The 53rd Annual Hunger Games

Arriving in The Capitol

I'm the only thirteen year-old, there's a boy who's fourteen and three twelve year-olds. The rest of the tributes are 16, 17 or 18. In that moment I lose all my hope, they're going to kill me... On the TV they have moved on to District 3. One of the twelve year-olds are from 3. Her name is Mayna, and she looks a lot like me, in fact. But her hair is a bit darker and she is smaller than me. She seems so scared and insecure, I feel sorry for her. Then they pick the boy, he's the complete opposite of Mayna. He's 18 years old; he is tall, muscular and looks brutal. His black hair is hanging down in his eyes. "I want him as my ally." Tandor says to Blight. "Then I want Mayna." I say. Tandor looks at me with a confused look, why would I ally with the only person smaller than me? I think that the five of us "small" kids should team up, we're stronger together. And besides, the other tributes will probably overlook us, and we can become a bigger threat than they think. But I keep this for myself, Tandor is one of my biggest threats, so I don't want him to know about my plan. From 4 the girl is a career, but the boy seems like he's fifteen, and he doesn't volunteer. On the list it says that he's 17 just like the girl, he must be small for his age. I continue to study the list and when I look at the screen it has moved on to 6. The girl is mysterious, she has straight black hair and dark eyes. Her skin is pale; she doesn't make eye contact with anyone and barely says a word. She is sixteen. Then they show our reapings. I don't look as scared as I was, but it doesn't matter when Tandor is chosen. I'm nothing compared to him. One of the 12-year olds is from 8. She has long, light brown hair in two braids, and she is a bit taller than me. Her name is Diane. The boy from 8 is 17 and creepy, looking like he wants to kill everyone in the area. The only 14-year old comes from 9; he has chocolate brown hair down to his shoulders which is almost covering his eyes. His name is Cud, and he's actually kind of cute. The last 12-year old is from 11, his name is Winston. The tributes from 12 could've been twins; they both have blond, curly hair and blue eyes.

"So that was the other tributes, what do you think?" Rietta asks. I notice something in her voice; she doesn't have an accent! The strange capitol accent is gone. "The average age must be 16 or 17, and that is kind of frightening. Did I hear wrong, or did you just speak without your Capitol accent?" I ask. She seems shocked, and doesn't know what to answer. "I heard it too..." Tandor says and looks questioning at her. "I... I clearly spend too much time in this district!" she answers in a really excessive accent, something is wrong here. "Oh, I forgot to show you your rooms! Come here!" she says and walks out of the car. We follow her as she shows us our rooms. My room is simple, with a bed and a wardrobe. I pick some clothes from the wardrobe and sit down at my bed. I think about the other tributes. I want to ally with Cud, Mayna, Diane and Winston. We are the only ones who are not in the ages of 16-18. Maybe the careers will overlook us. That's positive, maybe they won't use their time chasing us in the arena. At least if they don't know we're a team. I really hope they want to ally with me. Maybe Cud doesn't want to, he is older than me, and I'm no use for him. I walk through a door in my room, and find a bathroom. Good, I could really use a shower right now! The shower has a lot of buttons, and I don't even know what one of them is. I press one and ice cold water is streaming down, I quickly press another one, and now the water has normal temperature. I find a button for shampoo and wash my hair.

We're here, we are in The capitol. People are cheering and screaming everywhere, and I try to ignore them. I'm not very excited for the tribute parade tonight, I guess we are trees as usually. My prep team is dressed in all kind of colors, and their hair is blue, pink and purple. Their faces are full of weird make-up. I don't even bother about their names, I don't want anything to do with people from Capitol. They shave my legs, it hurts. They clean my body, and complain about how dirty I am, even though I took a shower on the train. Then they leave, and my stylist comes in. "Hello, my name is Menique, how are you?" he asks. He looks like every other Capitol citizen, with crazy hair and strange clothes. "I'm fine. What will I be wearing at the parade?" I ask, hoping it's not a stupid tree costume. "Your dress will look like a leaf. It's tight at your chest, but pays out with your knees, just like the shape of a leaf." He answers and gives me the dress. It's green, and some spots are glittering, like the reflection of the sun in a water drop on a leaf. It's really beautiful, and I can see the nerves on the leaf on my dress. "Tandor will be wearing something similar, only his trousers are grey/brown like a branch. You will also have this flower garland." Menique informs me and puts a garland on my head. We walk out and meet Tandor and his stylist, Rietta and Blight. I look at the other tributes; the careers have the prettiest costumes. Tandor and I step up on the chariot, and I see the District 1 chariot drive out.