Allies

The Train

When I wake up I momentarily forget where I am, then everything comes flooding back to me and I feel nauseous.  I'm hungry, and I want to eat but I don't think I could keep it down.  I decide to watch the recap of the reapings.  I try to find allies, but all their faces blur together. I can't focus on anything, it seems, and nothing seems to matter anymore.  Eventually, Crystal barges into my room and tells me to come out for breakfast. I decide that I better go and try to get advice from our mentor, so I go out. There, Chase and our mentor, James, are talking. I grab a muffin, sit down, and try to eat.  Crystal informs us that we will be at the Capitol in one hour.  "Nice of you to join us." James says, sarcasm practically coming out of his ears. I stay silent. "So, as I was saying, your best chance to get sponsors is to really appear likeable at the interview." James states. "And how exactly do we do that?" I ask.  "I don't know, tell jokes, be sincere, and if you can't do that, make them feel sorry for you." James answers. Easy for him to say. I'm the one who has to do it. I continue eating, trying but failing to listen to him, and before I know it, we're at the capitol.  I see a huge crowd around to train, like we're celebrities or something. I've always despised this place, and these people are doing nothing to help my feeling for it.