Surprisingly, I slept soundly that night and woke up to light streaming in through my windows. Everything is quiet, and the trees outside begin to look as though they were beginning to thin out. I slide out of bed watching the trees as we travel. Each one is a green blur with occasionally spots of blue as they begin to thin out.
We will soon be at the Capitol, and my head starts to hurt just by thinking about being around more people like Courtney and being turned into one. Their lifestyle is still a mystery to me, how they could just not care about the tributes' lives and willingly bet against children they don't even know. Collapsing back on the bed, I hold my head in my hands and try to stop thinking about the inevitable. Everything seemed to be moving so quickly, and it wasn't just because we were on a train that was going 200 miles per hour. We'd be arriving at the Capitol in a few hours, and from there we're being transported straight to our stylists and the parade. Then two days of training, the evaluation, interviews, and finally, the Games. Only three and a half days separate Zane and I from the bloodbath at the Cornucopia that will be broadcasted to the entire country of Panem. My family will watch me die on television and there's nothing I can do about it except fight as hard as I can. I can't let Dean watch me die. I can't put my family through that again.
With new motivation I lace up the boots and exit my temporary bedroom to get some breakfast. Surprisingly, Courtney isn't in the large compartment yet. Without her there, the scene looks much more relaxed. Wiress is sitting on one of the couches, for once without Beetee. He and Zane are sitting across from each other at the dining table chatting quietly over eggs.
Beetee spots me first. "Good morning, Ebony! I am surprised to see you up so late. Zane and I were just wondering if we should go into your room and see if you cared to join us."
"I'm a bit surprised too, I'm usually an early riser." I stand in the doorway hugging myself as the two watched me.
Beetee glances at his watch and announces, "Well, apparently seven-thirty is too early for your mentor." He chuckles to himself. "Come join us, get some breakfast. You'll need the energy."
My stomach grumbles slightly and I nod my thanks and sit in my spot next to Zane. The redheaded avox offers to pour me coffee and I whisper thanks and smile. She gives me a small smile and it's gone before I can even register that it was really there. Before I even realize it she's back in her place against the wall, expressionless. I dig into my breakfast, the eggs made to perfection and the coffee wakes me up almost immediately.
"Ebony? Ebony did you hear me?" I snap out of my trance and look up at Beetee who has a small smile on his face.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?"
He and Zane share a laugh. "The food is much better than at the district, isn't it?" Zane takes a bite and looks at me.
I nod and lift my coffee cup. "The coffee is much more satisfying, yes." He smiles at me and nods as well, digging back into his eggs.
"Ebony, I asked before if you were ok. And I mean ok in the sense of if you have come to terms with the fact that you are indeed in the Games."
I look up at Beetee, finally understanding why I liked him and Wiress as much as I do. They really do care about our well being, unlike those that live in the Capitol. They have faith in us. Finally, I smile slightly and tell him, "I am. And I'm going to try my hardest to win."
"That's what we like to hear, Ebony. That's what we like to hear." He smiles at the two of us, his eyes shining bright. "Maybe this year they'll have a Game to remember."
"Well I most certainly hope so. Ceasar Flickerman does not lie." Courtney struts in wearing another outfit that resembles the sun. I don't know if it just because the rest of us are from the palest district that makes her feel the need to project sunlight everywhere she goes, but I thought I was beginning to burn just from looking at her outfits. Beetee has to look away, and Zane mockingly shields his eyes.
"That's a nice outfit you've got on today, Courtney. Very bright."
"Manners, Mr. Crutch." She sits herself down at the head of the table and snaps for coffee. The redheaded avox hurries over and pours it quickly, trying to get as far away from her as humanly possible as quickly as she can. Without any thanks, she snaps again to dismiss her and call another avox who brings her a newspaper from the Capitol.
"The snapping thing is really rude, Courtney. They are people you know." Zane stares at Courtney as she sips lightly at her coffee.
"They may be people, but they are traitors of Panem and should be treated as such. Now I suggest you eat up, we should be arriving soon."
Before Zane could argue with her any longer, Beetee just shakes his head and stops him. He mouths, "it's no use" and continues to eat, occasionally glancing back at Wiress who has tightened up at the presence of Courtney.
The five of us end up sitting in silence with Zane tensed up next to me, dying to argue with Courtney about how pretentious and naïve she really is. I look back at the redheaded avox and wished she would do something, but I know that it is not their place, and so does she. Her tongue was cut out for being a traitor of Panem, and if she tried anything else President Snow would have her executed in a heartbeat.
"Oh and before I forget," Courtney says, addressing Zane and I once more. "Your stylists' teams will be waiting for you once we exit the train. I'm sure you've seen previous years the remarkable transformation that takes place from when the tributes are reaped and during the tribute parade. It's simply magical." She smiles widely and it takes all of the strength in my body not to grimace at her enthusiasm. Zane, however, does not hide anything.
"I wouldn't exactly call it magical. The tributes are barely recognizable."
"That is the point, Zane. Those living in the Capitol want to see your inner beauty. Not the grime covered outer skin that is seen during the reaping."
Everyone in the room knows Courtney and Zane will never see eye to eye, but he is determined to make her understand his point regardless.
"I just don't get you Capitol people. All you want is a good show. You bet for those that are beautiful and strong, not the tribute you think should win. Those that should win are left in the dust to die because no one plays by the rules!"
"Zane I think it'd be best if you relaxed before you say something you'll regret." Beetee is watching him expectantly, hoping he'll take his advice and calm down.
Eventually he stops fuming and takes some deep breaths, Courtney looking satisfied with her unofficial triumph.
Before anyone can say another word though, Wiress speaks for the first time in the large group. "We're here."
Zane and I slowly stand and walk towards the window, watching the Capitol get closer and closer towards us. Tall, sparkling buildings stand surrounding a lake. There is a small island in the middle with a large building taking up the entire piece of land that has a bridge that leads to the mainland. As we circle the lake, we can see the center of the Games dead center of the city.
"It's so huge…" I whisper to Zane watching everything fly by. We close in on the center speeding above the Capitol citizens wandering below. I can see the train station coming closer, the building where the parade will most likely be held right down the middle, the train station to the right, and a tall building with thirteen floors attached to it.
Before we know it, Zane and I are staring into the faces of screaming Capitol citizens, their colorful hair and outfits creating rainbow of a crowd around us. Unsure of what to do, I wave, in awe over everything about the city. Zane takes my hand and waves with his other. I'm sure I blush brighter than I ever have as the crowd goes nuts over us.
We are District Three, the ones everyone usually overlooks, and today we're making our first impression. I can hear Courtney clapping in the background, practically screaming, "That is how it is done!" And before I know it, the people are gone and we're in a dark tunnel on our way to the Games.