and it's only when we hear the "30 seconds" that he grabs both of my arms and turns me to face him.
"You're going to do great." He says, focusing his violet eyes on mine. "You're going to win."
Why does everyone keep saying that?
"Haymitch told me to tell you, uh, not to forget your training, try to find a weapon, but if you can't, remember what they taught you, and find shleter and find it fast. Don't spend too long at the Cornucopia. He said that all of it would mean something to you."
I nod, feeling tears spring to my eyes. Why I'm getting so emotional over Haymitch Abernathy I'll never know.
"10 seconds."
Indigo plants a kiss on my chek, and stands back from me. I walk to the tube, feeling more than reluctant to enter it. Gulping, I get inside, and turn to face my stylist. He gives me one last reassuring smile, and then I feel it start to rise.
I straighten out my back, hold my chin up high, to show the others that I'm not afraid of them. But as we enter the arena I waver slightly. I can't see. I can't see a single thing. Light is burning my eyes, and it takes a while for them to adjust.
"30, 29, 28-"
The countdown begins. I try to look round me, as my eyes adjust. The sun is high and unnaturaely bright, and the heat is blistering. The cornucopia glints in the middle of us, and if I look at it directly I am blinded by the sunlight bouncing off it. I look to my feet. It's sand. Everything is sand. There is no grass, or concrete like in some years. It was all sand. To my left was large dunes, hills of sand rising up and no doubt falling back down when you reached the top. To my right was a forest, but it wasn't like the forests back home. I remebered seeing it in last year's games. It was a jungle. The trees were large, with thick trunks and long, dark green leaves. Some held fruit, which was no doubt poisenous, and some probbaly held animals.
I am brought back to the games by the sound of the voice over.
"3, 2, 1."