When the elevator stops on floor ten, my mouth drops. Everything is dazzling and it looks bigger than the whole Caldwell farm. If you put two Caldwell farms together, you'd get the size of the whole apartment. Kiani keeps babbling on about the opening ceremonies, hoping that we were dressed with more 'flavor'. I ignore her and I go for 'my' bedroom. Annabelle leads me there, saying the dinner will be in an hour.
I go for the bathroom. I throw off my outfit and undo my braids. When I step into the shower, I am greeted with multiple buttons. I press the most obvious one, 'warm water regulator' and let myself get soaked. I clicked a button that made me smell like freshly cut grass. When I finished up, I stepped on a mat that dried my body before my eyes. My hair was also blow dried, untangling my hair and making it completely dry. I grabbed a fuzzy robe and threw it over my naked body.
I head back to my room and notice how clean everything is. Nothing is on the ground. I pick some clothes from the dresser and I only have to choose from a nightgown and a too large shirt. I grab the large shirt and change into it. I glance around. There are pictures of each victor from the Hunger Games, dating back to the 115th Hunger Games. I see the boy who won last year, Pace, from District 3. I wonder if my picture will be on the walls of the bedrooms and Justice Building someday.
I sit on the bed and look at the window. I pick up a remote from the end table and go through the settings. A picture suddenly comes up of people walking the Capitol streets. I click a button and the picture changes to an ocean view. I click the button again and a picture switches to a trail lined with trees. I hear birds whistling and I swear I can feel a breeze. It looks like the same trial I ride Locomotion on. I keep the picture on letting in fill my room.
As I am moving towards the door to eat my dinner, I step on something. I look down and see the robe I threw off. But, something was underneath it. I remove the robe from the ground and see a gold pin. A bird was connected to a ring by its wings. I haven't seen this pin in my life, but I know where it came from.
100 years ago, the Capitol was infested with a mockingjay craze caused by Katniss. Pins, watches, clothes, and everything else had a mockingjay on it. After Katniss's death, all mockingjay merchandise was thrown away, never to be seen again. I grabbed the pin and quickly placed it under my pillow. I move towards the dining room, letting the pin leave my mind.
"There she is. I was going to get you." Annabelle exclaims. "We have a fabulous dinner for you and Stiles." I take my seat next to Annabelle and stare at the roasted duck on the table. A creamy substance covered the bird and there was a multitude of fruits, vegetables, drinks, and everything else I could think of. I grab what I want and start to eat.
"You looked fabulous at the ceremonies." Kiani compliments me, but I know she'd rather work with District 1. "I'm sure the audience is going to remember you in the arena."
"That was what I was going for." Eleora says as she sits down. "Year after year, the tributes don't look like anything like they did during interviews. That's why I can never keep up with them."
"You should have done something more spectacular. I don't think they'll win sponsors with simple stuff." Dane says, looking right at Eleora.
"Who knows? If they pull an amazing training score, maybe they'll reel in sponsors."Kiani is trying to eat without smearing her lipstick. "I think we might have a chance."
"What do you think about the double victory?" Annabelle asks, playing with her bouncy curls. "They haven't done that in over ninety years."
"I think it's a great change." I say without thinking. "It gives people hope and shows that Games aren't all completely terrible."
"Nice look on it. I just think they are manipulating you and everyone else." Dane sips his liquor as Annabelle shoots him a nasty look.
"Stop being so bitter!" She exclaims, cutting up her duck. "You're such a killjoy."
I look to Stiles, who is sitting next to Dane, shoving food in his mouth. I, personally, have never seen someone shove food into their mouths. Hadley's brother, Hartley, did it as a joke once, but I never seen someone do it because they were hungry. Stiles had no say in the conversation what so ever. As he ate, I swore I could see his bones disappearing.
The next morning, we are lined up in the Training Center. District 1 first, boy surpassing the girl, down to District 11. We were all wearing similar shirts and pants, stripes down the sides in colors of our district. For District 10, Stiles and I have a golden color down the sides of the outfit. On our shoulders is the number of our district. A normal looking woman is standing in front of us with Peacekeepers behind her. She was wearing an all-black outfit with a clip board in her hands.
Her voice had the Capitol accent, but it wasn't as obnoxious. "This is where you will learn the art of survival and learn everything there is to know about the wilderness of the arena. Let's face it, in a few weeks, twenty of you will be dead. Only two will come out this year." A Peacekeeper comes up from behind her with two bowls. "Let's begin. Ladies first." Great, I am at the Reapings all over again. She reaches into the bowl and pulls out a slip. "District Nine Jae with..." She reaches into another bowl. "District Ten Stiles."
Jae, a small girl with corn colored hair walks up beside Stiles. The woman points to the floor and they both stand beside her. "District Eight Parker with...District Two Lucifer." They do the same as Jae and Stiles. "District Ten Jada with...District One Quaid."
My heart leaped. That was the boy who talked to me at the chariot rides and he didn't make fun of me. Maybe I might just make it home. I step forward and the tall boy stands beside me. I am about a foot shorter than him. I have to crane my neck to look up to him.
The rest of the pairings were: District 1 Flitter with District 4 Louis. District 2 Camilla with District 5 Devin. District 3 Rahi with District 8 Milo. District 4 Hollis with District 3 Malloy. District 5 Skylar with District 11 Neal. District 6 Lily with District 7 Kade. District 7 Faith with District 9 Omar. And District 11 Carly with District 6 Collin.
When we were all paired up, we spread out and went to different stations. I suggested archery, and Quaid agreed.
"So, you're the girl that was dressed as a cow?" He asks as the arrow is at my cheek.
"Yes I am. You're the boy who was dressed in gems?" I ask as the arrow flies and hits the dummy's stomach.
"Nice job, Cowgirl." He takes the bow from my hands gently. "Let me show you how it's done." He put an arrow on the bow, pulls it back, exhales, and releases. It cuts through the air and hits the dummy in the heart. He takes a bow for me.
I giggle as I take the bow back. I look around and I see that everyone is working separately. The pairs are at the same stations, but they acted like the other person wasn't there.
My focus turns back to the dummy. I put an arrow on the string and pulled it back. Quaid's voice spoke into my ear. "Breathe in, breathe out. Be relaxed and you will hit the target every time." I took in a breath and exhaled. When I let go of the arrow, it sliced the air towards its target. It hit the dummy's heart, right beside Quaid's arrow. "See what I mean?" He raised his hand and I hit his palm. I haven't high fived with anyone but Jace.
We moved from station to station. We agreed to save spear throwing and knife throwing until tomorrow. We threw axes, learned how to make a fire, learned which plants to eat and not to eat, and we practiced hand-to-hand combat. I glanced around from time to time and that pattern was still there.
Quaid and I were the only ones communicating and working together.