CHAPTER FOUR

12:30

Effie walks into the room in a long yellow dress, and her hair strawberry blonde hair pulled back in a tight bun. Oh, she's not wearing elaborate makeup either…from what I can see, her face isn't painted white, and her eyelashes aren't pink.

Effie tiptoes toward me... She comes and sits on the side of my bed, giving a loud sigh and then placing her hand in the ice that is surrounding me, and I say, "hey trinket…what are you doing here?" She replies while she plays with the ice cubes that are in between her fingers,

"your alone.. nobody should be alone when they are in pain," and she adds, "what happened? You look disgusting," I reply, "well i usually look prettier, my hair combed and styed you know but if you are refering to the scars, i fell," she says, "down a volcano?" I reply, "something like that.. feels like it."

I add as I am half-asleep, "if I wanted to be polite, I would sorry for this afternoon," she replies, "Haymitch—" I say, "well, I am going to be polite so, NO. I shouldn't talk to you like that or anybody... I mean, it's your choice, and I shouldn't get mad at you or anybody for trying to achieve their dreams... I have no dreams, so I shouldn't judge you for having one," I really shouldn't. Why am I blaming her for achieving her goals... Effie replies, "Haymitch, don't apologize for having an opinion," I say, "no, I shouldn't. I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she says. "I forgive you, just don't do that again, you yelled at me in front of everyone and presented me as a spoiled brat!" I say "well, you are," she replies, "o so here we go again, you just telling me how privileged I am when look at you, you are living like a king" I'm laughing at this point, has she not realized I could die pretty soon verses she is just putting paint on our faces. She is granted a long healthy life. I reply to her laughing, "YOU STILL DON'T GET IT," she says, settling me down. "Haymitch, shut up! You'll wake up everyone," I react "oops, some people would be able to sleep, you know in the games I probably won't sleep, I'll probably be dead," she replies, "will you stop talking about the games for a second settle down Haymitch" I reply "easy for you to say."…. she says "seriously Haymitch what do you have against me" I reply "I just think your spoiled and your life isn't fair compared to mine" she replies "stop trying to be the victim Haymitch. Chill out, ok. This is your life, and you're going to have to deal with it," I reply "don't expect me to be jolly about it" she replies, "oh no, son, mommy just wants you chill the freak out" I laugh at her because everything she says is stupid or doesn't make sense. But to turn the conversation around, I say to her.

"for real, what's wrong.. why did you come here," she says, "I said it. Nobody should be alone while they are in pain, and what's wrong, look at you, your beat up and they couldn't send in a proper doctor to come to look at you…" I say, "its fine Effie.. stop protecting me" she replies "no it is not fine!… none of this is fine. You should be having a good time, Haymitch," I reply, "yeah, I know that part," she says, "It's just upsetting…and on top of that, you upset me. But I wanted to be a nice person, so I brought you something" I hope it is nigh lock pill, but I reply, "let me see… I guess." she shows me a tiny bottle of liquor from the pocket of her dress and says, "for medicinal purposes only," and we both take a sip and attempt a laugh. Effie says, "Haymitch, your strange," I reply, "you noticed that now, but why? Because I can get a capitol girl to bring me liquor when I'm sick, yeah I'd say I am" while taking another sip, Effie says, "no, like in a sense" she stands up "I just Brought you a bottle of liquor with no makeup, no wig, and in a nightgown... I guess I'm comfortable around you because I have never done that with anybody… well metaphorically." I say, "and the point is..." she says, "I don't know. I find it weird that I trust you when all you do to me is ridicule me." She says, almost shouting. I reply, mimicking her, "Effie, you're going to wake everyone up!... But guess I am.. strange," I say, licking my fingers from the leftover liquor. Effie sits back down "well, yes… you're weird…." I reply, "what," she says, "weird, and I shouldn't be here." I respond instantly, "how to do you mean…weird, what are you.. since your capital would I say unique?' She replies, "you could say that… but I like to call my self eccentric" I reply, "ah yes eccentric if I could be honest, which I don't mind being. Stop wearing the orange.. you look like a peach candy every time you wear it…" Effie replies, "orange. You could have said, 'Effie, thank you for being here,' but no, you said. Don't wear orange-" I start laughing as I attempt to move to from my position "well, what was I supposed to say... THAT? then the medication really would've gotten to my head."

Effie laughs, and she says, "well, I dont like your short hair… you look better with it down to your ears" I reply, "you did the damage," Effie says, "i did. But it was orders… I should be going but get well, I don't know.. but you know I do care for you, dearly I want you to know that" I reply, "you have an awful way of expressing emotion Effie Trinket" she snatches the liquor bottle and takes the last sip... Effie says, "so what's your game plan?" I reply "you just said yoy were leaving... but game plan?" She says, "yes like are you going to the cornucopia or?" I react, "ohhhhhhhh I haven't thought much of it seeing I cant even move," Effie replies, "true." Still, I cut in, saying, "i'm hoping to regain my speed and head straight to the cornucopia.. I've been doing some thinking and I believe, they have everything planned out, like they have everything so very well calculated like they even know who is going to win this thing," Effie says "mhm," and I go on "they have everything calculated so I am hoping to make the whole thing go wrong" Effie replies "a rebel?" I add "yes yes indeed, but I think everything is also going to be season related somehow… I have still no idea" Effie replies "could be, the capitol did ask us to be wise with the colors we chose like to have ours in a more winter themed palette," I add, "thats wack," half-drunk I look into Effie's eyes and say "wow your pretty" Effie replies "your drunk" I say "thats true, you are uglier" Effie says "haymitch shut up! Thats rude," I reply "you were never an easy one to swallow either" she's blurry, and I feel myself shake, but Effie says, "Haymitch go to bed, have some decency." she leaves, leaving her smell all over the room and I fall asleep.

Early the next day. 6:30, a team of nurses come bashing into my room, all Avox. They go and bathe me in a medicinal paste plastering it all over my body. Naked and cold, it takes an hour of me being smudged in this paste, and they wash it off; one of the Avox guys dresses me. I ask him

"how bad" he can't reply to my question, so I say, "It's fine," I ask Ajax, who I forgot slept in the same room. I ask him, "how bad" Ajax replies, "Bad, but the scars look pretty cool.. that hot Penelope girl would probably go crazy after them, I'm not going to lie" I reply, "gosh shut up." a long pause comes, and Ajax burst out laughing I say "what" as Ajax is combing his hair ajax says "you seriously told Effie she was ugly" and laughs hysterically... I'm so confused... I say in my head…. 'that's true, you are uglier' ugh! It replays in my head, And I say, "shut up," Ajax replies, "so do you think I'm ugly" I reply, "yes. Yes, I do," and then as he laughs. I totally forgot about Effie coming into my room last night... it's all so blurry, but it comes back to me. Wait, if it was blurry- that means I was drunk. Oh gosh.

Alma comes storming into the room "it is 7:30, Haymitch," I reply, "good to know Coin. Did they teach you how to tell time too?" Alma says, "Haymitch, we have our session today." I reply, "Coin. You were there yesterday. Can we have It here," Coin replies, "you demand a lot. Still, fine prince Haymitch" she sits down. She says, "smells like capitol perfume, Jasyn been in here lately Ajax replies, "that's true, you are uglier," Alma says "what" ajax replies "just a little inside joke we the tributes have," Alma says "well, ok.. you've had better days as well"…

Alma asks me question upon question about my lifestyle and my heritage. She teaches me the proper way to lift my head and the capitol way to answer questions. In our interviews, when Ceaser Asks us, 'so what's your main motivation' and things like that, to either mention a girl, family member, etc.… I tell her about gran and her screaming engraved in my head, and she says to mention her in the interviews. Alma starts talking about lying and how, when I lie, to always look at the middle of a person's forehead if I cant look through their eyes to do it, and forever when I do something to have a fake response, so if somebody catches me or asks me. She tells me that making allies would be useful but not to get friendly with anyone in particular. Alma asks me what my intentions are with Fauna, and I say, "if fauna were my ally, I would try to take care of her as best as I can.. growing up, we were like siblings in 12" Alma says, "so she knows you well?" I reply, "you could say that" Alma gives me a puzzled look and says, "don't be a stranger to her. If you want her as your ally, just let me know.". Heather comes into the room, brushes my hair for me, styles it, and covers my scars with makeup. A nurse comes in and stands me up, and I begin to walk… I ask him, "how can I walk so fast? I just got the medicine."

He replies, "things like your situation happen often but its best to let the capitol and district people know that it never happened so the medicine puts you in full recovery within a hour or so" I reply, "do I keep the scars" and he nods yes and leaves. I call "AJAXXX" Ajax replies, "yes my love," I say, "dude help, now" he replies, "fine I wont be a stranger…what was that bull crap Alma was saying to you" I answer, "jusr the overall nonsense that comes out of her mouth daily, but I get to keep the scars" Ajax responds "yes!"

Ajax helps me walk to the kitchen and grab a bagel and an apple.. far across, I see Fauna give me a light smile, and she runs to me. "Haymitch you're better?" I reply, "ah yes, magic was used," Fauna replies, "really," I say, "yes!!" The conversation ends lightly as now six peacekeepers escort us to the training facility.

I can hardly walk even though I'm better, but I still feel awful. The violent pain screeches through my body everywhere. I look fine. But the pain is so sharp, and I ask the nurse who walks behind me for pain medication and gives me a bottle of medicine to take every 4 hours. She says to only take one, but without anybody knowing, I take five of them as if they were mints. We continue walking cuffed, and for a while, we walk and walk and walk, taking every turn, every right and left possible. I happen to see Penelope Marie ahead of us, she gives a wave, but I ignore her. We get to the training, and we head straight to the training, with no introduction or anything.

I can't do much considering the throbbing pain throughout my body, but I practice knife throwing… I glance around at the other tributes, and all the girls seem to either be very quiet or very out there. Penelope Marie, who approached me yesterday, comes near me all the time; she's either a foot away from my face or following me around the training center as if I had the key to heaven. As I am knife throwing … I glance around and find Maysliee talking to Nickolai, practically drooling all over him, it could be that she likes him, or it could be that he's the biggest tribute and a competitor, so if they are allies, she can kill him in his sleep… I would do the same, but all the girls here are, well, not very good options. There's a room dividing the younger tributes and the older tribes. I see fauna with her ally felicity figuring out a way to make a fire… she's happy. She seems to be. The pain around my arms is still throbbing, but I head to the weights area and workout machines to stretch my muscles. There is Alan Cushman from district 10. He's about the only one here with me …. I stay by myself.

I don't intend to make many Allies, maybe one or two along the way of the games, my only Allie I would except would be fauna or maybe anybody who isn't a career… I honestly don't know what I'm doing.. I've gotten beat up twice in the past 24 hours… if this is a glimpse of what my life will look like after the games, I might as well die in the bloodbath games. The whole thing is worthless. I'm no victor, but these tributes aren't either… none of us look like we would start a revival or stand out. Most girls would become capitol puppets, and most of the guys expect me to become those who flaunt their looks to the ladies.

I walk around to Ajax, but he's in a horrible mood… I try to start a quiet conversation like how you do this or that even though I know the answers... he seems pissed off, so I leave him be. My body feels better, but the pain is still there, but it's bearable. I go to the treadmill to speed walk, then run there's. A room blocked out for the specific type of running, I go inside curiously, and a nurse comes in and tells me to change my shoes and change into these tight clothing; I get dressed, and the nurse puts a mask on me, covering my nose and mouth, and I begin to start jogging. The whole mask and clothing thing detainees how fast I can go, and my heart rate. I jog for a bit and then run. I run than a sprint for 2 minutes at a new pace. This treadmill has, this one could go till 15… I spent on 15 for a minute or so.. the nurse tells me that's enough and demands that I stop considering my health condition… I get dressed, and ten tributes are looking at me through the glass, but only a couple I know, Alan Cushman, Penelope Marie, and Luisa lane. Alan Claps at me, and I give a smile.. all I did was run. I ran rand and ran I get off and walk straight out. The day passes by.. more knife throwing, more weights, and more survival skills and logic skills… I try to focus on the science part of survival skills… forcefields and how the arenas are built. But the day ends, and Evian picks us up with six peacekeepers and escorts us to the apartment. We get dresses and eat our food, and Evian says, "today, you all will rest. The apartment is at your disposal... I will be out with the crew. Effie and the Avox's will stay." Evian leaves the rooms, clucking her heels onto the ground, and we wander around. I grab a bagel from the refrigerator, and we are all tired… I walk around the apartment looking at every room, and there is a room filled with organized charts… chart after chart after chart.. it predicts what we will do every minute and second of the day. There are about 48 different clocks, all ticking at different times, on the wall. Some with different time zones and others with the same time zones. I walk in a bit more, and there are four computers, one for each of us… they have our pictures and information that I would' not even expect to be there… stupid things like fears? How do they know my fear… I go in and fear it has "losing grandmother Bea Abernathy." how do they know that? I go in closer, and it says favorite season...

"fall" once again how they know that now it says most hated seasons "summer and spring" how do they know that…. How do they know my fears.. but I come to think.. maybe the capitol picks the tributes beforehand like years before… thinking bout It. Why did the peacekeeper stop me out of everybody in the district? The peacekeeper stoped only fauna and I.. there were kids everywhere from every age. Are they watching us? I walk out and think more about it. Fears and seasons… how would this apply to an arena. Perhaps they can use my fear against me. Maybe creating an allusion of something that never happened, seasons… maybe the arena is themed seasons, perhaps the arena is different seasons combined to one?

No, that's stupid. I walk out, and the Avox girl is staring at me. I say "shh" and walk into a hallway with all of the rooms, I walk back to the living room, and I see Ajax, fauna, and Maysilee writing down things on a piece of paper. I say, "what are you guys doing" fauna replies, "writing down our ideas!" I reply, "ajax, what's this about" Ajax responds, "I thought to remember our ideas about the arena and ways to kill, we could write it down" I reply, "seriously, are you that dumb" I pick up his journal "you can't write down your ideas and thought… has anybody forgotten. We're in the capitol.. everybody here knows everything. They will get those ideas and not apply them or do something with them in the arena or directly to you. What alma said 'think capitol' come on" Effie is there staring at me with a surprised look, and ajax says to her, "Ajax come on, she isn't ugly," I reply "shut up," and Effie walks out of the room. The sun sets early, and I look out into the capitol and think, how about I tell the capitol what I don't know… perhaps write to gran in code, she'll figure it out. Perhaps! I can write a letter saying, "dear gran, how I miss you so. I have been spending long hours training and preparing my body for the games.. but all I can think of is home.

I have been thinking about the games and I think that the games will take place in a sandy storm." If I say something in the lines of something I know they aren't thinking of, they can lead them into thinking what im thinking, seasons, fears, and the unexpected. I write my letter addressing it to gran. I mention how I believe the games will take place in a sandy storm and believe they will kill the younger ones first. Now the capitol once they scan will automatically think I'm clueless and scratch off sandy storm off their lists. I write my letter and give it to the Avox girl to have scanned and sent to 12.I sit down on the couch with Ajax, Effie, Maysilee, and Fauna and we get talking about life and the fun times back at home. The times when we were younger and would trade knives and candy with one another.

I say, "Ajax remember that time we got in trouble for stealing Amy Lewises rock?" Ajax replies, "do I?" We tell the story, and Effie says, "these are some memories, stealing rocks and liking girls! How fun," I reply "we did'nt like much girls but we didn't have much, we still don't but we had a good time while we could"… I add "were twelve," and we clink glasses. Glancing around, I sink at the moment, knowing this is probably one of the last time I will have a moment like this. But I stop and laugh with the others... right now, this moment, I look at Maysilee, Fauna, Ajax, and sort of Effie, but right now, they're not tributes. They are family. Ajax may not see it, Maysilee may only be thinking about Nickolai, Fauna is probably thinking about home. But I'm thinking about the family. Gran, Dahlia, Louren, Mom… the people I call family but now i can add Ajax, Fauna Maysilee and Effie on a good day to the list. The two people that would probably risk it all to have a laugh or drink with me…Effie and Ajax… those two would risk it for me. Effie, God knows why, but Ajax has always been there for me.

I glance at Effie. She is drinking her glass and laughing at the jokes. Fauna is telling. By this time, it is about 8:30. We spent hours hanging out and drinking. Evian comes in and orders us to go to bed in preparation for the next day. Honestly, I don't know what to say to Effie… I just called her ugly like that's bad. How would I present myself to her.. I've been rude, but that's very rude, she cares so much about me for some strange reason, but little does she know I don't even want to survive the arena… I probably would be better off dead, and then my family could live off of the winnings and food the capitol will give them… but if I were killed, she probably wouldn't receive them. I only live for my family at this point. I would die if I could right now, well not this moment but the essence, but that would affect Gran tremendously, and my family back home would be heartbroken.

I go to my room, take a bath, and change into the pajamas laid out. Ajax comes in five minutes later, and we do some crutches that we are assigned to do overnight. And Ajax and I lay down on our beds staring at the ceiling, and Ajax says, "What did he do to you? Snow, or more like what did you do to him," I reply, "remeber the old legend Lucy Gray," Ajax replies, "wasnt that, umm Everdeens great something?" I reply, "yeah but you know the hanging tree song, well I know that Snow has turmoil with twelve, and the song" ajax says "so" I reply, "well I said in the screen, are you are you and to some up Snow got peacekeepers to beat the crap out of me while he sang the stupid song" Ajax replies "but what did he say" I reply, "he said that it was a lovely song and asked me questions about how I knew it" Ajax replies "thats stupid, and your stupid. well goodnight"

I reply "goodnight" we hear footsteps of the whole crew coming in from their night out in the capital, they are laughing, and all we can listen to is the clucking of feels. Still, they keep us up for hours and hours. Ajax and I talked drunk nonsense, and we mention our favorite smells and the best looking tributes… we talk nonsense but finally doze off.

The next day is filled with training and I had therapy for my neck, but training is filled with something different today, today we are given a test on common sense, basically like what would you do, would you light a fire, or would you rather freeze every night. Stuff like that, I glance at Melania, and sh's finished with the test in 5 minutes… she may appear dumb. Still, she seems smart; I lift my head a little and see Melania's paper, on the front she wrote in big letters "YOU CAN'T MAKE ME CAPITOL" I decide to do something among those lines, and I write on the front of my page "LGB 12, ARE YOU ARE YOU?"... President snow will get the idea. Our tests get collected by a peacekeeper, and we stand up in straight lines and are assigned to lunch, Maysilee it sitting with all the careers and is basically onto of Nickolai, She was family Yesterday, but once we get into the arena, anything could happen if she's with career. I sit with Fauna and felicity. They talk about the different knots they are being taught and how their designers have pretty dresses planned out for them.

I feel horrible for them, but they're girls, seven-year-olds. What can they talk about? I leave Fauna and glance around some more of the tributes, but I can't tell what's going on. All the conversations are about positive topics, not Fauna appraise topics but pretty normal teenage stuff. Ajax is sitting by himself, but I leave him be. I don't want to think about him considering killing me. But the peacekeepers call us in, and we go back to train more. I attend a technique and fighting class, less pushing, fighting we mostly use our body weight to kill the other person; Lukah, Timothy, Alan, Zayden, Kerina, Penelope, and I attend this session. Penelope probably the only one I can sort of tolerate. She's funny and outgoing, that's good for a tribute. She won't mind sleeping in a tree where as if it were Effie, she would freak. Penelope stands next to me while the peacekeeper demonstrates what we are doing, how to break an arm, or how to kill someone by standing on a certain part of their body. Since Penelope stands next to me, we are partnered with each other. Penelope is somewhat good, but she's tiny compared to me. She twists my arm and says, "good," she replies, "what am I, your servant, that's all you have to say… good?" I reply, "no, but what am I supposed to say 'do that to me in the arena when we are both fighting for our lives' that isn't… very.. kind," I say while we continue practicing. She adds, "well, I mean we could be allies" I stop the fighting and say, "no. You're tolerable, but no," she says, "Haymitch, please, your fast and smart, I've been observing you," she says in a flirtatious way. She stops fighting… she looks like she's telling the truth, and she wants me as an ally, but I reply, "no.. stop looking at me," and we continue, and that's the last of our conversation. Penelope probably was telling the truth, I sent to know her well, but she seems to be an honest person… she is from 11, so she has a bit of 12 in her, that could be it. We're done with the session, and we are instructed to test our skills to practice them more.. so I go to the treadmill and run for longer. While jogging, I notice Nickolai trying to get close to Maysilee, and I run off the treadmill and say, "what do you think you are doing" I say to Nickolai. Nickolai replies, "well, you know when a man gets to a certain age-" I reply, shouting, "don't give me that crap, don't get near her." I walk away, and Maysilee comes to be pushing my shoulder, saying, "what was that for," I reply, "you seriously are going to let him do that to you? And you stand there. It would help if you were trying to live or something," I say, whispering and Maysilee replies, "Haymitch, you don't get it. Nobody here cares about living or dying. Who goes first goes we can't control," I reply, "yeah, we can.. Maysilee it's called killing and staying alive while doing that," Maysilee replies, "really Haymitch do you want to become a capitol puppet and live the rest of your life in the capital." I reply, "yes," I'm lying, but I can't let Maysilee win this. If Maysilee gets any information about me and my Opinions with the games, that will go to 6'4 Nickolai finch and his posse of careers, and I'm marked onto their killing list. Maysilee leaves and goes to one of her career friends. I know Maysilee, not much, but I do know her. She wouldn't do this, and she couldn't risk her life for a guy… or would she?. I sit down on the ground leaning against the wall, drinking water as Penelope comes to me, and says "so sweetie, what did blondie say to you": I reply, "sorry for being rude," she replies, "Nah, your good, it's your personality… I bet you cringed while saying sorry" I did cringe while saying sorry, but I reply "yeah, I did," a short pause comes, and I add, "what's going on over there" we both turn our heads, and Melania got dragged out by peacekeepers... "I didn't know she could talk," says Penelope, I really "she didn't… I saw her paper.. the test and she wrote something on it in big letters" I would tell Penelope. Still, I can't trust her yet. While we see Melania get dragged, I'm thinking, I'm next. Penelope says, "do you remember what she wrote.. maybe the girl has brains" I reply "she has the brains, I think she's just quiet about it" Penelope replies "maybe she's a capitol spy?" I reply in laughing hysterically, "a spy?" And she says "yes a spy" she lifts her head appearing to be quite cooky. And I say "ok, a spy… Melania, the spy! Oh, I bet you were capitol dummies, and we don't die in the arena?" Penelope laughs and stands up and says she has to go, but it was nice talking to me… Penelope is sweet, but she's no Amy Lewis. I stand up and head to the electrical station with Lukah and Milo from district 11; we work separately. We work individually. I'm working on making a flashlight out of berries, mangos, and apples. I've never seen a mango before... the color of the mango reminds me of Effie's wigs and Evian's colorful outfits. But as I worked though I managed to create electricity with the fruits, I don't know why I do this, but I do consider maybe I get a sponsor and send me a sort of fruit I don't like, like... Bananas or tomatoes. I wouldn't say I like tomatoes. If the capital happens to send me a fruit, I don't like to make it into electricity and maybe set something on fire multiple times or make a clock or anything. Lukah and milo make swords out of leaves.. they make them aw sharp as knives. They cut themselves in the process, but it works... I try myself, but I start with a base of dried out mud. Mud would take a long time to dry, but it becomes hard as a rock if you let it out for a while. And I started trying to make a sword, but I end up with a brick. I don't want to kill anybody that brutally, but if worse, I can kill something by pressing the brick onto their neck, causing them to lose air, choke and die. I have the brick and electricity thing down... I move around to the rope station and practice making nurses and booby traps cousin tributes to be hanged by their food, and then I could kill them eventually. Since I don't want this, I can pass this information to Fauna; Fauna wouldn't want to kill anybody. Still, I could write it down and as Effie to ask one of the stylists like Karma to ask maybe Lucero one of the helpers to put it into their suit, and then if I die early on, Fauna will have a cheat sheet with all my ideas and how to do's. I always keep a notebook with me, but since that's too risky, I will use napkins and toilet paper then form my book for Fauna. Effie should know a thing or two about crafting; perhaps she could help me with the whole thing. Evian Shows up with a another lady, i had seen her before... she is a designer for the careers, she has a strange-looking appearance, almost like a cat she looks like, with high cheekbones and a flattened nose..... Half of the tributes laugh when they both walking; even though Evian is a pain, and the other lady isn't the cat's meow, the tributes shouldn't laugh at them, but I happened to give a slight chuckle/gasp when they walked in as well. Evian introduces us to the lady, and she says, "well, i would like for you to meet Tigris!" we all give a smile, and Evian continues, "she's a friend of mine, she won't be here long" we walk out, and Penelope waves bye to me and I to her. we seem to have a sort of weird bond, like if we knew each other our whole lives, but we haven't; she seems to want to live a better life and strive for more; at the end of the day, that's me observing… have I been observing her as well? Maybe not. Maybe it's just common to observe the tributes before the games.

We walk the same long-distance turn after turn after turn with Tigers tagging along, Returning left-right over and over. By the end of the next week, I will have it memorized. We arrive. Not to the usual place. Alma has four chairs set up in the living room in a straight line. The lights are dimmed a bit, and Evian asks us to sit down. Alma says to us, "I want to see how much you hate the capital… I want to see your Fear in the games. Tell me, Haymitch, what is one thing you would do to the capitol children" I reply, "nothing, it's not their fault the games happen; its people like snow who keep them going" Alma replies, "people like snow?" I reply, "yes, snow," I stand up and add to the cold atmosphere alma has created in the room. I add, "well, snow doesn't believe murder is bad… he allows the murdering of children happens every year. Just that statement' murder is fine" is bad enough," Alma says, "makes sense. Ajax, what would you do?" Ajax replies quickly, "kill them if you support it then just die because then you sort of support yourself getting killed in a way for entertainment" Alma walks across the room, she says "I get your point of view. Still, you understand that people here believe they are better than you more multiple reasons like wealth. They have more money than your family. Therefore… you have less cake. Your life means less than there because you don't have the collateral," ajax nods. She asks Maysilee and Fauna; Maysilee believes that we should live in peace. No harm should be done... Fauna has no clue what is happening. Out of nowhere, Alma says, "I am Ceaser, welcome welcome, I ask you Ajax 'what do you think of the games having 100% more tributes then previous years?'" Ajax replies, "I believe that is going t be harder than what we have seen in previous years," alma replies, "NO! Lie to me; Ajax look at me in the eyes through every word.. you don't believe that ajax didn't come out… EFFIE CAME OUT OF YOUR VOICE. I want to hear ajax is saying it is a good idea and it will be a show" ajax breathes in and out in a nervous panic and bumps his leg up and down for a minute, and says to Alma, "well, you know how it is Ceaser, its a production! Give the viewers what they want to hear, it is a spectacular idea, and I tend to support it" Alma slaps Ajax across the face and flips the table infant of her "AJAX NO! YOU ARE TREMBLING AJAX TELL ME THAT THE IDEA IS TRULY ONE OF A KIND!" Ajax stands up and shouts, "WELL IF YOU WANT TO GET TECHNICAL, I BELIEVE THE IDEA IS JUST SPLENDID," and he runs out of the room, slamming the door. The show has started, the tension between Alma and ajax rises every day. But Alma says to me, "Haymitch, have your thoughts been with your grandmother during this time… thinking… possibly you will never see her again" I feel the anger rush from the back of my head. Still, Alma will be even more ad if I give a smart remark, so I reply looking straight into her eyes saying "my thoughts will last forever with Gran, and will I will always be in 12, in fact, I am living proof of the typical 12 boys, but what is done, is done" I stand up and leave the room. I start tearing up in the bathroom, looking into the mirror at myself. How can I say such stupidity? How can I say those words? that's not me. That's Haymitch talking in Fear. How can Alma bring up Gran like that? My thoughts have had Gran out of the way because then I soften up. But I think what is happening to Gran? Has Gran died? Did they kill her? Does anything I do go back to her?. All these questions flow into my head, but then two come barging into my room. They saw my paper. They come into ajax, and I'm room, and they drag me by the arms and throw me into the living room. President snow decides to make an appearance, and he says, "Hello Tigris," Tigris replies in almost a cat like way "Hello Coryo" President snow adds "LGB, lovely name," Tigirs almost replies but presdient Snow sushes her, I reply, "fantastic" while the peacekeeper pushes me back to the ground, and I grunt. President snow says, "why don't you and I forget about the hanging tree, hmm? Forget it all happened, hmm?" I reply, "were 12, you can't change—" and I scream as the peace keeper zaps me with a little stick called a tazer. Fauna is in the back of Effie, hiding because she knows what Snow,Snow is talking about, and the show replies, "oh no, I can change that. I can change this… he yells in a subtle, wise but forceful way, "ALL OF YOU HERE WILL BE FORBIDDEN TO MENTION ANYTHING OF 12," he pants "THE PUNISHMENT WILL BE DEATH. FORCED TO BE A AVOX. NONE OF YOU WILL SPEAK OF THIS UNLESS YOU WANT TO END UP LIKE THIS BOY...THAT INDEED GOES FOR YOU" as he points to Tigris, the peacekeepers tase me time after time. They carry a little bag with them and put a mask over my nose and mouth and gas that causes my head to feel like it's exploding. My veins become more prominent and purple. They eventually come out of my skin. They hit me with whips after wip, and I pass out.

I wake up to myself lying on the floor half head and half asleep. My hand is shaking. And my neck feels awful. There was a man in district 12 whose hand always was shaking... He was born with that defect, but it seems that now the capital has given it to me. The floor is ice cold, and my right hand is twitching nonstop, my legs are bloody and cut up, and pieces of skin on the floor. That bloodthirsty Snow. Snow, He'll make sure I die in the arena. He's practically doing it to me now. I stand up barely, and there is a shadow but a recognizable one, and it is Effie.