Disclaimer: I’m just a little girl…no experience in publishing even a short story…J

Percy’s POV (it is still in his POV…if there are mistakes of sudden third person’s POV, then I am sorry…)

The Training Center has a tower, designed exclusively for the tributes and their teams. Personally, I think it’s a luxury prison. Luxury, but still a prison nonetheless. Or should I just call it a barn? Where they keep the animals, fatten them up and then slaughter? Yeah, I think this suits more. We’re the animals, this is barnyard and we’re going to get slaughtered in a few days.

We step into an elevator and I notice there are exactly twelve buttons. Each for a district, I assume. And Effie Trinket presses the number ‘12’ and we shot right up. I glanced at Katniss and am actually surprised to see her looking so giddy. I suppose it is a new thing, riding this elevator. I mean, it’s absolutely nothing like the one back at the Justice Hall, which smells of dampness and sour milk. The walls of this elevator are made of glass so you can see the people turning into ants as you go up. I suppose it is pretty exhilarating.

When we reached our floor, I realized that Effie Trinket’s duties did not conclude at the train station. It seems like she’s stuck with us until the real Games begin. I don’t think we should mind, though. I mean, with her, we can get anywhere on time whereas Haymitch, well, I haven’t seen him since he agreed to help us out. And she knows probably everyone who’s anyone in the Capitol and has been talking up all day, trying to win us sponsors. Maybe having her as a chaperone is a good idea.

“ I’ve been mysterious though,” she says. I nearly laugh seeing her expression with her eyes half squint half shut. “ Because, of course, Haymitch hasn’t bothered to tell me you strategies. But I’ve done my best with what I had to work with. How Katniss sacrificed herself for her sister. How you’ve both successfully struggled to overcome the barbarism of your district.”

Barbarism. That’s ironic, coming from a lady who’s preparing us for slaughter.

“ Everyone has their reservations, naturally. You being from the coal district. But I said, and this was very clever of me, I said, ‘Well, if you put enough pressure on coal it turn into pearls!’” Effie beams at us so brilliantly but we have no choice but respond enthusiastically to her cleverness even though it’s wrong. And my muscles are twitching, itching to smile. Grin. Laugh. At her ignorance.

She really doesn’t know anything, huh? Coals don’t turn into pearls. Pearls grow in shellfish. I absolutely wonder what goes on in that head of hers. Her totally obliviousness is somewhat endearing, if not annoying.

“ Unfortunately, I can’t seal the deals for you. Only Haymitch can do that,” she says grimly. “ But don’t worry, I’ll get him to the table at gunpoint if I have too.”

You have to give her that. Her determination really does need to be praised.

My quarters are bigger than the Everdeens’ house. Bigger than the orphanage we used to live in. They’re plush, just like the train car but also have many automatic gadgets that my hands are itching to touch but know that I won’t have the time. The shower alone have nearly hundred of those options that you can choose to regulate the temperature, pressure, soaps, shampoos, scents, oils and massaging sponges. When you step out on a mat, heaters come on that blow-dry your body. Sweet…

I poke around the room after my shower, looking for a way to get dressed. Ah, but of course….everything here in the Capitol are merely a button’s away.

As soon I got dressed, there’s a knock on my door and Effie’s voice, calling me to dinner.

Brilliant. I’m starving.

When I got to the dining room, Cinna and Portia are standing out on a balcony that overlooks the Capitol.

“ Hey, guys,” I say. They grins at me back in reply. “ Where’s Effie?”

“ Probably went to fetch Katniss. She’s a nutter for time,” Portia says. I grin.

“ Well, I’m glad you guys are joining us for dinner. With only Haymitch and Effie, it’s bound to be a disaster,” I comment, thinking on how they always seem itching to go for each other’s throat.

“ Oh, well, we do need to get over some strategies, you know,” Cinna said. “ Come and sit down,” he pats the chair next to him.

A few minutes later, Effie and Katniss appears.

A silent young man dressed in white tunic offers us all stemmed glasses of wine. I declined, not wanting to be unhinged. But I do notice Katniss taking one. Well, I hope she knows the aftermaths. It’s not like being drunk is pleasant.

Haymitch appears just as dinner is being served. I’m pretty surprised to see him cleaned and groomed. I suppose the  Capitol managed to wrestle a stylist for him. And pretty sober, too. Which is a first, since he’s never sober. Well, as far as I know and see. But he doesn’t refuse when he’s offered wine. At least he’s eating. Wait, this is the first time I’ve ever seen him eat. I guess he really will pull himself together to help us. Brilliant…

Unsuprisingly, Cinna and Portia has a somewhat civilizing effect on Effie and Haymitch. At least, they are addressing each other politely. And they are nothing but full of praise on our stylists’ opening act. Mushroom soup, roasted chicken, noodles in a green sauce and (best of all) cheese that melts on your tongue, served with sweet blue grapes. I stuff myself as full as I can get. The servers, all young people dressed in the similar white tunic like the one who served us wine, moved silently to and from the table, keeping the glasses and platters full.

Halfway through dinner, I notice Katniss exchanging that glass of wine for a glass of water, instead. Seems to me like she’s starting to get drunk. I tuck into my bowl of onion soup, trying to hide my smirk. Told you so…

Haymitch and Effie are now starting a conversation on our interview costumes. And just as Cinna and Portia are giving some suggestion, a girl sets a gorgeous-looking cake on the table and deftly lights it. I stare at it in fascination, watching it blazes up and then the flames flicker around the edges for a while until it finally goes out.

“ What makes it burn?” Katniss suddenly bursts. “ Is it alcohol?” she says, looking up at the girl. And then, I saw in her eyes (although I bet they were a little bit cloudy) a faint recognition. She knows this girl. “ Oh, I know you!” she exclaims. Blame that on the wine. She should’ve shut up because the adults are now staring at her. The girl shakes her head in denial and hurries away from the table.

“ Don’t be ridiculous, Katniss. How could you possibly know an Avox?” Effie snaps. “ The very thought.”

“ What’s an Avox?” she asks.

“ And even if you did, you are not to speak to one of them unless it’s to give an order,” says Effie. “ Of course, you don’t really know her.”

Of course, but something about that look on Katniss’ face tipped me off about the Avox girl. They knew each other. Probably not too close, but there was personal history between them. And now she starts to stammer.

“ No, I guess not, I just –“ and the wine is definitely not helping her. I suppose I need to step in now before she starts to talk nonsense.

“ Of course,” I say and , to add effect, snap my fingers. “ Delly Cartwright. That’s who it is. I kept thinking she looked familiar as well. Then I realized she’s a dead ringer for Delly.”

I see a look of relief crosses her face. “ Of course, that’s who I was thinking of. It must be the hair,” she says.

“ Something about the eyes, too,” I add for good measure.

The energy at the table relaxes. “ Oh, well. It that’s all it is,” says Cinna. “ And yes, the cake has spirits but all the alcohol has burned off. I ordered it specially in order of your fiery debut.”

 We eat the cake, which is enormously delicious, and move into a sitting room to watch the replay of the opening ceremonies that’s being broadcast. Hmm….a few of the other couples did make an impression. But of course, who can beat ours? Yeah, I’m feeling a little bit smug. And confident. It’s okay, right?

“ Whose idea was the hand holding?” Haymitch asks.

“ Cinna’s,” says Portia.

“ Just the perfect touch of rebellion,” he says. “ Very nice.”

Rebellion? Is he nuts? Oh, yeah. I guess he is right. I mean, most of the other tributes stood apart so stiffly that you would have thought that the Games have already begun. Presenting ourselves as friends instead of adversaries has distinguished us as much as the fiery costumes.

“ Tomorrow morning is the first training session. Meet me for breakfast and I’ll tell you exactly how I want you to play it,” says Haymitch to us. “ Now go get some sleep while the grown-ups talk.”

We walk together down the corridor to our rooms. When we get to her door, I lean against her door, blocking her way. She’s known me for ages, known me better these few months. Surely she knows my body language by now : “ EXPLAIN”

She hesitates. Oh, yeah. You should hesitate first before saying anything when you’re in the Capitol. You don’t want to end up as an Avox, do you?

“ I heard that the view from the roof is awesome,” I tell her, secretly hoping she understands the message behind it. Of course she understands. We’ve been talking in riddles forever. “ Do you want to go to the roof?”

“ Yeah, sure,” she agrees.

“ Come on, then.” I lead her up a flight of stairs that leads to the roof. There’s a small dome-shaped roof with a door the outside. As we step into the cool, windy evening air, I heard her catch her breath. The view from the roof is spectacular. But I’m not here to enjoy the view. Not technically.

We walk to a railing at the edge of the roof and look straight down the building to the street, which is buzzing with people. You can hear their cars, an occasional shout, and a strange metallic tinkling. Back home, I’d be tucked in and ready to sleep.

“ I did asked Cinna why they’d let us up here on the roof,” I tell her. “ I mean, aren’t they afraid that the tributes would commit suicide by jumping of the roof.”

“ What’d he say?” she asks.

“ You can’t,” I reply. “ Watch this,” I say and hold out my hand, carefully, and touch the supposed empty space. There was a zapping sound and I pull my hand. “ There’s some kind of electric force that throws you back.”

She snorts. “ Always worried about our safety,” she says. “ Do you think they’re watching us?”

I shrug. “ Maybe. Probably. I think there’s a garden up here. Let’s go and see it.”

On the other side of the dome, they’ve built a garden with flower beds and potted trees. From the branches, hang hundreds of wind chimes, which would explain the metallic tinkling I heard. Here in the garden, with the wind, it’s enough to drown out two people’s conversation. I turn to her, and wait.

“ We were hunting in the woods one day. Hidden, waiting for game,” she whispers.

“ You and your father?”

“ No. Me and Gale. Suddenly, all the birds stopped singing at once. Except one. As if it was giving a warning call. And then we saw her. I’m sure it was the same girl. A boy was with her. Their clothes were tattered. They had circles under their eyes from no sleep. They were running as if their lives depended on it.”

She was silent for awhile, probably remembering that dreadful day. “ The hovercraft appeared out of nowhere,” she continues. “ I mean, one moment the sky was empty and the next it was there. It didn’t make a sound but they saw it. A net dropped down on the girl and carried her up, fast, so fast like the elevator. They shot some sort of spear through the boy. It was attached to a cable and they hauled him up as well. But I’m certain the boy was dead. We heard the girl scream once. The boy’s name, I think. Then, it was gone. The hovercraft. Vanished into thin air. And the birds started to sing again, as if nothing happened.”

“ And they didn’t see you?” I ask her, knowing the answer.

“ I don’t know. We were under a shelf of rock.”

“ That’s a first. A hunter who’s not sure whether or not she’s been spotted,” I mock her. She rolls her eyes. “ You’re shivering,” I comment, noticing her trembles. Whether it was from cold or the fright of the experience, I will never know. “ Here,” I say, putting my jacket around her. “ Were they from here?”

She nods. “ Where do you suppose they were going?”

“ That I don’t know. I mean, District 12 is pretty much the end of the line. District 13 is just a pile of ruins,” she says. “ Or why would they leave here.”

“ Well, I’d leave here.” Stupid me, I don’t know what made me say that. “ Of course, the food’s prime. That’s a little bit hard to leave behind, huh?” We stood there for a while until I’ve had it. “ It’s getting a little bit chilly. We better go in.” Inside the dome, it’s warm and bright.

I walk her back to her room. In front of her room ( I don’t know why I did ), I ask her, though I kept my tone conversational. “ It happened before we got to know each other, huh?”

“ Oh, yeah,” she replies.

“ So, you and Gale?”

“ What about us?”

“ I’ve always thought you guys were cousins before that explosion. Now I know you guys aren’t. But probably something….a whole other dimension?” I say.

“ Something a whole other dimension?” she repeats. “ Can you not speak in riddles?”

“ Are you guys in love?” I finally blurt out. That got her speechless.

“ Have you lost your marbles, Perce?” she laughs. Actually laughs. “ We’re just best friends! Just like me and you!”

Best friends…

“ Well, as long as it’s not you who slits my throat, then it’s fine with me,” I tell her. She grins. “ See you tomorrow.”

“ See you.”

A/N: Com-vote, please! Thanks