As I am brought out into the waiting room, amongst all the other tributes, my eyes immediately recognise the face of Katniss out the crowd. She is naturally beautiful, but never have I seen her look like this. Cinna must have taken note on my comment that Katniss's eyes are her best feature for they are startling bright. As I nearer Katniss I notice that she appears more on edge than she did earlier, perhaps she has endured a harsher experience with her prep team than I have.
'You look beautiful,' I smile. Katniss's eyes look away from the horses to me. She pauses for a minute, analysing my appearance.
'Nice nails.'
'Thanks, I really think they symbolise District 12 perfectly,' I reply. Katniss simply smiles before directing her attention to looking at the other tributes costumes. Although it was a sarcastic compliment, I can't help but feel that I am making progress with Katniss. This is the first interaction she and I have had where I don't feel that she is wanting to murder me.

The costumes are pretty basic and lack originality. Tributes have to be dressed accordingly to the district in which they are from. For example, District 4, the fishing district, are always dressed in netting. Always. Mine and Katniss's costume, however, will be the most spectacular outfit ever seen by the games. According to Cinna.

I glance around the room to see Cinna hastily approaching us with an unusual looking object in his hand.
'You two look perfect,' Cinna smiles before catching notice of my nails, 'luckily no one will be paying attention to your nails, Peeta.'
'I think Aminta did a good job,' I reply, smiling slightly. I hear Katniss laugh in the background and I feel my smile spread even bigger across my face.
'This fire isn't real,' Cinna states, turning the switch on the object. Instantly a light fire ignites and I move back quickly, afraid that it would singe my hair, or worse, face.
'It looks pretty real,' Katniss comments, examining the fire from alternative angles, 'what are you going to do with it?'
'Set your outfits alight with it.'
'What?!' both Katniss and I exclaim.
'We'll be burnt alive,' Katniss adds in distress.
'Do you really think I'd let that happen?' Cinna replies, 'it's not real fire anyway. All I need to do is press this button and the flames will go out instantly.'

I watch as Katniss's eyes flicker from the flame to the switch which Cinna had his thumb resting against, judging whether she could trust him.
'It's the arena which is supposed to kill us Katniss, not our costume designer,' I add. Katniss turns her head swiftly to me, the fire emphasising a form of hollowness in her eyes.
'Fine. Do it,' Katniss then replies bluntly before turning her back on me.

As we get into the carriage I can hear the echoing sound of Panem's national anthem being played.
'Nervous?' I whisper to Katniss. She shakes her head slightly, though her body language appears tense. Being District 12, we are the last to be presented to the Capitol and thus have longer to wait. The moment which District 1 is exposed to the Capitol I can hear the loud screams and applause shake through the concrete walls that are separating us.
'Remember, it won't burn you,' Cinna repeats whilst applying the flames to our outfits. The moment the flame touches my clothing, it spreads quickly, though I cannot feel it. I can only see it. I look to Katniss who is staring at the flames in transfixion.
'Can you feel it?' Katniss asks me.
'Not even a little,' I reply reassuringly. Katniss nods her head and takes a deep breath when Cinna applies to the flame to her. With fire, Katniss looks truly beautiful, the flames radiating her beauty perfectly. She looks to me and gives a small smile.

'You don't need to do anything. The flames will win them over,' Cinna says as we feel the horses begin to pull the carriage, 'actually you two should-'. I look back at Cinna to see him gesturing something with his hands.
'What was that?' Katniss says to me, slightly panicked, 'I couldn't hear him. What did he want us to do?'
'I think he wanted us to hold hands,' I reply. Katniss looks at me as if I had just insulted her. I can see us nearing closer to the entrance of the Capitol and the noise growing louder. 'Katniss, trust me,' I say, grabbing tightly onto her hand. She holds onto my hand too, though she loosens her fingers greatly.

The moment in which we are exposed to the Capitol a deaf defying roar is released, deafening both Katniss and I in the progress. My eyes struggle to register all the extravagant colours and outfits which I am seeing, transforming them into a vivid blur. I feel Katniss's grip on my hand tighten quickly. When I look to the crowd I notice that everybody has turned to look at Katniss and I and it isn't until I catch a glimpse of us on screen that I remember we are on fire.
'PEETA MELLARK!' a crowd of women scream from the right, I raise my hand up to them, blowing them a kiss. Katniss looks at what I am doing and begins to copy my actions, waving and acknowledging the crowd. I go to raise our entwined hands above our heads but Katniss is reluctant to let me.
'Trust me,' I whisper quietly, looking at Katniss directly in the eye. She only looks at me for a brief second before turning her attention back to the crowd. However, I notice that the restriction on her arm is no more and I instantly raise our arms above our heads. Another roar of screaming erupts. I feel as if I am a form of warrior returning back from an epic war in which I have won. I glance over my shoulder to notice that mine and Katniss's flames create a form of cape for us, as if we really are heroes.

Everyone's attention is on us and when we pull in, in front of President Snow, I notice that the cameras seem to remain on Katniss and me the longest. Even President Snow appears to be transfixed on our costumes, struggling to take his eyes away from us.
'Happy 74th Hunger Games,' President Snow bellows out to us tributes, and all of the Capitol who are watching, 'and may the odds be ever in your favour.' I feel Katniss release my hand straight away after President Snow has finished talking. When I glance at her face, however, all I see is a form of defiance.

As we pull back into the waiting room, the flames are instantly extinguished, leaving a sudden realisation to sink in. The parade is now over. Tomorrow we start training, training which we will be using on one another. In less than a week we will be in the arena, fighting for our lives. The Hunger Games will have officially begun.
'Good job sweetheart,' I hear Haymitch say to Katniss, 'you both looked amazing.'
'Are you sure you should be near an open flame?' Katniss replies rather bluntly, though the small smile indicates that she is joking.
'You two stole the show! All eyes were on you. Cinna is a genius, you looked gorgeous Katniss,' Effie exclaims in delight. Katniss simply smiles, though her attention seems to be elsewhere. My eyes follow the direction which her attention seems to be facing to find Cato, from District 2, staring at her. I find a form of jealousy rise inside of me, though this isn't really time or place to be getting jealous. It isn't until I look closer, however, that I realise that Cato is not staring at Katniss because he is attracted by her. It is because he feels threatened by her. Haymitch seems to realise this at the exact time I do for he guides Katniss away, taking her back to our room. I follow quickly behind them, not wanting to get lost. The good thing about Effie, however, is that she stands out from the crowd, even when in the Capitol.
'Peeta?' Effie questions, turning around quickly to face me, 'try not to get lost. I really want to see your reaction when you see our room.'
'Sorry, I won't,' I reply, quickening my pace.

Effie informs us that because we are in District 12, we have been given the penthouse suite.
'You will be allowed anything you want,' Effie states as we wait in the lift, 'you can have any food or drink you want. I think it would be a good idea to fatten you two up, you're literally just skin and bones.'
'Thanks,' I hear Katniss mutter under her breath. The moment which the lift doors open my eyes widen at the sight I am seeing. I have never seen a room this large before, and this is only for dining.
'This is ginormous!' I exclaim, 'we could fit two bakeries in this room at least.' Effie claps her hands in delight over our reactions before going over some rules. I don't pay any attention though, I simply nod my head to pretend that I am. I walk over quickly to the window to see the view which the penthouse holds. I have never been this high in my life, as I look across the Capitol, all I can see is tiny little colourful dots walking around. As if they were ants.
'Katniss, come look at this!' I call, whilst still staring out the window. Katniss walks over to me, peering over my shoulder.
'How can be enjoying this?' she replies bluntly.
'What?' I question, turning around to face her. Katniss glares at me, shaking her head.
'You're treating this as if we're on holiday. They're trying to get us to kill each other, Peeta. Maybe you should remember that.'

My stomach tightens as I watch Katniss walk briskly away from me. I turn my attention back out to the window, staring at the little dots. They're just little ants, going by their everyday routine, absorbing every piece of entertainment that the Capitol is willing to give. And I am just a piece in their game. I place my hand onto the glass, wanting to push it out of its frame and watch it crash onto the concrete floor which feels like it is miles away from me.

And that's when I realise it is I who is the ant. It is I who is trapped in this glass containment, whilst they walk freely, not a care in the world. The entire Capitol is like a large child killing ants. They will torture me until I have had enough, before finally taking my life.

A/N- Please follow this story and leave me a review :)