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Chapter 4

Preparation

The days leading up to the Games are almost unbearable. I cannot sleep at night, dreaming of the faces I saw at the reaping. Most often I see Yttria standing above me with a knife in her hand. "The alliance is over," she always says. As soon as the agony is about to begin, I wake up again.

I should be sound asleep. I work myself hard every day, lifting weights and putting calluses on my thin, scabbing knuckles. I run, I train, and I eat. I've gained a decent amount of weight, too. I need to be prepared for the Games. I will be prepared for the games. I'm already pretty handy with a knife. I could get training from Haymitch and Peeta. Katniss would teach me how to use the bow and arrow.

I'm pretty sure I can make it through the Games. I can survive. Katniss taught me how to hunt all those years ago in the woods. I've been my mother's shadow in the apothecary shop, and by now, I can heal almost any wound. Plus, I can find edible plants. I'm ready for this. It feels like I've been ready for this my entire life. I do have some fierce competition, who are also my allies. Girls that have snapped the heads off of dummies since they were two years old. Boys who can rip your guts out it one swift, clean movement.

But by now I think I'm ready to face them. I might just have a chance of winning these Games with the help of my mentors, the Capitol's hopefully generous sponsors, and a whole lot of luck. I have a few strategies. Katniss told me that the edible plants station, though useless for me, might give me some clues of our arena's whereabouts. I should learn to tie snares and hunt, but mainly I should work on killing.

So far I've used the knife, and a little bit of the bow and arrow, but I want to try throwing spears and fighting with a sword. If there's time I'll try the trident or the axe. But Katniss taught me most survival skills, and I need no improvement in those areas. It's also the mentality of killing someone. I am going to change into a different person, but it's how I'll stay alive.

The train arrived in the station a few days ago. We had entered a lobby so large I almost got lost. We sped up an elevator that went so fast I almost puked, then got out on the top floor. District 12's home for the next week or so. It was full of plush new-age furniture. There were pieces of modern art placed around the room in a unique design. I feel unworthy of the honor of touching it. These things should be wrapped in plastic, so no damage is done to it.

But this is the Capitol, where the loss of any one of these can be made up in someone's weekly paycheck. At home, it would take an extremely rich man with ten years worth of hard-earned money to pay for all of this. Now it lay in front of me. It feels glamorous, fashionable, and luxurious. And unreal.

There's a training room downstairs, the room I'm in right now. I couldn't sleep. My eyes refused to close. I might as well make some use of my time, I thought, so I came down to the "rec room". My strength obviously needs some improvement, so I'm working on my arm strength. Right now, I'm furiously attacking a punching bag. I think of all the bad things that have happened to me in the past few months, imagining they are stuffed in the bag and punch harder.

I am startled by a crashing sound. Jamie comes down with a big pouty face. "What is it?" I grunt, not even taking a second glance.

"Will you quiet down? I can't get any sleep." I laugh.

"You really think I care?" I chuckle once more, then return to my training. He steps closer, almost taunting me, as if saying Try and make me. "Do you want to be a punching bag?" He shrugs. I punch him square in the chest.

"You're... not... sup-posed to..." I shove his jaw. "St-stop it." He mutters. "Please."

I push him out of the way. "No more complaints." My mouth curls into a snarl. "Got it?" He nods humbly, then runs off. Good. Now I've taken care of that problem. No need to think about an alliance there, either.

I check my watch, which reads 5:30. I've got a full day ahead to work on my interview, get advice from my mentors, and prepare for the Games. I return to my room and pretend to fall asleep. Only minutes later, Effie walks in with a bright blue dress, wig, and shoes. "Wake up, get ready for a big, big day!" She smiles an artificial smile, just like the artificial glow of the Capitol.

I roll out of bed and jump into the shower. There are bright flashing buttons, urging me to press at least ten of them without realizing what they were. I am sprayed by a nasty lemon-scented spray that gets in my eyes. I flush it out with cold water. I lather my hair with thick foam. Imagine living with things like this at your fingertips! Now I know what went through Katniss's mind when she told me of her disgust of these people.

I dress in a teal T-shirt and sweatpants. I tie my hair back in a ponytail and stretch out my already sore muscles. How am I supposed to become a Career within a few days? My thoughts are interrupted by the strong smell of bacon. The greasy stench wafted upstairs, and my stomach roared like a lion. I flew down the stairs, my eyes meeting Jamie's for a fraction of a second. All I see in them is envy. Loser.

I stuff the food down my throat. Breakfast has always been my favorite meal. "Pass the ketchup," Peeta says.

"For what?" Katniss asks.

"Eggs." Katniss and I both scowl, which makes Peeta laugh. "You two really are sisters." Our scowls grow even deeper at this, which makes Haymitch and Jamie join in as well. Even Effie manages a pained smile. "But what's wrong with ketchup and eggs?"

"Nothing, nothing..." I say, and we all are giggling now, which is ridiculous considering that next week we will be killed. But often we are the most giddy when we are scared, almost as if we are protecting ourselves from the truth with smiles.

"Time for training." Katniss hugs me. "This is your first impression of the tributes, and the tributes' first impression of you. Swallow your pride. Don't be too showy, but display to the others that you're not worthless. If you want allies, this is the time to make them." Effie pulls us away from the table and leads us to the elevator. I didn't realize it before, but underneath the twelve floors of tributes is floor T, which must stand for the Training Center. I hold my breath until the doors open, and I have a chance to observe my tributes.

And I think to myself, Is it worth it to keep breathing? These tributes are enormous, killer beings who can probably list 50 different ways to kill me. We are the last ones to arrive. While Jamie curls over, terrified, I stand a little taller and glare at the others. Make a good first impression, Prim. I snarl a little, then sit down in my assigned spot. The Head Trainer finishes her instruction. "Try to go to as many stations as possible. And may the odds be ever in your favor."

As if the odds have ever been in our favor.

I hope you guys liked this chapter! Please R/R. I appreciate your feedback. You guys are all so awesome!

Okay, so please check out my friend Emberwind8. She has a really, really awesome Hunger Games fan fiction, plus a Warriors one and will soon have a Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus fan fiction. If you liked this story so far, you'll love hers. Even if you don't like mine you'll love hers.

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