The short trip from the justice building to the Train station was an awkward one. Aiden just stared out the window with a scowl on his face. It didn't look like he'd shed so much as a tear since the reaping. I envied him his strength,.

Pandora was furious, though no one asked why and she didn't tell us. She just sat uneasily in her seat, huffing and puffing, crossing and uncrossing her arms and legs. Occasionally I'd catch her staring me down then rolling her eyes and looking away. I wonder if had done something to vex her, but then I realised with a flush of anger that it wasn't my job to care about Pandora McCafferty, and I banish the thought from my mind.

I'm about to step out of the escort car when I see the blood caked into my hands, and look down at my dress. I had seen that Laz had bled through his stitches and nearly destroyed the ornamental sofa in the Justice Building, but I didn't realise my dress had got it just as bad. What sort of impression will that leave behind? I wonder.

The station is riddled with cameras when we arrive and I find myself so thankful that I had that last half hour with Laz to calm me down. I could feel my feet firmly on the ground and though my face might be a little bit puffy from my visit with Nauplius, I'm confident it's nothing that will attract a lot of notice. I don't know if the strategy will be to appear weak, or strong, or what- and until I do I don't want to sabotage my options.

Finnick Odair and Mags are there to greet us on the platform and Pandora met them with the same distain she had been showing Aiden and I. She only wore a smile for the camera. It was a stark contrast to the starry eyed escort who'd left us in the Justice Building. Finnick and Mags didn't seem to be faring much better. I want to take a moment to thank him for everything he had done today for my little family, but he seems to be deliberately avoiding me. I don't think he so much as glanced at me once before he, Mags and Pandora disappeared into the train and left Aiden and I on the platform with the Mayor for some final pictures.

It was like he didn't even know I was there, and If he did he couldn't care less.

I try to reason that it's probably because he's Aiden's mentor and as such he has an obligation only to him. That's just fine by me. Finnick Odair has done more than enough for me already.

I've been brought into a room with a bed larger and softer than anything I'd ever even seen or felt before. The blanket alone is at least ten times thicker than the holey woven one I have at home and I find myself imagining that this is what the gigantic, low hanging clouds that gather over the harbor must feel like.

The window above the bed is enormous and runs the length of the car. From it I can see the Dinghy , the shoreline and the mass exodus of people headed for home and I long to be among them.

I know I should be upset; that what I'm facing down is terrifying, but I'm still riding the strange high that Laz left me with. It was more than just the ability to face the cameras; he made me realize that I owe it to myself to try to win - there's just too much in life left to experience for me to just give up.

The train jerks into motion and as soon as I see the coastline whiz by, I'm hit with violent nausea. I don't know if it's the movement or my nerves but I spend a good, long time kneeling on the cool marble floor of the bathroom which is bigger than our entire house at home.

While being sick into the fancy toilet with strange buttons and dials on the armrests (what kind of toilet has an armrest?), I'm making note of the fact that the sink in here alone is bigger than the metal pail my brother and I use at home alternately as a bathtub and laundry basin.

When I'm done emptying whatever remained in my belly, I reach for a hand bar on the wall to lift myself and the shower comes on. For a while, I'm in awe of it – not just the novelty of running water, but by the heat and steam it generated. And then I'm lured in by it. Stepping in is thrilling, like stepping into a sunshower when a warm front comes in-only hotter and more penetrating- and I can actually feel the chill being forced out of my bones.

The attendant who brought me into these quarters had pointed out a set of fully stocked drawers, and invited me to make myself comfortable, so I do as best I can.

I settle on a pair of black pants that stick to my body softly like a second skin and only go just past my knees with a loose-fitting pullover shirt of the same fabric and color as the panels in the room at the justice building. The label on the inside says the shirt is 'silk' and I try to commit the word to memory so I don't forget it.

That anyone can, or could be this comfortable at the expense of so many others reels my mind, but then I remember I'm being sent to a slaughter and my guilt is assuaged, just a little.

I'm barely finished pulling the shirt over my head before Pandora McCafferty comes in to collect me for supper. There's something softer in her features now, and her eyes are searching mine at the door to my room. She seems to be waiting for something.

And then I know what I have to do. I swallow the lump in my throat and force a smile onto my face "Pandora, I'm sorry if we got off to the wrong foot before. You seemed upset."

Satisfaction rolls its way onto her face

"Would you like to talk about it?" I ask

Pandora shimmies her way over to me- she isn't dressed in the same dress as before, she's wearing a light pink number now, slightly more fitted, with makeup to match. She snakes an arm around mine and pulls me to her –hip to hip-"now don't you worry about a thing, Anastasia. I admit I was a little put off that you didn't tip me off on the stage about the meaning of the scuffle in the boys section, But really, the past is the past."

I try to maintain serene features when I thank her for generosity, while I imagine myself throwing her off the train.

She leads me down a long and shaky hall into the dining car where Mags and Finnick are already seated. The novelty of the finery around me peaked at the shower, so I don't even take the time to absorb the room and its rich wooden panelling and gleaming fixtures, it's all just overkill.

Pandora pulls a seat out for me, muttering something under her breath about manners before she excuses herself to get Aiden.

I realise that this might be my only shot to thank them, both Finnick and Mags for their help. I don't know how it works, but im pretty sure each tribute only has access to one mentor, and they had both helped me today.

"thank you" I mutter, hoping my voice isn't high enough for the Capitol attendants to hear. I know it isn't exactly a secret, their help, but I don't want anyone who won't understand, to hear. "Thank you both"

I don't even have a chance to register their responses, if there is any, before Aiden comes through the sliding door with Pandora in tow. She's absolutely glowing. If Aiden was attractive before, he's twice as good looking after a shower and a clean shave, though a little red around the eyes.

"you feeling Nauseous on this thing Aiden?" I ask

Aiden looks at me and there's a flash of apology there before the slightest of smiles tugs at his face "its freakin' killing me" he says. "You clean up nice" he tells me by way of compliment.

"Of course she does!" Pandora exclaims "I mean…don't take me the wrong way, but really, you people are always filthy when you step on this train. It's alarming sometimes, the state of tributes. But don't you two worry!" she claps her hands for effect "head to toe makeovers for both of you as soon as we get there. If you think you look nice now, well, just you wait!"