'I hope you have a good excuse for being late' a familiar voice said. I lifted an eyebrow.

'Nope. I don't' I said. If my stylist wanted to pick on me, fine, I would pick on him too.

I looked up and saw him. He hadn't changed a bit. Still short for an average man, still with a tiny beard and still wearing the same black thing.

'Well, then I hope you don't mind puking, darling, because you've clearly put on weight.'

I was petrified and amused at the same time. 'Yeah. I must compliment your cities people on their cookery. The food is great here.' I smiled at him.

'You are absolutely gross' he said to me, and then turned to his assistants 'Fetch the bowl'

'What bowl?' I asked. I saw Prul putting on some plastic hand gloves. Then it all went really quickly. A male assistant grabbed my arms, another held the bowl in front of me and suddenly Pruls gloved finger was sticking in my throat. I felt vomit coming up.

It had the desired effect and when I was done I was trembling and white. I was disgusted. I've been treated like crap all my life, but never like this. 'You sick bastard' I cried 'Did you treat Lex like this too?' I couldn't remember everything our tribute was wearing during his public appearances, but he must have been styled by my insane stylist.

'Lex was much more obedient than you, miss Kingsleigh. There is fire in you, and that is certainly not a good thing, and it needs to be put out, either here or in the arena. Unfortunately I will face some consequences if I injure or murder you, so I hope someone will do it for me. Miss Alexandria, perhaps?'

My eyes were tearing. It was annoying. I felt weaker than ever before and longed for something to free myself from sorrow, but I couldn't imagine anything. I sat down on a chair and felt defeated when I allowed the assistants to make me pretty for tonight.

I hated Prul and he knew exactly how to make me feeble. The next few hours were torture. I was hungry, but of course I wasn't given any food. I could see myself getting more attractive every minute, which was an accomplishment, and counted the seconds until I would be freed from this room. My dress was gorgeous, and it made me furious – how could such a horrible man be such a talented designer? When I was done, I wanted to leave as soon as possible, but Prul said that he hoped I would screw up my interview.

'I will' I said, and got out. The corridor, though filled with people in costumes running around and being stressed out, was like a breath of fresh air. I needed to go to the bathroom.

I didn't want to cry, because that would mess up my makeup, but I needed something.

And suddenly I knew what it was when Charlotte entered the bathroom. She was wearing a dress too and looked clean, but she wasn't entirely sober.

What did it matter? What was it all worth? After all, I would still die, one way or another.

'Charlotte' I said 'I need morphling. Right now.'

When I entered the lounge where the tributes were supposed to wait for their interviews, I realized I was already late. But I smiled, bumped on a pillar, excused myself and walked to Kara, whom I vaguely recognized. She was wearing a blue dress and was standing next to Mika and Timothy, both in tuxedos.

'Hey girlfriend' I said, and put my arm around her shoulder. 'Hey handsomes' I winked to our allies.

Kara was petrified, but then uttered some words. 'Abbey' she began horrified 'have you been using morphling?'

'Guilty' I sighed 'why don't you try some? It's marvelous' I noticed some other tributes were looking at us. Some of them were laughing.

'No!' she said sharply, and pushed me on a sofa. 'We're one of the first to go up, after they announce the training scores! You can't go up like this!'

'Abbey, you're playing with your life' Mika said.

I laughed and put my arm around the person next to me. 'What's your name, honey' I asked dreamy.

'Er, Chris' he said, and tried to release himself from my arm.

'Hi Chris, you look very handsome in that suit. You're not going to kill me are you?' I murmured. 'No?' he said, confused. 'He isn't going to kill me!' I shouted, and everyone looked up.

Luckily everyone was distracted after that. The TV screens were turned on and the programme began. Everyone looked tense and nervous, but I couldn't understand why. Everything was wonderful and there was nothing to be afraid of.

Ceasar Flickerman jumped on the stage, joked about his 'old back' being able to pull the jump off and greeted the audience. The show would be over three hours long. Every tribute had three minutes, except the preliminaries' winners, who had eight.

'Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We are joined tonight by the finest tributes the Capitol and the Head City have seen so far in all these years – and I know no one can wait to see their heroic acts tomorrow. Tonight we remember the 132 fallen and celebrate the 28 living! But first, as usual, the training scores.'

I saw Chris, the guy next to me, clenching his hands so tightly they had become white. Jesus, everyone needed to relax. This was going to be so easy. What did that stupid number matter?

'Hey sister, that's you!' I said to Kara, when her face appeared on the screen.

'Firstly, Kara Fisher from District 1' Ceasar read from his tablet 'scored eight'

Kara took a relieved breath. 'Wait…that's me!' I yelled when I saw my photo.

'Abbey Kingsleigh, also from District 1…unfortunately had a three.'

I always liked the number three. And now it belonged to me!

Before I realized it, the announcing of the scores was almost completed and Kara was already getting ready for her interview. 'Don't worry' I said 'You are going to do fine. It's not scary'

'Speak for yourself. At least I'm brave enough to do it without drugs.' She said coldly.

I shut up and watched how she walked to the stage doors. A man was ready to tell her when she could go up. And when she disappeared I saw her appearing on the screens.

'That's my best friend' I said to the other tributes, who were still laughing at me. Alexandria looked at me with a vicious smirk while sitting next to the red-haired sister.

'Hey Alex' I shouted 'What's up! You look horrible, bitch! My stylist would love you, you pile of bones!' I giggled; my insults were the best ones yet.

The redhead got up, but Alexandria pushed her down and she walked to me. Even though I was dizzy I could clearly see the crazy glimpse in her eyes when she stretched out her arm and slapped me in the face.

'Thanks!' I murmured, but security rushed towards us and separated her from me. The other tributes were looking horrified and amused. The guards were angry at me and guided me towards the stage doors because Kara's time was almost up.

'What is wrong with you?' the door man asked severely 'have you been using morphling or something?'

'Of course I have' I laughed.

'We can't let her go up like this' door man said to another assistant. He looked desperate.

'Inform the mentor' said the assistant.

'Their mentor is Charlotte Rosenburg' said the other coldly. The assistant nodded understanding. 'Well, let her pay for her own stupidness. You're up, sweetheart'

'Awesome!' I said, and someone opened the doors for me. Bright lights shone in my face and I put on a smile. The podium was big and the audience was cheering for me.

'Hey!' I yelled 'How are you!'

They were clapping for me! I never expected that anyone would ever clap for me, or go crazy at my sight! I blew them a kiss.

'You seem quite happy, love' Ceasar said, approaching me. He gave me a hand and I shook it.

'I am! Everyone here is awesome except my stylist because he's a complete jerk' I laughed, and sat down, still waving and kissing. The audience laughed too. They were all loving me.

Ceasar looked at me and whispered, while smiling forcibly to the crowd: 'What is wrong with you?'

'I have had some help' I whispered.

'Right, so, Abbey, you seem awfully happy for someone with a three for training. Is there something you've hidden for the Gamemakers because you are actually really strong?'

'Of course! Someone needs to revise those silly ancient rules you have on introducing yourself. Otherwise I didn't have a three but an eleven' I said, and clearly everyone in the audience agreed with me.

'So you have faith in yourself?' Ceasar asked.

'Hell yeah. My victims better prepare. I loved beating people up back in District 1' I said.

Ceasar seemed very uncomfortable. 'So, District 1, how's the-'

'I even beat Jess up! You remember her, that depressed thing that came with us? She was so annoying' I exclaimed.

'Yes, I remember her- you did that?' he asked.

'Of course I did. Your police officers are very stupid, I mean, who else could have done it? Certainly not Rose or Flora. They were way too scared for that.'

'You…don't seem to grief a lot over your fallen District partners.' He concluded.

'I know what's the most important right now – winning the Games, trying to stop calling Mika from District 35 fatty and insulting my stylist'

Again a lot of laughter and enjoyment.

'Er-what is your strategy in the Games?' Ceasar asked desperately.

'Winning!' I got out of my chair and waved at everybody 'Yeah!'

The spectators gave me a standing ovation and Ceasar quickly gave me a handshake, so the interview would end. My time wasn't over yet, but he wanted to end it as soon as possible.

I however, didn't get off the stage, but kept cheering with the people on the galleries and tripped over my dress.

'Whoopsie!' I cried, while falling on the ground. Everyone found it hilarious and some assistants entered the stage to take me away.

'I love you!' I screamed, while they carried me towards the exit 'I love you all!'

'Abbey, Abbey, Abbey!' they sang, and it didn't stop after I was in the lounge again.

I felt sleepy while I felt many arms touching mine – Kara's, Laika's, more people.

'That was literally insane' Kara said to me, while pushing me on a chair. Everyone was staring at me. Laika walked around with one hand buried in his hair and one holding a tablet with the latest information.

'I can't believe this' he said, clearly lost 'this is a disaster, an absolute, never seen before disaster, but look at this!' he pointed at his tablet.

'Your odds are rocketing right now! You are the cities personal joke, and although everybody knew what was going on, they are betting on you. They are betting on you not because they think you are going to win, but because it is a trend and everyone does it! Already!'

'Aren't they going to kill me for beating up Jess?' I said vaguely.

'I don't think they dare! Hear them!' Laika said, rushed with adrenaline.

They were still shouting my name, even though Ceasar desperately tried to get the attention for a District 5 boy's interview.

'And all because of me!' someone said. It was Charlotte.

'Thank you' I said, and ran towards her 'You are the best mentor ever! This is the best night ever!' I embraced her and I felt her nails clawing into my back.

I turned around and saw Indiana, last year's victor, wearing a pale green dress, looking at our strange company.

'Your interview wasn't half as good as mine, which means I'll make a twice times better victor!' I said to her, still clinging my arm to Charlotte, who was hysterically laughing.

'Thanks' Indiana said 'I hope you'll make a good mentor for your tributes too then'

'Heck yeah. Better than you! I'm older than you, you are sixteen, you are still a child, no wonder your tributes are dead now!' I yelled.

'Abbey, shut up' Laika said.

Indiana looked offended. 'Sorry. I didn't mean to insult you.' She turned around and walked away, but froze when I said: 'You are no victor, thinking you're so awesome compared to me because you killed your best friend and I only beat mine up but now that I think of it she wasn't even my friend and-'

'ABBEY, SHUT UP! Indiana, don't listen to her, I apologize. She doesn't realize what she is saying. Kingsleigh, come with me. Your behavior is outrageous, I don't care what the public thinks of it. We are going home, now, or else I will call someone who will give you an injection to calm you down.' Laika meant it. I knew he was furious- stiff and with a red face.

He took my arm and Charlotte's, and dragged us away from Indiana and everyone else.

'Come on, Kara' he said. He was surprisingly strong while guiding us to the exit, where a car was waiting for us.

In the next chapter something will be revealed about someone... :o