were the birds Capitol scientists created to record conversations during the rebellion. The experiments failed after the rebels caught on and said lies to birds, hence the reason the birds were released into the wild. What did this have to do with me?

"The peacekeepers will be here soon. Good luck Katniss," Madge said in a low voice. Before she left, she kissed me on the cheek and gave my hands a gentle squeeze. It reminded me of when Peeta had shaken my hand. Maybe it wasn't my imagination. But why would he be empathetic to me in any way? Not only am I his competition but I'm from the place that took enjoyment in watching the tributes fight to the death every year. I'm from the place that has nothing to do but eat, do pointless activities, and sleep safe and sound every night.

The doors burst open again, causing me to almost jump out of my dress, and a tall masculine boy with brown hair came walking in as if he owned the place.

"Did he set you up for this?" He shouted at me.

"Excuse me?" I piped.

"Snow! Did Snow set you up to do any of this?" He shouted again.

"What is the matter with you?" My voice rose with anger and I pushed him on the chest as hard as I could, "No he didn't set me up for anything! And what would it matter if he did? My life is the one that's going to be on the line!"

He looked me intensely in the eyes, probably trying to see if I was lying. I noticed his eyes were a similar silver color like mine, "Calm down Capitol girl, you'll bring the peacekeepers in here."

"Ugh!" I huffed and turned my back on him which made him chuckle, "If that's all you've come to tell me then you can leave."

He stopped laughing, "That's not the only reason I'm here. I want to know why you volunteered for her. For Prim."

I sighed in frustration because I still barely knew the answer to that, "I don't know! I just saw her walking up to the stage and I couldn't stop thinking how unfair it was for her. She looked so broken and to be chosen to fight for her life...it wasn't fair."

We were both quiet for what seemed like an awkward eternity until he spoke again, "Look I hunt in the woods and gather as much fruit as I can identify. I'll try my best to help her out whenever I can."

"Thanks..." I mumbled not knowing what else to say.

"You're different from the other Capital people aren't you Catnip?" he said more like a statement than a question.

"Katniss."

"What?"

"My name, it's not Catnip. It's Katniss." He laughed again even though I wasn't trying to be funny.

"Mind if I give you some advice, Catnip?" I nod, ignoring his teasing, "When your train, learn to make fire and pick the weapon that you get the hang of the fastest and spend tons of time learning it. If you can get decent at wielding a weapon then you'll get food easily and you'll surely be able to kill someone when you get the shot."

"I'm not sure I could kill one of the other tributes."

"How much different could it be than killing an animal?" Before I could object the peacekeepers came in and told the boy it was time to go.

"No wait, wait!" I called out to him. He tried to stop but the peacekeepers grabbed his arms and started pulling him away, "Wait! What's your name?"

Thankfully he was strong enough to fight for a few last seconds to say, "Gale!" And with that, the doors closed again. I stayed standing in case anyone else decided to barge in. When it seemed like no one else was coming in I slumped down into the couch again.

A small knock came from the door and my mother walked in with a disappointed and concerned face. She tip toed over the couch and sat on the edge with her face in her hands.

Finally she spoke, "Could you have better posture please?" I glared at her but did what she asked anyway. She half smiled, "Thank you…Katniss what were you thinking?"

"I was thinking about how much I want to lay back on this couch."

This time it was her turn to glare at me, "You know what I meant. Katniss, do you have any idea what you've done?"

"No…" I admitted guiltily.

"Of course not. Oh what Persia and Windber say about us? And as for sponsors just forget about that! No one would sponsor someone so reckless!" She ranted. I clenched my teeth together and tried to remind myself that she loved me, but I was having trouble remembering what the point was. She'd only let me down in the end as usual.

She went on for a few more minutes and I had to tune her out before I lost it. I take back what I said before, my mother is completely oblivious. I've found it hard to stay mad at her for long though. The people in the Capitol seemed to have their own brain channel that they all stayed on. I always think that I just run on a different channel. And as odd as the Capitol citizens are, it's practically impossible for me to hate them when they act like naive animals.

My mother sighed, "Now we must be on our way. We have a-"

"Big, big, big day ahead of us," I finished for her. She sighed again because I interrupted her but motioned me to get up and head out the door with her.

We grabbed Peeta and tried to head out the door but we were bombarded with cameras. People were shouting mine and Peeta's name to get us to look at them. I wanted to look tough and unshakable so I tried to keep my head up and look straight ahead. But I couldn't resist stealing a look at Peeta and when I did I saw that his head was down with tears shinning in his eyes. Is that his strategy? He looked pretty convincing, but when he looked up at me and stared back in my eyes I got his message.

He's just as scared as I am.