The Capitol Games

Chapter 3

My first thought? Run. My second thought? Kill myself when I get the chance. My third thought? No, be brave and fight, and come back here for Lillie and Krissie and Mum.

I decide on the third. Whilst i was having my mental debate, everyone around me had spread aside to form a path to the stage. I walk shakily along. My legs are shaking so much I think I'm going to fall over any second. Effie beckons me forward, and she grabs my hand and helps me up the steps to the platform. Then she shoves a microphone into my hand and asks the rest of our Section whether its time to find out who the male tribute is. The crowd is silent.

The clicking of Effie's heels the only sound, she struts towards the other globe. This time there's no hesitation. She grabs a name and tells us that the boy fighting for Section 4 will be...

"Pip Crane"

I should've known. Seneca Crane's son. Great. Just what I need. I guess i should be more sympathetic: he has lost his father after all. Then again, my father ran away from my mother with another woman, so I've never had some to look after me other than my mother. I love her all the same though. I would still be in this position with or without my father, whoever he is.

Pip walks up to the stage, with his usual lopsided walk, and, with a swish of his long chestnut brown hair, jumps up the steps to the stage. His big brown eyes were darting around, like a rabbit about to be shot. Effie tells the rest of our Section to "give a big round of applause to the tributes from Section 4!" Nobody moves. They just stare; they stare at Effie, how she betrayed us, they stare at the rebels guarding the stage, they stare, stare at what the rebels have turned us into.

Then, all of a sudden, Effie whisks us away to prepare for the arena. I have no idea where I'm going, I'm just following her. She leads us onto an ugly-looking train; the same train that was used in the old Games to bring the tributes from their different districts. I don't remember much, just the pain of hair being ripped from my body, the sense of normality for once, when I get my hair and makeup done, so that I'm ready for the interviews later. I don't know who'll be interviewing us- I haven't heard any news about a new reporter or anything. I doubt Katniss would do it. We must be getting interviewed straight away, because why else would we be getting prepared on the train? Then I remember- we'll probably be greeted by crowds of people when we get off. I didn't even get to say goodbye to Mum, or Lillie.

Effie walks in. As she comes over to me, she examines my body, then grips my shoulder and sings in my ear "it's time to meet your mentor!"

I hadn't even thought about that. My mentor. Who could it be? A previous victor? Maybe even an old games maker? She leads me along a carriage, and into another. This one's different- more comfortable for one, but that could just be the absence of the makeup tables and the cold metal floor. There's someone resting on a leather couch just a couple of feet away from us. Pip gasps. Our mentor turns around.

It's Peeta Mellark.