Brutal, bloody mentor.

And so the real games begin.

Deja was awoken by a light shaking, she turned over and was greeted with Lucus right in her face grinning, ''Wake up the day has finally come!" He shouted, Deja headbutted him and smiled, ''Sorry, just getting ready, last minute training?" She was in high spirits from her 13 hours of sleep, which was partially a good thing considering she'd need all her energy for that day. ''You got an hour to get ready! Your new stylist will come and get you!" Lucus called as he walked out, Deja laughed to herself, Lucus was being kinder than usual, probably sweetening her up before the games. The games, Deja thought as the warm water hit against her back, the smell of strawberries filling the room, she couldn't remember what had happened, her last memory was the interviews, ''Go home and marry her.'' The words echoed into her head, it was the last thing she could remember, what had happened after? She asked herself. After her shower she got dressed in simple black pants and a green shirt, not bothering to do anything with her hair apart from put it up in a simple bun, looking in the mirror she barely recognized herself, the last time she'd warn her hair in a bun was the funeral. She took ahold of the pendant on the chair that rested around her neck, ''I guess I'll be seeing you soon-" Her whisper was cut off by a knock at the door.

Deja opened to door and was welcomed by Nallia smiling at her, ''Come come, it is time! Your stylist will be waiting for you in the launch room!" Nallia escorted Lucus and Deja to the back where there were hovercrafts awaiting them to board, Deja looked around for Cato but could not see him, she did see the Mentor from District 12 glaring at her, she snapped back to a suddenly teary eyed Nallia, ''Remember your manners and I'll see you soon." She said and scooped them both up into a hug, ''Thank you for being the biggest handfuls ever." ''Where's my hug then?" Cato's husky voice came from behind them and Deja jumped back, looking at Cato who was going in for a hug to Nallia, ''You're still an idiot, be careful." Nallia then began whispering something Deja couldn't quite make out, they pulled away and Nallia walked off sniffing, obviouly ready to cry, ''Lucus go ahead, I'll be right behind you, I need a work with Deja." Cato said authoritatively, Lucus walked toward the hovercraft without hesitation as Cato turned towards Deja who looked down at the floor wearily, uncomfortable with all the peacekeepers that surrounded then, guarding them from freedom, ''How are you feeling?" He asked, ''Well, I can't remember half of last night and I'm probably going to bed dead by the end of the day so I guess I'm brilliant.'' Deja's voice trembled, ''I don't know what I can say apart from, you need to try. I have something for you." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a white gold ring coated in sapphires and diamonds in a peculiar pattern, Deja was amazed at it's beauty, ''It was my mother's, she always wanted me to give it to someone special." Cato said sadly as he pushed it onto her finger, Deja bit back tears, ''But you the person back at home you need to-" "That was a lie, I had to so people would stop suspecting us, Snow made me do it! Please understand!" Cato cried as he pushed back the loose strands that had fallen free from Deja's bun, she wasn't in the mood to argue so she told herself every bad thing Cato had done was another person, and the man in front of her was all the good of Cato, she carefully took off her necklace and put it around his neck, ''I can only have one token in the arena.''  ''It's a mockingjay right?" Cato asked as he stroked the silver bird, ''Yes, this was my mother's too." Deja said numbly, the sad thoughts coming back to her, Cato saw her sadness but didn't dare dig deeper, instead he took her hand which held the ring and used his free hand to hold her face. He pulled her into one last kiss when nobody was looking, it was quick but sweet, ''Deja, I-" Cato's vital words were interupted by a Peacekeeper's, "It's time to go loverboy." He said mockingly, but Cato was resiliant, ''Wait I just need to-" "No, go, now, enough talk, more walk." The Peacekeeper put his hand on Cato's shoulder, one of the biggest mistakes of his life, Cato lashed out and it took four Peacekeepers to drag him into a hovercraft, Deja just followed, horrified. When she went to go into the hovercraft she was stopped, ''Sorry ma'lady, you need to go in the other one, this is the Male Tribute craft." He said kindly, as he escored her to the Female Tribute hovercraft she managed to get a sneaky look over her shoulder, Cato sat in his chair looking towards her, trying to mouth something to her but she couldn't make it out.

In the hovercraft, to her dismay, Deja was sat next to the blonde from One who tried to talk to her, but she was just blunt and dismissive, eventually she gave up and turned to talk to the girl on her other side. ''Arm?" A stern looking lady asked Deja, before she could react the woman grabbed her arm and jabbed a large needle like thing deep into her wrist, ''Agh.'' Deja cried as she felt something make it's way under her skin, ''A tracker so we know where you are, protocall." The woman said before continuing to put tracker's into people's arms. It felt like forever but finally the hovercraft stopped. Everyone was escorted to separate rooms, the nice peacekeeper from earlier escorted her to the door and smiled, ''Good luck m'lady." He said before opening the door for her and closing it behind her after she walked in. In front of her was a man in his possibly early 30s, he looked normal for a Capitol citizen in a black shirt and pants, if it wasn't for the golden eyeliner that rested on the bottom of his eyelid he would look like someone from a District, his green eyes shone when he smiled and offered out his hand to Deja, ''Hi, my name is Cinna, I'm your last minute replacement stylist." He said kindly, Deja took an instant liking to him, ''It's a privilege to meet to mastermind behind the most influential opening ceremony costume ever." Deja shook his hand exciitedly, then realised what she was doing and pulled away embarased, ''Sorry.'' She blushed, Cinna laughed, ''It's okay, it's a pleasure to meet basically District 2 royalty, you must get this a lot, I am sorry to hear about your-" "Please, I'd rather not think about it, sorry." Deja frowned, not wanted the bad memories to come again, not when she needed to be as focused as ever, ''It's okay, I understand, here's your clothes, there's a screen you can change behind, then I'll get to work on your hair." Cinna said happily handing her some clothes.

She stood in a black vest top, khaki coloured pants and a brown jacket which was warm and layered, Cinna decided to stick with her simple bun but ofcourse done it more professionally, since her hair was only short, he let the loose layers roam freely around her face giving it an effortless look. ''Beautiful." He said with a smile, taking a seat opposite her and handing her a glass of water, ''We still have five minutes. can I ask you something?" Cinna said taking a sip from his own glass, ''Sure." Deja replied wearily, "What will you do if it comes down to just you and Cato?" Cinna asked seriously, she almost spat out her drink, ''How did you?" She could barely speak, "It was so staged, when Cato spoke of going home to someone he loves, it wasn't in his eyes, I figured it must be you." Cinna spoke in a serious tone as if he disapproved, ''But know this, he may be charming and loving, but he's a heartless murderer and I don't want to see you get killed because you feel in love, think of your father." Cinna continued, ''Look I know it must have been hard for you since he killed the person who was like, your legacy but, he was just trying to go home." Deja tried to reason but she could see the hurt in Cinna's eyes, "She was weakened by love, I don't want to see that happen to anyone else." He said sadly, before any more could be said there was a voice from above their heads, ''30 seconds." Deja made her way over to the glass tube, ''Thank you." Deja said with a fake smile, "I know you'll make the right choice, for you." CInna said with a smile, ''20 seconds.'' Deja started laughing nervously and Cinna took her hand in comfort, ''10 seconds." "I'm scared." Deja whispered, her voice trembling, "5 seconds" "I believe in you Deja!" He called, stepping away as the glass tube closed, Deja closed her eyes and awaited her fate.

A cold breeze hit her as she felt her concealment fade, she was too scared to open her eyes. ''Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 79th Hunger Games! This year is very special, and it just got even more so. As you may notice, there are four different arenas, each holding 9 tributes at random, when four tributes die in each arena then they will be transported to two new arenas, each holding six of the remaining tributes, when there is three left in the two then they will be taken to a final arena, where one will come out victorious. Let the games begin in 60 seconds..."

Panic set in, her palms went sweaty, Cato was not in the arena with her, but the girl from One was, she was smiling at Deja with a look that said ''You're first.'' Deja twiddled with the ring Cato had gave her and prayed to somehow make it to Cato, the only thing motivating her was the need to know what Cato was going to say.