I take a deep breath, analyzing my reflection in the bathroom mirror. My eyes were still red and puffy, an obvious indicator of the tears shed the night before. I slide on the now ruined golden dress and colorless shoes, then exit my train compartment.

Blight and Lola are sitting at a pristine white table. It must be hard for Blight, holding the lives of two children in his hands. I don't see Cassius- I think he's still in his room.

Good. I don't feel like dealing with the asshole I have for a district partner right now.

Ignoring both the escort and mentor, I grab a plate and get some breakfast. I hadn't been hungry last night due to the bouts of nausea, homesickness, and hatred that twisted my stomach, but now I finish my oatmeal and apple within a few minutes.

"Good morning to you too, Jo," chirps Lola.

I throw the plate out and stare her down, officially pissed off.

"It's Johanna, but not like you care. If you call me Jo again I will give you a black eye."

"Jo- Johanna, sweetheart, I know you may be a bit upset-"

"Don't test me."

Blight coughed tactfully, turning my attention away from Lola.

"Lola, go check on Cassius. Let him know we're almost to the Capitol and that District 7's other mentor is waiting for him there. It'll give this spitfire tribute some time to cool off."

The Capitol woman gets up and nearly runs to the back of the train. I sit next to Blight, giving him a grateful look.

"About time. I would have ripped Lola's head off if she pretended to be considerate for just one more second."

Blight laughed, but again I saw a glimmer of sadness in those brown eyes. I was curious, but knew this wasn't the time to ask.

"You're not so feeble as you let on, aren't you Miss Mason?"

My eyes widened in surprise. All I can do is stare at my mentor.

"How did you-"

"I heard what you said to Cassius yesterday when he tried to intimidate you. That was classy, Johanna, and brave. I can tell you don't get frightened easily, but at the same time you are careful not to overestimate."

I blink in bewilderment before my gaze sinks to the floor. How could Blight figure all of this out about me? He'd barely known me for a day! Wariness pricked at my conscience with sharp little stings, although I couldn't pinpoint why I felt so exposed.

The man seems to read my mind.

"I mean you no harm, Miss Mason- I promise. However, I do know you have a plan for the Games."

Words of protest form on my lips, but remain unsaid. If Blight was already aware, there was no point in hiding my strategy. Besides, I hadn't seen him with a bottle of liquor or morphling syringe, two most common forms of escapism for victors who were simply too traumatized by the Games.

Points for that, I think.

Having a drug addict or alcoholic for a mentor would absolutely suck. There's way too many of them in Panem as it is.

Haymitch Abernathy is one of them. I don't know what happened in his Games- I wasn't even born then- but it must have been brutal if he drowns in spirits every day. A few days ago I would pity him, but now I found out I didn't care much.

He's unlikely to teach his tributes anything and District 12 kids are normally emaciated from starvation, so that's two more kids I won't possibly have to kill.

The thought makes me sick to my stomach, so I turn my attention back to the present moment.

Taking a minute to compose myself I gather my wits and tell Blight about the plan. What Kaylie said right before she was dragged out of the Justice Building by Peacekeepers, how I had a revelation on the train last night, and why I ruined my outfit early this morning.

I keep my voice low so as not to attract any attention from Lola or Cassius. Blight nods, only rarely asking clarifying questions. When I'm finished, a satisfied smile plays on his face.

"That's very cunning. I can definitely help you with that angle- I've never seen a tribute approach this so intellectually. And your dress will serve as the perfect first impression."

His words make me smile. Not the fake one I gave Lola yesterday- a real, genuine grin that makes the light turn on behind my chestnut eyes. Maybe, just maybe, I could get out of this alive.

"Blight, I-"

"We've arrived at the Capitol, dears!"

Lola bustles into the room, Cassius at her heels. The glare he gives me could burn coals. Although I want more than anything to say something biting, I remember my role and cower away from those bright blue eyes.

"Looks like this little girl has finally learned her place," the older boy sneers.

Blight opens his mouth, but I give him an almost imperceptible shake of the head. Getting into a conflict with Cassius wouldn't help any of us. Lola, as usual, is completely oblivious. She opens the train doors and says, "Welcome to the Capitol!"

She leads us outside like a District 11 farmer would shepherd their animals, and all of a sudden I'm blinded by millions of cameras. People dressed in outrageously bright ensembles with garish skin, overgrown colored nails, and fake lashes gawk at the twenty-three tributes like we're a spectacular meal they cannot wait to swallow.

We're nothing but entertainment to them. Objects that get sent into an arena to kill and die like the feral creatures President Snow believes we are. Around the train, the Capitol citizens begin yelling once they catch sight of us.

"Look! It's the children from the districts!"

"Who do you think will win?"

"I'm betting on the boy from 7!"

I scowl at the last comment, flinching away from the throng. That wasn't an act- I've never done well in big crowds. What I did next, however, was. I covered my face with quaking hands and burst into sobs, making sure my shoulders were trembling as well. Through watery eyes, I glimpsed my reflection on a television screen- weak, fragile, and looking like a mess.

Perfect. Just the impression I wanted to make.

"Mommy, why is she crying?" a little boy around Chase's age asks his mother.

"That girl knows she's going to die in the Hunger Games, darling. Don't worry, you'll never be sent there."

I don't care that the woman is a Capitol bastard. Looking at her child, I am suddenly back at home tickling my little brother right before the reaping. Right before I was ripped away from him.

Before I can stop myself, I run to the boy and give him a tight hug.

"Cherish your family, sweetheart," I whisper nearly inaudibly before turning away. He gazes up at me, eyes wide- right as someone yanks me forward.

"Stop it. I won't have you making a fool of me right as we've arrived."

It's Cassius- what a surprise. For the second time, I swallow my pride and say nothing.

I allow myself to melt back into the sea of tributes, Lola and Blight in front of us. Above the district children and mentors towers a neon sign with the words: 'The Capitol welcomes you.'

A shiver runs down my spine, and I shake my head as if in denial. I knew where we were heading from the start, but the cameras are sure to love the gesture.

Wiping away a nonexistent tear, I sniffle and follow my mentor into the Capitol. Although my expression droops with sadness, my mood is anything but.

Bring it on, Panem. You won't take me so easily!