Chapter 5

After diner, we go into the small lounge in the next room over and watch the highlights of the reaping. Some of the other tributes catch my eye. There is a towering boy from District 2, a very handsome boy from 6; a boy 12 years old from 7, a tiny 13 year old from 9, then there is Manual, a 12 year old from 11 and siblings from 12. I notice there is a lot of 13 and 14 year olds this year. Then it goes to the commentator, Salk Trombonist.

"It looks like it's a very assorted bunch this year," he says. "Looks like it is going to be very interesting," he finishes.

The television screen goes black.

"Well today has been a very long day," Larine says.

Moans and agreements slip the adults mouths.

"You two better be off to bed, try to get as much sleep as possible," Anoka says.

I walk down the hall and enter my room. I change into my pyjamas and slip into bed. I am here on the train but my mind is elsewhere. I wonder what Oak is doing right now, probably giving the animals there final feeding today. My grandmother is probably sleeping, in a matter of weeks I will lose them. I try not to think about it but the thoughts flood my mind and I eventually cry myself to sleep.

"Wakeup, Vivan, Wakeup," Larine calls. I feel like yelling at her shut up, but I get out of bed and swing open my door.

"Yes," I say exasperated.

"Come down to the dining hall in 20 minutes," she says.

I close the door and strip off my pyjamas. I walk into the bathroom and start myself a shower. I enter the warm waterfall, of a shower and it feels amazing. I choose a lime-mango shampoo and blueberry body wash and scrub myself clean. After the shower, I dress myself in purple tank top, black pants and the same socks and boots I wore yesterday.

I walk down to the dining car and see everyone is sitting there so I take a seat between Kiani and Manual.

"You smell divine," Kiani says. I do a little laugh. Food instantly flies in front of me. A huge plate with poached eggs, toast, sausage, assorted fruits and a small bowl on the side with porridge.

I gaze out the window and see the mountains of 2. I did not even get to say goodbye to District 10.

"So," I start. "Do you have any advice for us?"

"Well we are working on it, plus enjoy this meal-," I cut Anoka off before she can continue.

"Well I would like to have some advice right now," I say.

Anoka looks at me like she is infuriated, and Kiani just smirks. The room goes silent and nobody moves.

"I like you," Kiani says.

"Yeah," Anoka agrees.

I feel relieved at that notion because it is not the wisest to get your mentors mad, there my lifeline in these games.

"Sorry I blew up on you to like that, I'm very stressed," I say

"That's okay dear," Anoka starts. "We will have some advice by tonight I promise."

I feel a little better about that. Breakfast goes by fast and after we are whisked into the lounge.

"So we will be arriving in the Capitol tonight," Larine blabs. "Tonight will be the tribute parade and the rest of the week will be training, you will get your score on Sunday and the interview with Credence Slitter will be on Sunday evening, and just like that on Monday you'll be in the arena."

No one talks as Larine makes this awkward smile and exits the room. Kiani jumps up, walks over to a shelf, and pulls out a couple tapes. They are the tape backs of past Hunger Games.

"First step of advice, examine these, all of them and don't be late for lunch at 12:15," Kiani teaches.

Both Kiani and Anoka exit the room. Manual and I look at each other.

"Do you want to put a tape in?"

"Sure," he replies.

He walks over to the table where Kiani set the all the tapes and picks the one off the top and inserts into the television.

The TV instantly flashes on and in big letters you see; "THE HUNGER GAMES OF ROSE TORCH"

We see Salk Trombonist and Credence Slitter talking. They talk about the highlighting moments and show clips. They show one haunting one where Rose and her District partner are upset because the boy in there alliance started a fire, which then attracted the careers. The careers came up and slit the girl from 6's throat and they tried to run, and the careers also managed to kill the boy who started the fire and Rose and her District partner escaped.

Tape after tape we watch. We see all the gruesome and gory deaths. I just cannot shake the fact out of my head that in a few days I could be that girl from 6, or the fire lighting boy.

I check the time on the TV and its five minutes until lunch. We decide to walk over right now. Larine is already there.

"Isn't it exciting, we will be in the Capitol in a few hours," she says.

"No, not really, because it means I'm closer to my death," Manual says with a glum look.

"You never know you might win," Larine says.

"No I won't," he replies. I feel horribly bad because I don't wish this upon anyone, he knows he wont win, he knows he will die as well as the other 23 tributes, he knows he cant win.

Just then, Kiani and Anoka enter the room and we all look at them "Sorry we are late," Anoka says.

As they sit down food is laid in front of us. Assorted slices of meat, cheeses, some creamy sauces, a huge platter with vegetables, fine breads and some steaming stew with chunks of caramelized apples and chunks of rabbit inside, delicious.

"So we need to give each of you an angle, the way people are going to portray you, for example, they'll portray the boy from 2 as Villainous or Hard core," Kiani starts. " For you manual I think we'll try to make you as mysterious as possible, try to be quiet and a little misleading, and you Vivan we were thinking of giving you fierce or strong minded, with a bit of sexiness thrown in there."

Sexiness? I cannot pull of sexy. I mean I can probably pull off fierce or strong but not sexy. I decide not to argue because I do not want to another incident like breakfast and I will be dead in a matter of days. Besides, really our training scores will show a lot about us.

After I excuse myself from the table and walk back to my room. I lay in bed thinking. "Sexy" a farm girl like me cannot be sexy, I think. Any way I disregard the topic and think about the up coming games.

The rest of the afternoon I lay in bed thinking what my battle strategy will be if I make it through the first day, do I want an alliance or not.

I hear this ticking noise. I look around and my eyes end up at my dresser. I see there is a small stand up clock. I get up to get a closer look. The background is the District 10 seal. It reads 4:48; dinner in the Capitol is at 6:30 with my stylist. My gaze drifts beside it and I see a picture of Oak and I.