Contrary to popular belief, I'm, in fact, not dead. I just had a load of exams dumped upon me. I would like to thank nandy7781 for giving this story its first review. Also thanks to all those followed and favorited this story. Here is Chapter 3. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: The usual. I don't own anything but the plot blah blah blah.


Katniss sat in her quarters in the tribute train. Like last year, her quarters were as plush and luxurious as any Capitol house. She thought about the task Haymitch had given her, to decide whom to bring home, Madge or Peeta. If the boy was someone other than Peeta, it would have been simple. But how do you choose between your friend and your lifesaver? Katniss didn't know.

To top that little fact, she couldn't figure out her feelings about Gale. If it were up to her, they would be best friends and hunting partners for all time. But since he had kissed her in the woods, she could never quite look at him and his lips in the same way.

As Katniss sat there, brooding, there was a sharp rapping at her door and the bright voice of Effie Trinket called, "Supper in ten minutes, Katniss, dear." Katniss sighed and got up. What, she wondered, goes on in that woman's head? Even after spending a whole year with the Capitol escort, she didn't know. She changed into a snug shirt and pants and pinned her mockingjay pin to the shirt. After moving around as slowly as possible, killing about five minutes, she headed to supper. To her surprise, she found that Peeta and Madge were already at the table, with Effie. Haymitch wasn't there, but that was not surprising. He was probably passed out drunk somewhere. One would think that finally producing a victor after twenty-four years of mentoring would change his habits slightly. This year, even more attention was focused on him as he had won the last Quell. Katniss and Effie made some small talk. The tributes were silent. Peeta's eyes were puffy, his nose red and running. He had been crying. Madge's jaw was clenched and a determined look had replaced the usual brightness in her eye. Soon after, supper was served. It was a thick tomato soup, roast beef, baked crispy potatoes filled with butter and blueberry pie (A/N: anyone catch the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory reference?) While they were eating, Madge asked her, "Katniss?"

"Yeah?" she replied.

"Can we win this year? I mean, you won last year. Surely me or Peeta can win," Madge said, in a hurried rush.

"Nah, you can't win the Games," came a slurred voice from their right. It was Haymitch, smirking drunkenly.

"What do you mean we can't? Of course, we can! Katniss won last year!" Madge exclaimed angrily. She had a grudge against Haymitch for letting her aunt die.

Peeta had seen the whole exchange with quiet eyes. Now, he spoke up, "Madge, I think Haymitch didn't want to make us sound bad. Right, Katniss?"

The female victor gave a start, this being the first time Peeta ever talked to her directly. She managed to compose herself and said, "Yeah, Peeta is right. Haymitch means that no one, no victor ever wins the Games. We just survive. Winning and surviving are two very different things."

Haymitch smirked. "Sweetheart here has got it right." Katniss scowled at him.

"But," Katniss said, "can you fight? I don't mean just physical fighting. Mental fighting. The will to keep fighting even when you feel like surrendering. I don't think you two got that. After all, what can two pampered townies do?"

"I agree with sweetheart here," came Haymitch's voice.

That was the breaking point for Peeta. He ran at Haymitch and punched him in the gut, catching him by surprise. But Haymitch retaliated, smashing his fist into Peeta's jaw, surprisingly strongly for such a wreck. Peeta fell down to the ground. While the women watched with stunned eyes, Katniss smiling slightly, Madge grabbed her knife and stabbed it into the table, right between Katniss' fingers. Katniss looked stunned before her face went back to a scowl.

"Interesting," Haymitch said, "It looks like we got a pair of fighters this year, sweetheart."

"Wait a minute," Peeta said, head swiveling between the two mentors, a red bruise swelling on his jaw, "This was all an act?"

"A test," Katniss corrected with a faint smile, "which you both passed. So, Madge, can you hit anything other than a table with that knife?"

Madge yanked out the knife and threw it. It lodged between two panels, making her look better than she was. Katniss would know, she had taught Madge to chuck knives.

"Good," Haymitch noted. "What about you, boy? Can you punch harder than that?"

"Yeah," the boy in question muttered, "I came in second last year at wrestling, after my brother. But Madge is good, she is top in our year."

"Really?" the drunk asked, "That's gonna be good. She is not very tall or big, but having sharp wits can turn the Games in your favour. So, listen, we'll be pulling into the Capitol tomorrow morning. The citizens are gonna try to see you. Try to win them over. That's how you get sponsors. After that, you will meet your prep teams and stylists. You're not gonna like what they do to you, but- "

"Don't resist," Katniss completed effortlessly. Then she saw the looks aimed at her and said, "What? Haymitch gave me and Reuben the same advice last year. It's his fault he didn't take it, so he is dead now." Reuben was the butcher's son, and her district partner from 12 last year.

Effie, who had gone out of the room during the fighting, was back. "Alright, everyone," she trilled, "now let's watch the reapings in the other districts."

Haymitch nodded and Effie switched on the big TV on the wall. Like last year, a few stood out in her mind. A big and handsome boy who lunges to volunteer from One. A small eleven-year-old girl from 3, with an intelligent gleam in her eyes. A boy who looks like a professional wrestler from 4. A thin boy with yellow hair who bursts into tears when his name is called from 6. A thin but muscular girl from 7 and most hauntingly, a tiny ten-year-old boy from 10. He was crying as the Peacekeepers led him to the stage. A strong-looking girl from 11 is there and then they show 12, Madge being reaped, the mayor's reaction, Vick being reaped, Katniss' reaction and Peeta's volunteering. The announcers were surprised to see two volunteers in consequent years from an outlying district like 12. Now that she thought about, Katniss couldn't figure out why Peeta had volunteered for Vick. He did not know Gale. But she was ashamed at how openly she had reacted, for now all of Panem would know her friendship and probably more with Gale. She couldn't afford that. After that, Effie makes them go to bed. Katniss thinks about she would have to call her victors buddies Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason about this year's tributes. She didn't sleep well, seeing the little boy from 10 being murdered in various brutal ways and seeing Rue's and her father's deaths about a dozen times.

In the morning, as the train pulled into the Capitol, the citizens with bizarre hair and odd clothes waved at the tributes. Madge sat like a stone, but Peeta smiled and waved at the crowd. As Haymitch muttered to her, "That boy has the better idea."

As they reached the Remake Centre, Katniss spotted her prep team. Venia, with her spiky aqua hair and golden tattoos, Octavia with her light green skin and Flavius with his curly orange hair and purple lipstick. They waved at her and cheerfully told her that this year Cinna will still be girl tribute from 12's stylist. Then they took Madge and hauled her away, while another prep team had hauled Peeta away. As she shook her head at their antics, a man with short brown hair and just a hint of gold eyeliner came up to her.

"Hey, Katniss," he greeted.

"Cinna!" she cried, tackling her stylist into a hug. "How are you?"

"Still alive and designing," The man, Cinna, joked. She whacked his shoulder.

"By the way, I wanted to introduce someone to you," he said, pointing at a plump woman with a yellow wig next to him. "This is Portia, Peeta's stylist. This is her first year in the Games. Portia, Katniss Everdeen, last year's victor."

"Katniss and Portia exchanged greetings. Portia seemed like a cheerful, almost motherly, person. After that, Katniss asked the stylists, "So we are going with fire or coal miner this year?"

The stylists exchanged cryptic smiles. "Still fire," Cinna replied with a smile, "but with a new twist. You'll see in the Tribute Parade."

Katniss sighed.

They chatted for a while, after which the prep teams called the stylists and off they went. Katniss went the Victor's Bar. There, an extremely handsome guy with bronze hair and sea green eyes and a girl with wide-set brown eyes greeted her. Well, more the boy greeted her and the girl snorted. They were her fellow victors and friends, Finnick Odair from District 4 and Johanna Mason from District 7. They chatted for a while about their tributes. Finnick felt that while his boy was a worthy adversary, his girl was scared and terrified. Johanna said that her boy was so confused he would probably die in the bloodbath but the girl had potential. Katniss spoke of her dilemma to her fellow mentors. Finnick just sighed and said she would have to choose one. Even Johanna looked sympathetic, a miracle in itself. Then, the three mentors went to the Tribute Parade.

First the District One tributes came out, in a chariot drawn by snow-white horses. The crowd roared in approval. They were followed by Two. District Four were dressed with see-through nets. Finnick sighed. Five, Six. The Seven tributes were dressed as trees. Johanna cursed and rolled her eyes. As the Eleven tributes rolled out, Katniss was looking to see what breath-taking outfit Cinna and Portia had made this year. She could see Haymitch doing the same. They were not disappointed. The Twelve tributes were wearing glowing embers with rising and falling flames, like it was really coal burning. The crowd went wild, showering kisses, throwing roses. Madge and Peeta were smiling, waving and blowing kisses. They had held up their joined hands, a sign of alliance.

The other tributes, mentors and stylists glared the Twelve tributes and Cinna and Portia, as once again they had literally outshone all other tributes. The prep teams were so happy they were dancing around. Portia looked proud that her first ever tributes were such a success. Cinna, like last year, just seemed weary as he accepted congratulations.

After the chariots had done a parade around the President's mansion, listened to President Snow's welcoming speech, which was, as usual, aimed to the Capitol crowd rather than the tributes who were about to be slaughtered and had underlying warnings only the victors caught. After that, he bade them all good night and the chariots went inside the Training Centre, the tributes' home/prison before the Games started and twenty-three of the tributes will be gone from this world…forever.


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