Corinna Alcantara, 29, Capitol Broadcaster
When the doors finally open and the first chariots come into view, the screams are deafening, almost louder than the anthem being blasted into the streets. It's pretty much a sensory overload, as it always is.
District 1 is being pulled on a golden chariot decorated with gemstones, pulled by white stallions.
"Vinna Hegarty looks like a beautiful Queen of Hearts, and Armahni is wearing a similar outfit! She doesn't look all too happy about that, though, and is trying to win the crowd on her own without any unity or input from her partner, despite them wearing matching costumes."
District 2's chariot is stone-coloured and armoured, and the stallions look as muscly as the tributes they're carrying.
"Ohh, Coilee looks very interesting, doesn't she? A cute gold unitard and a skirt… made of knives! I hope she doesn't try to smooth that thing out because those don't look very dull. Kyle's wearing a matching gold suit that's also made of knives. Any other district with these costumes and blood would be drawn before they even enter the arena."
District 3's chariot is made of turning gears, befitting their trade. But the tributes' outfits tell a somewhat different story.
"Albert and Sophia are wearing some of the most simple outfits I've seen on a pair from Three. Albert's got on a black suit with yellow dots, and Sophia's in a simple white dress with a yellow scarf. They're holding hands, and-"
Before I can finish the entire plaza erupts in roars as Albert and Sophia passionately kiss, before raising their interlocked hands.
"Well, that's something I've never seen before! Not even the star-crossed lovers of Twelve were so bold."
I smile at their little display but know that any couple going into the arena will only experience heartbreak in their last days together.
"Azure is wearing the most charming swimsuit, complete with a flowery swimming cap and a white shift to make it less revealing. Aslan looks rather serious compared to the cheerful Azure, and he isn't even waving! His ocean motif outfit is simple but charming."
I giggle as Pontiki comes into view. She looks ready to kill someone with her bare hands already for parading her like this.
"Miss Pontiki, our little girl with an attitude, is rocking a cute wired suit with light-up sleeves. Her diminutive little partner is in an identical outfit, making 5'5 Pontiki look taller than she really is."
District 6 has pleased the crowds so far, being two non-addict children.
"Aston is in a steampunk-looking outfit, complete with a striped skirt and petticoat. I'm not sure how that's District 6, but better than being dressed as a car, I suppose. Speaking of cars…"
The entire plaza is losing their minds over Indy's costume. Considering the chariot is decorated like a racecar, it's fitting for him to be holding a wheel and shooting confident glances to the crowd.
District 7's chariot and horses are wrapped in branches with lush leaves, making them look as if they're part plant.
"Magnolia is a pretty woodland nymph, it seems. To be honest, I thought we'd see them as a firefighter instead!"
Her partner, on the other hand, is a lumberjack. Rather basic, but ironic considering he's holding an axe and his partner looks like a tree.
District 8 looks like a fabric monster threw up on their chariot. Even their horses are rainbow-colored.
Esther looks quite charming as a cute little rag-doll. Although she's not what one would call a 'doll-face', the angle suits her well.
Her partner looks like a clown, strangely enough. Considering the pattern of his clothes, I guess he's supposed to be a gingham clown.
By District 9, I can tell the crowd is starting to lose its energy, as the cheers have been reduced to polite clapping.
Altaïr's in a bright fluorescent suit that seems to be a few sizes too big for him, judging from the way the costume slides off his shoulders.
"Someone couldn't have tailored little Altaïr's suit?" I say to no one in particular. A few of the studio crew snicker, which relieves me because talking bad about stylists is seen as bad manners.
Nerezza, on the other hand, is some kind of dark goddess. She isn't waving, just turning her head left and right as if to shoot wicked glances at the spectators. She seems to not be scaring many, as her beautiful face makes her look anything but scary.
District 10's got a sweet pair, holding hands like the pair from Three, although this seems to be a more supportive gesture of unity than a proclamation of love. Salalai is a fairy of sorts, looking timid and afraid.
"Ryker seems to be little Salalai's knight in shining armor! His costume is a complete far cry to his partner's. Can't say I've ever seen a knight in District 10 before, though… he would almost look more knight-like if he were riding the horse pulling his chariot."
As the last two chariots come into view I notice a sea of flowers raining from the stands. The camera pans to the Head Gamemaker's daughter, tossing a pile of blue roses with great excitement with her classmates.
"District 11 is a little uninspired, unfortunately, but still cute. Andrew and Sixtine look to be a farmer and a stalk of corn, respectively. I'm recalling Sixtine's very dramatic Reaping, where she had to run for her life before she was even called!"
Excitement is up as District 1's chariot is beginning to approach the cul de sac to the Training Center, and the brother-sister pair rides out.
"Oh! Well, this is something you never see for District 12… grim reapers! I'm being told these two were gravediggers back in their home district… I'm not sure if that's better than the coal mines or worse."
Damon and Lilac are waving wildly, looking energetic which seems contradictory to their dark costume theme.
The pavement is hardly visible anymore with how many flowers blanket the road. The crowd turns to the Training Center while the last three chariots file into the circle, awaiting the president's speech.
Nerezza Elsera, 16, District 9 Female
I'm still laughing even after the chariot has pulled into the Training Center, and Altaïr is beginning to look at me weird.
"Did you see that?! I terrified those people!" I can feel my sides aching but the adrenaline of the event has me hysterical.
"Uh… they weren't terrified, Nerezza," Altaïr rebukes. "I think they were mostly amused by you trying to act scary."
I fold my arms in annoyance. Curse this human form of mine.
Jennetta, our mentor, leads us near the elevator that will take us to our flat. I can't help but notice the pair from Three, holding hands and giving each other loving glances. I scoff at the sight.
"Isn't it stupid?" a female voice asks me. I turn around to notice the girl from 5 standing next to me. I want to scold her for sneaking up but she continues. "PDA is so overdone. I get that you're a couple, no need to rub it in everyone's faces."
I nod in agreement as the two go into an elevator alone to do heavens-knows-what.
"I agree, teenage romance is so cheesy." My tone is irritated because part of me wishes that I could experience real human attachment, just to know what the big deal is.
"I'm Pontiki," the girl says, holding out her hand. I shake it hesitantly.
"I'm Nerezza," I simply answer, not wanting to explain my godly status to this mortal who will probably not understand me.
Once we make it to the flat, I immediately excuse myself to my room.
"At least come out for dinner!" Jennetta pleads, and I burst into laughter.
"Trust me, food's the last thing I need."
Once my door is locked and I'm left alone, I discard my costume and let it fall to the floor. Part of me expects it to burn into a pile of ash but then I remind myself that I am in a new, unfamiliar place, one where my powers will probably not work at all.
Never have I been so confined to my human body.
Andrew Rodriguez, 17, District 11 Male
Dinner is more tense than I expected, with the only noise coming from the clattering of utensils and flatware. I feel nauseous from the chariot ride so I just sip on sparkling water, waiting for an appropriate moment to rise from the table.
"Hey, is there anywhere at this Training center where I can get my hair done?" Sixtine suddenly asks, looking at Reyne.
Our electric escort lights up. "Yes! There wasn't a salon in this building until recently, actually! Shall I book an appointment?"
Sixtine taps her chin. "Yes, make one for tomorrow at noon."
I turn to Sixtine, confused. "Won't we be in training at that time?" I ask her. She just giggles.
"I don't really intend to go. What's the point if I'm just going to die in the bloodbath?" she ponders. Sixtine's aloofness makes our mentor livid.
"No, Sixtine! You can't just skip training. What you learn there could save your life, you know." Iris begs Sixtine with her eyes but my partner is determined.
"Unless you intend to drag me there, I'm not going."
I start to feel bad for Iris, because one of her tributes not showing up to the first day of training could reflect badly on her. At the same time, bossing around a girl who could very well be dead in five days will probably lead to sleepless nights, as well. 'Oh, if only I had let Sixtine do what she wanted in her last days, she could have died happy'. It's a slippery slope.
At the orphanage, the caretakers very much enjoyed taking advantage of us and making the children do their bidding. Considering we had no parents, it's not like we could complain to anyone. At the same time, I wouldn't feel like a very decent person if I was doing this to children who have no family, no loved ones. We should be treated with at least some leniency in that regard. But the orphanage was a very different situation than the one I am in now.
Sixtine excuses herself and I do the same. I'm feeling restless, like I need to release the stress that has been building up since the Reaping out of my system.
Suddenly an idea clicks in my head, and I rush to Sixtine's room to see if I will have a partner in crime to the last little trick I plan on pulling off.
Magnolia Salix, 18, District 7 Female
My bed feels like a slab of stone, despite the fact that these are probably some of the most comfortable mattresses in all of Panem. My own body is rejecting any sense of comfort whatsoever.
At least rest, I tell myself. Can't win the Games on no sleep.
The clock says it's half past midnight. Training begins in less than nine hours. I give in to my restlessness, rising to take a walk on the roof to clear my mind and calm my body. Fresh air has always been therapeutic, considering my profession often has me inhaling smoke and other choking fumes.
Throwing on a simple silk robe and slippers, I slip past the guards and Avoxes into the elevator, which quickly takes me to the roof. Chilly air blows in my face as soon as the elevator doors open, and I find myself wishing I had brought a winter coat. It's almost summer, how can the nights here be so chilly? Even the mild climate of Seven is starting to get humid by now!
As I'm deep in thought I spot someone sitting on the benches near the edge. At first they look like the dark haired Avox who has been attending us but they turn to me in surprise.
"Ah! You scared me…"
Alysanne Audren rises to leave, but I grab her shoulder, somewhat unknowingly.
"No, you don't have to leave! I just needed a bit of fresh air, you know?" I find myself stumbling on my words and Alysanne just laughs.
"I just didn't expect to find anyone up here… you know people think this place is haunted, right? Ever since Ida tried to jump off this building, they say her ghost occupies this area." Alysanne's voice is entrancing, and soon I feel goosebumps.
It really is cold out here…
"So like… she's here, right now?" I ask Alysanne, rubbing my arms in a feeble attempt to get warm.
"I suppose she is. But since Ida is from District 6 too, I trust she doesn't want to hurt me. And since you're my friend, she'll go easy on you, too," Alysanne muses. I glance up at her in surprise.
"I'm your friend?"
"Sure. In this place you have to take friends wherever you can find 'em." Alysanne pats the spot next to her and I sit down.
"So, how has mentoring been so far?" I ask her. She shrugs.
"Could be worse, I suppose. It's hard to take care of my tributes when my own mother is trying to take care of me. She treats me like a child…"
Alysanne looks down at her lap, frowning. I realize that despite the fact that this girl is a Victor, she's still a child, younger than me in fact. The Capitol doesn't like humanizing its Victors very much, but it seems as if they haven't completely stolen this girl's childish aspect.
"I can only imagine being treated like a kid after I've won the freaking Hunger Games." I tell Alysanne. She perks up.
"Exactly!"
We continue to talk, and I find myself noticing that I hardly feel cold anymore.
In fact, I feel warmer than I've ever felt, and I've looked burning flames right in the face.