The door of the train glides shut with a streamlined WHOOSH, and I can finally stop smiling for the sake of the cameras. I'm emotionally exhausted, and now I'm stuck alone with two people I dislike: Magnus and Atlas, the latter more than the former.
Two girls dressed in white come into the train compartment, which is lined in velvet and decked out in paintings and comfortable chairs.
"These avoxes will guide you to your rooms," Magnus says. With a curt nod, the blonde one motions for me to follow her. We walk from train car to train car until we reach a compartment labeled with my name in delicate calligraphy. She opens the door and bows so low her ponytail flips down over her head. She stands up and scurries from the room.
I take in my surroundings. The room is painted eggshell blue with silver trim. A mahogany wardrobe lies adjacent to a king-size bed with a blue quilt and the softest mattress I've ever felt.
I decide to take a shower before dinner, but the control panel has so many buttons that I have to call the blonde avox back to show me which one turns the shower on.
After somewhat successfully programming and taking my shower- apparently, one of the buttons I hit at random made the shower coat me in a nasty, rose-scented froth –I dress in one of the outfits they've provided for me, a navy jumpsuit that perfectly brings out the flecks of gold in my blue eyes.
I try on some of the shoes, but I have really wide feet, so none of them fit me. I decide to just go down barefoot. The carpet's so soft that I don't really need shoes, anyway.
I walk into the dinner compartment. Magnus and Atlas are sitting at a metal table with two people that I vaguely recognize from previous Games: Terra Baxwoll and Ostro Dunbrile, the District 2 mentors. Terra's olive-skinned and lovely in her lavender dress. Ostro is stuffing his face full of the roast lamb, which doesn't really improve his already-average looks. Magnus looks thoroughly disgusted at him, though, so we'll probably be friends. Terra will be my mentor, while Ostro will be Atlas's. I'm lucky.
Magnus makes the introductions. I can tell Terra's sizing me up, trying to decide if I'm worth helping. I make a point of wearing my most fierce expression.
"Are you ok? Your face looks funny," Atlas says. I blush. It's supposed to be fierce, you moron.
"I'm fine, thanks."
I think Ostro can sense the animosity between us, because he stuffs the last of his potatoes in his mouth and gets up to leave. I suddenly realize why he eats so much: His games, he nearly starved to death. He must have developed some kind of eating disorder for fear of experiencing an empty belly again.
Terra is the kind of person who keeps her cool, though.
"Did you complete the academy?" she asks me.
"Top of my class," I respond nonchalantly.
She smiles. "Good. That I can work with." She takes a bite of the roast lamb, and I realize I haven't touched mine. I dig in with gusto.
"We'll reach the Capitol in a few minutes. Get ready."
Most of the other Tribute Trains won't reach the Capitol for another day or so, but since District 2 is the closest District to the Capitol, we only have to ride a few hours in here.
I excuse myself from the table and walk up to the front of the train so I can see the view. We are gliding across a bridge towards a beautiful, brightly colored-city. I can see the crowds from here.
I walk back to the dining car and open the train window. Probably not a good idea, but we're slowing down anyway. We reach the other side and I'm met with roars of appreciation and love from these people. I blow a few kisses and the highly excitable crowd squeals. "EUNIA. EUNIA. EUNIA." They chant. They must've bothered to find my name on the Tribute Roster most of them are holding. A few are scribbling notes, trying to figure out whether or not to bet on me. I pull my head back inside the train car because a Capitol attendant's yelling at me, but I blow the crowd one more kiss before I back away.
Despite their cheers, I bet they'd enjoy watching me die. No matter. I simply will have to not die.