Chapter 4: Tools of the Trade

I hate the Capitol as soon as I see it. The buildings are huge, reaching so far into the sky that I'm sure I could see for miles if I stood at the top of one. The tallest in the entire city is the Training Center, and I make a mental note to go to the top at some point over the next few days, if only to get away. The structures here are nothing like the buildings we have back in Twelve. All of ours are made from wood or brick, and most of them are falling apart. But all of the buildings here are made from different types of metal and stone, and are crisp and clean, and well maintained. But despite their opulence and sturdy construction, they are just as depressing⎯maybe even more so. It's all so fake. There is nothing welcoming about their sharp lines and grandiose size, and I find myself missing my small home back in the Seam as we enter the Capitol.

I look out the window at the blur of color waiting for us. People. They're all dressed in a myriad of vibrant shades with their dyed skin, powdered wigs, and bright outfits. I glance back at Effie who is talking excitedly to Katniss and Haymitch, practically falling over herself in her excitement to be here, and then back to the crowd on the other side of the glass. I will never understand their concept of beauty. The stranger they dress, the better they think they look. It doesn't make any sense, but then again, nothing about the Capitol really does.

The station is swarming with Capitol residents as we pull in, all of them pushing and shoving as they desperately try to get a glimpse of this year's tributes. I remember Effie saying something about how the residents of the city don't work, which explains why it looks like the entire population has turned up just to see us. My eyes narrow as I watch them scream our names, frantically waving and trying to get our attention. Their lives practically revolve around the Games, and now that they're about to begin, it's like a dam has broken⎯a sea of anticipation and excitement swallowing them whole.

They just want a good show.

I lick my lips as I remember everything that happened last night and what Peeta had said to me about it. As angry as it makes me, I know that he's right, and despite my nightmares, I awoke feeling more at ease and even more determined. So I push down any resentment I feel towards them and feign my own excitement, smiling and waving at the people outside. They go crazy for it: their screams reaching a higher pitch than before, and a few of them even look about ready to faint. It's a surreal experience; all of these people screaming for me like I actually mean something to them. I don't fool myself into thinking that's actually the case though. They care about their tribute, not me. This is all about entertainment for them, so I do my best to act the part of whatever story they've built up around me in the few hours since I was reaped.

I hear shuffling and see the others come to join me at the window as the train comes to stop, all of them trying to play up the excitement as well. A few of the women practically melt on the spot when Karn steps up to the glass, giving them the same smirk that's been glued to his face since yesterday. I want nothing more than to scowl and roll my eyes at how shallow they all are, but I just keep smiling and waving, trying to make them love me.

"Oh, would you just look at the crowd," Effie says behind me. I can almost feel the excitement rolling off of her in waves as she makes her way to the doors. She stops in front of them before turning to face my fellow tributes and me.

"Now everyone remember what I told you. Big smiles. Stand up straight." She turns towards the three mentors standing to my right, smiling and saying, "That includes you three as well." Effie's tone is light, but there is an underlying threat, and I can't stop the small laugh that comes out when all three put smiles on their faces. Peeta's looks sincere enough, but Katniss and Haymitch's look a little painful and entirely mocking respectively, causing our escort to tut at them in response.

Taking a deep breath, Effie tries again. "Just try to be pleasant," she sighs with an earnest look, and then the doors open.

Effie is the first to step out, and we're all ushered out of the train behind her. Despite being swarmed by cameras at District Twelve's station, I'm overwhelmed as I step into the crowd, realizing that that was nothing compared to this. The sound is deafening, the screaming and the clicking of cameras creating a loud roar in my ears. It's almost painful, but I just continue to smile and wave until we reach our destination.

"Maybe we should scrub her down one more time."

I grit my teeth, silently praying that he says no. I'm pretty sure I'll have no skin left if they try to put any more of that rough foam on my body. I feel vaguely like one of the animals Mr. Fairbain and I used to work on as my prep team rubs my skin away and rips all the hair from my body, leaving me like a piece of raw meat on the cold slab beneath me.

"Hmmm," Petronia says, pursing her lips while looking up and down my body. I've been naked for the better part of two hours, but I still feel incredibly embarrassed as she looks over me. Her silent appraisal has a blush forming on my face and spreading all the way down to my chest as I try not to squirm under her judging eye. I remain silent through the entire process due to a combination of both my embarrassment at my current state of undress as well as having nothing to contribute as they comment on every little aspect of my body.

Petronia, like all the other people of the Capitol, is dressed in clothes that probably cost more than everything I own put together. She's has long lavender hair with orange streaks, both of which contrast terribly with the green tattoos on her face. But aside from these features, she seems fairly normal. A little odd, but not nearly as odd as the other two members of my prep team: Garric and Clio, the person who is currently questioning if I should be put through another round of torture. Normal is about the last word I'd use to describe either of them. Garric is a short and thin man, who for some unknown reason, has decided that his skin looks its best when dyed a blue that reminds me of the sky. His hair is spiky and gold, and his mouth has been reshaped so that it looks mildly like that of a fish. Like Garric, Clio's appearance has been altered to fit the Capitol standard of beauty. Her face is sharp and thin in a way that is not at all natural, with red tattoos swirling in different patterns to cover nearly every inch. Her hair is also red, as are her nails, which are about two inches long and pointed into sharp edges. I have to fight the urge to flinch whenever she points one in my direction. They look like they could do almost as much damage as a butcher's knife. Her physical appearance is nearly as intimidating as her personality.

"She's just so dirty, Petronia," Clio says as she watches her circle me.

I find it hard to believe that there is even an ounce of dirt on me after all of the scrubbing and waxing that has taken place, but Petronia seems to agree with Clio, and they begin the process of scrubbing me down once more. This is followed up by even more waxing from Clio and some work on my nails by Garric. Eventually—mercifully—Petronia orders them to grease me down. It instantly soothes my irritated flesh, and I let out a sigh of relief when my skin no longer feels itchy and hot. I'm told to stand, and the three of them step back to inspect their work.

"Yes, this will do nicely," Garric pipes. "It's amazing what a little cleaning can do for you." I raise my eyebrows slightly. A little cleaning? I've been here for three hours.

"It really is fortunate, and quite a surprise, that underneath all the dirt, and grime, and hair, there is an attractive girl," Petronia adds with a smile. "It will make things much easier for you." I don't even bother being offended by the comment. It's one of the less offensive things she's said since I've arrived. Besides, I know none of them intend to be rude. Much like Effie, they're trying to help in the best way they know.

"Thank you." I give them my most charming smile "You've done a wonderful job. I'm sure it wasn't easy. I've never done anything like this before," I add with a light laugh. They all nod in agreement at my words.

"It's no problem at all. There's more to work with than I originally thought. Your hair for instance, is lovely. But imagine if it were a longer than your shoulders… and pink…" Clio trails off, turning towards her team and talking about me as if I'm not in the room.

"We'll leave that for Cinna to decide," Garric eventually says. At the mention of my designer, the other two smile gleefully and begin to prattle on about him and his designs. I stand there awkwardly, painfully aware that I am still naked, until they seem to remember my presence.

"Oh, he works wonders," Petronia gushes. "Wait here, we'll go get him now that you're finished." She leaves the room with the other two trailing behind her.

Despite the painful process I've just undergone, I find myself in a surprisingly good mood as I wait to meet Cinna for the first time. I remember watching the tribute parade last year⎯the complete shock and awe that I had felt when Katniss and Peeta came on screen with the flames burning behind them. Katniss' persona as the Girl on Fire is part of the reason she was so popular during her Games⎯why so many people wanted to sponsor her. It was new, completely unexpected, and a welcome change from the usual coal-miner get up, and people fell in love with her for it. I have no idea what Cinna has planned for me, but I hope that it will be as effective as his designs were last year. I can use all the help I can get.

I'm pulled out of my musings when the door suddenly swings opens and a draft of cold air hits me. I resist the urge to cover myself as a man I recognize as Cinna walks into the room. He looks exactly as I remember from last year: infinitely more normal than the other people of the Capitol.

"Hello, Briar." He smiles and holds out a hand for me to shake. "I'm Cinna."

I can't help thinking about how strange this is⎯standing naked in front of a complete stranger who's waiting to dress me up and show me off to the people betting on my life. It makes the knots in my stomach tighten painfully, but I try to focus on something else. His causal nature takes me a bit off guard, but I raise my arm and extend my hand out to his, shaking it.

"How are you feeling? Nervous?" he asks as he circles me, checking the work done by my prep team. Nervous? Terrified is a more apt term, but I don't feel comfortable enough with Cinna to be that vulnerable, even if Katniss and Peeta trust him.

"Nervous is one way to put it," I say instead.

Even though I don't say what's really on my mind, I feel as if Cinna knows what I mean, because he gives me a comforting smile. "It's perfectly understandable. It's a lot to take in." His tone is soft, and I find myself liking him more and more as the seconds pass by. His accent doesn't grate on my nerves like the others do.

He hands me a robe and then motions for me to follow him through a door to the right of us, and although I'm confused, I do so without question, pulling on the robe as I go. The first thing I see when we enter is a table full of food. I don't even realize how hungry I am until the smell hits me. My stomach growls, and I feel my face flush, but Cinna merely chuckles.

"Why don't you have something to eat while I explain what you'll be wearing tonight?"

I give him a thankful look and make my way over to the table. I don't really know what most of the food is, so I make a plate of whatever looks the most appealing. I take a seat on the couch as Cinna begins to tell me about his ideas.

"Do you know how designers decide what their tributes will wear?" he asks.

"We're supposed to represent the industry of our district. That's why our tributes are always coal miners… or were coal miners," I amend.

He nods. "Exactly. But I didn't want District Twelve to be coal miners last year, and I don't plan on having you be one this year either."

Thank God.

"You're not going to set me on fire, are you?" I ask a little fearfully. I don't mean to say it out loud, but Cinna doesn't seem to mind the question.

He laughs and says, "No, nothing like that. I assume your familiar with the process of coal mining?"

I furrow my brows at his question but nod my head anyway.

"So you know what canaries do. What role they play in the mines?"

I'm officially lost. I don't understand where this conversation is going, and I have to wrack my brain to recall the information he's asking about. My father works in the mines, but we never really discussed it. Most of my information about them comes from Mr. Fairbain or from school. Almost everything we talk about in school has to do with coal, so I know I must have learned about canaries at some point. I remember reading something about gas and⎯ it suddenly dawns on me what their role is, but it only serves to make me even more confused.

"The miners bring them down into the tunnels with them," I say slowly. "If the canary stops singing or dies, then the miners know that there's a carbon monoxide or methane leak. It's how they know to get out," I finish with a questioning look on my face. I have no doubt that whatever Cinna has designed will be beautiful, but I can't help feel like he's missed the mark on the symbolism. Canaries are sacrifices. They die so that the miners can live, and while I appreciate the effort for change, it's not exactly the idea I want to put out there. I might be better off wearing nothing but a bunch of coal dust.

"Yes, canaries are an essential part of the system. Without them, the people would perish. But more important is what they represent."

"I'm sorry," I say with a shake of my head. "I don't follow."

"Caged canaries represent entrapment and unhappiness," he tells me.

Well at least that's fitting. I'm in the Hunger Games. Trapped and unhappy are definitely two words that represent my situation.

"But a canary without the cage symbolizes intellect, freedom, and the future," he elaborates. "That what's you're fighting for, Briar⎯your future."

He doesn't say it, but I can hear the words in the silence anyway. For freedom.

Oh. Oh. I can't stop the grin from spreading across my face as I look at my designer. Cinna smiles back at me in return.

"Oh my, you just look fantastic!" Effie squeals in her high Capitol accent. "Cinna has truly outdone himself once again. I'm telling you, the man is a genius." I give her a broad smile at the compliment.

Like Effie, my prep team had been thrilled when they first saw me in Cinna's newest creation, going on and on about how amazing the dress is and how fantastic I look. I begrudgingly admit that the three hours of prepping I went through paid off. I've never been one to see myself as beautiful⎯there was never any time or reason to worry about looks in Twelve⎯but as I stand in front the mirror looking at my reflection, I can't help but feel just that. My hair has been done up in an intricate bun with small gold feathers intertwined throughout, and Garric has manicured my fingernails to perfection. I'm surprised to see that they are done so simply, with only a clear, shiny material coating them. My makeup is a bit more complex⎯ done in a manner that makes my face look sharp and bird-like. But even with all of this, it is the dress that takes my breath away.

The bodice is form fitting, with long sleeves and a stiff collar that frames my face and forms a V-shape on my chest. The front stops mid-thigh and then slopes down as it wraps around my legs, resting just above the back of my knees. Laid underneath is a sheer white fabric that puffs out where the bodice ends and goes to the floor, the bottom of which is covered in intricate gold detailing. The entirety of the top piece is made of yellow feathers that have been overlaid and coated with a liquid that makes them shine and appear gold under the light. The dress is gorgeous, and perfectly captures Cinna's vision.

"Everyone is going to love you," Effie beams. "The sponsors will simply have to support you after this."

"Thank you, Effie," I tell her, pouring as much earnestness into the comment as I can. Despite my own opinion on Effie and my prep team's sense of style, I can't help the spark of hope that flares in me at their words. They are Capitol citizens after all. If I can impress them, then maybe I can impress the sponsors too. I might just be able to do this.

Just then Katniss and Althea walk into the room, Thalia trailing a little behind them. She's dressed similarly to me, though her outfit is a little more playful, which I assume has to do with her age. I guess they're going for the youthful angle.

I can tell she's nervous, so I give her a small smile and tell her that she looks nice. She blushes in response and returns the compliment. I don't say anything else to her though. Getting too close with the competition can be dangerous. Instead, I turn my attention to our mentor.

"You look nice too, Katniss," I say to the other girl. She's wearing a flowing orange dress that reminds me of the one she wore to the recap after she had won her Games. It's clearly meant to play on the fire theme, and it makes her look beautiful.

She gives me a genuine smile. "Thanks. So do you. Cinna designs some pretty incredible stuff, huh?"

"You're telling me," I say with a chuckle. "I've never worn anything like it. If this doesn't do the trick, I don't know what will." It's partly the truth, but everything that's happening regarding my dress has me feeling light for the first time since I was reaped, so I don't let it bother me. I can't do anything about it now.

"This is going to be such a good year. I can already feel it," Effie babbles. "Come on now. We need to get you two to the chariots."

Effie leads us through a dark hallway, stopping when we reach an elevator. She presses a button on the wall, and there's a ding as the doors slide open. The ride down to the chariots is short and full of Effie's commentary.

"I cannot wait to see the look on Zella's face when she sees you two. I'm sure her tributes don't look nearly as good," she chirps.

I smile at her comments as we walk towards the entrance of the backstage area, but I feel my good mood disappear as soon as we arrive. Most of the other tributes are already here, chatting away with their mentors and looking ready to go. I glance around nervously at my competition, feeling more and more anxious as I take in how good some of them look. District One is dressed as extravagantly as they are every year. Their outfits are blue and studded with jewels, but despite the flamboyance of their clothes, the boys still manage to look strong and the girls look just as beautiful. I force myself to look away, and wince at what I find. So maybe not everyone is dressed well.

District Four's tributes are wearing outfits that I think are supposed to represent fishermen and mermaids, but they look so ridiculous that it's hard to tell. The girls' outfits are shiny and revealing with a strange looking tail, while the boys' consists of nothing other than a loose fitting pair of pants that seem to be made of rope. They're all fit enough to pull it off, but I cringe as I try to imagine myself wearing the mermaid-esque outfit. For once in my life, I'm glad that I'm from District Twelve. I let my gaze wander away from the poorly styled quartet, but I instantly regret it as my eyes land on the monstrous boy from Two. He's dressed in some sort of gold armor that emphasizes just how large he really is, and he appears to be having a very tense conversation with his mentor. His brother. My stomach drops as soon as I see them, and I shiver slightly when I feel a chill run up my spine. I'm not ready for this, I realize as I watch them. I don't know how I'm supposed to do this⎯how I'm supposed to kill these people. Katniss, Effie, and Thalia are all talking behind me, no doubt about something important, but I'm rooted to the spot, unable to tear my eyes away.

"Huh, it looks like we might just have another successful parade this year." Haymitch's voice sounds behind me, finally pulling me from my trance. I turn around to see him approaching with Peeta, Collis, and Karn. They have two Capitol designed people with them, who I take to be Portia and Gaius. My fellow tributes are dressed in black outfits that are made of a mixture of wool and leather. They're wearing a black shirt with a sleeveless jacket over it, which is large and billowing, and completed by a hood that almost completely shrouds their faces. They look intimidating, and I think it will go over extremely well with the sponsors.

Effie beams as they come to a stop in front of us. "Wonderful! Simply wonderful! Your stylists have done a marvelous job," she says, smiling in the direction of the designers. Haymitch purses his lips as he looks us over, giving a nod to indicate his agreement to Effie's words. I feel relieved at his approval.

"You look great, Briar," Peeta tells me with a smile.

"Thank you, Peeta. You look pretty good yourself," I say, shooting him a small grin. I mean it, too. His blonde hair is slicked to the side, and he's dressed in a cream colored suit that matches well with Katniss' dress. They look like a couple, which I suspect is the point.

"What are you supposed to be?" comes Karn's deep voice from beside me. He sounds slightly mocking, and I narrow my eyes at him. He raises a single brow as he looks between Thalia and me, silently appraising us.

"A canary. You?"

"Fire boss," he grunts back. I'm impressed by our team's research; it's a nice twist on our industry.

My father is a fire boss in the mines back home. Like canaries, they're job is to protect the miners against any gas leaks. They walk through the tunnels with a stick that has a candle attached to the end that explodes any time they encounter gas. Their only protection is their clothes, which are very similar to that of Karn and Collis, especially in regards to the material and the hood. It's a fitting match: the canary and the fire boss. Karn doesn't seem happy with the choice though, because his usual smirk has been replaced by a scowl. I think they're outfits look good, but I know he won't agree with me, so I don't bother telling him so.

I hear the sound of a bell, indicating that the parade will start in five minutes. My palms begin to sweat and my pulse skyrockets, and I turn towards my mentors, waiting for their direction.

"Remember, this is your first chance to make an impression," Haymitch says. "Do whatever you can to keep them cheering. Wave. Smile. Blow them kisses. You don't want them to just like you, you gotta make them love you." I nod my head along with his words. I can do that. Just make them love you.

"You guys will do great," Peeta assures. Katniss gives us all a small smile, and then they're gone, taking their seats with the other mentors.

I shakily step onto the chariot, taking my place next to Karn. His smirk has returned, though it's difficult for me to see under his hood. His confidence makes me even more nervous, and my knuckles start to turn white with the force I'm using to hold onto the chariot.

"Hey, just breathe," comes Cinna's soothing voice. I look to my right to see him watching me as he pries my hand away from the side of the chariot, breaking my death grip. "You'll do fine."

I face forward and take a few deep breaths, and then the chariot takes off.

The movement catches me off guard for a minute, but I quickly regain my balance. The sound of shrill screams begin to flood my ears as we pull closer to the entrance, the crowd already losing themselves as the tributes make their first appearances. I can hear the pitch and volume of the cheering change every few seconds, indicating whether or not they approve of a particular district or tribute. The screams start out excessively loud and continue on for a while, no doubt their way of showing support for the Career districts. It steadily dies down after that, only perking up once or twice when the middle districts pass through, but I'm not sure whom it's for. Just as our chariots pull onto the City Circle, the screams reach a fever pitch. I'm a little confused for a moment, wishing I could see what has these people practically frothing at the mouth, but when I catch a glimpse of the screen and see Karn and I standing there, my confusion dies out. They're cheering for us.

I know a part of their lively response has to do with Cinna's fame, as well as the fact that District Twelve is home to the Capitol's new favorite couple. A part of me even wonders if it has to do with the spotlight I received in last night's recap. But whatever it is, it's a welcome boost to our already massive reception. We look ominous and intimidating as we appear on screen⎯Karn in his black outfit, shrouding hood, and sinister smirk, and me with my sharp features and otherworldly gown. The way my dress shines under the lights creates a blur of yellow and gold behind me, giving the feint appearance of wings. Karn's outfit leaves a trail of gray, like smoke. The people are going crazy over it: screaming our names and throwing various flowers and trinkets in our direction. I put a smile on my face, but with the way my make-up is done, it looks a little dangerous, which only makes the crowd even more wild. Their cheering has me feeling more confident, and I remove my hand from the side of the chariot and wave at them, keeping the smile on my face the entire time.

The chariot pulls to stop once we're back in the Training Center, and I let out a relieved sigh. I feel drained from all the smiling and waving now that the adrenaline has worn off. I step off the chariot and begin scanning the room for any familiar faces.

"That was spectacular!" Effie's high voice rings out, causing me to turn around. I smile as she approaches⎯she's practically dancing towards us in her excitement. "It was just as I predicted. The crowd loved you. Once again, District Twelve is going to be the center of attention," she breathes out joyously.

"You guys did good," Katniss says. She's not much of a talker and from what I know of her, she's not easy to impress, so I'm grateful for her reassurance.

Haymitch nods his assent. "Not bad. Not bad at all. We can work with that."

I grin at them through my relief. The mood of the group seems to a happy one, everyone content with how our look went over in the parade.

"If you could see the other escorts' faces," Effie says. "They were just beside themselves."

"The mentors too," Peeta adds.

He continues talking, but I don't hear the rest of what he says over the sound of the blood roaring in my ears. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end as I look at the group across from us. Districts One and Two are talking, but I can't hear anything they say from this distance. It's not hard to guess though⎯they're already forming an alliance. I'm about to look away when one of the boys from One looks over at me. His eyes trail up and down my body, and I fight the uneasy feeling that begins to form in my stomach. The look he's giving me is a sexual one, punctuated by the obscene gesture he makes with his mouth. It's disgusting, and so despite how uncomfortable he makes me feel, I find myself scowling at him. I don't know how long we stand there, him smirking and me glowering, but it's too long. Our little staring contest draws the attention of none other than Cato, who turns his head to see whatever it is that has his new team member distracted. The scowl is immediately wiped from my face and I feel my insides freeze over as we make eye contact. His eyes are narrowed at me, but I can't read the expression on his face, so I don't know if he recognizes me from the recap last night, or from our special little feature. I feel more and more uneasy, but I try to keep my face clear of any emotion.

A hand on my arm makes me jump slightly, and I turn to look at its owner. I blink rapidly at the blond boy next to me, and it's only then that I realize that everyone in my group is watching me, no doubt having noticed my staring contest with the boys from One and Two. My fellow tributes look confused, not really understanding what's going on, but Peeta and Effie are both looking at me with concern, while Katniss and Haymitch are frowning slightly.

Haymitch glances over towards the Careers before grabbing my arm. "Come on," he says, leading me towards the elevator. "We don't need to be here anymore."

I don't say anything as he leads me away, the rest of our group trailing behind us. The doors open almost immediately, and we all step in as Haymitch presses the button for the doors to close. I look back into the room as we wait for the elevator to start moving and see that Cato is still watching me. Haymitch jabs the button again, but the doors remain open. Suddenly something steps in front of me, covering my view of the boy from Two. I look up at the person standing before me, who's staring at me with what could possibly be the most charming smile in all of Panem⎯a smile that belongs to none other than Finnick Odair.

"Room for two more?" he asks in a voice I can only describe as a purr. He doesn't wait for an answer, instead stepping into the elevator with one of his tributes behind him. I notice that it's one of the girls⎯the one who volunteered. I think her name is Nerissa. Her mermaid outfit looks even worse up close, but she somehow still manages to look beautiful.

I have to admit that Finnick looks just as good, if not better. Even through his suit, it's easy to see that he is in excellent shape. He's tan, with bronze hair and beautiful green eyes that give him a natural beauty people in the Capitol could only dream of. It's easy to see why the men and women here have fallen in love with him. The television really doesn't do him any justice.

Finnick settles in beside me with Nerissa to his right. "That was quite the show you put on out there. Really something," he says with a bright smile. There's humor in his voice, which makes me wonder if he's teasing me. I hear Nerissa huff beside him, clearly not happy with his statement. Whether it's because we outshined her in the parade, or because I'm from a lower district, I'll never know. My encounter with the two Careers has me feeling unsure of myself, and I don't trust my voice to sound steady, so I give him a short smile and face forward.

He doesn't seem at all bothered by my lack of response, instead turning to look at the other occupants. "Haymitch. Peeta," he says with a nod. "Katniss." Another charming smile. The corners of my mouth lift up a little at the look on Katniss' face. She is not impressed by the great Finnick Odair.

He treats us to another round of his bright grin and then his gaze settles on me. "Can I give you a word of advice? You might want to be a bit more careful there, kiddo."

I frown at his words, not understanding what he means before I realize that he must have noticed my encounter with Cato and the boy from One. My frown deepens, and I look up at him.

"Careful about what?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. "I didn't do anything." I'm aware that my voice sounds defensive, but I can't stop it, nor do I really want to. He's making it sound as if this is what I wanted: like it's my fault.

He holds up his hands in a placating gesture, but there's still a little grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I'm just saying. You don't want to be attracting the wrong kind of attention."

I'm about to reply when suddenly the elevator dings and the doors open, indicating that we've reached the fourth floor.

Finnick smiles at me before glancing around the car. "This was fun. We should do it again some time." With one last dazzling smile, he steps out of the elevator with Nerissa, and the doors close behind him.

The elevator begins to move again, and I hear Effie speak up from behind me. "That was Finnick Odair. Isn't he lovely?" she sighs with a dreamy look on her face that has Haymitch grunting and Katniss rolling her eyes.

"He's something alright," I say, still irritated by his comments. I know that his words hold some truth, and that I should probably heed his advice, but the teasing way he said it has me more than a little unsettled. I don't want their attention. I don't need a target on my back.

The elevator pulls to a stop again, signaling that we've arrived at our floor. Once the doors open, we all begin to make our way into the room, Effie practically pushing us in her haste to get to the front to lead us in.

"These," she exclaims with a sweeping gesture, "are your quarters. Beautiful, aren't they?"

I nod my head as I take in the room. It's fancy like the train was, but much larger. I don't really have time to admire it though, because Effie says that we will be having dinner in an hour, and regardless of how much I love my dress, I am eager to change and wash the make-up from my face.

My room is unsurprisingly plush and large. I don't spend much time exploring what it has to offer though, instead choosing to shower first. I grapple with it for a while, just as I did on the train yesterday, but I eventually figure it out. I stay in there for as long as possible, scrubbing at my skin harshly when I remember how the boy from One looked at me. When I'm finished, I go to the fancy closet in my room, and program an outfit from it. The technology they have in the Capitol is fascinating, and I wish I could appreciate it, but it's hard with the Games coming up.

When I'm finished getting dressed, I walk back to the main room for dinner. Everyone is already seated, discussing tomorrow's schedule.

Haymitch is the first to notice me as I make my way over to my seat. "Ah, looks who's decided to join us." The six other people seated at the table turn their heads to look at me.

"There you are," Effie tsks. "I was just about to come get you."

I give her an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I lost track of time." Everyone seems to accept my answer because they all return to their food and conversation. I listen in while filling my plate with food. I'm starving, and everything looks amazing so I'm content to eat and listen for the time being.

"Since there's four of you this year, we're going to have to divide up the mentoring," Effie tells us. "Peeta will work with Thalia and Katniss is with Collis."

"So who do I have?" Karn asks. His tone is not exactly friendly, and everyone notices.

"You and the kid over there," Haymitch says pointing a finger in my direction, "have the pleasure of working with me," he finishes with a mocking smile.

Despite Haymitch's droll comment, I'm not disappointed with the selection. In fact, I think it will be the most beneficial for everyone involved. In the twenty-four hours I've known Thalia, I've ascertained that her personality is meek and jumpy by nature. A drunken, grumpy Haymitch would be too harsh and she'd probably remind Katniss too much of her sister, so Peeta is clearly the best choice. Collis seems eager to learn and is calm enough not to get on Katniss' nerves, so it's a fitting pair as well. And Haymitch is smart. He's been through these Games so many times over that he's bound to have picked up some useful information, even if he was drunk for most of it.

Karn doesn't seem too pleased though. He practically growls under his breath. "Shouldn't we get to work with them, too? They might actually know something useful."

The silence that falls over the table is practically deafening, but Karn doesn't seem to think there's anything wrong with what he just said.

"He got us out of the Games," Katniss hisses, indicating to her and Peeta. "So you better appreciate having him as a mentor."

Karn just meets her glare with a bored look, and Haymitch cuts in. "Don't worry about it, sweetheart. Looks like this kid will have to learn the same lesson I had to teach you." He stares at Karn with a hard look in his eye, his voice brokering no argument. "That attitude⎯thinking you're better than any of this⎯is what's gonna get you killed in the arena. Won't matter what help you get or who it's from. So if you want to live, I suggest you let it go and except the help I give you."

The tension in the air is thick, but after a few moments, Karn nods his head.

"Good," Haymitch says gruffly. "Now that that's over with, let's talk about something useful. What are everyone's skills?" I look to the other tributes. They're also glancing around the table, wondering who will speak first. "No one? No one has anything they'd like to share?" he asks incredulously.

Collis is the first to answer. "I work around the mines. I help the miners with the coal." I've barely heard him speak since yesterday. It's weird to hear his voice. It's deeper than I thought it would be.

Katniss nods. "Good, that means you have some strength. That can help you," she says with a glance over at Peeta. He quickly averts his eyes. I frown as I notice their stiff behavior from the train hasn't changed. It comes in and out, like they can't control it. I shake my head, pushing the thoughts out of my mind.

I don't have time to worry about this. It's their problem.

Peeta's strength had been his specialty in the Games. He managed to score an eight with it, so I know that it's pretty highly valued. Looking at Collis now, it's clear that he has some physicality to him. He's not as big as Karn or Peeta, but he doesn't look weak by any means. If they can find him a weapon that he's half decent with, he'll be tough competition. A part of me hopes that they don't, because if they do find one, he'll be a threat. And if he's a threat then I might have to kill him, and I really don't want to do that. Especially when I remember how sick his mother is.

Thalia is a little harder to get anything out of. She's only fourteen, and despite being from the Seam, she has almost no experience working. She looks ready to burst into tears as the conversation goes on, but calms down a little when Peeta promises her they'll find something. I don't believe it, but what I think doesn't really matter.

"What about you?" Haymitch grunts at Karn.

"I'm strong, and I'm good with anything I can swing," he answers, his voice sure and more than a little arrogant.

"What makes you think that?" Haymitch questions in a dry voice.

Karn's smirk has returned full force, and I start to wonder if he knows any other facial expressions. He's clearly confident in his abilities. "My father works with metals. I help him break them up and shape them." All three mentors nod in his direction, silently telling him that his skills will be helpful in the arena.

Karn's father is the metallurgist in the Merchant's Village, so I know he's telling the truth about what he can do. But still, it's not his skills that have me worried, although they make him potentially dangerous. He is two years above me in school and his father's shop is close to Mr. Fairbain's, so while I hadn't met him until yesterday, I had heard of and seen him on numerous occasions. He has a reputation for being cruel and aggressive, and a lot of people dislike him for it. When I heard his name called at the reaping and saw him strut up to the stage with that ever-present smirk, I feared that the rumors were true. But hearing how eager he sounds now, I'm sure they are. I decide in that moment that I really don't like him.

"And you, kid? Got any special talents?"

I look up from my plate to see Haymitch staring at me expectantly. "I, uh…I work with a butcher back home."

Haymitch leans back in his chair as he looks me over. "So you have some familiarity with knives and cleavers."

It's not a question, but I answer anyway. "Yeah. I help prepare the meat. Skinning, stripping, tenderizing, cutting. That sort of thing."

"So you know the important places the in the body⎯the weakest parts and the ones that bleed the most?" he asks. Effie looks horrified at the crude question.

"Yes, but none of that is effective at long range, and unless the other tributes lay down and let me skin them, I don't think any of this will help much."

Effie gives a shocked gasp at my comment. "There will be no talking of skinning at the dinner table!"

I smile sheepishly at our escort and mumble a quick apology.

"Any weapon skill is useful in the arena. You can use knives and your familiarity with cleavers might transfer to an ax. Might. You'll have to test out different weapons in the Training Center over the next few days." I nod my head at him. "That goes for all of you. We can go over the rest of the strategy in the morning." Everyone nods in agreement, and we spend the rest of dinner discussing various things about the Games.

The rest of the night goes by quickly, and before I know it, we're all heading off to bed. My mind is racing with thoughts of everything that has happened today: the parade, the boy from One, Cato, training tomorrow. I feel overwhelmed, and I know that even if I don't have any more nightmares, I won't be getting much sleep tonight. I shuffle towards my room, dreading the thought of closing my eyes. Just as I'm about to close my door, I hear Haymitch call my name. Slowly, I make my way back to the main room where he's standing near the window, wondering what else he could want to talk to me about.

He's silent for a few moments, staring down at the city below. I'm about to ask him why he called me when he turns to face me. "About what Odair said in the elevator⎯"

"I wasn't trying to get their attention," I say quickly, jumping to defend myself.

He nods, but the serious look remains on his face. "That may be, kid, but now you've got it. Odair may seem like a pretty boy, but he knows what he's talking about." He gives me a shrewd look. "You should listen to what he says."

A heavy silence falls around us as I swallow and nod my head at him. He seems satisfied with my answer, and without another word, he turns and heads to his room, leaving me alone to think about how much trouble I've gotten myself into.