I am shocked. "But, you're dead." I hardly whisper. Then I notice A man standing behind matching the photo of Peeta Mellark. "And..." The last thing I feel is my head hit the floor.

I wake up to see Katniss looking over me. She is trying to help me into my chair, and Credinsa is ordering an avox to get me a glass of water. Peeta just laughs at me. "How are You still alive? You must 117! Atleast!" I am seriously confused now.

"Willow, you're dreaming." Peeta says still laughing.

"What?" I ask confused as I hear Credinsa knocking on my door, and saying thigs like "Are you okay, dear?" and also "I'm coming in." No. Why is she coming in?

I hear a door open and close. Credinsa's heels click on the wood floor. I feel her sit beside me on the bed. "Whatever is the hold up?" She asks trying to sound sincere, but not totally winning
me over.

"I must have fallen asleep after my shower." I say drowsily. I get up seeing that I am wearing the same black dress and shoes with the braid in my hair.

"Well, come one then. This year, your mentor is from District 4. Fishing. And they are the descendant of Finnick Odair, a victor who was in the 75th Games with your great grandparents. Her name is Cecily Odair. She was in the... 150th Games." She says playfully.

"Who is Darious's mentor?" I say sleepily.

"Herris Brandfar. District 3, electronics. He was in the 169th Games. Handsome young lad." She says thoguhtfully.

Credinsa leads me to the dining cart, and along the way I see the same picutres I did in my dream. When we enter the cart, I see my mentor. Long bronze hair, matched with sea green eyes. I have seen pictures of Finnick Odair, but she only has these atributes from him. She looks more like Annie Cresta, another victor. Then I remember Annie and Finnick were married. Cecily wears a long green dress that matches her eyes. She looks lovely. She smiles at me as I enter.

"Where's Darious?" I ask looking about the furnished room finding no sign of him.

"He asked to be trained separately. And also to dine separtely." Cecily says, her voice cool and smooth.

"Oh." I say. I'd have thought he would want to train with me, but I guess not. He must have thought it better.

"Is that okay with you?" Cecily asks.

"Yes. I'd prefer it, actually." I say matter-of-factly.

Cecily looks at me with those brilliant eyes. They are narrowed, as if asking, "Are you sure?". She motions for me to sit down. I sit across from her. I take in the excellent smells of lamb stew with dried plumbs on wild rice, bananna pudding, roasted turkey, and fruits and vegetables I can't even name. I take a plate full of the stew, and gobble it down. It is so rich. After dinner, we drink tea and watch a recap of the reapings. District 1, a large burley blond haired boy named Massis, and a small girl with red hair named Marilyn. District 2, a girl named Saphire and a boy named Ignigma. District 3, a boyish looking girl named Seri and a small boy named Elron. District 4, a sexy demoniss named Katrina and a handsome boy named after Finnick Odair. Then up until District 11, it is a blurr. In 11, a boy named Kactit and his little sister Nightlock. Wait, who would name their kid Nightlock? Then I see me running to volunteer for Carra and Darious mounting the stage. Then it's over. No game show host tonight, I guess. I go to bed and try to sleep. I don't dream.

When I wake, I see someone has an outfit for me. I dress in it not caring what it is. But I do like it. It is a black turtle neck longsleeve matched with a long slim skirt that is stretchy and easy to move around in, but hugs my every curve. I walk to the dining cart and find Credinsa missing. Oh, wait. She must be with Darious. But then I see Cecily is missing as well. There is a note on the table with my name on it. I open it to find that it is signed by Darious. It reads,

Dear Willow,

I just want to tell you that all those moments we spent together watching the sun rise, meant nothing to me. I really had to hold back barfing when we kissed. But you are good in bed. When I come home a victor, I am going to sleep with Carra. And Primrose. And all your other friends. I will do whatever it takes in the arena to destroy you.

Love, Darious

Why would Darious do this? He knows that he has ensured his death now. It's a trap, a small voice in the back of my head whispers. Maybe Darious has some kind of plan to get me to come after him in the arena. He is definantely on my kill list now.

I ask one of the avoxes where everyone is, but they don't answer. Then I remember my mother telling me about how the avoxes had their tongues cut out. "Oh, sorry." I wait a moment. "Could I serve myslef?" The avox nods. As I finish loading up my plate, Cecily walks in with her hand on her head.

"I should not have drank so much wine durring dinner last night." She says as she grabs another glass. I grab a seat and eat quietly.

"Any life saving advice?" I ask hoplessly.

"Yea. Stay alive." Cecily says fiercly. She takes a gulp of a red wine.

"Okay." I say slowly. That's real specific. When I finish, Darious comes in and says he can see the Capital. I go to the window and watch as the candy colored buildings come into view. They don't seem real. But they are. The outside go black. We are going through a tunnel. Then we emerge from it, and we see the sponsors waving at us. They are all pasty white with wigs and alterations. Some even have whiskers. These people waving and smiling at us disgust me. But they are my last hope. I wave and smile back. The train slowly comes to a stop. We all go to the exit, and I find Credinsa trailing behind me. This time her dress in longer, but still blue. It barely passes her knees. The door slides open and we are hustled by Peacekeepers into a car with tinted windows. We are now heading to the training center to be prepped for the opening ceremonies. The Capital is so colorful, it is almost blinding. We stop at a building that must be atleast 12 stories tall. Darious and I are lead into the building and into an elevator with about 30 different button. Credinsa presses the one labled '12' and we are shot upwards. It is exilarating. I want to do it again. But I fear I might throw up all the rich food from this morning.

"Isn't it exciting? You have the whole top floor to yourselves." Credinsa trills.

"Yea. Very." I say humoring her. We step off the elevator and into a whole new world. The floor, the walls, the ceiling, all made of slick, shiny metal. The chairs and dining table are as well. There are rugs in the bedrooms. Oh, speaking of the rooms. They are gorgeous, very.. futuresque. There is one wall in my room that is just a screen. It shows any part of the city
the press of a button. I am admiring a picture of the forest when 3 people noisely come through my door. They have clearly been surgically altered. Their hair is dyed unnatural colors and their lips are overly plump.

"We're your prep team!" They say simultaniously. They go to work immediately. Stripping off the hair from my legs, arms, and torso. They pluck my brows, then scrub me with gritty foam. They put me in a sweet smelling bath. They wash my hair and shave my arm pits. As if I can't do it myself. Then they towel me off and put me in a satin robe. I sit waiting for my stylist to show. When they do, they are wearing a black dress. Her hair is long and black.

"Hi. I'm Putra Crane. I'm your stylist." She says smiling.

Holy shit. She is the most famous stylist and she is doing 12? I smile back. "Great to meet you."