Chapter Three

"What you need to remember," said Hera, "is that there are potential sponsors in the audience. Your potential sponsors." She looked directly into my eyes, "So you need to be charming, cute. You have to win them over."

I nodded, not quite sure how to answer that.

"Do you like anybody back home?"

My face grew a little warm, "I… yes. But he doesn't know it."

"He will now. Give him a message. That'll give everyone something to think about."

"But they did the whole lovers thing three years ago. It won't work for me now."

"Oh, I didn't mean it quite like that. But try to work it in, just in case. It might tempt someone into sponsoring you, and that's what we want."

She stood up and looked at me, trying to figure out what to do with me. "At least you're pretty to look at, even with those freckles on your nose. It makes you look innocent."

I said nothing, and after a while, I just went back to my room to have a snack and watch some TV. Of course, every channel was about the Hunger Games. They were airing specials on past Games, the best and worst moments from each. I sat down, watching the Worst Moment Special until it was time for me to go to my prep team for that evening's interviews.

Once again, I found my skin being plucked and rubbed in every imaginable way, although it wasn't as bad as the first time. My hair, which was already wavy to begin with was curled elegantly and left to hang down my back with the sides held up by pretty barrettes.

"Ready for the dress?" asked Acestes.

I nodded in assent. Closing my eyes, I let my team slip the dress onto me, feeling heavy silken material against my skin.

"Wow," I told him. "It's pretty."

The dress was orange with a delicate layer of tulle hanging down from the bottom, giving it an extra inch. Over the corset of the dress were hundreds of rectangular sparkles that accounted for the weight I'd felt, and throwing off darts of light all over the place. They broke off at my waist, turning into a glittering belt, and continued down the dress, forming shiny pleats.

"You look breathtaking," he said.

Alex stared at me when I came to join him and the others. "Look at you," he said quietly, as though he'd never seen me before. "They'll be eating out of the palm of your hand."

I disagreed, especially when I saw that Jade from District One was wearing a gorgeous off-white dress that almost made her look angelic. Had it not been for that creepy gleam in her eyes, I would have been as smitten as the other boys seemed to be.

We all went out onstage, and I felt absolutely overwhelmed at the idea that so many people were watching me. I didn't seem to be the only one. A couple of other girls paled when they saw how big the crowd in front of them was.

The interviews were like all the interviews I'd ever seen before. Every tribute said that he or she was ready to win, mentioning a tidbit bout an aspect of a personal life long gone.

Caesar, however, surprised me when he asked me what my favorite part of the Hunger Games was.

"I'm sorry?" I asked, wanting to make sure I'd heard right.

"You must have a favorite part of the Games. Everyone does."

"I don't really…" my voice faltered. "I have a favorite part of one of the Games, and I think that everybody here will remember it."

"What's that?" he prompted.

"The moment when Katniss realized she was in love with Peeta," I told him, looking down at the strappy sandals on my feet. "You see, I always wished that I could have a love like that. I'd want that kind of moment in the Games, although I'm very happy he's not here right now."

The crowd sighed and exclaimed at my statement. Hera had been right, they were lapping this up. I saw her beaming at me from her seat in the second row.

"What's his name?" asked Caesar. He looked more excited than I thought necessary.

"Mark." My voice was almost inaudible.

"And what would you tell him if you could see him right now?"

"That I hope to return home someday to tell him how I feel in person." I was certain that it would never happen, and I opened my mouth to say that, but Caesar took my hand and announced that our time was up. Slowly, I went back to my seat to listen to the rest of the interviews.

I'd liked Mark for a couple of years now. He was the type of guy who had classic good looks and was unaware of it. He hadn't known how I'd felt about him – until that moment – and I wondered how he was taking the news.

"That was great, Nova!" exclaimed Hera as we went back to our floor. "I told you that the audience would love it. I've had two more people approach me about you. You stand a good chance now!"

I still doubted that. What kind of a chance did I stand against Jade, or against Bronze, who was also from District One? I hadn't paid very close attention to him, but I'd noticed tonight how strong he was. Thinking back, I remembered that he was very good with a sword.

"Bronze is probably going to win these Games," I said quietly. "And you know it as well as I do, Hera. Anyway, thank you for everything you've done." I hugged her tightly, then moved on to Acestes, who was standing nearby. "I'll see you tomorrow, I guess."

"Yes you will. I'll help you get ready once we get to the Launch Room. I'll come wake you at eight o'clock tomorrow. The Games will begin at ten."

Ten o'clock. That was in less than twelve hours.

I felt panic seeping into my bones, threatening to drive me crazy. I swallowed with difficulty, "I really do hope that you all enjoy watching us die." I hugged my prep team, who looked stunned at my words, then fled to my room. Once alone, I collapsed on my bed and burst into tears.

I wasn't ready to die. I knew I wasn't going to live, but I didn't want to die. I wanted to go home to my parents, to live a normal life. What would I be doing if I weren't waiting to be tossed into the arena? I'd probably be getting ready to figure out what job I would get in the district.

You'd probably become an interior decorator for the trains or hovercrafts, I said to myself. You'd paint everything blue.

I loved the color blue. It was so peaceful and serene. I wondered whether I would see a lot of blue when I died…

I wasn't aware of having gone to sleep, but a knock woke me up so suddenly that I jumped off the bed, nearly twisting my ankle. I'd slept in my dress and shoes, not bothering to take them off. The clock above the bed said that it was nearly eight o'clock in the morning.

Oh my God… is it already time to go?

I opened the door to see Acestes there.

"Didn't you sleep at all?" he asked, seeing me.

"I fell asleep like this… I must have been tired, or in shock, who knows."

He held up a pair of black sweatpants and a white tee-shirt, "You can take a shower in the launch room if you'd like," he said.

I nodded. Who knew when I would get a chance to wash after today? Then again, what did it matter? If I died during the bloodbath, nobody would care whether I was clean or not. It was bound to be bloody.

I said little as I got dressed and we walked to the elevator, which took us to the roof. A hovercraft was waiting for us, and we climbed on. Three Peacekeepers were there, and one of them took my arm, painfully injecting me with what I knew to be my tracker.

"This will allow the Gamemakers to know how you're doing. In case you start dying, the cameras will be able to focus on you."

"That's nice," I said. I was absolutely terrified.

"You should eat something. Here, we have twenty different options for breakfast."

Breakfast? How could anybody eat, knowing what was about to happen? I watched Acestes choose a fruit salad and coffee, and realized that I was actually ravenous.

"My last meal," I said quietly. "I might as well take advantage of it."

I ordered a ham and cheese omelet with two steaming biscuits and a tall glass of cold milk. Eating slowly, to savor every bite, I looked out the window, seeing Panem below us. Who knew exactly where we were. I noticed settlements, lakes and rivers, and judging by the position of the sun, we were travelling east.

At a quarter to nine, the windows went dark. "We're here," said a Peacekeeper.

My heart beat uncomfortably fast as we landed and were escorted to the launch room that I would be the only person to use. It was impersonal, just a plain metallic room with a white couch and a low table. A wall panel opened and a tray came out with two glasses of water.

"I should go shower." My voice sounded nothing like my normal one.

In the shower, I allowed myself a good cry. This was it. I only had a few hours left to live, if that.

Acestes was waiting for me with my outfit. Khaki green cargo pants with a matching shirt and black military boots that somehow managed not to hurt my feet. The jacket was a darker khaki and obviously waterproof, with a hood.

"Do you have a plan?" he asked me as he brushed out my hair and pulled it into a high ponytail.

"Run. Find water. Try to survive. I think it's a pretty basic plan, one that most tributes will have if they know what's good for them." I sat down and drank off the water in both the glasses.

"I wish you luck, Nova. I know you don't think much of me – of us – but I want you to know that it's been a pleasure getting to know you."

"Thank you, Ace," I told him just as a disembodied voice announced that it was time to go into the tubes. I glanced at the clock, stunned to see that it was very nearly ten. "If you see Hera, please… tell her I'm sorry for what I said to her. None of this is her fault."

He nodded and squeezed my hand as I stepped onto the metal plate. The tube immediately closed in around me, and the plate began to push me up towards a blinding white light.

"Let the 77th Annual Hunger Games begin!" cried the excited voice of Claudius Templesmith.