Prim's Games

Chapter 4-PRIM

We go into the City Circle and all the other tributes throw us smirks, except for the brown haired tribute from District 11. An alliance with her might help me out, because she doesn't look like the type who would stab me in the back. President Snow gives his required speech and we head into the Training Center. The doors close, and Cinna rushes up to us and says "Omygosh, I'm so sorry! The flames, we tested them! I don't know why-"

"It's okay Cinna," I say. "There's still our scores from the training right? And we made an amazing entrance. Really, I screwed it up by freezing when the flames went out. If it wasn't for Archer, I might have messed up way worse than I did."

The Training Center has a tower designed for the tributes, and each district has it's own floor, and we get to go up in an elevator. I've never been in an elevator before, and it's amazing, zooming up and watching all the people on the ground below, scattered like ants. I want to ask if I can ride it again, but it seems childish so I hold back.

Apparently, Effie and Haymitch will be escorting us into the arena which is good, because it'll be a chance to squeeze a little more information about the Games from Haymitch. Effie is a little miffed because of our costume failure. She says "Well at least you looked good while it lasted, and I tried to go around and garner you some sponsors, although not too many people were keen on it, you might get some help. Primrose, the whole scene where you volunteered for your sister has got some people feeling sorry for you, the whole 'little girl volunteers out of loyalty angle' is working in your favor. Unfortunately, I can't seal sponsor deals. That's Haymitch's job, and if he doesn't do it, you guys don't have much of a chance." Archer and I exchange a glance. If Haymitch's previous behavior tells us anything, there's a good chance he won't do it.

My room is larger than our house at home, with so many gadgets and buttons, I won't be able to try them all out. The shower has a panel with so many options like soaps, shampoos, temperature, scents, water pressure and more. Heaters automatically blow dry my body after the shower, and I merely have to place my hand on a device to untangle and perfectly part my hair and the closet picks an outfit to my taste. I discover I can program my view of the Capitol from the windows and all I have to do is whisper the name of a food through a mouthpiece and it'll appear in front of me, nice and hot in a few seconds. Effie comes to call me to dinner, and I head out. I'm glad to hear Haymitch has a stylist, there's a chance of him being semi-sober at least.

Haymitch shows up as dinner is being served, and my hopes disappear, because he's drunk and stumbling in, even though he looks put together. Effie and Cinna make small talk as she compliments him on the costume. I focus on the dinner, which looks amazing. It's mushroom soup, thinly sliced roast beef, noodles in sauce and sweet grapes. Soon, they wheel out a huge cake, and it's lit on fire.

"I planned that for after your fiery debut, but I put spirits on the cake instead of the spray. Sorry, I forgot to cancel it after it didn't work." Cinna admits sheepishly.

"It's okay. I mean you got us cake for this. I'm sure no other stylist did that for their tributes. Also, at least you tried to make us shine. I'm sure these will be the most memorable costumes District 12 will ever wear in the Games. Thank you Cinna." I say, smiling at him.

"Yeah. Plus, at least it wasn't like real fire. And our entrance was amazing. You know, I never figured a Capitol stylist could have so much creativity and depth. You really surprised me Cinna. I'm glad you asked for District 12. You honestly could take on any other district you wanted, you're so imaginative." says Archer.

"Thanks you guys," says Cinna "Now let's eat." We dig into the cake, and afterwards we go to watch the replay of the opening ceremony in a nearby sitting room. We made the best first impression, but the other districts' performance was far more memorable.

"Who came up with the idea of you two holding hands?" asks Effie.

"Cinna did." I respond, realizing just then that the other tributes had stood stiffly apart, while we were holding hands. At least we stood out in one way.

"Brilliant. You two look like friends instead of enemies about to kill each other. I love it," Effie squeals "Oh! And I have to tell Haymitch..." She stares over at Haymitch drunkenly sleeping. "I'll tell him later. But I have a brilliant idea that might guarantee one of you the win! Oh I'm so excited, I can't believe I'd never thought of it before!" She says gleefully. She heads inside, leaving the rest of us to only guess at what she has planned. Archer and I head in, leaving Haymitch snoring on the couch, which I feel kind of bad about but not bad enough to help him.

That night, I have terrible dreams, of Katniss getting killed in the Games and Mom deciding I wasn't worth staying around for, leaving me to fend for myself. I end up waking up especially early, take a shower, relishing it the entire time knowing I might not ever get the luxury again and wear the simple tunic, tight pants and leather shoes in front of my closet, and head out, hoping breakfast will be ready. It is, and I start serving myself, as no one else is there.

Soon, Haymitch and Archer show up, and we start eating. Haymitch is mostly sober, at least. I'm slightly miffed that Cinna made sure Archer and I were wearing the same outfits, but I guess he wants to play the angle of us being friends, to hopefully gain us sponsors after the failed fire fiasco.

I let my thoughts drift to Katniss and Mom. I hope they're okay, and that Mom hasn't sunken the way she did when Dad died. I wish I could see them again, just one last time. I swallow the lump in my throat, and try to think of the upcoming training. We'll get three days to train for the Games, then have to go in front of the Gamemakers. I have to be careful then. Too high a score, and the other tributes will try to pick me off quickly. Too low a score, and I won't get any sponsors. If I do survival one day, defense another and attacking the third I might do well. Of course, every tribute from the lower districts probably has the same idea.

"Okay I'll be training you two separately." says Haymitch.

"Wait, you'll help us?" I blurt out. I couldn't help but ask.

"Unbelievable. What's the catch?" says Archer.

"Well there isn't any. You two are young, and need help if either of you plans on survival. Either of you have skills that may help?" he asks.

"Um...I'm learning healing from my mother." I respond.

"That's useful, knowing what you can and can't eat in the woods and being able to heal yourself if you're injured are good Prim. Any weapon skills?"

"Um...no. I don't like the thought of killing anything, but because I have to, I thought I'd try to make the most of my training sessions for that."

"Okay, you're fine for now. And you Archer?"

"Well, I'm the opposite. I'm skilled with a knife, but I don't have any survival skills whatsoever when it comes to healing and that stuff." he says.

"Great! You two should learn as much as you can in training about what you don't know, and then form an alliance. Archer can take down any tributes who get in your way, and hunt for game. Prim can gather herbs and heal any injuries or anything. You two are a perfect team. Just try to find maybe one or two other trustable tributes, and you'll be great! That girl from District 11 looks trustable, but I'm not sure who else you guys would want in an alliance. Okay, kids you need to go. You need to meet Effie for the first training session at ten by the elevator." Haymitch says.

We head inside, and I clean my teeth and smooth out my hair. I'm really anxious about meeting the other tributes. I take a deep breath, telling myself that they're probably not all backstabbers, and head out. We take the elevator to the training room, where I notice that Archer and I are the only ones who are dressed alike. Someone pins the number 12 onto our backs, and we join a circle of tributes, when a tall woman begins explaining the schedule. Experts in each skill will be at stations. We can go wherever we'd like. We can't fight with the other tributes, only with assistants at the stations. I look around as she reads the list of skills we can practice, and I notice that all the boys and most of the girls, except one are bigger and stronger than me. I clearly won't have much of an advantage here, except for the fact that I know healing well.