(Amber Kolt,15,Female,District 12)

"Ok! You're all done! Have a look!"

My prep team helps me off the table and leads me to a mirror in a golden frame. My olive skin has been scrubbed, my black hair washed and combed, my eyebrows and nails are perfectly shaped, and I swear I'm missing seven layers of skin.

"What do you think?", one of them chirps.

Katniss said to just deal with whatever they do, so I decide to smile rather than roll my eyes. I don't need my own prep team hating me.

"I look great!", this seems to make them happy, so they call my stylist and leave the room. I remember seeing the District 12 tribute's costumes last year, so let's hope that Eben and I look so spectacular that we'll get sponsors just from the Tribute Parade, because there is no way that someone will sponsor a twelve year-old and a fifteen year-old from District 12 if we don't show any skills.

Cinna walks in, and he's much better looking than he appears on TV. He smiles and holds out his arms for a hug. I hesitate for a second but decide to hug him back. Katniss said that he's one of the better people in the Capitol, and who am I to question her? He was her stylist last year and she looked amazing.

Cinna pulls away and takes something that looks suspiciously like a body bag from the door handle.

"This is your costume", he chuckles, seeing the look on my face.

Asking me to close my eyes, he pulls out the costume and helps me into it. I feel the soft fabric move over my skin and lower onto me. To my relief, it's quite light.

"Ok, you can open your eyes".

I open my eyes and look at the costume in front of me. It's a beautiful black dress, and a power pack has been slung to a belt.

"We're going to turn on the power of the outfit once the parade has started. Don't want to waste the battery now, do we?"

I shake my head. This man is clearly trying to help me, and even though District 12 never wins the games, I'm still going to fight. Maybe if I find an ally, I can outlast the other tributes. The boy from District 9 seemed nice. So did the girl from District 5.

Cinna leads me out to the chariot, and standing there waiting is Eben and his stylist, Effie Trinket, Haymitch, and Katniss.

"I'm very excited to see what how my tributes are going to do this year!", Effie says, smiling. She's a very optimistic escort, because District 12 has only managed to scrape up three victors in seventy-five years. Also, Katniss only won last year, so the odds are against Eben or I even making it into the final eight, because they don't want the districts to think they can earn back to back victories, though I'm pretty sure the Career districts all have at some stage. Katniss gives me a smile, but I can tell it's forced. She knows that I'm not going to win.

"All tributes, into your chariots. The Tribute Parade is about to begin". Our team wishes Eben and I luck before going to to their seats in the crowd. Haymitch stumbles out of the area and I turn to Eben,

"Nervous?"

He nods shakily. The poor kid. He's only twelve, there's no way he's going to win. Then again, I can't talk.

I look around at a my fellow tributes. All of the Careers are standing in their chariots, talking animatedly to their district partner. Most of the other kids look terrified, though there are a few who are putting on a brave face. The girl from six is one of these. Will District 6 finally earn another victory?

All of these kids around me, all but one of us are going to die. There aren't any particular stand-out tributes this year, so a Career will probably win. When I say that the Careers win almost every year, I mean they win almost every year.

"The Tribute Parade has begun. Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favour".

Yeah, yeah. The odds are never in our favour. Not for us.

I watch as the pair from District 1 roll out into the city driven by snow white horses. The girl, Venus, has been dressed as her name sake. She wears a seashell bikini and seaweed underwear. Glistening gems have been stuck all over her body, and it appears as if she's made out of gemstones. Her blonde hair dances prettily in the wind behind her. The boy, Festival, is dressed as some ancient hero. He's shirtless, with lion skin draped over his shoulders. He wears tight golden shorts, and his body has been oiled up, which defines his muscles.

These two Careers will have no problem getting sponsors. They're both very attractive. And they look strong too.

The pair from two are up next, with the typical gladiator look. District 2's tributes have this look almost every single year, and the crowd is probably only cheering them on because they're Careers. Both of the tributes are holding swords and are snarling and grinning at the crowd. They look tough, they'll make it far.

Once the District 2 chariot is out the pair from three ride out. It looks like they're some sort of electronic, because both of the kids are covered in wires and flashing lights. It isn't a very good look and some of the crowd even shouts insults at them, which I'm sure isn't helping with the kids' nerves and self confidence.

The cameras are happy to move on though, as District 4 comes out next. The two Careers come out into the city, the boy wrapped in a fish net, which has been knotted around his waist and legs to create shorts. The girl, Dori, is in a similar fishnet, but her has been created into a dress. They aren't particularly exciting outfits, but they do look good. Plus, District 4 are Careers, so they're going to be cheered on regardless.

Finally, the three Career districts are out of the way, so I can see all of the other districts. The pair from District 5 are rolling out into the city now. They're both in bright, neon jump suits. They're bare skin has been splattered with neon paint. It's something I haven't seen before, and it's clever, but neither of these tributes seem to be particularly strong.

District 5 has managed to scrape up three victors in the history of the Hunger Games, so no one really expects much from the district's tributes. The crowd does cheer them on though, because they're costumes look good.

Next up is District 6. Two older tributes are from their this year, so will District 6 actually stand a chance? From what I've seen in the games, District 6 doesn't have many skills that it's tributes learn in the district's industry. It has beena while since they earned their last victor. Moxie and Dexter come out into the city dressed in gothic clothing. Black trenchcoats, dark makeup, black gloves. There seems to be some shimmery substance kind of floating around them, but I have no idea what it has to do with transport. Maybe oil? The district's addiction to Morphling? I don't know.

When District 7's tributes roll out, the whole crowd groans. The pair of tributes are dressed as trees. Again. Someone really has to fire their stylist. Tineke and Omri don't look very happy. I feel really bad for them.

District 8's pair of twelve year-olds roll out next. The girl, Inas, is wearing a long black dress with large white shoulder pads, and Yuki wears grey trousers, a beige vest, and black shoulder pads similar to Inas. The costumes are certainly interesting. The kids look extremely nervous, and Inas even looks like she's about to vomit everywhere. I don't think District 8 will be earning it's fourth victor this year.

The two kids from District 9 come out into the city dressed as loaves of bread. They look quite ridiculous. Even so, the girl manages to still look pretty. She's very good looking, so I hope she dies in the arena. Everyone knows what President Snow does to desirable victors.

The two tributes from District 10 are up next. They both are dressed as cows, with belts flaming. Obviously the District 10 stylists are trying to copy Cinna and Portia's 'on fire' theme. They didn't quite manage to get it though. Manami and her district partner look extremely uncomfortable, and I don't blame them. With the flaming belts, they look like cows that are trying to cook themselves.

District 11's tributes are the final district before Eben and I. The girl is in a purple jumpsuit with flowers of the same colour wrapped around her head. The boy is in a yellow jumpsuit and has corn wreathes wrapped around his head. The crowd cheers, but not very hard. There are better costumes this year. Suddenly, District 12's chariot starts forward.

"Quick!", I tell Eben, "Put the power pack on!"

We turn the power packs on and watch as our simple black outfits glow like coals straight out of a fire. We look stunning. I wave at the crowd, I'm nervous, and I feel like I'm about to vomit, but it's kind of exhilarating at the same time.

Eventually, all twenty-four of us reach the city circle and the president walks out onto the balcony. He gives a speech, which I don't pay attention to, and we're sent back off to the training centre. I hate it here. I don't want to die. I know I'm not going to win, but I'm going to try. Though, that doesn't really mean a lot.

That was quick! I wanted to get this chapter up as quickly as possible because I want to begin the games as quickly as possible! There are a couple of tributes who I have in my head as the victor, but overall, it's you guys' choice. Don't forget to review! Next up, the first day of training!