Authors note: Well, no one reviewed my story, but that's alright. Considering I already edited everything I might just as well post all the chapters even if no one's reading. If you actually are reading this, thanks for clicking and you'll make my day if you review ;D

I pick up a piece of bread, chewing it slowly. I hate this place. The train ride was bad enough but the Capitol is much, much worst. Bright colours that sting the eyes, cheering crowds and we only arrived here last night. Everything seems so fake and artificial. The buildings are tall and metallic, they tower into the sky and loom over you, trust the Capitol to create buildings that make you seem small and inadequate. The building we are currently staying in is shaped like a dome with a tall tower through the middle, like a candle on a cake you used to get on your 13th birthday in the orphanage. I glance around me, shifting uncomfortably in the silence at the breakfast table. Zion Lumberton watches Dandy like a hawk, every small movement is noticed. Our escort grins,

"You eat very well Dandy, almost as properly as me." I scowl and sink lower into my chair. It's been this way for a day now. Dandy gets all the praise; no one so much as looks at me, not that I care. The previous victor, James, catches my eye and smiles. I quite like James, he's shy and quiet but fair, and he has told Zion time and time again not to show favoritism. I have begun to notice small things about my company; Zion is forever rabbiting on about the most unimportant things. James never, ever praises us, not on the way we look or how well he thinks we will do. And Dandy, well Dandy gives me sly looks; I guess he still hasn't forgiven my brothers for tarnishing his name.

"You shall meet your stylists today; your prep team will start on you after breakfast so hurry up and eat," Zion says. I deliberately pick up another roll and eat even slower; seeing as I'm going to die in a few days I might as well make an impression. Zion stares at me, his jaw clenching.

"Cleopatra, I didn't know you were that uneducated that you were unaware of what eat faster means." Dandy snorts with laughter, giving me a dark look.

"I am perfectly well educated thank-you very much." I take a bite of my bread roll and chew slowly; giving Zion a snide look I've learnt so well from Diego. James watches me, his dark eyes following my movements. I stare him out; there's no way he's going to make me feel uncomfortable. James nods slightly, smiling.

"She can take her time, Zion. You mustn't rush eating." Zion sighs very loudly but he doesn't argue, I think he fears our mentor slightly.

"Well Cleopatra, can you eat just a little tiny bit faster?" Zion pleads, I shake my head.

"You mustn't rush eating." Zion drops his fork on the table in annoyance.

"Just eat faster, must you make things so difficult Cleopatra?"

"Don't call me that, my names Cleo. I haven't been called Cleopatra since I was 5 years old!"

"You just got called it, so that's a lie." Dandy smirks; I tighten my grip on the bread. Zion laughs,

"He has a point. This one doesn't miss anything, do you Dandy?" Zion smacks Dandy's back, his piggy eyes glinting. I roll my eyes, as soon as Dandy talks Zion trips over himself to agree, Dandy could say his head was made of cheese and Zion would believe him. A side door opens and a lady with long emerald curls bounces into the dining cart room.

"Are you all finished because we don't have much time to work with?" Zion stands up, dabbing his mouth.

"Very sorry Artesia, yes we're all done."

"I'm still eating thank-you very much." I exclaim James places his hand on my shoulder.

"Don't be so difficult, it doesn't get you any sponsors. Besides, you showed him you're not going to be pushed around." I blinked in surprise; did James give me a small compliment? I dropped the piece of bread I was eating back on my plate, hoping someone would eat it later because I hated waste, I really doubt anyone would.

"Follow me darling," Artesia says and she walks through a wooden door. Reluctantly, I follow.

I lie pinned down to a chair made of squishy white material as I am attacked with tweezers, hairspray and ointments.

"Stay still please!" The green haired woman, Artesia, says. I lie back against the seat, staring up at the plain white ceiling. There's three of them and only one of me, I'm out numbered otherwise I might try and escape. The sensation of hair's being pulled from my arms one by one seems more tortuous than anything the tributes can do to me. A woman smiles down at me while she yanks hairs from my nose and makes my eyes water. She looks ridiculous. Her hair has been dyed neon yellow and pulled up into a twisty plait right on top of her head, secured with a bobble in the shape of a sun. She has bright orange skin and around her eyes are little tattoos of sun rays that stretch down both her cheeks bones and disappear behind her ears.

"You have nice hair, we won't need any extensions. Ooh, needs a little cut though. Ugh, oh I do hate split ends, they are an utter annoyance." A man says, he reaches down into his tool belt of horror and pulls out a pair of scissors. He snips at stands of my hair and I watch in despair as they flutter to the floor like leaves. The sun woman notices the frightened look on my face.

"Aww, Sweet, it's alright, Marco is a good hair stylist; he'll make your locks look healthier than ever." I smile, nodding; I can only pray she's right. Artesia walks back up to me, a green glop in her hand; she begins spreading it across my face.

"You have dry skin my darling, this will sort it right out." There's a slight tingling sensation on my face that makes me want to rub it right off.

"Oh my days, we haven't introduced ourselves! My names Hydria, this is Marco and Artesia." The yellow woman giggles, putting her tweezers down and picking up a scrap of weird looking paper.

"Its necessary darling, you have more hair than a gorilla!" Hydria smooth's down the paper on my leg and rips it off, I scream aloud. Marco smiles, a lock of his multicolored hair falls across his nose.

"Hurts don't it?" I close my eyes, waiting for it to be finished. After about two hours of ripping, tugging, pulling and moisturizing a man walks into the room. He's tall, very tall and thin. He has inky black hair and dark shadows under his eyes, his skin is as pale as the pieces of paper Zion writes on-the real paper, not the awful burning stuff.

"You may leave now." The man says the prep team scurries away.

"Stand up; I need to look at you." I do as I'm told; I really don't think I'd have any other choice. This man scares me, not just the way he looks but the way he talks, he radiates power. The man walks around, studying me.

"Sit." He demands, I lower myself back down on the chair.

"Hmm, you're an interesting child. This is good, I like a challenge."

"What do you mean by interesting?" I ask the man smiles mysteriously but he doesn't say. Eventually he stands, walking towards a room and returning with an outfit. He holds it up to me, it's actually quite nice. A long dress, the top half is green and puffs out, like leaves; the bottom is tight fitting and has the exact design of a tree trunk.

"We shall dye your hair green; I will back comb it and arrange it around your head like leaves." The man walks up to me, lifting my long brown hair and shifting it round my head.

"I think we will have a headband of leaves, a small center point in my magical creation." He drops my hair, letting it gently settle around my shoulders. I stare at him nervously, I don't like the idea of him dying my hair green and making me look like a tree.

"Yes, it will be perfect, you'll look perfect." His black eyes shine making him look like a maniac. "Close your eyes, this masterpiece will take time!"

I grip the side of the chariot, my heart beating so loud I can hear it in my ears. District 1 ride out into the dark, their silver light fading away. Dandy stands tall and proud, he's wearing the same outfit as me except he has a jumpsuit instead of a dress. I stare straight ahead, trying to forget I'm on an unsteady chariot that could tip over at any moment. I try and distract myself by looking at the small details on our chariot. Two horses are standing in front fastened to the chariot with green leather straps. They have been dyed green and their manes are all knotted and covered in leaves. I look around behind me, trying to look at my competitors but the chariot rocks dangerously and my stomach flips in fear, I quickly stand up straight, facing forward. Dandy chuckles darkly,

"Scared of a rocking chariot, Cleopatra?" I scowl, what's wrong with not wanting to fall out and crack my head open on the concrete floor beneath us? Suddenly the chariot lurches forward and we ride out into the darkness. It takes a few seconds for my eyes to adjust while a voice announces our arrival. We trot forward down a brightly lit runway; on either side is the cheering crown, dressed like wild clowns in their capitol fashion. I swallow loudly, my throat suddenly very dry. I look forward, only to catch sight of myself on the huge screen up ahead. My hair looks like I've been dragged through the trees kicking and screaming my skin has an odd glow that looks almost alien and my eyes-they have been outlined in green and shimmer, but that's not what frightens me. Even with the make-up, I look dull and scared, just like those children you see in the arena who are about to get slashed to pieces by a tributes sword. I try to smile but it looks all wrong, weak, and fake. I start to think about my brothers, they will be watching this, what will they be thinking? I'd promised them not to be the girl who dies without even trying. I stop smiling and scowl, trying my hardest to look fierce. Too late, the camera's already flickered to Dandy. He's not scared. He really does look fierce. He smiles, a slow, sly grin that gets the people in the crowd clapping. I know the smile well; he uses it whenever he walks past Diego and Kovu in the District square. He has been plotting to get them in trouble with the peacekeepers for so long after the whole stealing business. Unluckily for him, Diego knows his plan and he avoids anything that might look shifty.

"Wow look at him, he looks scary."

"He could win, you never know!" Dandy grins even wider, showing his perfect white teeth. The camera focuses on him for a few extra seconds before moving to the District 8 tributes. Dandy looks down at me,

"You looked terrified, Cleopatra. Too much of an easy target, it must be hard for you, being the girl who'll die definitely first." I clench my fists; I'd love to show him how much of an easy target I am. I know I have a good punch; I've given Kovu bruises before. But I don't, it's against the rules.

"Shut up, Dandy." I snap, he laughs blowing hot breath in my face.

"I might team up with you if you weren't so small and vulnerable, second thoughts, I'd never team up with you. I don't like your attitude, you've been giving me the evils ever since we left District 7 and I want to know why!" Dandy turns to face me, his hazel eyes flaming.

"Dandy, you've always hated my family after what happened. You can't actually accept me to like you and act like your friend when you're always plotting to probably get me and my brothers killed." Dandy laughed,

"At least half of my wish will come true; I'll get to kill you. That will be sweet compensation for the times somebody has walked past me and clutched their money tighter. Your brothers stopped my income of money and nobody will employ me because they think I am a lying thief. Considering I can't make them pay, I'll make you pay instead." Dandy's threat sent a cold shiver down my spine, it might have been easier to take if he had been angry about it, but he wasn't, his voice was eerily calm, like he had asked me for a cup of flour instead of telling me he was going to make me suffer when he killed me. I grip the side of the chariot, my knuckles turning white with the pressure. I feel sick, maybe it's because the chariot is rocking or perhaps it's because I am so terrified. I take a deep breath, stay calm, do it for Kovu and Diego, they don't want to see me frightened. I force a smile on my lips and whisper under my breath,

"I'm not going to let you kill me that easily Dandy. My brothers ruined your life but you will not end mine, I will fight you with the last breath in my body and if your so hell bent on killing me, I'll make sure you'll have to break a sweat." Dandy chuckles softly, it's all a game for him. I grind my teeth together in annoyance. The camera flickers to me once again, I look up, shocked. The girl I saw before has disappeared. With the anger and fear sparking in my eyes and my clenched jaw, I look tough, almost wild. Not an easy kill, but not a massive threat. I don't look the type of tribute who will die on the first day. Good, because I will not be that person.

"You're a good actress Cleopatra, I'll give you that. You can go ahead and pretend your tough, but deep down, we both know you're nothing more than a terrified little girl who relies on her brothers for everything. If you didn't have them two around you would have died years ago. But unluckily for you, there not around." My face pales because he's telling the truth, I do need my brothers and I would have died without them. No-I shouldn't think like that. I can do this, I can fight, I can defend myself, and I can win The Hunger Games if I really put my mind to it. I close my eyes, trying to make the words sink in, trying to convince myself that those lies are something I can really accomplish.