『 𝗧𝗢𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗘 𝗕𝗨𝗥𝗡 』𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

Training

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Massive doors shut behind you. The parade's over. 

Silence. 

Now you face all the rest of the tributes. 22 children, most of whom will soon be dead. They all exit their chariots, ripping off the heavy and uncomfortable components of their outfits. You take in the room, most of the tributes are minding their own business, but a few of them glare at you from across the room. 

" Thanks for keeping hold of me. I was getting a little shaky there." Peeta spoke, drawing you out of your thoughts. 

You turn to face him completely, " It didn't show." 

Peeta smiles. " You should wear flames more often. They suit you." 

You press your lips together in a thin line and thank him quietly, taking off your cape. As you set the cape down on a nearby table you notice the girl from District 11, Rue, just a child, looking awfully shaky as she removes her costume. For some reason you can't seem to stop staring at her - she reminded you of someone.

Prim.

" That was wonderful! Wonderful! I knew there was a pretty girl under there somewhere! And you too, Peeta." Effie exclaims as she approaches you and Peeta, Haymitch following her. You hardly hear a thing she says however, still watching Rue. 

" I always say, if you put enough pressure on coal it turns to pearls!" Effie smiles fondly.

You tear your gaze from Rue and face Effie, " Oysters." 

" Hmm?" 

" Pearls come from oysters." You correct her. Effie tightens and only then do you realize how rude you sounded. 

" Sorry," You mumble, almost hoping she didn't hear you. 

" No, no, I'm sure you're right! Follow me!" Effie dismisses, turning on her heels and walking in the other direction. You feel guilt rise in your stomach for embarrassing her, but you quickly set your thoughts to other things. 

Following Haymitch and Effie into the elevator, Effie explains that since you and Peeta are from District 12 you will be staying on the very top floor. You've never been in an elevator before so you weren't sure if the ride was meant to be as long as it was, the only way you found comfort in the time however was the silence. No one spoke a word. 

When the elevator doors finally open, Effie leads the rest of you into the apartment. It was identical to the train that you took on the way here in the sense of grandeur. The delicacy of it all made you miss the simplicity of home. You wondered what Gale and Katniss would have to say about all of this. You couldn't wait to see them again, assuming you'll make it out of the games alive. 

Effie leads you to your room, where you change into a plain long sleeve shirt and a pair of grey pants. You study the room you're standing in, mostly staring at the blank walls around you. You notice a small black remote sitting on the nightstand beside the bed, walking across the room you stood in front of the nightstand and picked up the remote. 

You looked at it curiously for a few moments before you pressed one of the buttons. Immediately, a scene of the Capital streets appeared on the wall next to the bed. You quickly pressed the button again, having seen too much of the Capital already, and it changed to a scene from District 2. You clicked through all the images, not paying attention to any of them until finally you stop on one that reminds you of home. 

It's a forest, very similar to the one back in District 12. You feel as if you're in a trance, watching the sun shine through the trees and the breeze trickle between the branches. You could almost hear the birds chirping, wishing you could look to your side and see Katniss and Gale there beside you.