In my dreams I imagine myself high-up in the treetops, singing with my bird friends. But suddenly everything morphs and changes. The trees are dark and the birds are gone. I can hear people bellow me, calling my name. Something tells me that don't want to help me. Their flashlight beams sweep the surrounding trees. They are searching for me. I hop to the next tree because their beams now shine full force on the one I was just in.

Amongst the calling I can hear Thresh's voice and I realize I must be in the games.

The dream goes on like this for a while, me jumping from tree to tree, them uselessly calling my name and pointing their lights.

I wake up to Ivy Storm knocking on my door. She tells me to get ready for breakfast in her thick Capitol accent. Today she wears all yellow. She looks like a bird.

I am refreshed. Despite the scary dream, it was the best sleep of my life. I am so used to sleeping with two or more of my little siblings that it felt strange to have a bed all to myself. I pull myself from the large bed and peer out the little window across the room.

We are somewhere in another district, possibly seven, but I can't tell exactly which. We are moving too fast.

I walk into the bathroom and pause a moment in front of the shower. There is a control panel in front with just about a thousand different buttons. I am not sure which ones to press, and I don't want to ask, because that would make me seem even more childish than my height makes me seem, so I just push a different one in each section.

I end up being quite lucky with my selection. The water is perfectly warm, and I come out smelling like fresh rain water. Pleased with myself, I put on a pair of black pants and a warm green sweater and walk over to the dining room.

Again, before I even enter the car with the food the scent hits my nose. I feel quite full from supper last night, but I feel like I should take advantage of this food while I can. Their won't be chicken with sauce in the arena.

I emerge into to dining area to find Jasmine and Victory sitting alone, eating their breakfast. They will be our mentors. It's either we all train together, or Thresh and I each get a mentor to train on our own.

I sit down and instantly a plate of food is placed in front of me. It holds eggs, and different meats, rolls, and potatoes. I dig into the warm food gratefully.

"Which of us is going to be your mentor?" Victory asks.

I am slightly frightened of her. I have only heard of all the different things she can do with a knife. I am too young to have seen her games.

"Do you speak child?" She asks me again.

"Yes," I say once I have swallowed my potatoes.

She narrows her eyes a little. "Can you use weapons?"

I pause a moment, and figure that telling the truth would be best. I shake my head.

"She's yours," Victory says as she shoves away from the table. She takes a plateful of food and I am guessing it's for Thresh, and she leaves the cart.

I turn my gaze to Jasmine who is laughing a little. "She takes everything too seriously."

I can't force myself to laugh with her. She is not the one who will be risking her life in the arena.

'You have time to learn," She begins as she takes in my serious expression. "That is what I mean. The games are a very serious business, but you have time to learn weapons."

It makes more sense now. I nod and bite into my soft roll.

"The food is much better here, isn't it?" She asks me.

I nod.

Jasmine and Victory live in the victors square. They each have a large house and enough money to feed my family for years. She already has good food at home.

I remember hearing about Jasmine Icechanter. She was cunning and very small as a thirteen year old girl, much like me, only I am only twelve. She kept away from the bloodbath and immediately found a water source. She was smart about her food and shelter. Soon, she was one of the top three Tributes. The final two died at the feast. One of them, a boy from district 1, was able to finish off the other, a girl from district 4, but not before he was badly wounded. He bled to death. Jasmine didn't even have to kill a soul during her time in the arena. At first the Capitol was reluctant to announce her as the winner because there is nothing the Capitol loves more than blood. But, they could find nothing in the rules that was against not killing.

"You look like a runner Rue," She says quietly, breaking me from my memories.

"Yes," I admit. "I can run very fast."

She nods. "That will help you."

Then Ivy bursts into the cart holding a cup of dark coffee. It stinks up the breakfast.

"It won't be long now," She smiles brightly.

Just as she says this the train passes under a dark tunnel that seems to go on forever. It does not darken the inside of the train. There is continues electricity here, unlike our faulty connection in district 11. You can count on it in the wee hours of the morning, and during the Games. Everyone must watch the games, and every district receives perfect electricity.

The train slows a little and Thresh and Victory appear from the next car over. I watch as the stone tunnel wall turns into the Capitol. A tiny gasp escapes my lips. It is even better than on television. The buildings tower over everything and the sunlight glints off of the surface of them. Brightly coloured cars whiz by. Busy people walk along the streets, with their funny clothes and hair. People begin to point in wonder when they recognize our train as a tribute train. I feel the need to wave at these happy people, but then I remember that they only want to see my die a bloody death and I hold back.

"Oh, you are going to love the Capitol." Ivy begins to gush. "You will get to meet your stylists and their prep teams," She continues on but I tune her out.

I tune her out because I will not love the Capitol. It doesn't matter how pretty the city is, or how pretty my stylists will make me. Because in the end everyone just wants to watch me die.

Please Review and Let me know what You think.

I love reviews!!