The Second Annual Hunger Games (Book 2)

Three

We arrive at the Capitol shortly after breakfast. I try to find Talon before we stop, but I can't. I hope I'll get to see him again. The tributes can't help being mesmerized at the sight of the city from the train window. I don't blame them, it's a beautiful city but beauty is just the facade that comes with everything else in the Capitol.

The train stops and a throng of brightly-clothed people crowd us as we exit, many of them recognizing me and calling my name. I don't wave or smile; I don't want to be as celebrity for what I've done.

"Come on, this way." Tullis leads us to a car and we're driven across the city.

They take us to a tall silver building, the training center. We get out of the car and go inside. Tullis leads us through several hallways until we reach a room where two prep teams wait.

"These are your prep teams," Tullis tells the tributes. Each prep team approaches one of the tributes and introduces themselves. Soon they're whisked away to different rooms to be made 'beautiful'.

"What do we do now?" I ask Tullis once they're gone.

"Well, we can either go watch their transformations, which would be super fun, or we can try to get some networking in." I give her a confused look. "We didn't talk about this much last year, but it's our job to get the tributes sponsors for when they're in the games. We need to convince people to contribute money so we can buy things that the tributes might need. You know, like water, food, blankets, that kind of stuff."

"Oh," I look at the ground. "I don't know if I'll be that much help; I don't know anyone here."

"Oh don't worry dear, I have tons of friends."

"Of course you do," I mumble.

"Come on, I'll show you." She grabs my arm and leads me from the building. "We've got a couple hours to kill before the parade. Oh, I'm going to show you the Twist."

"The twist?" She hails a taxi and we get in.

"Yes, the Twist. It's the fab-est place in the Capitol. Anyone who's anyone hangs out there." We drive for about five minutes, then she quickly drags me out of the car and into a soaring building that actually twists its way into the sky and ends at a deadly looking point.

Everything inside the building is white: white tile floors, white walls, a white front desk, even the employees have dyed their skin and hair to be the color of a sheet. Tullis approaches the desk and smiles at the man that sits there.

"Tullis Madrid," she says, then glances back at me, "and one guest."

The man types on a keyboard then gestures to a door on the far side of the room. "Enjoy the Twist."

"Thank you!" Tullis grabs my arm once again and leads me to the door. Behind it is a spiral staircase made of clear glass with lights on the edges that glow different colors. We climb the staircase up several floors, passing several doors. When we've reached the twelfth floor Tullis opens it and leads me inside. I'm panting but she doesn't even look winded. I must be out of shape.

When I walk in the room, I have to take a minute to comprehend everything. There's a lot of people in here, all of them dressed in the extreme clothes of the Capitol. Some sit at a bar, drinking odd mixtures, others are scattered throughout the room sitting at tables, on couches, or at weird machines I've never seen before. Several heads turn toward me as I walk in and I can see the recognition move into their faces.

About five people stand up and greet us. Tullis looks as proud as ever; she brought a celebrity to the party.

"Hello dear," one man with dark red hair that is curled around his head says. "My name is Gunnar Elestren, it's an honor to meet you!" He shakes my hand.