Again, I know this is boring but keep reading, the games will be up soon!
I am instructed to wait in a small room. It's so small it could be a toilet cubicle. It smells like one to. Probably because lots of tributes threw up in nervousness. I sit
down on the floor, hugging my knees. After the thing with Dessi, District 10 is probably the laughing stock of all of Panem. There's no way we'll get sponsors now.
Suddenly the door bursts open. My Mother and brothers embrace me with tears. 'I love you so much honey!' Then a peacekeeper takes them away. 'Do your best!'
Mum calls. I start crying. I thought we would get at least five minutes! Do your best? She used to say that before I would compete in a race. Maybe I should treat the games like a race?
Then someone else comes in. 'I should have volunteered for you!' Tatiyarna cries as we hug. 'Carabelle listen to me! You don't have any skills that would help you
in the hunger games so your chances are slim. But here's some advice: Stay away from the Cornucopia, find some good allies and- but a peacekeeper drags her
away. I sit back down on the floor and wait. They must be having trouble with Dessi, they're probably sedating him or something. I've always felt that it was unfair
to have disabled tributes. Actually I think the whole idea of the games is unfair. When the peacekeepers arrive I'm surprisingly relieved. The waiting was really getting to me.
I gasp when I step into the train. I have never seen such finery. The walls are covered in navy blue and white silk. The carpet is soft and matches the walls. My
mentor, Petra, and Missie sit at a table made of glass. As I enter Missie stands up and welcomes me but Petra stays silently eating and doesn't stand up, or even
turn around. 'Your room is the end door over there. You can freshen up and change. I would normally let our Avox show you everything but he has his hands full
with Dessi.' I let myself into the allocated room. Everything is furnished in a silky white colour. I don't like it at all. It's unnaturally perfect. I wash my face and
change into a pale blue tank top and black pants. (The only normal clothes I could find!) When I emerge from the room Petra and Missie are eating and there's still
no sign of Dessi.
'Hey honey! Come eat! There's some things we need talk about!'
'You mean about the games? Where do they stash water? Will there be lots of muts? Have you watched the other reapings? Should I team up with the careers?'
'Slow down!' Petra says in a calming voice, it's the first time I've heard her speak. 'We won't be talking about the games until after training. What we need to talk
about is the chariot parade. There won't be one. Because last year 2 tributes tried to attack the crowd. So when you get to the apartment, you can go to sleep
then training will begin in the morning.'
I'm grateful. Dessi would have been the last person to stand next to in a chariot.
I gape at the table of rich food. I know I need to stuff myself in order to gain weight. As I take a huge slice of roast lamb Missie starts to bang on about sponsors,
stylists, outfits… She does my head in! I am relieved when we reach the capitol.