I grab Prim's hand as the peacekeeper's pull her away from me. "I promise Prim," I say quickly before the door slams shut. I move forward to open the door, but it suddenly flings open and Gale walks into the room.

"I'm so sorry, Catnip." He pulls me in for a tight hug as I try to control the tears that are sure to follow. "I really truly am."

We don't say much before the peacekeepers come in to take him away. I'm afraid that if I say goodbye, I may never come back. I'm reassured knowing that Gale will watch over Prim and mom while I'm gone. At least they won't starve. Peeta and I meet up again when we get on the train. We stay silent most of the ride to the Capital, seldom talking. I look around out train. It's fancily decorated with couches, tables, and even a plasma TV. I don't even know what plasma is, but Effie tells us, every family in the capital has one. I silently fume inside when I see the amount of food on the multiple buffet tables. 'This could feed district twelve for months!' There's all kinds of different smells wafting from the tables, some delicious and some interesting. Every kind of pastry imaginable is on the desert table. Peeta didn't even know some of these kind of deserts existed. I see something in a metal container and it feels cold to the touch. It looks creamy and has chunks of some kind of dark substance in it. The weirdest thing is that it's green. I look over to see that it's not the only metal container on the table. There are tens of the same kind of container, each with a different color and different substances in it. Effie notices my confusion at the desert and walks over to me.

"It's called ice-cream." She smiles at me and waves over an avox to put some in a bowl. "It's my favorite flavor, mint chocolate chip."

I give her a skeptical look, but she insists. Even though, Effie is from the Capital, she's been nothing but kind to Peeta and I so far. I decide to indulge her and take a small bite of the ice-cream. I'm surprised at how good it is because it looks questionable in the container. Effie sees that I'm enjoying it and smiles at me before going to sit back down on the couch.

Just as I finish, a drunkard walks into our car. Effie notices and motions Peeta and I over to her.

"This is Haymich. He's your mentor." She says with a cheery smile. He pays no attention to us and walks straight to the bar. He begins to pour himself drink after drink, barely talking any breaks between each.

"Just give him some time to remember his manners." Effie says with an embarrassed look on her face before she returns to the sofa and turns on the TV.

'Is this guy ever sober?' I think to myself as I watch Haymich pour himself another drink. I lost count after the fifth. Peeta and I exchange a look, 'We're definitely screwed.' Peeta grimaces as Haymich chugs whatever drink he has in his hand. I'm sick of watching him, the one who's supposed to be teaching us how to survive, drink alcohol. I finally snap and pick up a knife before slamming it down straight between Haymich's fingers as he reaches for another glass.

I hear Effie gasp from the sofa. "That's mahogany!" She shouts in annoyance. I roll my eyes before turning my attention back to Haymich, who has picked up the knife and started twirling it between his fingers.

"You're supposed to be teaching us stuff, like how to survive." I glare at him.

"Hold on, sweetheart. I'll get to that crap soon. Just let me finish my drink." He takes a pause for swallow what's left in his glass. "So eager…most of the others aren't in as much of a rush." He waves me off with a swish of his hand. I imagine shooting an arrow between his eyes, but decide against it. First of all, I don't have my bow with me right now. Second, I'm pretty sure I could get into huge trouble for killing my mentor. Third, even though I hate to admit it, he might be useful because he's already gone through these games. I'm sulking on the couch when I see Peeta run over to the window. Out of curiosity, I walk up to him. My eyes widen at the sight of the capital. His expression mirrors mine.

"Welcome to the Capital!" Effie says in her chippy voice. "Ready to meet your stylists?" Peeta and I glance at each other nervously as we pass multiple fancy buildings, some of them so high, they touch the sky. The train is swarmed with capital citizens as soon as we pull into what Effie calls, "Main Station." When the train doors open, we're instantly rushed away by peacekeepers. I don't see Effie or Haymich with us and I begin to feel scared. They even take Peeta away as I'm lead into a room. The door slams behind me. It's almost empty, but there's a table in the middle of the room. I notice three people, dressed in capital fashion. They tell me to lay down on the table and to take off all my clothes. My first instinct is to refuse, and I do at first, but they explain that they are my prep team.

"We're not here to hurt you, even though the waxing might be slightly painful." One of them explains.

I reluctantly begin to take off my clothes and lay down on the table. I give them plenty of confused looks as they begin. By the time they're finished, my entire body feels raw and numb. I can feel every inch of skin tingling with pain. They sense my discomfort and begin to apply some kind of ointment and instantly the pain leaves and a cooling sensation takes it place. They give me a gown to wear over my body and tell me to wait. The door closes behind them as they leave and I instantly feel alone again. I'm about to jump off the table and walk out the door to look for Peeta when it swings open and a decent looking guy walks through. He doesn't seem to show of his wealth like other capital residents. Instead he is all in black and wears some golden eyeliner and eyeshadow. He's clean shaven and I immediately take a like to him.

"Hi, Katniss. I'm Cinna, your stylist. I'm so sorry this has happened to you." I give him a surprised look, but then let out a slight smile.

"Thanks. Most people just congratulate me." Cinna shakes his head and rolls his eyes.

"There's no point in that." He says quietly. I expect him to say more, but he changes the topic. "District 12….coal mining"

"Please don't make me go out naked and dressed in coal dust." I say with a grimace.

Cinna laughs, which makes me like him even more. His laugh is genuine and light. "Don't worry. Tell me, are you scared of fire?"

I pause, wondering what he's planning, before giving an answer. "No."