Seven

The first few interviews moved way too fast for Katniss's liking. The public roared with fervor, laughed and cheered their favorites. Caesar Flickerman was also more than capable to turn an out of place or gloomy comment around with his wit. Katniss crumpled the dress as she grabbed it, twisting it nervously. She had no choice but let them turn her into a show monkey for a few minutes.

"Chin up, sweeheart," Haymitch advised her as the boy from 11, Thresh, was finishing.

Effie was upset about her almost shooting the Gamemakers themselves with an arrow in her individual assessment, while Haymitch had found it hilarious. She had been given an 11, she couldn't comprehend how, but it had been granted. It would make her a target for the Careers, no doubt. It was better to be cautious, to have a 6 maybe, since it was an acceptable mark, and then take all of them by surprise, but she had let herself be carried away by rage upon discovering their indifference. Haymitch had hit the nail on the head without barely knowing her: her biggest flaw was that she let her emotions dominate her.

When it was her turn, she didn't even have time to freeze, she walked across the stage instead as if she were floating, inside a dream and that was happening to someone else. It was a feeling similar to the one she had had walking up when she announced she volunteered. She was almost by Caesar's side when she remembered Effie's advice and forced herself into a smile she hoped didn't look insincere. She couldn't listen to Caesar's first question, though she got over it by answering about the first outfit Cinna had designed for them, and she was even able to joke about not having burned alive. The new dress trick that day helped as well, with Katniss spinning around and around to show it off and the audience clapping wildly.

By the time the interview was over her feet were aching because of her heels, her heart was racing, and she had had to mention Prim at the end, which made her uneasy, but it was done. At least that part of the show was over, she could now breathe and get rid of all the tension accumulated in her body. She had Cinna to thank for his amazing work. Alder was somewhat clumsier and concise with his monosyllabic responses, but he too took a deep breath as he came out of the stage.

"Alright, kids," Haymitch said, walking up to the two of them. "We're reaching the end."

Alder looked down as he wrapped his arms around them, then turned to Katniss.

"The dress thing was cool. At least I didn't trip."

"Thank you," Katniss murmured, before smiling at him. Poor thing.

The hallway leading to the lobby was completely crowded with the tributes, mentors, and their teams. The atmosphere was almost festive, although, of course, it was only an event for those who weren't going to risk their necks. Katniss supposed they were meant to follow some order to get back to the lobby and up to their levels, but, making their way through other tributes, she watched the entire team from 4 arrive, with a grinning Finnick Odair leading the way.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite district," he announced, before giving Haymitch a friendly shake. "Nice dress, darling."

Katniss looked from him to her very feet, feeling her face burn. She wished someone like him complimented her wouldn't affect her so much, knowing he probably didn't really mean it. Luckily, Estee arrived just in time to save her from embarrassment.

"Hello," Katniss said, turning to her. "You've done well."

The girl smiled, almost enthusiastically, and looked at the bottom of her dress.

"Thank you. It's really beautiful, you know. The best thing out of all the interviews."

"You really need to rest tonight," she heard Finnick suddenly say to all four of them. "No skipping the sleeping pills you will be given today, okay?"

"Listen to Odair for this once," Haymitch agreed. "Tomorrow's the big day."

Robin grumbled and said he would, before approaching Alder and Estee, while Haymitch entertained himself talking to who most likely was 11's mentor. Beside him, Rue looked even younger in the little chiffon dress she had worn. It hurt Katniss to just look at her, so she moved on in silence, not entertaining herself with any more chatter. Or at least she tried.

"I bet you still won't trust our intentions," she heard Finnick say behind her, barely a whisper. "But if you have any faith left in the goodness of other people… help each other. She's a good girl. I'm hoping you're too."

From the way he barely turned his head to look at her, Katniss guessed he didn't want anyone else to hear him. The others were too engrossed to notice them, and besides, they were practically at the back of the queue. By now most of the Careers would already be in the elevator or on their levels.

"I'm not even your responsibility."

Finnick gave a lopsided smile, before raising his voice, as if he could forget now about being discreet.

"Lucky me. You would've driven me crazy," he replied, fixing her with an amused look. "I kind of pity Haymitch."

Katniss didn't say anything else, she just shook her head slightly and moved forward until she was back with Estee. It was going to be their turn in the elevator, so they all stopped in front of the door.

"We'll look for you inside," she informed the blonde girl.

No further explanations were needed. She couldn't say she promised, but she was going to try. The girl nodded.

"I'll do too."

Katniss could feel the watchful gaze of her mentors as they spoke, silently. Estee reached out and shook her hand first and then Alder's, who took a moment to react. The wait was short, and soon the elevator reached the fourth level. Just before it came to a stop Katniss began to feel the panic rise in her throat, as if the emptiness made her aware of reality: the night was ending and the next day could be her last on earth. She would end up allying and saving that girl, ignoring her or killing her.

"Good luck," Odair wished them as the doors opened. "See you."

See you? Katniss repeated to herself suspiciously. It was a way of saying it, of dancing around the harsh reality. Avoiding saying the word goodbye wouldn't change their fate. She wasn't going to answer with more than a polite nod, but the possibility of this being a last time prompted her to leave everything she could nicely tie up. After all, he was doing them a favor she didn't understand. 4 was too important an ally to be dismissed, too big to worry about some scrawny kids from 12.

"See you."

Back on their floor, Katniss only had a couple of resolutions left for her last night: eat all she could for dinner, with strawberries for dessert and a piece of that cake Finnick had shown her, and, most importantly, finish writing her letters, farewell letters for home in case she didn't return alive. Dinner was especially painful, with the replays on the screen as background noise, Effie looking down, with a sadness that almost seemed real, and Haymitch…Haymitch was staring at them for too long, as if he thought they were going to fade away at any moment. Katniss wouldn't have taken him for a sentimental one, now she had her doubts. As a final piece of advice, he advised them to run as quickly as possible, getting away from the Cornucopia and the potential bloodbath at the beginning. They had to find a source of water and, of course, stay alive afterwards.

"Katniss," Alder stopped her right before they parted ways for the night. "If we get separated, I guess there'll be nothing to do but... but if we see each other in there, I prefer it not to be you."

She frowned a little, trying to meet his eyes, but Alder seemed to refuse to let it happen.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't be the one to kill me, please."

Then he did look at her, half embarrassed, half terrified, his lower lip quivering exaggeratedly. Katniss put her hands on his shoulders and leaned in a little, ignoring the shiver that started on the back of her neck.

"Alder, listen to me. I'd never do that to you."

The boy crashed against her body in search of a comfort she also needed. At that moment it didn't matter, because he was crying inconsolably, he was far from his family and he was certain that he would die. It was the same for her, although she had a spark of hope, she found it thinking about Prim and her father, about everything she had learned thanks to them and the hard life she had had to endure. If she ran out of hope she would have nothing left.

"I don't want to die," Alder murmured, his face pressed against her shoulder.

"Me neither. I'm so sorry, Alder," Katniss replied, as if she could let him know that at least he wasn't the only one with the same fear. She let him vent a bit, then pulled away. "Hey, listen. Finnick Odair has a point. You better not think too much about it. You should rest."

The boy slowly pulled away, nodding.

"Yes, I should. Just…if you come back tell my parents and my brothers that I love them."

"I will, Alder. I promise."

She didn't get to know if he listened to her or not, because in the morning Katniss found herself alone with Cinna and Haymitch. She knew they would take her somewhere without her mentor, before entering the arena, so she seized the moment for the only favor she expected him to truly do.

"I've written letters," she informed him, handing him the small stack. "For my family, my friends and one for Alder, if he wins. There is also one for Cinna and for Odair."

The last one was very short, more like a note than a letter, but she wanted to thank him for her help. Being grateful was something her parents had taught her.

"That's a lot of letters. I didn't know you were a poet, Everdeen."

Katniss stared at him, but was actually comforted seeing that Haymitch continued to treat her like the days before and not as if she were a lamb on the way to the slaughterhouse.

"Give it to them."

"I will, but you won't need them," he said with a conviction that made Katniss's mouth drop. "Do what you do best and survive. You may be the first female winner from District 12, sweetheart."

"Thank you, Haymitch."

Her nerves began to accumulate in her stomach. That was it, the dreaded farewell. Both on the way to the hovercraft and after the tracking device was attached to her, Katniss couldn't stop thinking of the possibilities over and over again. What would the Arena be like? A desert, a group of islands? Or maybe a forest? The thought of coming across something familiar gave her a certain advantage.

Cinna letting her do her usual simple braid relaxed her somewhat. The outfit assigned to them was so much like a uniform, with long pants and a black jacket, Madge's pin tucked behind a lapel and a stout belt. The clothing wasn't too thin to freeze to death or too thick either. The halfway point had to mean good news. Her brown boots were similar to the ones she had at home, although they were more comfortable, so she would be able to run properly with them.

She wasn't able to speak anymore, but Katniss allowed herself to hold Cinna's hands for a moment. Meanwhile, he reminded her to listen to Haymitch and stay away from the Cornucopia, and that if he could, he would have bet on her. As a female voice rang out throughout the room, Katniss walked tentatively to the platform that would take her up to the Arena. The last thing she saw before the transparent cylinder moved her was Cinna tapping his chin, as if he wanted to tell her to keep her head up. The tube propelled her upwards, engulfed in deep darkness, but soon after an intense light nearly blinded her. The wind was whipping hard in her face, almost like the forest at 12. The air was also fresh as it had been on the prairie. Right at that moment, the voice of the presenter Claudius Templesmith resounded around her:

"Ladies and gentlemen, let the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games begin!"

Short chapter but now the actions begins. I hope you are enjoying this as much as I am. See you next week!