The train arrived in the Capitol leaving both Peeta and Prim in awe: They had never seen such a splendid place with so much luxury before. Compared to District 12, this place seemed like Paradise, but both of them were soon reminded that what seemed like Paradise was going to turn into a living hell for them.

Arriving in the Capitol, they were taken to a splendid building, where the contestants in the Hunger Games were going to spend their time until the Games started. Effie and Haymitch walked next to them along with heavily armed guards. Only Effie spoke now and then, explaining what was going on. Prim and Peeta walked alongside each other, and Peeta kept looking at Prim. She seemed tense, and to comfort her, he reached out his hand and grabbed hers. It gave her a shock, but she did not remove her hand. Peeta's big, strong and soft hand squeezed hers tenderly, which made her feel all warm inside. Her heart started beating and for a moment she forgot all about the Games. She recalled the time where he had saved her back in District 12 and how caring he had been both to her, her mother and to Katniss. She wanted to say something to him but she was unable to find the words. She wanted to thank him, but she felt silly and kept quiet. She just looked at him and blushed a lot, when he looked back at her. Secretly she wanted him to stop and hug her. Just embrace her with his strong arms and kiss her tenderly.

"The 12th floor belongs to us", Effie suddenly said, ripping apart Prim's daydream. She instantly let go of Peeta's hand and entered the lift. There were mirrors inside the lift and she watched herself and felt embarrassed because of the colour of her cheeks. They were red like a sunset and she feared that everybody noticed.

Prim and Peeta were then taken to their new rooms, and they got a few hours to themselves. Neither one of them had ever seen a place so tidy and beautiful before, and for a moment they were both exploring their rooms, completely taken aback: The luxury was overwhelming and made them forget the serious perils they were about to face.

They both spent the time taking a hot bath, feeling cleaner than ever before. Prim thought about Peeta, and Peeta thought about the Everdeen sisters. Sitting in the hot tub, scrubbing off the last of the dirt, he saw Katniss' face. He recalled the last time they were together, and how Katniss had finally revealed her love for him. Without noticing, it made him smile, but it also made him sad. Prim had made it complicated since there was no way that he could make everybody happy. Of course it was not her fault, but the situation was insoluble. The Games only produced one winner, and it would also take a miracle if either Prim or Peeta was to win. If he won, he would be able to go home and be with Katniss, but the loss of Prim would surely break Katniss, and if Prim were to win, then Katniss would not lose a sister, but him, and it would leave both Katniss and Prim devastated. Thinking about this, he became angry and splashed away the water so it ended up on the floor.

"Clean floors!" a robot-like voice then called and small cleaning devices appeared and dried up the water.

"Oh my...", Peeta said to himself, scared and astonished. This place really was something else. At least he had had the chance to see something like this before having to die. Not everybody was given the opportunity to see such things. It was a small comfort, though.

At evening time, Prim and Peeta were summoned to the dining room to eat with Effie and Haymitch. The dining table was as breathtaking as the rest of the Capitol. The food was sumptuous, and all their favourite meals were served. No one spoke about the Games for a while – they all focused on the food.

"So what's our strategy? How do we win this thing?", Peeta finally asked, directing the question to Haymitch. Buried in scotch, it took a while before he noticed.

"Oh, I don't know. Tomorrow we will meet the opponents in training and then we will figure out a plan", he answered casually without even looking away from his drink.

"Wow, that is something of a plan you got there", Peeta said with irony. Prim smiled, and Effie secretly cracked a smile too.

"Look", Haymitch said, raising his gaze, "here is my plan then: You are obviously strong and can overcome most of the opponents in hand to hand battle, but can you use a sword? A bow? A knife?", he asked sounding bored with the conversation already. Peeta looked bewildered.

"I...I don't know. I have never used a bow or a knife", he answered silently.

"I figured. Then you have to focus on what you are good at. I bet that physical combat is a good fit for you, because we don't have time to teach you how to use a knife or a bow. The Careers have been doing that for years, and a few days of practising won't help you. They are miles ahead of you. Use your body strengths and you brains", Haymitch said, overtly annoyed with having to admit that Peeta was not dumb.

"Find allies and find out where the Careers are. Then you have to take them out one by one when they are alone. That is your best option", Haymitch continued. Both Prim and Peeta listened carefully, and Peeta could see the sense in it, but in his head he also witnessed images of him having to break the necks of the enemies. That made him feel almost sick, but the thought of Katniss made him feel better. He was doing it for her, so he had to do whatever it would take.

"Allies?", Prim then asked. Haymitch turned his head to her, looking like he hadn't noticed that she was attending the same dinner until now. She looked pretty in her faint pink dress with a matching headband.

"Oh, Priscilla, yes, allies; you need someone to work with. Someone to help you", he said in a condescending tone.

"I know what allies are, and my name is Primrose! Peeta and I will find friends tomorrow and they will help us take on the Careers. Peeta is strong and I am good at healing. Then we need someone cunning, who knows how to sneak and someone who is good at using a bow", Prim said so confidently it surprised everyone. For a moment, Haymitch's jaw dropped before he started making some sounds.

"Well, impressive, miss Everdeen. That is exactly what you must do. Finding two or three others to form an alliance with is good. Not too few to be able to defeat the Careers and not too many to be able to get rid of all of them when the Careers are dropping. Maybe you just need one more: Someone clever with a big ego. Let him or her take charge and plan the killings of the Careers, and after taking advantage of his or her bright mind, then… you know", Haymitch said, making a gesture with his neck, suggesting that he or her was going to die.

After dinner, the four of them were watching videos to get acquainted with the course of the Games. They studied previous winner's tactics but the losers too. When it was time for bed, both Prim and Peeta felt better, and together they walked towards their rooms which were separated by a hallway. Outside the rooms there was a soft couch and Peeta sat down. Prim hesitated for a moment, but then she joined him.

"So it starts tomorrow", Peeta said, leaning back and getting comfortable. His was wearing grey trousers and a dark, purple shirt with the top buttons open. Prim sat upright like a lady with her hands in her lap.

"Yes, it is surreal", she answered.

"Do you miss the ones at home?", he asked her softly, looking at her with his caring eyes. It was clear that he cared about the answer.

"I guess", Prim said, "I try not to think about it. It makes me miss them more". She looked away, feeling the tears wanting to see daylight outside her eyes.

"They will be waiting for you when you come home", Peeta then said, trying to support her. She shook her head; if it hadn't been Peeta, she would have thought that he was mocking her.

"I don't think I will make it home", she answered quietly.

"Yes, you will", Peeta said, moving towards her and putting his hand on her back. It took her by surprise, but she tried to be cool about it even though his touch affected her deeply.

"I have promised Katniss that I will bring you back, and I keep my promises", he continued in a confident voice filled with authority. She immediately turned her head and looked him in the eyes:

"What do you mean?"

"I mean exactly what I said. I will make you survive this", he said. She shook her head in disbelief again:

"But what about you?", Peeta smiled and let go of her.

"It will make me happy to see you survive, and it will make Katniss happy", he said, not giving his sad feelings away. He had to seem a hundred percent sure of his decision. Prim's eyes went wide.

"But I don't want you to die, and Katniss doesn't either. I think she loves you", she responded, and her words sent shivers down Peeta's spine. Still, his surface was cool.

"She loves you more, you are her family, and I gave her my word", he said. He looked into her eyes with great care and true feelings, and this time she was unable to stop the tears from falling.

"Don't cry", he then said and put his arms around her.

"I just can't believe this. I can't let you do this. We have to find another way", she sobbed and tried to sound okay again.

"We can't both be winners, I'm afraid", he said. She felt like relaxing inside his embrace, but still she got up.

"I know what we can do to make it fair. The odds you know?", she then said. He looked confused.

"We will flip a coin. The one who wins will be the one we will fight for", she said. There was a new kind of determination in her voice that Peeta had never heard before.

"Really?", he said, contemplating her suggestion. Actually it seemed fair to him. She would never allow him to just plainly sacrifice himself for her, so maybe this was a good way to solve it. He almost smiled when he heard Effie's words inside his head may the odds be ever in your favour. Once again the odds seemed to be sealing his fate.

"Okay", he said, taking a coin out from his pocket, "it seems fair, but we have to stick to it then. Whoever wins this coin toss wins this, and there will be no questioning it. If you win, you will have to accept it and make me help you all the way", he said, looking intensely at her. She smiled at him.

"Likewise", she said, and he agreed by nodding.

"Which side do you want?", he then asked, showing her the coin. He could feel the tension building up inside him. He ignored the fact that he might win the coin toss. She looked at the coin, gently touching his fingers too.

"Heads", she then said.

"Then tails for me", he said, "ready?". Primrose nodded, and he tossed the coin up in the air. Both of them watched closely as it fell down again. Peeta caught it and covered it up under his palm. They looked at each other one last time before revealing the fatal toss. As Peeta lifted his hand, they both watched the coin...