Three

People in the Capitol were out of their minds. There had been screaming and even the occasional fainting in theirs' and the other tributes' arrivals, as Katniss had later seen on television. The emotion those people had shown horrified her, because it proved her right away how disconnected they were from the rest of the world. What was even worse was that now they belonged to them, in a way. They were nothing more than mere entertainment, something to celebrate and a pastime on which they could spend their fortunes. Their sponsorship made tributes totally dependent on them. Haymitch made a point of reminding them, muttering behind both of them they had to smile, as they reached their apartments in the Training Center.

As he had well explained, the first thing was to get them ready for the cameras. The stylists who attended Katniss didn't seem to be bad people, because, at the end of the day, she figured they were just doing their job, but they were just as quirky as everyone she had seen in the Capitol so far. She had imagined they'd only do her hair and makeup but, as if that wasn't enough, they waxed her from top to bottom, and in a rather savage way. She had so little hair everywhere she looked like a girl again. On the other hand, her designer, Cinna, had made a good impression on her. He was young, new to the job, and more human than the stylists, without any cosmetic touch-ups. Katniss feared she would be stripped, exposed, or covered in charcoal along with Alder for the opening ceremony. However, Cinna's designs were pretty and trying on the black leather outfit he had put together for her made Katniss feel powerful. Even Alder looked leaner next to her, and the fake fire that surrounded them gave them a strength that made the audience chant their names. It was a contradictory, strange feeling: Katniss didn't want to be part of that grotesque show, but it was better for them to be noticed than to be considered ridiculous and weak, as it happened every year with the tributes of District 12.

"I've been trying to get you sponsors all day," Effie spoke suddenly in the elevator, making Katniss's mind stop wandering. "I haven't been able to reveal much to them, because Haymitch hasn't told me what his plan is. Anyway, I've explained how much you have both struggled in your district to overcome any obstacle and how Katniss has sacrificed herself for her sister."

It was too painful to dwell on it, so she chose to ignore the comment about Prim. She bet that Haymitch had no strategy at all. She would've preferred Michael Elwood to be there. Even if his advice had been as useless as Haymitch's, at least he would've been more tactful. He seemed like a kind man, and continued to buy food for people from the Seam every year since he'd won.

When they got to their floor and she saw her mentor waiting for them on the couch, Katniss wanted to shake him, provoke any kind of reaction. What was he waiting for? Couldn't he give them any useful advice? What did they have to do to get sponsors? How should they deal with the careers? Would they be able to do that?

"Whose idea was it to hold hands?" he asked them as soon as they arrived, with a crooked smile. Katniss didn't know if it was a good thing that he seemed so cheerful. "A bit rebellious, but without going too far. Very suitable. Have you seen the others?"

Alder shook his head and sat down to the right of him, then Katniss followed suit. In the repetition of the parade, the other couples hardly even looked at each other, as if they were already about to kill each other. Maybe that's why they had stood out so much.

"Cinna asked us," Alder explained, before scratching his face uncomfortably. "And well, it's just that I... I was nervous."

It must've helped hide it, Katniss thought. She had been nervous too, but she had learned to hide her feelings long time ago, many times so as not to worry her sister. Her father, however, said that those who really knew her, like him, could read her like an open book. Katniss continued to look at the other tributes. There were also other winners, other mentors, like Finnick Odair. It still seemed unreal to be there, to have seen him briefly in person, even if he had been away in the distance. It had been unbelievable too to recognise President Snow, so serious, on his balcony. He hadn't impressed her so much, but pissed her off to no end instead. He was just a regular-looking man, but a wicked and despicable old one.

"Tomorrow morning is the first training session. We'll meet at breakfast and discuss how you should act," Haymitch announced.

"But..." Katniss said, trying to stop him.

That man was hopeless. She decided it was better not to make a scene again. Besides, she needed to sleep well to train properly the next day, so for one night, she would behave. The Training Center's gym was just as luxurious as the entire complex, with experts in different skills who would help them, areas with instructions for use, survival and fighting tactics... They were also told fighting was prohibited, since they would have plenty of time to kill themselves in the Arena. As the supervisor explained the rules, Katniss couldn't help but glance at the other tributes out of the corner of her eye. In the parade, they had had little time to see each other. Her stomach dropped. The careers were much taller and stronger than her, even the girls, and most of them weren't afraid to look down on the others, as if it was clear they were the only possible winners. The other half of the tributes were just children and as skinny as she was. Not even the uniforms they had been made to wear made them equal in any way.

"Do you want to start making some snares?" she asked Alder, when they were left to their own devices. The boy hadn't said a word all morning.

"I don't know how," he murmured, not meeting her eyes.

"But you know how to saw, right?" she insisted, stopping in front of him. "Polish and stuff. Do you help your parents with the shoes?"

"Yes."

"Then it won't be so difficult. Come on, I'll teach you."

Since there was no one in that booth or around them, Katniss was able to explain, as well as she could, what her own father had taught her. She didn't know if she was a very good teacher, but in the end Alder managed to make a trap without getting his fingers caught, and that was already quite the achievement. They were almost done when she noticed someone watching them a few steps ahead. Looking up, she realised it was the girl from 4.

"What's her name?" she asked in a whisper.

Alder looked around for a bit and discreetly returned to his trap.

"I think she's Estee."

Katniss didn't look at her again until she was in front of them. What did she want? She hoped she wouldn't be looking for trouble so soon.

"Not bad," the girl commented, without saying hello. "Are you interested in learning how to make some hooks? A net?"

Luckily, Alder nodded timidly before she could react. Why was she talking to them? Judging by her awkward posture, her arms crossed and her expression just as serious as on TV, she concluded she looked like she didn't know what to do with herself. Katniss followed along with Alder without taking her eyes off of her.

"Why aren't you with your partner?" she asked.

The blonde girl didn't seem to react badly to such a direct question.

"Because he's not going to do anything," she replied almost grimacing. "Robin's against any kind of violence."

Katniss held back the urge to laugh bitterly, well, did she look like she enjoyed murdering people? She didn't think she had seen him around, but she imagined him resigned to death. It was cruel. It was unfair to sacrifice so many children each year for something that had happened 74 years ago, but that's how the powerful stayed where they were, by repressing others. Every minute she spent there she felt a little more like Gale. She had never considered his anger to be of any use, because wailing and complaining wasn't going to change the poverty in which they lived. She remembered his father criticising the Capitol whenever he could too, though never in front of Prim. Her mother used to criticise him for it, for teaching them to stand up, for singing forbidden songs. What if she didn't come home? Would his fighting spirit remain intact? Would he fight more to give Prim a better future, or would he let himself go? It haunted her that her family would have to move on and she wouldn't be there to see it.

Over the next two days, they continued their deal with Estee. She didn't talk much, nor did she seem to be looking for friends, although when she wasn't with them, Katniss always saw her alone. It was weird because she was from 4, but she hadn't seen her look at those from the first districts even once. Perhaps the training made her nervous as well. The careers gave Katniss the same disturbing feeling, because they spent the day exchanging tense glances and offhand comments, trying to impress everyone with their skills. Katniss had already decided that during the week they would have to train, she wouldn't show anyone she knew how to use a bow. At least at night she was so tired she didn't have to think about anything to fall asleep, though by the third or fourth night, she had already grown sick of staring at the artificial screens of her windowless room. She was convinced there had to be a place for her to look out from, and she was determined to discover it. She guessed they weren't supposed to wander around other levels, but Haymitch wasn't there when she came out to the living room. They had already had dinner, so she was sure they were all resting, drinking in Haymitch's case or doing who knows what. When they had been explained how the building was divided, no one had said anything about the roof, but Katniss had the vague impression she had seen a ledge at the top. She could try to find the rooftop. Getting to the elevator was easy, as the corridors were submerged in silence, but the amount of buttons the device had did not help at all. She could only recognise the numbers of each district, on their respective floors, so she touched all the buttons that were above hers and hoped for the best. In a stroke of luck, she was able to find what she was looking for, on the top floor the elevator reached and up a secluded few stairs.

The view from the top of the Training Center took her breath away. There were many taller buildings around, and too many lights to see the stars. The wind whipped hard into her face, but she didn't mind. If she closed her eyes she could pretend she was in the woods and not there, about to be forced to fight for her life. She leaned against the edge of the ledge and watched the lights flicker and change. How many people lived there? Of all of them, how many had ever seen a district in the flesh? To them, who didn't have to sacrifice themselves, they were just kids on a screen, unreal, like characters in a story. But it wasn't fiction. The capital did seem too exaggerated to be true. Katniss had managed to clear her mind, but what she had reflected on made her more uneasy, so she decided to return to her level, covering herself with the only cardigan she had found in the closet. When she got back to the elevator and aimed to press '12' someone had already touched the first level and she was propelled down. Oh no, she thought to herself, with her heart in her throat. She couldn't let anyone see her. She endured the descent nervously, although when the doors opened she was only greeted by silence. She took a few steps forward and found no one around her. She hurried in and pressed '12' frantically, but nothing happened. Either the panel wasn't obeying her or she didn't know how to handle it.

"Dammit."

Katniss got out, after checking that no one saw her in the half-dark entrance, and she waited for another elevator, just a few meters to her right. They had dozens of those machines. Anything to avoid walking. She was already uneasy standing there in front of it, but hearing voices approaching made her pulse soar. She couldn't come up with anything more clever than hiding in the corner that led to the stairs. She couldn't stay down there much longer or they would find her. To her misfortune, the two people who had arrived went straight to the elevator. They were a man and a woman, and Katniss was unable to recognise them from their voices.

"Just name your price," she heard the woman say.

Katniss caught her breath and peeked out slightly from her hiding spot. She could only see her back, her short hairstyle and elegant suit, she looked middle-aged. However, when she looked to the her side, she found the side profile of someone she did identify. That golden hair and tanned skin were definitely Finnick Odair's. His voice sounded tired, though he was cracking a smile.

"I don't need any money."

"Everybody knows what you do, Mr. Odair."

Katniss watched as he set his jaw, before fixing his gaze on his companion. He seemed more upset, all of a sudden.

"You're clearly mistaken."

"President Snow..."

Odair interrupted her by letting out a bitter laugh that surprised Katniss, and so was the woman. Then he lightly touched her arm, and leaning into her ear, said something Katniss couldn't quite make out. The woman, however, jerked away from him quickly, as if she had been burned.

"How do you know…?"

She was pale. Even from there Katniss noticed she was trembling. What had he told her to react like that?

"Goodnight, dear," Finnick concluded, with the smile he used to impress every time a camera focused on him.

The woman had no choice but to leave, her heels clicking on the cold marble, her expression broken. Katniss took a step forward, almost imperceptibly. The gesture, though, wasn't lost on Finnick, who turned his head in her direction at the same time the elevator beeped.

"Are you going in?"

Katniss moved forward silently, avoiding his gaze and wondering if it would be sensible to stand alone in such a reduced place with him.

"Do I know you?"

She shook her head and stood beside him, as far as the width of the elevator allowed her, wishing that at least her hair would cover her features. Maybe he wouldn't be able to place her. It was late and dark after all. Too late to be out and about. Perhaps he was also a drinker like Haymitch, a party-goer or whatever he was into. However, she noticed the victor's gaze, watching her carefully as the door closed.

"Yes, you're that girl." He sounded pleased to have noticed. "The one from District 12."

She didn't think it was a good idea to play along but...why did she care anymore? She was already dead, so she spoke.

"I wasn't listening," she muttered.

Katniss glanced at him and noticed a grimace spreading on his face, something from which Finnick recovered quickly. There was more concern on his face now and his eyelid seemed to be trembling.

"You'd better become a better liar, honey. Welcome to the Capitol," he wished her, leaning against the elevator railing. "What are you doing over here? Going for a walk?"

Katniss found herself blushing without wanting to. It didn't seem like he was that much older than her or the other older tributes. Of course, he had been the youngest winner in the history of the Games at only 14 years old. She had to admit, quite angry at herself, that it was true he was attractive. He was tall, had a perfect smile, well-proportioned features, and clear eyes. That only made him more annoying. Was that truly happening? What was she doing, speaking to Finnick Odair? It was so absurd she almost couldn't believe it.

"I don't know how these things work, okay?" She replied, crossing her arms. "I'm going to my level now."

"Relax, I'm not a Peacekeeper," he replied, letting out a light laugh. The way he had completely changed his demeanour was astonishing. "And don't worry, you'll get used to the technology."

Katniss stared at the ground. What if he told someone he had seen her? Although, truth be told, what was the worst they could do to her if they found out? Kill her? And why was the ride up taking so long? She felt her body tensing a bit more with each passing second.

"Has Estee taught you anything useful?"

"Excuse me?" she had to ask, since she hadn't heard him.

"Estee. She liked your snares."

Katniss had to stop herself from showing her surprise. So the tributes who had mentors in their right minds, at least apparently, talked more than they did to Haymitch… Katniss guessed Finnick Odair had something else to say besides the "stay alive" line from her mentor.

"She…makes good hooks."

"Yeah. She also told me you were good at it." Katniss turned to look at him, a little annoyed. Didn't he get tired of talking? "I wonder how a girl from 12 knows how to fish. It's rather unusual."

She held his gaze, though she caught the amused tone in his voice, like it was actually funny.

"Who says I do?" she replied.

Finnick gave her one last smile, before the doors opened on his floor.

"Sweet dreams, Miss Everdeen."

The young man looked back, but Katniss didn't answer him as she knitted her brows. The elevator continued to 12, leaving her with a strange feeling in her stomach. She wasn't sure if she had made a friend or her first enemy, but she did know she shouldn't have listened to whatever she had witnessed.

I cannot, for the life of me, remember how Peeta and Katniss came across the rooftop in their scene (or was it scenes?) and I don't think tributes were allowed to wander around at all(?). However, I do need Katniss and Finnick to meet before the Games so...I guess it's okay being unrealistic sometimes.

I've got to thanks all of you for reading and leaving reviews. Most of your questions will be answered as we progress in the story, but please, do ask them if you feel like it. I always love reading your opinion :)

Hope you are enjoying it!