The Hunger Games

6

The Training Center was a tower designed exclusively for tributes and their teams. That would be their home until the actual Games began. Each district had an entire floor, the elevator took them to theirs once they clicked the button with the number of their district.

Alec had only ridden an elevator once. It had been the day he had received a medal for his father's bravery and death. That had been a creaky one, with dark walls and slow movement. The one from the Training Center had crystal walls and its speed reduced everyone to ants once it shot up into the sky. It was even exciting, Alec wanted to hop back in the elevator and ride it again but he knew Lydia would find that childish and not allow him to do it.

Apparently, Lydia's job wasn't just calling out the names of the tributes in District 12. She would be with them until they were sent off to the arena. It was helpful, because it was thanks to her schedule that they got to places in time, whereas Magnus was nowhere to be seen most of the day.

Lydia seemed to be excited because, for once in her life, her two tributes had made a splash in the opening ceremonies.

"I haven't revealed much about you two, though," she whispered, as they reached their floor. "I've done my best to make sure everyone knew about how you've overcome the barbarism of your district and have made it here."

Barbarism? It was ironic, coming from the woman helping to prepare them for slaughter.

"Unfortunately, I can't seal deals with sponsors, for you. Only Magnus can do that," she said, looking pissed, "But don't worry, I'll get him to the table at gunpoint, if necessary."

Despite disliking Lydia, Alec had to admit that she had a certain determination that would make up for Magnus' carelessness.

Alec's quarters were bigger than his entire house back home. He saw gadgets all over the place and he wondered just how many options someone could have in the Clave. The shower alone had had a panel with over a hundred options to regulate water pressure, its temperature, soaps, scents, oils... After stepping out on the mat, all he had to do to take care of his hair was place a hand on a box next to him that activated some kind of machine that dried, untangled and massaged his scalp.

Alec chose the clothes most similar to the ones back home, some extra soft sweatpants and a black hoodie with a plain shirt underneath. His curiosity took over him and he ended up clicking some buttons, which sent some type of puffy bread along with goose liver to his room. He paced around distractedly, while eating, until there was a knock on the door. Lydia called him for dinner.

Good, he thought. He was starving.

Maia, Lorenzo and the other stylist, whose name Alec hadn't bothered to learn, were in the balcony on their floor that overlooked the Clave. He was glad to see their stylists, particularly after hearing that Magnus would be joining them. Sharing a meal with only Lydia and Magnus, who Alec didn't exactly feel comfortable around, was bound to be a disaster.

Besides, dinner wasn't about the food tonight. They would discuss their strategies and it mattered that the stylists were there, as they had already proven themselves to be valuable.

A silent young man dressed in a white tunic offered each one of them a glass of wine. Alec thought of turning it down, but then again, when would he ever get that chance again? Taking a sip of it, Alec had to stop himself from gagging. He would have added, at least, a spoonful of honey.

Magnus showed up right when dinner was being served. It seemed like he also had a stylist, because he was groomed and as sober as he could get. Alec looked down with his cheeks slightly red when he realized just how truly handsome Magnus would be, if it weren't for his alcoholism.