The sun was shining on Panem that morning. But, unfortunately, Clarisse could not see it. Hers was an underground train, now rattling cruelly toward the little girl's sad fate. On the sidelines sat President Paylor, thoughtful. She had wanted to personally accompany Snow's granddaughter. Was she doing this to enjoy in the little girl's collapse before entering the Arena? Did she feel a little sorry for what lay ahead? Or was she just curious to see how he would react? Clarisse didn't know and little did she care if she thought about it. She had more to think about. "You're not getting out of the Arena" . That was what she had been told. That was her problem. She brushed again against the strange fabric her clothes were made of: it felt rough, like sackcloth, and Clarisse couldn't feel a change in temperature. What was the point of that? It was just too thick, if they threw them into the middle of the desert it was the end. Was it good for swimming? She doubted it, it didn't look waterproof or useful for floating. So what...?
"We're here" said Paylor. Clarisse got up and headed in the direction indicated by the president. In front of the pipe that would lead her to certain death there was a small table with a glass of water on it.
"Drink" said the woman behind her. It was not an invitation, it was an order. The little girl wisely decided to obey. Too many tributes had died of thirst during the Hunger Games.
In thirty seconds, the tributes must be inside the elevators said a mechanical voice.
"We say goodbye here, Clarisse" said the Paylor "I must admit that you were an unexpected surprise.
"Are you telling me this because you know you will never see me again?" Clarisse asked, no challenge in her voice.
The other did not answer.
"If you don't mind, could you give my sister my regards and tell her that I care about her?
"If you wish" the woman answered.
All tributes enter the elevators the mechanical voice said again.
Clarisse slowly entered the capsule and turned to Paylor.
"Goodbye, Clarisse Snow" she said.
"Goodbye, President Paylor" replied the other one, smiling. Surprisingly, Paylor smiled too. The transparent doors closed. And the elevator began to rise.
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Helios was slightly panicking. He clenched his hands into fists and tried to breathe normally. There were thirty seconds left and then he would have to enter the elevator.
"Calm down," he told himself, "Breathe, remember the plan."
Floor. But was that a plan? What if the other tribute had changed his mind at the last minute?
"Helios Flichart" he admonished himself "It is not part of your character to fail to keep a cool head. Now regain control of yourself and think clearly."
"Mr. Flichart, do you have to request something before your entrance to the Arena?" asked the soldier dressed in gray who had accompanied him.
"The Arena" repeated the little boy to himself. He shuddered.
"Um..." he nodded "Um... tell my family that- that I care about them".
"Mom" he thought then.
"And tell my mother"he caught his breath "that I'll send her a kiss from the cameras".
The soldier wrinkled his eyebrow at this last request but said nothing more than a "Okay".
All tributes enter the elevators announced the mechanical voice. Helios took one last deep breath and stepped inside. As the elevator began to rise, he noticed that his companion was looking at him with a spark of pity. As if he had heard something...
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Cinna and Effie sat in silence in front of their screen, almost as if they couldn't even find words of comfort for each other. The door opened quietly and Peeta slipped into the room, going to sit between the two. Neither the designer nor the former escort showed any form of astonishment.
"They've arrived at the launch site" the boy said. Effie shuddered. Cinna simply shook her head.
"Do you know something about the Arena?" asked the trembling woman.
"I would have told you already" Peeta answered bitterly.
Several seconds of silence passed.
"You don't hate us, do you? " ventured the boy, glancing at the two "Me, Katniss and... Haymitch"
Effie inhaled sharply.
"Hate brought us here" Cinna answered wisely "But we can't hide that we were very... disappointed.
Peeta lowered his gaze. At that moment the glittering Cornucopia appeared on the screen, with its gifts scattered in importance and the platforms arranged in a star. The three of them opened their eyes wide at the same time.
"What kind of place...?
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The sunlight blinded Lyssa for a few moments before revealing the Arena to him. And perhaps there was no stranger thing the little girl had seen. They were surrounded by a seemingly normal forest, but it was the landscape that astounded: mountains and mountains but with strange hollows like... caves? Yes, they were caves, dense as bee's nests. But the real question was, if they weren't for tributes who lived in them? Or what.
Lyssa shook her head. There were more important things to think about. First, where was Jendy? The little girl quickly scanned the platforms. There she was, in a perfect diagonal; a purple backpack in the middle. What were the chances Lyssa would be killed in that run? A shiver of fear ran through her. The woods were so close behind her. She brushed the rise of the locket from under her dress. "Promise you'll never turn your back on each other" "Promise, Auntie."
A blast of trumpets. The announcer began.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let the seventy-sixth Hunger Games begin!
And Lyssa Trinket began to run.