The Hunger Games; Peeta

~Tributes On Fire~

A couple of hours later, I am dressed in what will either be the coolest thing I have ever worn, or the last thing I ever wear.

It's a simple black unitard that covers my whole body from ankle to neck. Leather boots are laced up my calves and a billowing cape flutters behind me, made of orange, red and a matching headpiece thingy. Portia and Cinna want to set them on fire. I would like to live.

"It's not real fire of course," says Cinna, speaking
for the first time I've ever heard him. His voice is low and calming. "Just something synthetic, you'll both be totally safe."

I am not totally convinced I will not  turn into toast by the end of the day.

The guy from district one are absolutely massive. He is muscular and fit. The girl has flowing blonde hair and will surely get a whole truckload of sponsors because of her looks. She is pretty, sure. But not as pretty as Katniss.

They come out on a chariot, pulled by Snow White horses. They are spray painted silver, in intricate silver tunics glittering with jewels- district 1 makes luxury stuff for the Capitol, so every year their costumes are sparkly and fabulous.

District 2 get behind them and follow them outside into the jostling crowd, and pretty soon we are coming up to the door and I can see the edge of the sky peeking out from the huge iron doors.

"Here we go then!" Says Cinna, and he reaches up and lights Katniss's cape on fire. I hear her gasp and put out a hand, but before I can reach her the prosthetic flames engulf me too. Her face it lit up, beautiful. Strong.

"Remember heads high and smile! They're going to love you!" Says Portia from the ground. Cinna leaps off the chariot and shouts at us to hold hands. I feel my face go red, whether from the flames or...something else.

"What's he saying?" Katniss yells at me. She looks dazzling with the flames. Like a star.
"I think he said for us to hold hands!" I say loudly back.

And in a rush of courage I grab her hand and I see Cinna give us a thumbs up from the ground that is slowly getting further away. Soon the city fades into view.

There are screams coming from every direction, chanting district 12 or just yelling general words of praise at us. To be honest, it was all pretty overwhelming. I felt my grip on Katniss's hand tighten. I glance up and see me and Katniss displayed on screens on the sides of the road. And my breath is taken away at how beautiful she looks. In the night, the fire illuminated her face. The makeup makes her look striking, yet only enhances her features rather than hiding them.

Katniss begins to smile and wave at the people of the capitol with her free hand. I make sure my grip on her is tight, the last thing I need is for her to fall out of the damn chariot before the games have even started.

She even begins to blow kisses and the audience are going wild, screaming and reaching out to grab our hands, mine which is now extended over the edge of the chariot reaching for the people I really hate. But I keep smiling regardless because more sponsors equals a better chance of Katniss surviving.

I suddenly take notice of the pounding music, barely audible between all of the cheering and the admiration working it's way into our chariot. No one will forget Katniss. No one can forget her. She will be remembered as the girl on fire, and hopefully they might remember me too, to give me enough sponsors to survive long enough for me to keep her safe.

"Katniss! Katniss!" The audience chants, and I don't think I've ever been more thankful all the attention isn't on me, I think if it was i might pass away. Far too prematurely for Snow.

Someone throws me a rose, and I see one fall into Katniss's hand aswell. She blows another kiss and hands reach up to grab it, as if they could actually touch it. I wish I could catch it.

All this time Katniss has been gripping my hand steadily tighter. But u don't want her too ever let go. She must've had the same thought as me because she looks down at our hands and then tries to let go, but I quickly stop her.

"No, please don't let go." The firelight flickers in her eyes. "I really don't want to fall out of this thing."

"Ok." She says, and she keeps holding on. We join the circle of chariots in the city circle. In all the buildings important looking faces peek out of the windows. We pull up right in front of the presidential mansion and I watch as president snow comes out onto his balcony. The reason why I'm here to die. Why I won't ever see my father again. Why Katniss might...no I will keep her alive.

He says a few words, and then the camera lingers on us as we enter the doors on the other side of the huge strip of walkway, into the training centre.

The doors have only just shut behind our chariot when Katniss and I are engulfed by the prep teams. As I look around whilst trying to talk and congratulate everyone, I see some of the other tributes giving us dirty looks. Not a brilliant start.

Cinna and Portia help us out if the chariot and remove the flaming caps and head torches. Then Katniss is prising her fingers out of mine, and I only then realise how sore it is and begin to rub it. But I'm thankful she held it.

"Thanks for keeping hold of me. I was getting a bit shaky there." I say.

"No one could tell." She says "I bet no one noticed."

I feel a jolt of electricity run through me.

"I'm pretty sure they didn't notice anything more than you. You should wear flames more often; they suit you." And I try and smile at her, to tell her I'm going to protect her and look after her. And then she does the absolute unexpected, causing butterflies to erupt inside of my stomach.

She stands on her tiptoes, reached up and kissed my cheek.