Chapter Two:

Don't own The Hunger Games...

It seems that I have been held

In some dreaming state

A tourist in the waking world

Never quite awake

Now it is time to board the train. When I get on, I find that I have my own little compartment, as I deserve. After a bit of scrutiny, the only way I can describe it is beautiful. I don't like to use that flouncy term a lot, but it holds true.

Even though I live in one of the wealthiest districts, that is nothing compared to what the Capitol has to offer. Everything is jewel-encrusted and made from the finest select stones and wood. Flowing silk curtains are tasseled and laced with gold, occasionally revealing the blurred green world outside. On the right side of the room sits a door containing intricate carvings. Curiously, I open it and see the dining area where I realize I will meet my mentor. Emberlynn is already there.

I casually plop down at the middle table which was set for four people. After a few minutes Parker arrives and sits beside me. He, too, is still in shock of the luxury.

In the intensity of awkward silence, Emberlynn speaks. "The Reapings will air shortly, so take mental notes on each and everyone of the tributes." She turns on the television, and I see President Snow announcing the Reapings. After a bit of his speech, the footage cuts to District One's Reaping. I see both Stingra and Hunter dashing to the stage before everyone else. They look a lot different than the normal district one tributes, less glamorous and more vicious. Just like how they were trained.

Next is my Reaping. Parker looks just as dauntless on the clip as he was in real life, but when it gets to me, I am stunned. I bowled Chelsea over in such a way that I appeared more than a mere tribute.

I looked like a victor.

When District Three comes on I observe first a fifteen year old girl named Tonya, then a boy slightly younger named Edison being Reaped. These tributes also looked abnormal, ready to fight instead of scared out of their minds. After that I see my friends Rosie and Jack volunteering. So that means my alliance is all there.

District Five yawns by with a skimpy girl and boy whose names are Victoria and Rayn. The girl is fifteen and the boy twelve. They would be easy targets.

Maya and Blaze represent District Six, her about sixteen and Blaze a couple years younger. Maya appears agile and slightly tough, but she holds a sense of feminism, deteriorating the chances of anyone sponsoring her for skill. She also comes off as mentally unstable and skiddish. Blaze, on the other hand, will be a Bloodbath kill.

District Seven gives it's fate to Karlie and Chuck. Karlie isn't anything to worry about, but Chuck had volunteered for someone and looks ready to kill. They are both sixteen, but he looks big enough to be at least twenty. He is bulging in a not-fat way, towering at least a foot above Karlie. Maybe he will consider joining my alliance.

District Eight has Samantha and Edward, thirteen and fourteen. Edward's limbs are bony and he's not so enthusiastic and this, but Samantha looks like a runner.

I see the weakest pair of tributes yet from Nine, Rayvenn and Bob, thirteen and twelve. Constance and Asher are from ten. Constance is eighteen and a bit of a threat to my victory, but Asher is five years younger and not a problem at all. Eleven has Sophia, twelve, and Alex, fifteen, both easy kills.

I almost watch District Twelve's selection dismissively until I hear the names. Some guy named Cyrus. Hm, okay. Very interesting. But, alas, who other than Primrose Everdeen stands on the stage, frightened as a bunny rabbit.

Well Katniss, what was the point of you volunteering is Prim just gets picked again?

I shudder with glee. Prim still looks as weak as she did six years ago, except now she is not malnourished. It goes unspoken that I have to kill her. Katniss needs to feel the pain I've endured for six long years.

After the Reapings end, our mentor, Enobaria comes in. She sits across from Parker and next to Emberlynn.

"I've been informed you already know the other Careers," she states. "That's great to know. Strengthen your bonds with them as much as possible, but don't get too personal. See how Katniss Everdeen tried to save that stocky bread boy? No funny stuff!" When I hear that name, there's a stale taste in my mouth. "I think that Aqua had gained some sponsors after she pummeled that special needs child trying to volunteer-" Parker stiffles a laugh and I eventually speak.

"Um, sorry ma'am, but she wasn't special needs." Enobaria's dull eyes widen in shock.

"You're kidding. She was so... Anyway, don't think that's enough. Be as ostentatious as possible, whether that includes being charming, or in your case, powerful. Now, what do you conclude about the other tributes?"

"Well, I already know that I'm going to kill Primrose Everdeen in the most painful, agonizing way possible." I crack my knuckles, grinning from ear to ear.

Enobaria looks proud. "I saw that one coming. What about you Parker?" Maybe mentors aren't supposed to pick favorites, but I know I'm hers."

"I think we should try to get Chuck into our alliance, it seems like he's the only one that could win other than the rest of the Careers. The remainder are just pitiful," he rolls his eyes.

"I agree, but I also think that Constance could be a threat. Maybe Maya too," I say.

He chuckles. "Constance, sure. I think Maya's just really upset over-"

"-I think I want Tonya and Edison on our team." He doesn't like being cut off, but we needed to discuss mentally unstable girls and talk of important matters. Like me.

Those tributes had fire in their eyes. As odd as my request sounded, the others seemed to agree. "It can't be the first time district three joined the Careers," says Enobaria. She shrugs. "I just wouldn't rely on them to kill anyone for you." I agree with both of the statements. When Cato was in the Games, the boy from Three was part of his alliance for a very short amount of time until Cato killed him. I wouldn't have relied on him to kill anyone either.

Before anyone could say anything more, we hear sounds coming from outside of the train. Parker and I go to the window, where we see thousands of people from the Capitol cheering for us.

They are literally the oddest people we have ever seen. The citizens dye their hair in any and every color of the rainbow. Their outfits are themed down to sparkly eyelashes, also a part of disgustingly thick layers of makeup. All we can do is try to smile at them as we pass by.

Then we see the Capitol itself. There are towering marble buildings and grassy courtyards with rectangular pools reflecting such a crazy place.

Then the train stops.

Felt it in my fists and my feet and the hollows of my eyelids

Shaking through my skull, through my spine, and down through my ribs

No more dreaming of the dead as if death itself was undone

'Blinding' by Florence + The Machine

So what's better? The original or this version? Tell me in a review!

But for now, here's a list of the tributes. Who's your favorite?

District One:

Stingra Heart, 17

Hunter Topaz, 16

District Two:

Aqua Pyrette, 18

Parker Brown, 18

District Three:

Tonya Locks, 15

Edison Well, 14

District Four:

Rosie Caspar, 13

Jack Zellman, 16

District Five:

Victoria Willow, 15

Rayn Simon, 12

District Six:

Maya Kallos, 16

Blaze Hummin, 14

District Seven:

Karlie Percy, 16

Chuck Woods, 17

District Eight:

Samantha McCollin, 13

Edward Karin, 15

District Nine:

Rayvenn Bright, 13

Bob Corrmin, 12

District Ten:

Constance Peng, 18

Asher Trett, 17

District Eleven:

Sophia Cherrey, 12

Alex Tanner, 15

District Twelve:

Primrose Everdeen, 18

Cyrus Juniper, 17