Karl walks on ahead, but I stare out of the window enjoying the last view of my home I may ever see. It leaves an ache in my heart when I think I may never return, and my fear of the games is only worsened by these thoughts. Finally, when the terror becomes too much, I tear myself away from the window and rush to the dining cart where I am the last to arrive, but I don't care as I run straight into my father's arms. I'm glad he's here, and mum let him come although I'm sure her motives are based on increasing my chances of winning just for the money.

My dad's strong arms wrap around me, and as I feel the warmth of his body sink into me, I can't help but feel safe and secure even in the face of my possible death. I don't know how much time has passed when we finally let go of each other, and part of me wishes we never did, but the arrival of our lunch forces us apart. I don't know what it is they made us, but the smell hits me it makes my mouth water and stomach growl leaving me no choice but to walk towards the table.

Both my father and I take our seats as plate after plate of food is presented to us, making me hungry and upset at the same time. I don't know how it is in every other District but back in Seven people are starving and thanks to my mother's punishments I know how they feel after being locked in my room with only the occasional glass of water.

Sitting next to Karl and opposite my father and other mentors, I look at the food on my plate. I don't know what the meat is only that it is wrapped in bacon and comes with carrots, peas, and potatoes. I don't get the capital and their fancy ways my mother, for some reason, always tries to copy. This bacon I find once I bite into it is perfect and could have been served by itself and still satisfied me. I always loved bacon, and it may be a rare treat my father gives me whenever he can, but it always makes me happy even to have a little bit.

Looking up, I see Lena looking disgusted at me when I start to free the back from the meet that binds it with my hands. I keep forgetting these capital people are like my mother and hate it when you eat with your hands. I just brush off her stares and shake my head while I finally free the bacon and put it into my mother.

"I would have thought the daughter of a Victor would have known some manners," Lean moans and I'm surprised she actually looks like she might be sick as she turns to my father and slaps him on the arm. "What exactly have you been teaching her?"

"Lay off her Lean," Johanna tells her as she picks up a hand full of peas. "I bet you even ate with your hands before."

"Yes, when I was a child, but I grow up," Lean replies as she stands up and starts to leave the room. "I think you two should do some growing up."

As Lena leaves, I mouth a silent thank you to Johanna who winks in response. I can always count on Johanna to protect; I only wish she could extend her protection into the arena. Once the carriage door Lena disappeared through closes with a quiet light thud, everyone relaxes.

"Thank god she's gone," Blight says he stretches out his limbs. "We will be in the Capital in a few hours, so now we need to discuss what you are going to do."

"Well that's simple we get there, dress up and then go to bed," I tell him getting a worried look from my father and Blight, but a surprised slightly impressed look from Johanna. "What its true isn't?"

"Yes, but we mean how you are going to act for your games," My father says mainly directing his words towards me. "Will you be a fighter like Blight and me, a weakling like Johanna pretended to be, smart, scary... Sexy."

That's something I didn't expect to hear, I never ever thought I would hear my father tell me to act sexy. I could probably do it, I have seen people checking me out when I walk through the streets. It is just strange to hear my father suggested, after all, he still sees me as his little girl, and he still calls me that whenever I am in trouble or he is just trying to annoy me. But I should consider it as a possible plan for the games. I never really thought about what I would do if I were reaped because I never thought I would ever be going into the arena. Maybe putting on an act will be a good plan of action Johanna after all won her games with a weakling act. I'm told my father and Blight both acted like warriors and got in with the Careers so acting like someone I'm not may be the best plan for the games.

Thinking about what I could do I see their points I have the looks to do the sexy act, I could do the smart act too or maybe a sneaky act because of all the practice I have has hidden from my mum. I'm not sure what to be, but we still have two hours to figure it out. Looking over to Karl, I can see right away he could follow in my father's footsteps and act like a warrior thanks to his powerful muscles. When I look more closely at him, I start to see he could do the sexy act thing too, with his blonde hair and blue eyes he is pretty handsome.

"I don't know," I answer after thinking it over. "I'm not sure how to act."

"While you are fast and a good hider so you can play it sly," My father tells me which makes me feel a bit proud of that skill.

"Don't forget her looks," Blight points out. "She could probably play sexy too."

Why do I have the feeling I am going to have to go with the sexy act?

"While you Karl are strong enough to make it with the Career Pack or form your own group," My father says turning everyone's attention to Karl and away from me. I think he is starting to get embarrassed like I am with the consent ways my looks are brought up.

"He isn't bad looking ever," Johanna adds. "I don't think he'll have a problem getting sponsors or allies."

"Um well... I'm not... Really good with people" Karl mummers nervously and barely audible. It seems Karl is finding this as awkward as I am.

"Well, that can be fixed," Johanna replies before downing the rest of her drink which I'm guessing is some sort of alcohol because I can smell it from here. "Just say and act the way we tell you to, and you'll be fine."

"Until he's in the games that is," I mutter.

"That's not helping," Blight comments.

"Yeah, you two should work together," Johanna adds, sounding as if she just had got the idea. "I think if you two work together, then you'll be a team to rival the Careers."

"That could work," My father agrees, nodding his head and tapping his chin, thinking it over.

"I like that idea too," Blight says.

"I don't!" Both Karl and I shout out.

"Ok, and since you almost deafened me the most you can tell me why Lisa," Johanna moans as she rubs her ears.

"I'm not getting to know someone I'll have to kill at some point," I tell her pushing my plate out leaving everything but the bacon untouched. "I'll be in my room."

As I start to walk out of the room, not wanting to discuss the problem further, I hear Karl say, "I agree with Lisa."

As I walk through the train, it starts to dawn on me that this really is happening I am going to the Capital and most likely will die in the Arena. I was hoping to wake up in my bed in a cold sweat, but as I walk, it seems less and less likely that I am sleeping. Despite my mother's presence, I wish I was home in one of my many hiding spots where I feel safe and secure. After a few more minutes of wondering, I find a nice secluded spot behind some boxes, and after hearing several people calling my name and walking by without spotting me, I start to see being a good hider as a better and better skill to have.

For two hours, I stay hidden and think about what my game plan will be. I quickly give up on hiding because I'm sure, the Gamemakers will flush me out at some point to face a Career Tribute when the crowd starts to get bored. My best options seem to be either play it sexy and win overloads of sponsors or team up with Karl. Karl is strong and like me was taught how to wield an axe, but he seems to kind-hearted actually to kill someone, so I don't know if teaming up with him is a good idea. Soon all my thoughts turn to the other Tributes, and I'm guessing the recap of the Reapings should be starting soon, so I get up to rejoin the others.

I find everyone else already sat down in a room with several large sofas and the biggest TV I have ever seen attached to the wall. I quietly join the group getting nothing more than a quick glance from every except my father, who smiles and Johanna who gives me a look that feels me with fear and sends a shiver down my spine. Without a word being spoken, I sit down next to my dad, and when I look at the TV, I see I am just in time as Caesar Flickerman is just finishing his introduction. Caesar is a name and face everyone knows as he has been on TV since before I was born.

The recap of the Reapings start with District One and move up to Twelve but the ones I need to pay most attention to are District One, Two, and Four as they are the Career Districts. I will still watch closely to the other Districts because you never know who could be Reaped and every District has had at least two Victors over the years.

As expected the Careers are all strong and deadly looking apart from the weak looking boy from Four who is the only Tribute I quickly forget along with the Tributes from District Three. District Five also isn't anything noteworthy although I can't help but think the girl has a face like a fox. District Six also has Tributes that don't look like much of a threat and then it's on to my home District. I have to watch Karl and myself step up onto the stage and feel as if I was stabbed in the heart when I see how happy my mother is when she hears my name has been drawn. Despite the pain and fear, she inflicts on me that smile still hurts. Every other District flies by with only District Eleven making an impression as a twelve-year-old girl who looks like she wouldn't hurt a fly stands next to the tallest person I have ever seen. District Eleven left me both terrified and angered when I see the Tributes, but there is nothing I can do about it, like every year the people in the District can do nothing but watch as they take two of our own people into the arena.

Finally, we move onto the last District. District Twelve has had fewer Victors then any other District because the people there are starving and weaker than the rest of us in the Districts. Everything I have come to expect from the District after watching the previous Reapings happens, Haymitch the only living Victor of District Twelve is drunk, and their escort looks ridiculous just like every over Capital citizen. It isn't until the first name is called that things take a turn for the unexpected.

Primrose Everdeen is called, a beautiful sweat looking twelve-year-old has her name called out, and the poor girl looks like is on the verge of tears as she slowly walks towards the stairs. Nearly as soon as the kid starts to move, that is when things start to get interesting. All of a sudden out of nowhere a taller girl who looks stronger and better fed then the usual District Twelve citizen gets between the young girl and the stage. In an instant, I feel my breath has been stolen, and that my heart has skipped a beat.

This brave, selfless girl volunteers to take kids place who hugs and begs her not to. It isn't until the girl is up on stage that I learn why her name is Katniss Everdeen, and she is Primrose's older sister. I have never seen anyone volunteer before apart from the Career's, but they put themselves forward for the bloodshed not to save a life. I can't take my eyes off her or get Katniss out of my head as I stare at her and watch Haymitch put her arms around her shoulder. I don't know why it makes me feel jealous to watch that or why I smile when he falls off the stage, not just because of how ridiculous it is. I have no idea how she could have this effect on me. Her grey eyes are determined and beautiful, her skin is flawless, and even the scars I see on her do nothing to hinder her looks. It's such a relief when the show moves onto the boys as I can finally breathe again but its also disappointed as I still feel the draw to Katniss. What has she done to me?

Her District partner is called Peeta Mallark, and he is a strong looking tall boy who could pose a threat to me in the games but then like with Karl I notice Peeta is crying, and slowly I start to see him as less of a threat. The Reaping ends as they walk into the Justice Building before Caesar returns to say a few closing statements I don't pay attention to. No one else seems to care either as our Escort disappears and Johanna switches off the TV before smirking at me for some reason.

"Lisa, are you ok?" My dad asks, and when I catch my reflection in the black TV screen, I can see why he is concerned. My face is bright red.

"She's fine," Johanna assures him. "There were plenty of people for her to fantasize about in this year's Reaping. The One, Two and Twelve boys were handsome or was it the girl from One that caught your eye?"

"It's nothing," I try to brush this subject off but one of the many flaws Johanna has is that she never knows when to stop.

"There's nothing to be shy about," Johanna tells me taking on her annoying teasing voice. "You can tell me who has taken your fancy."

"Screw you!" I yell at her before I storm out of the room and head back to my hiding spot where once again no one can find me.

My peace doesn't last long as once we arrive at the Capital, it doesn't take long for the Peacekeepers to find me and drag me from this little sanctuary I found. There must have been a camera in here somewhere there's no way they could have found me this fast unless the Peacekeepers have some other sort of equipment that can locate people. I am forced from the train and dragged into the Prep Center where I meet my Prep Team who look just a goofy as I expected.

I spend the next hour being stripped, shaved, and being tortured although my Prep Team assures me it's a beautification process. By the time they are finished with me, I am left standing naked in the middle of the room with my skin not just shining but also burning. I have no idea what they put on me, but the creams they used felt like sandpaper being rubbed against my flesh and the job they did removing all the hair from my body was more through than I expected as no the only hair on my body is now on my head.

After a few minutes, my Stylist arrives and gives me a quick look over, making me spin around for him before he dresses me. I don't get to look into the mirror until after he is done with me. My stylist must be an idiot because I look the same way every Tribute always looks wearing this tree costume. I don't know why he doesn't change things up; I can't tell whether it is because my Stylist is lazy or not but not a thing has been changed in my outfit from the last hundred times it has been worn.

By the time I rejoin Karl and my mentors it is already late in the evening but looking out of the window I struggle to tell as the bright lights of the Capital make the night sky hard to spot. I almost feel sorry for the Capital because it looks like the citizens of this city are missing out on the beauty of the star-filled sky. I almost feel sorry for them, the only thing stopping me I the cheers I hear give to this death game I am being forced to take part in.

By the time I finish taking in Karl's outfit and find it is the same as mine being a hand me down from all our District Tributes before him. We only have a few minutes to be advised how to act before the parade starts, and District One leads us onto the streets of the capital. The Tributes from District One and Two are going to be the stars of the show again this year, and all I can do is hope my tree costume doesn't look too embarrassing as I am taking onto the street by these expertly trained horses who don't need anyone to lead them.

Almost right away, the crowd deafens me with their cheer, and both Karl and I instantly drop our heads. This is just too embarrassing my outfit is ridiculous and compared to other better-dressed Tributes only make us look even worse. Thankfully something catches the crowds eye, and all eyes are on them instead of me. I look up at one of the large screens that have been set up along the parade route and rapidly become as drawn to the sight as the crowd. For the first time in the history of the Hunger Games, a pair of Tributes have outshined the Career's from One and Two, and they have come from the most unlikely place of District Twelve.

A ball of fire engulfs the Tributes from Twelve making the black outfits they wear really stand out. Whoever their District Stylist is they must be the greatest Stylist whoever lived. They both look great and are unforgettable. I have no doubts that the Careers are pissed and that District Twelve has won over every potential sponsor here. All the feelings their burning outfit causes to spread throughout my body are only dampened when I notice that Peeta and Katniss are holding hands. I can't look at them anymore and drop my head while clenching my fists.

Why? Why do I care that they are holding hands?

Throughout the speech given by President Snow, I keep my head down and don't pay attention. It isn't until we are back inside this time in the Training Center where I will live and train for the next few days that I snap out of my daze. It is impossible to miss the horrified looks on the Tribute from ones face; I think Glimmer is her name, and she looks like she doesn't know what to say or do. The rest if the Tributes from the Career Districts look like they want to rip the throats of the District Twelve Tributes out. I can't help but smirk at the sight, and when I look back at the District Twelve Tributes, and my eyes lock with Katniss's grey eyes, I don't let the feels that bubble up within me take control, so I nod in the direction of the Careers and see her smile at the sight. If it weren't for my dad moving me into the elevator, I would have been trapped in a trance again.