𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔼𝕊- ℂ𝔸𝕋𝕆 ℍ𝔸𝔻𝕃𝔼𝕐 𝕏 𝕆/ℂ

02| Capitol

𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓰𝓾𝔂𝓼 𝓽𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝓶𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓮𝓼, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓭𝓸𝓷'𝓽𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓬𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓪𝓷𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾'𝓻𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓲𝓼 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓽𝓸 𝓭𝓲𝓼𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓪𝓻

''Congratulations'' The scraggly blond walks over to the alcohol and picked up a glass bottle filled with a caramel colored liquid, he pours some into a glass. ''Where's the ice'' Haymitch asked, ''I don't know'' Peeta says. ''May I'' Haymitch gestures towards the chair in front of Peeta, he sits down and Peeta leans forward. ''Okay so when do we start'' Peeta stated enthused, ''Wow so eager, most of you aren't in a hurry'' he remarks sarcastically.

''Yeah i wanna know what the plan is, your our mentor your supposed to-'' Haymitch cuts him off, ''Mentor?'' he questioned. ''Yeah. Our mentor, you're supposed to tell us how to get sponsors and give us advice'' Peeta said getting agitated, '' Oh. Um, embrace the probability of your imminent death. And know in your heart, that there's nothing i can do to save you.'' he replied drunkenly, ''So why the fuck are you here'' Alice asked finally deciding to join the conversation. ''The refreshments'' Haymitch said swirling the whiskey around the crystal glass. 

''Okay, I think that's enough of that'' Peeta attempted to take the glass but Haymitch pins him down with his foot, ''Nice reflexes boozer'' Alice smirked. ''Thanks sweetheart, you know i think i'll go finish this in my room'' Haymitch steadily gets up and stumbles out of the compartment. ''Were fucked'' Alice laughed but there was no humour in her voice, Peeta stands up abruptly making her jump a little. ''It's no use'' she tried to argue, ''Im gonna go talk to him'' he says flashing her a quick smile before leaving as well.

She grabs the tv remote and turns on the tv, she saw Caesar Flickerman's smiling face talking about past victors, ''Now for what you have all been waiting for the reaping ceremonies, now lets start with District 1.'' the screen flashes to a stage, ''I volunteer'' a boy calls out walking up to the stage. ''What's your name?'' the escort asks, ''Marvel Sanford'' the boy states, ''Okay and now for the girl'' the escort takes out another piece of card ''Glimmer Belcort'' she calls and a blond haired girl steps out of the crowd smirking slightly. ''Okay now for District 2'' Caesar says and the screen switches once again, another escort is standing there and is reading out the name on the card when a girl shouts ''I volunteer'' a brown haired girl walks up to the stage, ''what's your name'' the escort asks. ''Clove Kentwell'' she smirked, ''and now for the boy'' she reaches into it and pulls out a card and reads out a boys name. ''I volunteer'' a boy's voice shouts.

A muscular blond haired boy walked up to the stage, ''What's your name sir?'' the escort asked ''Cato Hadley'' he said smirking. Why is he actually so hot? No stop you'll probably be the first person he kills in the arena. She sighed and turned the tv off, she couldn't help but think of what might happen. How those strong muscular arms were probably going to snap her neck in seconds, as soon as she stepped foot in the arena she was going to be dead. 

Alice gets up and goes into the dining cart, she looked surprised to see Haymitch and Peeta having a civil conversation, ''You mind if i join you'' Alice asked sitting down next to Peeta. ''Go ahead sweetheart i was just giving some life saving advice'' Haymitch said putting a piece of toast on his plate, ''Like what?'' she asked. ''Oh, I was just asking about how to find shelter'' Peeta said taking a sip of his drink, ''You should eat something Alice'' Peeta said with a look of worry in his eyes.

''Im not hungry'' she said, ''How do you find shelter'' Haymitch just sighed. ''Pass the jam'' he said, ''How do you find shelter''  she retorted voice raising slightly. ''You know the boy is right you should eat something your like a twig.. oh wait do you not eat?'' he smirked. Alice felt anger surge through her and she grabbed a butterknife and stabbed it in his hand. ''Ow shit'' Haymitch shouted as blood started to pour out of his hand, he looked up in anger but then a smirk comes on his face. ''So i've finally got a fighter this time, good with knives huh sweetheart'' he said as Effie came in

''Goodness what happened to your hand Haymitch?'' Effie shrieked in surprise, she looks at the blood covered knife in Alice's hand. ''Why would you stab him?'' she shouted, ''He brought up my eating disorder'' she shrugged walking out of the compartment and into the back carriage. She sat looking out the back window when she heard the door open, ''I swear if thats you Haymitch you better leave if you want to keep your spleen'' she spat. ''Its just me'' Peeta reassured and he sat down next to her. 

''What do you want'' she asked agitation taking over her voice, ''Is it true?'' he whispered in a saddened tone. ''What the fuck are you talking about'' she sneered, ''About your eating d-'' Alice cut him off before he could finish the sentence. ''Look its none of your business i mean were about to be sent to our deaths so it doesn't matter since we'll be dead anyway'' she said tears brimming her eyes. ''You should at least eat something otherwise you'll die of starvation in the arena'' he said in concern, ''I'd much rather die of starvation than a knife in my throat'' she remarked. ''Well here'' he pulls out a piece of bread, ''please at least eat some of this'' he broke off a piece and put it towards her mouth. ''I'm not a baby i can feed myself-'' this time Peeta cut her off, ''Just let me do this'' he pleaded and he gave her a soft smile.

They sat there for about half an hour until Haymitch walked in, and he appeared to be even more drunk than before. ''Oh here they are, the star-crossed lovers'' he laughed sarcastically, ''Careful not to fall in love, love is your number one enemy. Love is dangerous it can get you killed but you can use it to your advantage but be careful because some may use that tactic against you'' he now stated all humour being drained from his face. ''Now sweetheart as we've already established your good with knives'' he said holding up his now bandaged hand, ''Now is there anything your good at'' he asked. ''I'm good with swords and i can fight'' she replied confidently.

''That's good now Peeta what can you do?'' Haymitch asked ''Not much'' he mumbled, ''He is strong'' Alice said. ''Yeah I guess-'' he whispered, ''Now we'll be at the Capitol soon so get ready for the crowds'' Haymitch said getting up from the seat. ''Wait what crowds'' Peeta questioned, ''The Capitol crowds, remember just smile and wave they just want a good show'' Haymitch said before leave the compartment. Peeta huffed, ''Hey it will be okay alright, lets just give them a good show then we can go cry in our rooms'' she joked and Peeta let out a chuckle. 

''Hey if you don't mind me asking why do you know not eat'' Peeta whispered, ''Ever since my dad died i've never seen the point in living'' tears started falling down her face. ''I mean we were so close its like my whole world stopped, i was scared to open my eyes because i knew he wasn't going to be there but my mom got distant so i looked after my sister Prim and i pretended i was okay because i didn't want her to worry about me but now i know she is going to worry about me and it hurts so bad. Im her older sister i should be the one worrying about her, i should be there protecting and loving her but instead im going to be here fighting for my life. God i hate these fucking games.'' Her head was on Peeta's shoulder and his arm was around her.

''You'll be okay if it comes down to it i'll sacrifice myself for you i promise, your getting out of the arena'' he said, ''No what about your family'' she argued. ''They don't care about me'' he replied sadly, ''No im sure that's no- what's that noise?'' she suddenly asked and they walked out of the compartment to the dining cart to see Capitol people waving through the window and Haymitch turned to them. ''Smile and wave if you want sponsors'' he stated, Alice put on a smile and waved and Peeta did the same. The crowd started cheering and waving even more enthusiastically back at them. Then it occurred to her, maybe i could have a chance