Chapter Three

We've hardly finished dinner when Mags is gripping my arm and pointing out the window in front of us. Mags is a sweet lady. Like a mother almost. "It's the Capitol." Before I even realize it, I'm standing with my face practically pressed to the glass. It's gorgeous. The moon is shimmering bright as always and the city is covered in lights even though it's not quite dark yet.

Then it's gone, and we're in a tunnel.

Then there's a crowd of people dressed exactly like Eudora and even more so. I'm staring at them until I remember that I have to make them like me. So I smile, and I wave. They cheer.

The train slows to a stop. The doors to the train are about to open when I remember I took my necklace off to shower and never put it back on. The doors to the train are opening, and I'm running down the train to find my necklace. I hear my name being shouted, but I don't really care. The necklace is all I have left of my mother.

My dress is still on the floor along with my sketch. My necklace is placed delicately on the chest of drawers. I fumble with it for a second before clasping it around my neck.

"Capri!" I hear Finnick shouting for me. "Capri!"

"Shit," I mutter and run back out into the hallway. "Finnick, I'm sorry. My necklace-"

I cut off when I see him. He's furious. He snatches my arm, muttering to himself which is –I presume- an attempt to calm himself down. When we get back to the other train car, the doors are shut, Mason looks scared, Mags is fiddling with some string, and Eudora is sitting down with her head in her hands saying what an embarrassment this is to her.

Finnick doesn't let go of my wrist, telling me he's not letting me run away again. Eudora stands, straightening her dress, and looks me sternly in eyes –much like the time my father got mad at me for when Henry and I were out on the beach after dark and a Peacekeeper brought me home- saying that I best not run away again.

I don't understand why everyone is so upset with me. I had forgotten my necklace. I had forgotten the one thing I could bring with me from home. The one thing I had from District 4 to keep me grounded during the Games. "Hey, chin up, Starfish." Finnick's finger is lifting up my head and his hand is no longer encasing my wrist. "Smile for the cameras. They have to love you."

I nod and put on my best smile. Finnick nods at Eudora, and she pushes the button to open the doors once again.

Scared is the only word I can think of to use to describe my feelings. I smile and wave. I even blow a kiss to the people of the Capitol. There's plenty of people clutching their cameras, taking as many pictures and videos as they can of District 4's entrance to the Capitol. I'm anxious and I'm terrified, but I can't show these people that. I look beside me to see Finnick doing the same thing as I. That's the only reason I know I'm not too far off from winning these people's affections.

Eudora leads us out of the car and into the training center. Tomorrow we will meet our stylists and prep teams and prepare for the opening ceremonies that evening. Now, we sit on the fourth floor on the training center and watch the replays of the other districts' reapings. The entire floor is ours. Each District has their own floor, and I'm sure they are each the same, but when I walked in, it took my breath slightly. It was gorgeous. I guess the Capitol figured if 95.83% of us were gonna die within the next couple of weeks, we should go out in luxury. How utterly kind of them. *cue eye roll*

Finnick hands me a pad of paper about the size of my hand and a pencil, encouraging me to take notes throughout the week. I start now, labeling 12 separate pages with the heading of their district number. I figured I could put the female tribute on the front of the page, the male on the back seeing as girls were always picked first at reapings. It would give me room to take notes throughout the week when I get back to our floor.

It starts with District 1, as it always does. There's a seemingly dimwitted girl named Gem and a monstrous boy named Ceaser, who as soon as volunteers are asked for is lunging forward to go to the arena, from there. Ceaser gets a star next to him name simply for the fact that he terrifies me. There's a tiny but fierce girl named Valarie –who gets a star for nearly the same reason as Ceaser- and a tall but well built boy named Rory from District 2. The girl from District 3 is a shaky thing, Macen, and the boy, Webb, looks no older than 14.

Next is me and Mason. I go ahead and make notes on both of us. It'll help me see how I line up with the others later in the week. You can clearly see the fear in my eyes as I hug Sara to me. I had tried so hard to hide it. Finnick says that I can't be cold-hearted, but I wonder if tributes like Ceaser and Valarie see it as a weakness. I hear the announcers say how touching it was to watch. I know I'll be asked about it in the interview at the end of the week.

Nothing really stands out about Districts 5 or 6, but I note their names anyhow. The girl from District 7, Cheri, seems frightened, but I can only wonder if it's an act. Her district partner, Birch, is well built, probably 17 or 18, and being from 7, can probably wield an axe and chop us all to bits in a mere second. He gets a star next to his name. The pair from District 8 is related. I'm pretty sure that they are brother and sister, Indigo and Flor respectively, and it breaks my heart knowing that one will have to watch the other die.

There's a girl that's got to be only twelve years old from District 9, Evella. No one volunteers for her. She has a slight limp, and I can only wonder why. Piers, her district partner, is frighteningly large with a face that almost seems angry. He receives a star because he, like Ceaser, terrifies me. The pair from District 10, Rainie and Prescott, seem as though they know each other. There's something in the girl's eyes that say that they went to school together and maybe even had classes together. The boy, Prescott, does not seem phased in the slightest, as if he's never seen her before.

District 11, Cyder and Cliff, seem as unthreatening, yet less heartbreaking than the young pair from District 12, Charlene and Barnabas, who look about thirteen and are stick thin. Then the anthem plays, and the program ends.

Mags gives us each a smile and kiss on the head. She whispers that it's late and she should be headed to bed. Mason says the same minutes later and all but runs out of the room. Finnick chuckles, but I shake my head, walking over to the window sill and make myself comfortable on the large sill. I look out over the Capitol. We're not too high up, so I can spot more of the Capitol's ridiculous details.

Finnick places a hand on my shoulder, "You should try and get some sleep, Starfish."

"Somehow, I don't think I'll be able to," I whisper, running a hand through my hair.

"That's when you need it the most."

He then simply leaves. I stay for longer. The Capitol appears as though it never sleeps, but after a few hours of just sitting undisturbed, I decide that's exactly what I do need. Sleep.

As I lie in bed, I don't wonder why Finnick is having me take notes on the other tributes, but I do wonder why he cares so much. He seems so miserable as a victor. Why would he want me to win? So that I can endure the pain with him?

I want to question him now, but I decide to leave it for later. I need to get sleep while I still have the chance.

A/N: Hi, I should probably actually introduce this story. I can't really remember where I got the idea, but I haven't been able to stop writing it. I'm already on Chapter Eleven, but I'm going back, proofreading, and editing mainly right now. I hope you guys like this story as much as I do, and I would LOVE your thoughts. I will say that I have big and very lengthy plans for this story, so I think that's why I haven't been able to quit writing. (: Anyway, the title "Young Pilgrims" comes from the song by the The Shins. It was a title I hadn't seen, figured wouldn't be used, and I thought fit with the story fairly well. I had originally thought about "Sea Legs" but later thought that it didn't fit the story. Please beware that there might be changes. If there is, I will let you know if you are subscribed. I'm trying to get all the changes made now, but I like updating. Any-who, Merry Christmas to all!