A/N: Okay so I know I haven't updated in a while, but my brother in law has had my computer trying to fix it since it crashed on me. I promise I will try my hardest to update faster than this! But I did promise you guys a longer chapter. I'm super excited that I have over 20 people following this story, but disappointed that only 2 people reviewed
DISCLAMER: I do NOT own The Hunger Games.
I grind my teeth together trying not to cry out in pain as my prep team rip all the hair on my body. A woman I believe named Venia was rambling on about what an honour it must be to take part in the games. "This is the closest we can get the being in the games." Flavius explains, a frown pulling his purple lips. "Put the lotion on her, I'll go get Cinna." Octavia gives a silent nod and starts rubbing a cooling lotion on my raw skin with help from Venia. I can't imagine why these people would want to give up their own life and kill off people they know.
I'm not sure how long I have been in the remake room, and I'm glad I finally get to meet my stylist. Hopefully this means I'm almost done being plucked, prodded, and rubbed raw. The lotion stings at first but soon soothes the raw skin, making me let out a slight sigh of relief. My prep team leaves me sitting naked on a metal table and awaiting my stylist's arrival.
The door opens and a young man who I can only assume to be Cinna walks in; he looks nothing like the Capital people, his dark hair is cut close to his head, and he wears a plain black shirt and black pants. The only thing that stands out and would make me realize he is a Capital citizen is the gold eye liner on his eye lids. "Hello Katniss, my name is Cinna." He holds out his hand for me to shake. "I'm really sorry this has happened to you."
"Everyone else just congratulates me."
"I don't see a point in celebrating. Now every year your guys are dressed as coal miners."
"Yeah, but please don't tell me we are going to be naked and covered in coal dust are we?" I grimaced remembering the year that was done.
He let out a soft laugh. "No, nothing like that... You're not afraid of fire are you?"
The other tributes stood around us, everyone wearing some sort of costume from there district. I see the tributes from district 4 dressed in fishing waders and hats with floppy brims carrying fishing rods, district 7 walks past us in red and black plaid jackets. I assume they are the jackets the men wear while chopping down the lumber. District 2 catches my eye with the gold gladiator helmets they wear, along with chest plates. I catch his icy cold stare and hold his eye, refusing to show any kind of fear. Haymitch had warned me about district 2 on the train.
"They train for the games from the time they turn eight until they are eighteen when they volunteer. Don't let their size get to you, the male tribute will be large - all muscle, the female will most likely be quick and hard to catch. Don't show fear and don't let them push you around. It just makes you seem weak."
After a brief staring contest Haymitch demands my attention and I turn away from the boys ice cold blue eyes. "Get on up there sweetheart." He takes my hand and helps my step onto the chariot that would lead Peeta and I down the aisle, to be put on parade for all of Panem to see. For sponsors to get the first real look at who they will be cheering for; for who they will put their money on and help win.
As the chariot is pulled forward by the two large black horses I hear the crowed start to scream and cheer for the careers, district 1, 2 and 4. But no screams were louder than when Peeta and I enter onto the path. I looked around the stands; taking in the flashes of different colors, sounds, hair styles, and people. I catch a glimpse of a screen with my face on it, Cinna has made sure they notice me as my hair is done in a very intricate braid and hanging in small loops attached to a large bun near the top of my head. Coal colored eye liner makes my grey eyes pop as red, yellow and orange light frames my face from behind. Cinna has created some form of synthetic fire that he has used to light up the cape I wear with my black body suit, causing people to scream my name. "Make them remember you!" Gales voices rings clear threw my mind. I smile at the crowed; blowing kisses and waving back at them, at one point catching a rose being thrown to me and blow a kiss towards the man who threw it.
The horses pull us to the balcony at the end of the aisle and stop as president Snow comes into view and makes a speech that I ignore, instead thinking of Prim and what I must look like to her right now; her older sister in the Capital, and on fire. I crack a smile as I try and imagine the look Prim, mom and Gale would have had on their faces when they saw me.
The chariot starts moving again and soon we are back in the confines of the building and Effie, Haymitch, Cinna and Peeta's stylist Portia come rushing over to see us. "That was wonderful!" Effie congratulates us. "Peeta you shouldn't seem so cold towards Katniss, she is your district partner!" I notice for the first time that Peeta hasn't even looked at me since we met at the chariot to start the parade, and hasn't spoken to me since we spoke on the train.
"My apologies if I'm being rude. I just don't see the point in making friends with her when we might have to kill each other in the arena. Excuse me." As I watch Peeta get into the elevator and go to our floor his words sink in. I guess I hadn't really thought about it that way, it would be much harder to kill him if it came down to it if we are friends. I feel eyes on me and turn to see district 2 staring at me again.
"Let's move upstairs." I nod to Haymitch and follow him up to the penthouse. "The boy has a point." He mutters and I realise Haymitch is almost sober. Almost. "There isn't any point in becoming friends; it just causes problems and heart ache in the arena." The rest of the ride to our floor is in silence and when the doors open I head straight for my room for a hot shower.
After stripping naked and folding my costume I start playing with the many knobs, dials and buttons on the wall next to the shower trying to get the temperature right. After several minutes I give up and settle for the water being just slightly to hot. The water turns my skin a deep red color as the heat sinks into my body, the shampoo fills the room with the scent of mint and I take a deep breath before rinsing it out, scrubbing the makeup from my face and stepping out of the shower.
Three knocks on my door wakes me in the morning and when I don't reply three ore follow. "Wake up Katniss, you have a big, big, big day today!" I groaned and pressed my pillow into my face; according to Effie every day is a big, big, big day. "You have five minutes before I come in there and remove you from your bed." Training starts today so I decide to listen to Effie and get out of bed, I can't miss breakfast or I will have no energy to make it through the day.
Haymitch and Peeta are already at the table when I enter the room and I notice Peeta and I are wearing the same outfit; grey, red and black skin tight t-shirts with the number 12 on our shoulder and matching sweat pants tucked into black boots. "Ah, there you are. We were just going over your training strategy."
"Which is?"
"I want you to stay away from the bow and arrows." My jaw drops and I look at Haymitch like he has grown a second head. "Now hear me out before you lose your mind. The careers will be watching to see who their biggest threat will be; you want them to believe you have no fighting skills at all. If you look weak they won't waist there time on you. We might re-visit this topic again once we know more about these guys but for now stick to survival skills."
I finish my eggs and bacon and follow Effie and Peeta to the elevator and listen to Effie drone on and on about how important it is to always be on time. I press the button for the training center and lean against the wall as the elevator descends into the basement of the building. As the doors open I notice several things at once; the room is huge, with several different stations set up. An obstacle course, plants, knots, camouflage, and lots with weapons and dummies. The large boy from district 2 has a sword and is hacking threw one of the dummies like its pudding. I make my way to the knot tying station deciding I need practise making snares. Years ago Gale taught me how to make a basic snare, but he always made fun of me because I wasn't very good at it. The teacher seems thrilled to have a student and I can't imagine that this station would be particularly busy; most tributes would rather go straight for the weapons. He explains to me how to make a basic snare and when I show him that I can make that one he moves me onto one a little more challenging. I smile thinking that if gale was here he would have this mastered in a matter of minutes and would be teasing me because I'm not very good at it.
"That doesn't seem to be that enjoyable. What has you smiling like an idiot?" I whip around to see icy blue eyes staring back at me, a smirk playing on his lips as he leans against a pillar with his arms crossed.
"What do you want?"
"Figured I would try my hand at knots." He sits down next to me and reaches for a piece of rope. "Names Cato. What about you fire girl?"
I stand, dropping my rope back on the station. "Katniss." Walking away I decide to go to the plants station. I remember another tribute saying something about Cato, something about him being called Brutal Bloody Cato back home, I glance over at him and see Cato watching me. I hold his gaze until his district partner comes over and speaks to him. Would he ever stop with the staring contests? They are beginning to get old real fast.
I spend several hours at this station, the trainer is very excited to learn that I already know most of the material and he teaches me things most other tributes never learn. When the gong rings to signal lunch I thank the trainer and follow the other kids into the lunch room. As I sit at a table in the middle of the hall I notice Glimmer, the district 1 tribute, clinging to Cato like he is the most glorious boy she has ever met. I roll my eyes at the pathetic display and turn my attention back to my food. I can see why Glimmer thinks she can worm her way into his heart, I doubt she has ever had much issues getting guys to like her. With long curly blond hair to compliment her striking green eyes and curvy body she is easily one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen; but Cato just shrugs her off and gives her a bored look.
A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed that, I'm going to try and update as soon as possible. Please review guys, it give me motivation to write