Diego's POV

The luxury of the carriage is overwhelming even for someone who comes from a wealthy home. I cannot imagine how the kids from the poorer districts may feel when they see it, ecstatic, indifferent, angry because of the prominent injustice? On the other hand, I believe that it is the least they can do, make our last days as comfortable as possible. It is our reward, a poor one considering the price we have to pay.

As I was expecting there were no goodbyes for me, I mean real ones from people who were actually worried about me. I have no girlfriend to cry in my arms, my friends were over the hills with excitement about one of them having this incredible opportunity and my parents entered the room with last minute advises and a cold hug. They stopped mentoring some years ago and devoted on the training academy so they can be responsible for my training as a potential victor.

Amethyst, my mentor and most recent victor from One, enters the room following by Cleopatra, Topaz and Fragrance, my district partner. I don't bother looking at them especially the latter. From all the eighteen year-olds they could choose it had to be her? I've never met a most annoying and selfish person in my whole life and I come from a place where being selfish is kind of normal. When she sees me, she is all over me like we are together or something and the truth is it's not the first time she has tried it. Being the girlfriend of a victor's son is every girl's dream, I suppose.

-So, guys are you ready for the big day? Amethyst asks with his loud voice feeling the compartment. My friend Ares has asked me as a personal favor to mentor Diego and as result these two lovely ladies over there (in this Fragrance becomes red) will work together. That doesn't change the fact that we are a team ready to bring another victory to our glorious district.

-As you all know, Topaz added joyfully, we are the privileged ones. We have trained hard, we have sponsors, people love us and each year we are a part of the Career Alliance. I've already spoken with Brutus from Two and Mags from Four and their tributes can't wait to meet you. So, without further delay let's watch the recaps.

As soon as she has finished what it was supposed to be a motivational speech, a screen turns on and the face of Claudius Templesmith appears. I gratefully tune off his bubbling and all that happens inside the carriage and get lost in my thoughts. I don't want to see the others, a bunch of small and trembling kids who cry, call their mothers or faint when their name is called. Neither I'm interested in my alliance, the brutes from district Two nor the fish kids from Four. I know them, I watch the Games since I was old enough to understand, since my father's victory.

- She is so ugly the poor one, I hear Fragrance's baby voice suddenly. Those outer districts have no sense of fashion and style. Bloodbath material.

My eyes fall on the screen where now is playing the recap of district Twelve. Suddenly, I feel hooked to the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. She steps up the stage with bravery but not arrogance holding her head high, ready to face her awful destiny. She doesn't smile for the cameras or play any stupid popularity games; she is just looking straight ahead the horizon. The wind plays with her long black hair making her look like those ancient warrior princesses, my nanny had told me about. Her eyes are glowing with fire, her district's fire. I feel like I'm burning.

Emily's POV

As the train is leaving my district, I can't stop thinking of what happened in the Justice Building. My first visitors were grandma and Rose who just hugged me as tightly as possible and told me how much they love me. But then it was her, my so called mother. I haven't seen her in months let alone talked to her but it was very touching for her to visit me for one last time.

-Your father would be proud for your appearance up the stage, she said. I just want you to know that if I wouldn't have accepted to sign that paper, we would all be dead by now.

-It would be much more honorable than that, I shouted.

-You are young Emily, you can't understand. Please, try to come back and we will fix everything, ok?

- I'm not going to a camping trip, mother! I'm going to die like a hero, like my dad.

-Sometimes it is more heroic to live and face the difficulties, she answered sadly and she gave me a witch doll as token. Fly high little witch!

Now, I'm waiting for the others to appear, our only living victor and a pathetic excuse of a mentor Haymitch Abenarthy, Crystal and Tyler Brown, my district partner. The door opens and the group enters inside the carriage, Crystal with her ridiculous rainbow hairstyle, Haymitch already drunk and Tyler trying to look brave but with a tear stained face. He is so skinny and small just thirteen that I immediately stand from my seat to give him a hug.

So, you are Dylan's daughter, Haymitch says with a surprisingly steady voice for a drunkard. Your father was always talking about your spirit and your kind heart. He was right.

He was also talking about how disappointed he was because you didn't want any part to the rebellion. He said that he couldn't recognize his friend. He had died in the arena. Was he right, too?

Manners lady, Crystal's voice is full of shock and disapprove.

Our mentor answers nothing; he just smiles and prepares himself a drink. We all sit down quietly until the TV set opens and the recap of the reaping begins to play. I always watch it with great curiosity; it is the only way to see how the real life is in the districts. As always, first are the lapdogs of the luxury district. Sometimes I wonder if they are crazy or brain washed and they have volunteers every year, volunteers that want to kill and be killed. We, in the outer districts, hate them. They never, not even once have helped us during any attempt to take over the power from Capitol. They kill our children and they enjoy it as much as the Capitolites. They have no honor and play dirty sending trained soldiers to fight us. They…the list can be continued for hours.

Look at this guy, I hear Tyler say. He doesn't look that happy like the others.

I look at the screen and see this year participant, a strong eighteen year old like always. But Tyler is right; he looks bored without the usual cocky appearance. He doesn't make any remark about winning and he just shake the hand of the girl next to him. If he was from any other district, I would like to have him as an ally. His blue eyes are serious and kind, as kind a potential murder can be, and his hair is black, very strange feature for One. I have to admit he is handsome, not that I care about it.

- That's Ares Silver's son, Haymitch says. You better watch out for him. His mother is a victor too.

Of course, a victor's son volunteers to carry on the family tradition, how typical of them. I guess I was wrong; he is nothing more than a selfish career tribute.