Chapter 3: The Capitol
At the Remake Center, Effie takes the tributes to be cleaned up for their stylists. Meanwhile, Peeta and I ride the elevator to the twelfth floor where we stayed in our Games. As the elevator door opens, the memories on this hall come flooding back. Haymitch and Effie saying their goodbyes to us. Attacking Peeta the night of the interviews. Passing the Avoxes on my way to training.
It's unfair that we have to stay here during the Games. But it's not just this year. We'll spend all of our future summers here on this floor trying to keep a child from District 12 alive. It's like the Capitol's way of paying us back for surviving when their odds were against us. I can think of worse ways to punish us. Other victors have suffered much more than we have if they were not the intended winner. For instance, Finnick Odair, a District 4 victor from a couple of years ago. He was turned into the Capitol's plaything after his Games. Women of the Capitol would flock to him and offer payment in return for a one night stand.
Rumor has it, he caught syphilis after being a prostitute and the Capitol tried to hush it up. Of course with the Capitol's drug's, I doubt it would have taken him long to recover. I also heard a few years ago that he had a girl back home, but that was just petty Capitol gossip, so I didn't really pay attention to it. He would be a mentor this year as well and he wasn't the only one I dreaded meeting.
These are experienced mentors who lived and breathed for the fame in the Capitol. They were legendary and would have no trouble finding wealthy Capitol people to sponsor their tributes simply because they are mentored by a celebrity. Peeta and I could play that to our advantage as well. After all, we won last year and surely the Capitol couldn't have forgotten our tragic love story already. We just needed something to jump-start the hype from last year.
"Peeta?" I ask as we walk through the familiar hallway together. I have his attention, but I'm having trouble asking him for this kind of favor. "You know how we pretended to be in love to, you know..." He nods and I try to continue. "Well, I was...wondering if there's a possibility we can keep one of these tributes alive by doing the same thing?" I trail off toward the end of my question because as hard as this is for me to admit, I am embarassed to even suggest it.
He stares at me for a moment as if debating whether or not he could continue to pretend when he really wanted so much more. I know it's a stretch, but I did what I had to do to survive. I think Peeta understands that, but it doesn't keep him from loving me, caring about me all the same. I'm hopeful and when he manages to bow his head and agree, I'm relieved. I throw my arms around him and he whispers in my ear. "So, when do we start?"
I pause for a moment, unsure of how to begin. Haymitch and Peeta got the ball rolling last year on a live interview and I wasn't sure how we could top that. "How about we make a splashy entrance in the center of the Capitol?" I suggest.
"Sightseeing it is, then," he agrees as he hooks our arms together and we head back down the elevator. Other than the Victory Tour, I've never seen the Capitol outside the Remake Center. Even then, the only thing we got to see was President Snow's mansion. That sounds ungrateful, but it really wasn't as much fun as a party in my honor should've been.
Outside the Remake Center, Peeta asks, "Where to first?" I look around. Everyone is buzzing about their daily business, passing by the Remake Center without a care to the children inside who die for their entertainment. My nostrils flare and I can tell my hateful expression wouldn't look good on camera. But there aren't any cameras here and I should be free to do as I ple— Apparently, I've been too absorbed in my own thoughts to respond and he's asked again. "Katniss? Katniss!"
"Yeah, um, how about we just walk around for a bit?" I offer. I don't really feel like touring old Hunger Games relics or reenacting any of the battles. "You know, we sort of stick out around here."
Peeta laughs good-naturedly and replies, "I suppose we do, but if we had to change, I'm glad we still get to look like ourselves."
By the time we reach the end of the block, people are already pointing and snapping pictures. As we reach the inner-city, there are many people surrounding or following us, but we plow on, hoping to get some real coverage down the street.
Just as planned, reporters from Capitol TV swarm around us to take pictures and interview us. What's it like to be back in the Capitol? Are you two enjoying being mentors? Any wedding plans, yet? We pretend to be offended that the Capitol is prying into our relationship and try to fend off the increasing crowd. Now I'm actually regretting proposing this idea because I'm claustrophobic and these people were nearly pressing us against the window of a body piercing shop.
Peeta grabs my hand, not for affection this time, but so we could stick together as the crowd encloses around us. This sends the women into hysteria, only adding to the ruckus. Then Peeta speaks in his commanding, yet comforting way that draws your undivided attention.
"Excuse me, we just wanted to tour the Capitol before the Games started." Some people backed away or simply left at the sight of a large crowd, but the television reporters are unfazed, their questions still on rapid fire.
I don't think we would have made it out without giving a lengthy interview had another victor not accidentally come to our rescue. One of the Capitol citizens at the back of the crowd shouts, "Look, it's Johanna Mason!"
Many of the reporters flood across the street to the District 7 mentor and I thought it was a good a time as any to make a run for it. The few that had stayed were so disoriented by the scene, they are surprised to turn around to find that Peeta and I have already gone.
We fly down the street, running back the way we came. We stop after we rounded a corner a few blocks away, laughing so hard I can barely breathe. Peeta and I practically fall on each other we're having such a good time. Then we hear the clamor again and burst down the street to evade them. The Remake Center is just in sight when I miss the first step down and feel myself being jerked down.
Peeta catches me and yanks me back up before I can topple down the rest of the stairs, but my ankle is on fire.
"You okay, Katniss?" he asks. I want so badly to say yes, but I'm not and Peeta knows it. "We're just a block away from the Remake Center. Just hold on to my shoulder," he says reassuringly.
I wrap my arm around him and clench his shoulder as I limp back to the Remake Center with Peeta as my crutch.
"What's this?" asks Effie as soon as she sees us walk in.
"Katniss sprained her ankle," Peeta explains, offering the short version for my benefit.
"Well, let her sit down!" Effie exclaims. "I'll get an attendant to wrap her ankle and give her something for the pain."
We sit down on a couch in the lobby and I smile with relief. "That was so much fun," I say with a grin.
Peeta smiles and lowers his voice. "I know. I just hope it was enough to work."
A/N: Thank you for keeping up with my updates! For only posting three days ago, this story has hundreds of views and lots of favorites and follows. Also, if you have any ideas for the Games, review your thoughts, 'cause anything can happen... :)