When the sun rises, we are still asleep. By the time the clock strikes noon, Geni has left, and I lay alone, staring at the ceiling. My mind is tearing itself every which way, and I can't help but wonder if this is the last time I will see the sun soaked day in its entirety. I consider crying, but realize it would require me to stop thinking about my death, and that seems to be impossible.
When Elizabetta opens the door, I am so deep into my own head, I don't even notice. She walks over and sits in the chair next to my bed, and obviously knowing my emotions. "Just stop feeling." She says, after a long moment of silence. "What?" I snap. "Just let it all go. Say your goodbyes, and prepare for the worst. When we let go of our humanity, it's much easier to do what needs to be done." I cannot process what I'm hearing, and I roll my eyes. "Just go away." I grumble, as I turn over. "I can't." I turn to look at her. "You have an hour to get ready. Ludo's in the hall." As if on cue, the door flies open and in walks my stylist team, bearing clothes and makeup. After an hour, I take Elizabetta's advice. I say goodbye to my mother, all my siblings, and then, it's over. This is probably the closest I've ever felt to death.
I'm wearing a sparkling silver suit; my hair slicked back, my face and body encrusted with real diamonds. Such extravagance hurts my head, and I quickly ask the Avox to remove my mirror. I'll have to wait another hour for Geni, who looks phenomenal. She wears a dress of deep blue, her stylist calls it cornflower. She has large blue and purple flowers in her hair, which hangs in heavy ringlets. I can't help but run a hand through them, they look so soft. She giggles, and we're dragged away to do our interviews. The city circle is highly decorated, and our interviewer, Roe Bunting, is in rare form. He's been hosting the games since their inception, and he's among the most interesting character the Capitol has to offer. His hair is wired into wild shapes, usually something to do with this year's games. This year, it forms, our, mine and Geni's, peace keeper helmet. It's wild, and dyed the bright silver. His suit, however, matches the sea green of the girl from district 4, a young, fourteen year old named Lucy. She has proven to be third in these games, second behind Geni, and then myself. She really is beautiful.
Jani takes the stage in a red and black dress, with rubies in her hair and hanging in her ears. She is tiny, but two years older than me. She scored a six with the game makers. Admirable, but she still will have to make quite an impression to garner support. She seems to have the interview in her hands, and by the end the crowd is nearly foaming at the mouth. She present an air of hopeful narcissism, and the crowd devours it. When she is dismissed, Hugo comes forward. He is portrayed as innocent and weak, his clothing matches his partner. After him, Geni goes up. We have both been coached privately by Nexson, and I have absolutely no clue where this will go. Very quickly, I have an idea. They have portrayed her as quiet, and lost, the poor little girl from district 2, who, by pure luck, gained an eleven in her session. She barley speaks, only nods, and looks nervous. When she is dismissed, I have to be pushed by the girl from district 3 to force myself on stage. I know my "story", how I volunteered for that little boy at the reaping, who's name I have learned was Farrow. I take a deep breath, I take my seat.
"So, this is Noble. What a name! Worthy of your actions. So tell us, who was the boy at the reaping? "
"He was a boy from my part of district 2. His name is Farrow. "
"And why did you volunteer for him?"
"He's very young, and he's so small. I couldn't let him just go to his death. I knew I had a better chance at winning, and, to be honest, I was going to volunteer anyway. Glory, it's kind of my thing."
The crowd goes crazy. We talk for a little longer about menial things, and my time is up. I head back to the training center, and head straight to bed. I'm too disillusioned to eat. For the first time in my life I've realized that what they are doing is wrong, and it took Farrow, not even my siblings, but a boy I've never met to realize that what the Capitol does to us is wrong, and now, I swear to win their games, no matter the cost.
I am roused in the morning, and board a hover craft that will take us to the arena. In the craft, I am given a needle that inserts a chip into my arm, so they can always track me in the arena. After what seems like forever, we begin our descent.