That night, my sleep is interrupted by dreams of the man with the gun. Over and over he shoots Asher and me. I wake up, fall back asleep, and live it all over again. At one point, I dream that a large group of tributes is chasing me through the President's Mansion carrying huge swords and guns. I look back at them only to see Elisabeth throw a knife straight at my forehead.
I wake and lie still in the dark room, reminding myself that it was just a dream-that Lissie would never do that. Or would she? For the first time, I remember that we cannot both win the Games. We can never have a happily ever after.
Light from the city below comes in through the glass wall, so that I can see. For a few minutes, I stare at the ceiling, trying to think of ways around our separation, but simply cannot.
Suddenly, I realize something large against my right side. Panicking, I quickly turn my head, but only see Asher. He has pressed against me, one arm thrown over my chest. I force my heart to slow, and then turn my head again to look at the clock. It is almost three in the morning.
Eventually, Asher turns over, and I am free to move around. Since I do not think I can sleep again, I decide to go find a small snack. Slowly, I slip out from under the cover, replacing them so that my partner is warm. I slowly cross the room and am sure to quietly shut the door so that he is not disturbed.
In the living room, I find the table has a pitcher of milk and tray of pastries waiting to be eaten. I walk over and take an apple cookie. After it is completely gone, I fill a glass from the nearby cabinet with cold milk and sip it slowly while sitting at the table in the dark room.
"Couldn't sleep?" Wyatt startles me.
"No," I reply quietly.
"I something wrong, James?" He asks sitting next to me and grabbing a miniature banana pie.
I remember that he has also been given an assignment by the president. "I need to talk to Paylor," I blurt out.
"Has something come up?" He asks. "She told me not to bother her unless something major came to light."
"I'm sure," I say confidently. "And I need to be the one to tell her.
That day and the next few are filled with parties and gatherings. Wyatt plans fancy gold outfits each day that match the silver of Ash's. I escort Elisabeth to each one, sometimes with Asher and Emily, but sometimes just the two of us. Each night, we impress sponsors and the press (I even get a few chances to keep up the bromance with Asher), then we return to the Training Center and head to the roof where she has discovered a garden. There we can talk and kiss. I learn about her fears of the Hunger Games, how bad she feels about her previous joy in watching. I also learn that she has had a crush on me for a few years now. While I do not share these things with my roommate, he knows that we are spending time together and teases me about being with an 'older woman.'
In training I learn how to use poison, start fires, camouflage myself, protect myself in hand-to-hand combat, use medical remedies, and swim. One day, the sign outside my window reads:
Today – President's Gift Concert
Final Hunger Games – Seven Days
After training all morning, and going to the salon, I return to Wyatt's suite where I am surprised he is waiting for me.
As he pulls yet another outfit from the closet, he speaks in a hushed voice, "President Paylor has assigned the tributes seats at tonight's concert. You will be in the seat on her left. Whatever you need to say, you have to tell her then."
I nod to show that I agree.
"Good," he smiles. "Now, tonight all of the stylists are doing a matching theme."
He shows me a ridiculous silver robe covered in golden stars.
"You have got to be kidding," I scoff
"Everyone will wear one," he reassures me.
As I allow him to put the ugly robe on me, my mind drifts to Elisabeth. I wander what she will look like in her blue robe. She always wears blue. I am sure she will be just as beautiful as always.
I remember our morning together. I had just finished at a nutrition station where a boy from 11 and I had memorized the necessities for the arena. Peeta took me to a small door at the far end of the room.
"You're going to be in History next," he had said. "You have three hours to watch videos from other Games. Learn lethal strategies, or how to get sponsors."
"Aren't you coming?" I asked as he walked away.
"There's nothing I can teach you in there," he shrugged.
So I entered the room alone where my training partner was already waiting. Her face lit up as I entered. Elisabeth was sitting on a plush red couch in front of a large television hung on the wall.
"Hello beautiful," I said, taking a seat next to her.
"I hope you don't mind," she had said, "But I asked Annie to set the TV for some important Games." Annie was her mentor. Only four Victors were mentors: mine, Asher's, hers, and one of the girls from District 3 had a man named Beetee.
We spent three hours together watching the videos in a dark room, almost like normal teenagers. She had curled up against me and I stroked her hair throughout the time. Only after they had all played and our time was up did I give her a goodbye kiss.
"James?" Wyatt returns my time to the present.
We head to the living room where our entire team has assembled; men in tuxedos, women in dresses. Effie tells us that this is supposed the most formal affair for tributes, a personal gift to the tributes from our nation's leader.
A car takes us to the city's entertainment district and we stop in front of the large Capitol Theater I have visited many times. The place is made completely out of marble on the outside, with intricate carvings everywhere. Inside, Asher and I are lead by an attendant to the front row of seats where all of the other tributes are sitting. I wave at Lissie, she waves back, and then I sit and the view of her is blocked.
The concert begins almost instantly. A large orchestra is playing slow and loud, a soft and beautiful sound.
"Hello," President Paylor whispers to me as she takes the seat next to me, the last one before the large isle. "Is this seat taken?"
"Reserved for you, madam," I say casually.
She allows the orchestra to continue before a group of singers with angelic voices begins. I am very surprised her guards are not with her, but it must be because of our special meeting. After about an hour, she speaks again, "Your stylist tells me you have a bit of useful information?"
"Yes," I say just loud enough for her to hear. "It's about Effie Trinket, as you asked." I go into full detail on the story Effie told us. How we found her drunk in the streets. What she told us about Plutarch Heavensbee. Everything.
"Are you sure, Mister Snow?" She asks. "This is a very serious accusation."
"That is exactly what my escort told me," I reply.
After that, we spend the rest of the three-hour concert without a word. At the end, I wish her a good night before a mass of guards escorts her away. I nudge Asher in the side to wake him and we leave.
Today – Training Scores
Final Hunger Games – Six Days
After the usual morning routine of a shower and breakfast, Peeta and Katniss take Asher and I to the lobby where all of the tributes have gathered.
"Have you thought about what you're going to do for your score?" Peeta asks me.
I panic. I had completely forgotten about the scoring. Every year, every tribute is given three minutes to impress the Gamemakers. Afterwards, they score everyone out of 12 to predict who will win. I feel like fainting.
"Peeta…" I begin
"That's what I figured," he sighs. "Use the sword a couple of times, then do some hand fighting."
All of the tributes are called in the order they were drawn, making me last. Wonderful. I have plenty of time to think about how awfully I will do. I have spent so much time building up my publicity, focusing on Paylor's mission, and flirting with Elisabeth, my training has slacked. I realize just how crucial, even fatal, this could be in the Games.
"James Snow," Cresta says.
She leads me into the training room using the elevator.
"James Snow," she announces to the three in the balcony.
After she leaves, I bow to the Gamemakers and head straight to the swords. I feel a sudden surge of energy fill me. I swing the sword with surprising ease, hitting the dummy with surprising force. After a few dummies are done for, I head to the fighting station and press the red button that releases robotic opponents into the room. I punch one, then another. Somehow, I take out seven. And then a bell rings to tell me that the session is over. I bow to the Makers, and leave through the elevator feeling really good about what has happened.
Somehow, the entire government failed to plan any huge event for the evening, so we hang out if the apartment all evening. First, we are in the living room with Effie as she drones on about some party she plans to have the first day of the Games. She tells me and Asher that she will also have a memorial ceremony arranged for us when our time comes.
Thanks for the confidence.
Luckily, this infuriates both mentors which starts a huge arguments. When the stylists hear the commotion and get involved, I motion that the tributes should leave. We go to our bedroom and watch TV there.
"How do you think you did, Ash?" I ask.
"I wish I knew," he replies. "I tried swimming and archery, but I should have thrown a knife. You?"
"I thought I was going to screw the whole thing up," I recall, "But there was some strange force there. I hope I did at least decent."
A couple of hours watching the news and the five minute announcement scrolls across the screen. We decide it is time to return to the living room where we find the team gathered. Effie seems to be avoiding any conversation with the others, telling me she was unanimously scolded. The room only seats six, so I sit on the floor of the plush couch between Asher and Peeta's feet.
Silence as the scores begin. They start at District 1, and move up. At four I am excited to see that Emily and Elisabeth both get 8's. Then we go a few minutes and Asher's face pops onto the screen. 7. Not bad at all, but not the best either. He seems hurt by this, almost on the verge of tears. Sarah reaches from her chair and grabs his hand. I tap his foot.
Now it is my turn and a picture of me, smiling luckily, is pulled up. I feel like it is taking much longer for my number to arrive than any other. 10! How in the world?
The entire team cheers for me. I am tied for the top score with the girl from 3 that has Beetee as a mentor.