Waria's tight voice was screeching in my ear, waking me up. I grunt and groan. "Aw, sweetie, your hair!" She cries out to me. I grab a lock of the tangled mess and look at it. I must have slept quite restlessly. I go into my bathroom to take a shower. I fiddle with multiple knobs until I feel comfortable.

Toweling my hair, I return to my bedroom to change. I find white blouse and some shorts and put them on, then putting my hair in a usual ponytail. I go to the dining cart and find Barney exchanging conversation with Bo, but, by the movement of his mouth, Bo just gives him one-worded answers. Wolff waves me over to them and I elegantly sit down.

"Do you two have any strategies?" Wolff smiles at us. I shake my head, I'm, though him being one of my closest friends, not going to tell Barney. He also shakes, either him not any strategies or him not trusting me. I feel as though it's the latter.

"Well, Barney, you're quite muscular so you can use your strength, but Robyn, no offence, you don't offer not upper-body strength, so hopefully, you're speedy." She says. If I'm honest, I do take quite a lot of offence, I've used a whip my whole life, surely that would make my arm more muscular?

I must show it in my face because Wolff apologizes sincerely. "Have you two used any type of weapons?" She asks.

"I've used a knife." Barney answers first. "What about you, Robyn?" Wolff then asks.

"I've used a whip." I sheepishly reply. "That's good." She smiles as she compliments me. "But I don't know if they'll have them, they are rare." I nod, not that fussed. I look at Bo and he stares intently at his alcoholic drink. I've realised he's not looked at me all day. Or anyone, for that matter...

"What's wrong?" I blurt out. Everyone, including Bo, looks at me and my cheeks burn. I lift myself off my chair to leave, but Wolff grabs my wrist. "Sit." She says in a gruff voice. She then takes Bo's wrist and drags him off. Me and Barney sit together in silence. "I've always had a crush on you." He says. What? No. No. NO. "Excuse me?" I ask in a calm voice. "You heard me." He replies, impatience in his tone. I don't reply and we sit their, in silence once again. We hear the odd yell from the neighboring cart.

Wolff returns on her own. "Hey, guys." She smiles. "You'll be happy to know we'll be arriving in the Capitol soon!" Yep, happy. Closer to my death! I'm so ecstatic!

We finally pull into the station and I go to the window and wave. They'll like that. Barney follows me and smiles. The Capitol crowd are screaming and cheering. I start smiling, not with happiness but with how dim-witted these people are.

I'm handed to my prep-team. They introduce themselves as Clarissa, Beetriyc and Dayta. Clarissa has bright red hair with pale skin and exotic make-up; Beetriyc has a similar skin tone, but her hair is peroxide blonde; Dayta is the one with different skin, which is a light red and his hair is jet black, down to his hips. Many may actually confuse Dayta with a girl. They all rip my body hair from it's home, and when they're done, I feel bare. Beetriyc starts on my hair, Clarissa on my nails and Dayta on my face. I want to cry, all this is too much. Once they're finished, I look into a mirror. My eyes look more chocolaty with this eye make up and my hair, still at the same length, looks shiny and voluminous. As I'm admiring myself, a petite woman, about 20, with ill-fitting glasses and her hair shoved under her hat, slips in. I watch her and turn. "Oh, hi. I'm Frenchie, you're stylist." She says in a quiet voice that I can't tell if it's natural or shyness. "Hello. Robyn." I smile, trying to make her more comfortable. "Me and you're partner's stylist created this outfit for you." She holds up a glittery gold cowgirl outift and I find myself strangely in love with it. "I love it!" I exclaim. After slipping it on, we head to a main entrance for the chariot parades.

My prep team fuss around me, but I want to swat them away like we do with flies back in 10. I glance around at my opponents/allies. I've decided I am going to get an ally. I simply walk off. I look from side-to-side. I walk to a girl who's wearing a ridiculous outfit, one that only someone from 8 could wear. "Hi, I was wondering if you wanted to be allies?" I ask and regret it. I sounded desperate and awkward, but the girl nods nevertheless. I smile and walk off.

I climb onto my chariot and grin. "Cute." I say. "Shut up." He replies and gives me a gentle shove. The doors open and the 1st chariot goes. The 2nd. The 3rd. The 4th. The 5th. 6th. 7th. 8th. 9th.

Then it's us.