Clove and I are escorted to the Justice Building. We are taken into separate rooms to see our friends and family before we board the train that will take us to the Capitol. The room I'm in is completely blue, from the walls to the carpet to the furniture. I sit down on an enormous dark blue couch and wait for my visitors to arrive.
The first people to show up are my parents. My mom walks in and sits beside me on the couch. My father is close behind. I think he's actually beaming! I've never seen him look so proud. He puts his hand on my shoulder.
"You can do this. Just remember everything you've learned. And when you come back, it'll be to a big house in Victor's Village and everything you'll ever want!" he says, still grinning. It's true. The winner of the Games gets a wonderful new house in a part of the district reserved for victors, and more money than they could ever use. Their district also gets showered with prizes of food.
"I'm ready, Dad. You've trained me well," I reply. He smiles at that. What I'm really worried about is my mother. I know she's not completely okay with this, but would never say so in front of my father. To do so would be questioning him, and he doesn't like his judgment to be questioned. I reach over and give her hand a squeeze.
"You'll come home," she says, her voice stern, as if by ordering it she can make it happen for sure. "I know you will."
"You don't have to worry about me. I'm just as prepared as the other careers, if not more so," I tell her confidently.
"He's right," my dad agrees. "This boy's got a better chance than most. He's strong, well fed, quick. And you've seen him with a sword." Now it's my turn to smile. The sword is my weapon, and I must admit, I'm pretty good. I can handle other weapons, of course, but nothing quite compares.
My mother reaches into her pocket and pulls out a stone pendant on a leather strap.
"For your token," she explains as she places it around my neck.
"Thanks," I say, giving her a quick hug.
My father goes on for a few more minutes, lecturing me on how to handle myself in the career alliance, how to survive on my own, and other basic things I should remember. Like I need a reminder. I've been hearing the same thing since I was old enough to understand, and I've seen enough Games, both live and re-runs, to know the basics. Soon the peacekeepers come, and my parents' time is up. At the doorway my dad turns to give me one last piece of advice.
"Don't get too attached." What is that supposed to mean? Is he talking about the alliance? Or Clove? Either way, I'm smart enough to know not to get too close to anyone. Twenty-four go in, one comes out. Everyone knows that. It's impossible to forget. So how exactly does he expect me to make lasting bonds of friendship?
The next person to come is Darron. He sits down on the chair across from me.
"So, it's finally time." He smirks. "Just make sure you don't lose to a girl."
"What? You mean Clove?" I shake my head. "No way. I'm in this to win."
"I know that," Darron mutters defensively. "I'm just saying, I heard she's good." Now I'm staring to get annoyed.
"Relax. I'll be up against at least five other trained tributes. Clove is the least of my worries. Besides, I'm taller, bigger, and stronger," I argue, remembering her size. For a career, she really wasn't that big.
"Yes, but no matter how strong you are, a knife can still kill you." I guess he does have a point. "Just keep your head in the game. I'm looking forward to the massive party you're going to throw when you win." We both smile, just as the peacekeepers enter to tell him it's time to go.
"See you soon!" I call after him.
"See you!" After he leaves, I am alone. As I wait to leave, I take a closer look at my token. It is simple, a smooth, polished grey stone hanging on a black leather strap. My mom must have made it for me. For the first time, the fact that I need to come home alive hits me with full force.
As I'm considering this, peacekeepers come to bring me to the train station. There are cameras everywhere, and I put on my most intimidating face. After all, it's easier to kill kids who are scared of you. One glance at Clove tells me she is doing the same. Once all the photographs are taken, we finally board the train. Our escort accompanies us, along with this year's mentors – Enobaria and Brutus.
Atilius shows me to my room and tells me to change before coming down for dinner. I put on a plain grey T-shirt and pants. Before I head to the dinning car, I slip the pendant under my shirt. I don't want to risk losing it.
I am the last to arrive for dinner. Clove is talking excitedly to Enobaria. I turn to Brutus.
"Any advice?" I ask.
"Scaring the other tributes is easy. What you need to do is impress the Capitol. They need to know you're a real contender for this thing. Be memorable." I know it's true. Popular tributes get more sponsors, and more sponsors mean a better shot at winning. "Also, I suggest learning the strengths and weaknesses of your allies while you're still working together, because there will come a time when you'll have to split. When that happens, they will go from being your friends to your biggest enemies."
I nod, taking in what he's saying. He's right. Before I can respond, the food is being served and conversation turns to other things. I mostly tune out and focus on eating. I'll probably end up with most of the food from the cornucopia, but it wouldn't hurt to have a few extra pounds. I must admit, the food is much better than what I'm used to. When we finally finish all eight courses, everyone files into the TV room to watch the reapings from every district.
I watch the tributes from one and four closely, because they will most likely be my allies. It is traditional for the tributes from one, two and four to take out the weaklings before the games really start. They seem pretty typical, except for the boy from four. He's tiny, and it's obvious that he isn't supposed to be there. As for the rest of the tributes, none of them appear to pose a real threat except for the boy from district eleven. He's huge, even bigger than me. It looks like he might actually be a challenge. When district twelve comes up, I'm in for a surprise. There's actually a volunteer, although it's obvious she's only doing it to spare her sister. Pathetic.
As I head back to my room, Clove stops me.
"Who do you think we should watch out for?" she asks.
"That boy from eleven," I reply. "Looks like he might be a threat."
She nods. "Rest should be pretty easy. So, what do you do?"
Her question confuses me. "What do you mean?"
"What are you good at?" she asks again, speaking slowly, as if it should be obvious.
"Swords," I answer without thinking. Stupid. What did Brutus just say? Well, it's not like
it was going to stay secret much longer. We were going into training in a couple of days
anyway. "How about you?"
"Knives," she says simply. I remember Darron saying something about that.
"I hear you're good." Now it's her turn to look surprised. "Anyway, we should really get to bed. We can't look too haggard when we get to the Capitol tomorrow."
Clove smirks. "That won't be a problem for me." She turns, starting to walk away. "Night,
Cato!" she calls back.
I roll my eyes and continue on to my room. "Night, Clove!"