The only thought I have as I go to line up behind the other tributes is that this feels a lot like we're cattle. Cinna explained to me how each of the tributes were going to try to play an angle so I would too. We would be interviewed very briefly, which would be broadcasted over all of Panem. This is just for the audience to get an idea of our personalities before they see us show off various skills throughout the week. Then, if we were voted as tributes for our district by the Capitol citizens, we would commence the Hunger Games like any other year starting with the official tribute parade, training, and the interviews the day before the games.

"I have one final touch," Cinna tells me as he adjusts the skirt of my dress.

District twelve would be coming out last, and it was almost my turn to walk out on that stage, only Sawyer behind me and Hops in front. I hadn't paid too much attention to all of the other outfits of the night but Cinna had been right. Some of the tributes went for more seductive looks with low cut dresses and sheer fabric, while some went for unsuspecting, with fun-patterned bow ties, and others went for small and cute.

Like Etheria, who is currently being interviewed by Remus Flickerman. Her stylist had put her hair into two buns on top of her head in a pink dress adorned with flowers and sparkled when she walked. I imagine Dani would have been put in something similar if she were here. Etheria looks absolutely terrified to be on that stage and it's clear she's trying to hold back tears. Remus was doing everything he could to get her to smile, asking about her favorite things back home and whatnot, but all too soon, her time is up and Hops is being called onto the stage.

Hops seemed to have gone for the tough route, similar to the other careers. He certainly looks like he could fit right in, with his large stature, and he was fairly well fed, compared to a lot of the past tributes from district twelve. I stopped listening to him a few questions in when Cinna suddenly poked my back. I jump, giving him my attention.

"It's a new fabric I've been experimenting with," he tells me. I don't understand what he means until I look down. My dress had been a dark gray color and I thought he had tried to dress me up like a piece of coal like most of the tributes from our district were, but it faded into a dark red near the bottom. Only now, the entire dress was pulsing light, a faint red and orange color slowly moving up and down my dress. It looks so real, for a second I think I'm on fire.

"Relax," Cinna assures me. "It's synthetic flames. It can't actually burn you."

I nod, finally realizing what his vision was. I was embers. And while embers usually came after the fire, this time, they would be coming before. I had been sent here to die, but I wasn't dead. Not yet. And if I fan the flames of my dying embers just right, I will burn again, brighter than before.

I give Cinna the first grin since arriving at the Capitol. I hope he understands my thanks.

Hops has just finished his interview and I'm now being called into the stage. I was grateful that Cinna hadn't put me in any heels, and my hair was up and out of my face so I didn't have to worry about it obstructing my vision.

"Good luck," Sawyer tells me right before I'm about to go. His hair is slicked back and without his slight curls, he almost looks like a different person.

"You too." I take a deep breath and step out onto the stage, head held high. The Capitol audience erupts into cheers, their claps and shouts echoing throughout the stadium.

"What an entrance!" Remus tries to get the audience to settle down a bit. I'm standing awkwardly to the side, not sure what to do next. Luckily, Remus takes my hand and walks me towards the front of the stage.

"And what a dress!" He comments into the mic. "Please, sit. That's not real fire, is it?"

This was it. My first impression with the Capitol since my reaping. I could only hope I don't mess it up.

"I hope not, Remus," I nervously laugh, looking down at the glowing fabric. "Otherwise my stylist lied to me."

For some reason that makes the audience burst into laughter and I take that moment to finally sit down in the cushioned seat next to Remus.

"Now we obviously don't have much time so I'm just going to cut right to the chase," Remus says. The nerves are still paralyzing and I have to grip the arms of the chair to keep myself from bolting out of here.

"We all saw your reaping, am I right?" He asks the crowd. More applause and cheering. "And I think we can all say we were so touched by the way you volunteered. That was your sister, correct?"

"Yes, Dani," I tell him. Although I stay aware that I'm actually telling all of Panem, so I add, "We call her little duck." The audience awws at that.

Remus smiles. "And I'm sure she came to see you before you left. What did she say to you?"

I swallow trying to get the last words my sister said to me out. "She said to try really really hard to win."

"And what did you tell her?" Remus asks. The audience is dead silent, waiting for my response.

"I told her that I would try to win."

"And try you will," Remus pats my hand. The buzzer goes off, and my time is up. Remus helps me stand back up and faces me towards the audience.

"Willow Mellark everybody!" I attempt a smile as the audience gets louder and try not to look rushed as I make my way off the stage. Haymitch is waiting on the other side with Etheria and Hops.

"Nice job, Sweetheart. But I think you can do better," Haymitch says, turning his attention back to the screen that shows the stage.

I scowl at him. Better? All I did was talk about my sister. I couldn't fake that. I couldn't put on an act the way he wants me to. I'm not going to be a Capitol puppet. Not when it comes to talking about Dani. I cross my arms, hoping that if I glare hard enough at Haymitch he might just drop dead. But then I think I'm being a little too harsh and turn my attention to the screen.

Sawyer is sitting in the chair looking absolutely relaxed, leaned back, legs crossed, and the Capitol is eating it up. His suit has a few flames running up the sleeves, but nothing like mine.

"So, Sawyer, do you have a special lady waiting for you back home?" Remus asks him. He's already asked the same question to a few other tributes. Apparently it's something the Capitol is just dying to know. I feel like I shouldn't be listening, and I don't want to know but I can't tune it out.

"No, Remus. I don't," Sawyer winks at the audience and I think someone in the front row literally swooned.

I'm confused why a part of me felt some relief at his answer, but I chalk it up to relief from getting my own interview over with.

"Oh, come on. Nobody you have a little crush on?" Remus teases. Sawyer shakes his head, but the blush on his face is unmistakable.

"Oh! He's blushing. I think you do!" The audience is screaming now. "Okay so here's what you do." Remus leans in like he's giving Sawyer some advice he doesn't want anyone else to know. "You win the games, you go home a victor, and you'll have that girl falling at your feet."

Sawyer gives him a mirthless smile. "I don't think winning is going to help in my case," he admits.

"Why not? Nobody can resist a victor!"

"Because…" Sawyer hesitates a second, contemplating his next words. Remus pushes him to continue. "Because she came here with me."