Chapter 3

The car ride to the train was uneventful. All it entailed was Alaster yapping our ears off about how much we're going to love the Capitol. Seeing as we're about to compete in a death game for their entertainment, I don't think I'll ever love the Capitol.

Farley just sat with his head out the window the entire time. Unlike me, he has experience riding in cars, being the mayor's son and all. I was the only one startled by the sudden motion of the car, and the many jolts caused by the driver stepping on the brakes.

We had to be ushered into the train by Peacekeepers, as lots of people came to the station to see us off. Among those people was Bil, who still had tears in his eyes as he watched me walk up the stairs.

I didn't even know that the train started moving until Alaster told me. It's crazy how something so fast can feel like you aren't moving at all. These trains go like a million miles per hour yet you barely feel a thing. This is very unlike that car ride.

After a couple minutes of silence, Alaster walks in with Farley and our mentors, Hestia and Mulvain. I'm doubtful that these two can give us advice that will actually come in handy in the arena. Then again, they did win this thing once, so maybe they've kept some wisdom with them after all these years.

"Alright, so you two will be getting one mentor each. Hestia has been assigned to Farley, and Mulvain has been assigned to Katerina" Alaster says. I look at Mulvain, who is currently trying to pick a piece of lint off of his gray and stained shirt. I'm really liking my chances here.

"So, what exactly does a mentor do?" Farley asks. Is he for real? Hasn't he ever watched this?

"Well, mentors are the ones who give you life saving advice for any sort of pickle you may find yourself in while in the arena!" Alaster tells him. "They can also get you sponsors. Sponsors can send useful items into the arena to help out their favourite tribute." Wait a minute. those parachutes full of medicine, food, and possibly useful weapons come from people who like you? I thought that was just the Gamemakers trying to make it more interesting!

Mulvain seems to notice the confusion on my face and chuckles. "You weren't expecting that, were you?" I shake my head timidly. "Getting the audience to like you is the best way to stay alive in the arena. They could send you items that will save your bacon in the worst of times" he informs me.

But who is going to like me? I'm nothing special. I hardly stand out with my ratty blonde hair and stick-like complexion. Farley seems to already be ahead of me in that department being from a mayor's family. It's not every year a mayor's child gets sent to the arena, so he'll already have attention as soon as he steps into the Capitol.

After a while, Alaster shows us the rooms we'll be staying in for the ride, and I immediately make myself comfortable. It's not until I take off my shoes and socks and plop down on the bed do I realise how tired I am. This room is not as classy as the one in the Hall of Justice, but it's cozy. Both the walls and floor share the same soft blue carpeting, while all of the furniture is a nice light green.

I've never had a bed to myself before, or even a bed this big. I'm used to my dad being beside me as I fall asleep. Sometimes when I can't seem to close my eyes, he would stroke my hair and hum softly in my ear, and I would be out in two seconds.

All of sudden I start to feel extremely lonely, as now I'm thinking about the fact that for the first time in my life, I'm so far away from all of the people I love. The tears start to stream down my face before I even know I'm crying, and I curl up into a ball ontop of the bed and just let them fall.

I suddenly hear a knock at the door and turn to see Farley poking his head in. "Are you ok?" He asks. My eyes are probably still red and puffy from crying.

"Yeah. I just miss my family" I tell him.

"I saw your dad crying at the Reaping, you two must be very close" he says.

"Yeah, we are. I usually share a bed with him as there's only two beds in my house. We gave the bigger bed to my grandparents, so we have to squish into the smaller bed together. It's weird being in a big bed all by myself" I confess. I don't know why I feel so comfortable around Farley. We aren't friends, sure before today I don't think we've ever even talked, plus as soon as we step into the arena we're supposed to be enemies. Even so, it feels nice having someone my age to talk to here.

"That sounds nice. I don't really talk to my dad. He's always too busy with work. My mom is always chasing after my little brothers. They always cause mischef whenever they aren't being looked after" he says. I start to feel a little sorry for him. Sure his mom looked shocked when his name was read out, but his father never even batted an eyelid. Did he even care that his son might not come home?

"That must be tough" I say.

"Sometimes. I've gotten used to being by myself, though, and it's not so bad. Sometimes I like to write stories if I'm super bored. I have a whole collection of notebooks up in my room."

"Hey, what time is it?" he then asks. I look up at the clock in the room and see that it is now almost two o' clock.

"Oh my god, almost two already?" I say in disbelief.

"The Reapings are probably being shown on TV right about now. Do you want to watch with me?" he asks gesturing to the big TV on the wall.

"Ok" I say. I don't really want to, but I do it just so he doesn't leave me on my own again.

The District 1 and District 2 tributes volunteered themselves like always. They're all really big and scary looking, like they've been lifting weights their whole lives. I'm sure they're a lot bigger and scarier in real life. The District 4 tributes are also very fit looking, but not as buff as 1 and 2. Districts 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 all look small, scared and not ready for what is now ahead of them.

They get to 9, and I just want to curl back up into a ball as I see my bony frame walk up to the stage after they call my name. Of course, Cesar Flickerman and Claudius Templesmith go on about the fact that this is the first time a mayor's child has competed in the Games in about 25 years. I look over at Farley, who's face has gone a bit red. "They're talking about you" I say in a joking way. He lets out a chuckle as they then move onto District 10.

The District 10 boy is a stringbean like me, but the girl seems to be well built and able. She looks calm and collected as she walks up to the stage, and when they zoom in on her face she merely blinks back at the audience. Her sharp brown eyes give a sense of cool, and her equally brown hair is tied back in a cool half ponytail, half braid style.

The District 11 tributes are both small 12-year-olds. I feel a tint of sadness when the camera zooms in on their terrified faces. Such young children should not be subjected to such a brutal practice where a lot of the time, they don't stand a chance.

Finally, they get to District 12. Both tributes are sickly thin with mangy brown hair and olive skin. And I thought I was all skin and bone. District 12 is quite possibly the poorest district in Panem, but I didn't exactly know how bad it was until I looked at those kids. No one back home should complain ever again, as someone out there always has it worse.

"Well, everyone seems friendly" Farley says sarcastically. As all of our pictures are being displayed up on the screen, we hear Alaster calling us for lunch. Farley gets up and holds his hand out to me. "Ready to venture into the unknown?" he asks. While this whole experience is supposed to be something scary, I'll admit it's not as bad with him around. At least I have someone I can sort of relate to. Now that I'm here, I might as well try my best to win this thing, as I need more than anything to return to my family. I've done all of my crying, so now it's time to be brave, accept what's happened, and take on the challenge that is now in front of me. I clutch the locket around my neck in my right hand as I take his with my left.

As I watch platter after platter come out of the kitchen, I don't know how I'm expected to eat all of it. While I've been fortunate enough to never have necessarily gone hungry thanks to my hunting, we've had to ration our food lots of times, so I wasn't brought up with the biggest appetite.

As Alaster starts to dig in, Mulvain and Hestia join us at the table. Hestia sits next to Farley and across the table from me, while Mulvain takes the seat next to me.

"I feel like we haven't been properly acquainted. Mulvain Sullivan" he says as he holds his hand out to me.

"Katerina Ottoman" I say as I take it and shake. I wasn't sure how useful he'd be the first time we spoke, but now I'm ready for all or any wisdom he might be able to offer me.

"Quite a firm grip for such a little girl" he comments as we break away.

"Being the head of your household requires your hands to get at least a little dirty" I respond with confidence I didn't even know I had. Where is this all coming from? Am I that eager to prove to him that I can do this?

"You've got fire, I like you already. Usually the kids that come from 9 succumb to fear the minute their name gets called, but for some reason I have a feeling you aren't like that" Mulvain comments. I'm not.

"I have people to be brave for, people who need me. I can't give up without trying to get back to them" I say matter-of-factly.

"Good, shape that determination into motivation. That's half the battle. You have a long journey ahead of you, and I will try and guide you through it as best I can. Even so, I can only do so much. It is up to you if you put those tools to use or not. Are you up for it?" I respond with a silent but focused nod of my head.

"Good. The first obstacle you have to face is the one that took you by surprise earlier, and that's getting sponsors. People love having someone to root for. Whether it be because of their strength, or purely because of their personality. If they like you, they will root for you and help you out as much as they can. We're going to have to find a way to make them love you even before you step foot in that arena. We're sadly already at a disadvantage thanks to mayor's boy over there" Mulvain tells me as he gestures to Farley on the other side of the table. I knew Farley would make things harder for me in the likeabilty side of things. This just confirms it.

Mulvain sees my newfound uneasiness and recaptures my focus with a hand on my shoulder. "Hey, not all is lost just yet. When we're showing you off in the Tribute Parade tonight, make sure you wave and be extra friendly to the crowd. These Capitol people love themselves a sweetheart, so try and be as darling as possible. There's a lot more to it than that, but we'll take one problem at a time. Right now, all I want you to focus on is the parade tonight. You think you can do that?" Honestly, I'm not so sure about that. I'm no good at being darling. Hell, I've only got two friends for a reason, as all I focus on all of the time is taking care of my family. Even so, I'm willing to try if it means some of these people will be willing to help me out.

"Yea, I think so" I say with a shrug of my shoulders.

"Good, we'll meet right before you two are sent out on the chariot with your stylists to discuss what we exactly want from you" he says.

As our conversation is coming to an end, the train suddenly goes dark. It appears as though we are going through a tunnel. The train slows all of a sudden, and the sounds of people cheering erupts from outside.

"We're here" Mulvain tells me. "When you get out there, you will be escorted to the Tribute's Center where you will be groomed for the parade tonight. You will then meet with your stylist who will be showing you what you're going to be wearing. I'll see you later tonight. Good luck" he says, and pats me on the head before he walks away.

I really misjudged him. He's really easy to talk to and knows exactly what he's talking about. Why is it that no one from our district has won with such a great mentor?