Hunger Games 1

Chapter 11 Suspicion (1)
The training center has a building dedicated to the Tributes and their team, and we will live here until the game officially starts.Each zone occupies an entire floor.Just board the elevator, press the button for your jurisdiction, and you will arrive at your floor.Easy to remember.

I've been on an elevator in the courthouse in the [-]th arrondissement before.Once when Dad passed away to receive his medals, and once yesterday morning when he said goodbye to friends and family.But the elevators there are dim, creaky, snail-like ascents, and stink of yogurt.But the elevator here is surrounded by crystals, and when it goes up quickly, people on the ground can be seen shrinking to the size of ants.It was such an exciting ride that I wanted to ask Effie Trinket if we could take it again, but it felt childish to do so.

Evidently, Effie Trinket's mission was far from over at the station.She and Haymitch will also supervise us until we enter the arena.In a sense, her job is also meaningful, at least she can bring us in within the specified time; and Haymitch has not shown up since she promised to help us on the train, maybe drunk Where did it fall.Effie Trinket, on the other hand, was in high spirits.Among the contestants she sent out, we were the first pair to shine in the opening ceremony.She not only praised our costumes, but also praised our performance.Effie Trinket knew everyone on and off the Capitol, and she talked about us all day, trying to get us sponsorships.

"I try to be as mysterious as possible when I talk," she said, eyes half-closed and sideways. "Of course, Haymitch never told me about your plans, but I did everything I could to convince them. I told them How Katniss sacrificed herself for her sister, how the two of you survived in the barbaric environment of this jurisdiction, etc."

brutal?It's ironic coming out of the mouth of a woman who is preparing us for slaughter.How do we win?Is it by our dining etiquette?
"Naturally, everyone has their own strengths. You're from the mining area. But I said, you know I'm smart, and I said, 'Well, if you stress the coal enough, it'll turn into pearls!' "Effie Trinket spoke with high spirits, and we had to follow her high spirits, enjoying hearing how smart she was, but we didn't think she was smart inside.

Pearls grow in shells instead of coal.Maybe she meant to say that coal turned into diamonds, but that's not true either.I did hear that there is a machine in the first district that can turn graphite into diamonds.But we don't produce graphite in District [-] either.Before the thirteenth district was destroyed, it was producing graphite.

I wondered if the people she was recommending us to all day knew this, or cared.

"Unfortunately, I can't stamp the sponsorship contract, only Haymitch can." Effie Trinket said with a serious expression, "But don't worry, if it is necessary to force him at gunpoint, I will pull him too to the signing table."

Despite the slowness of many departments, I admire Effie Trinket's determination and determination.

My place was bigger than my original home in the [-]th arrondissement, furnished like a train compartment.There are many automatic devices in the room, but I don't have that much time to press every button.The shower room alone has hundreds of selector switches to adjust water temperature, pressure, soap, shampoo, fragrance, essential oils, and massage sponges.After bathing, when you step on the non-slip mat, the hot air will automatically dry it for you.After washing the hair, there is no need to comb the kinky hair, just put your hands on the control panel, a stream of air will dry the scalp, untangle the knots, part the hair, and instantly, smooth and shiny hair will float on my shoulders.

I sort my wardrobe to my liking.Huge windows open and close automatically at my command, inviting or shutting out city views.Just whisper any dish written on the giant menu into the microphone, hot and cold, steamed and fried, and it will appear in front of you immediately.I was walking around the room, eating foie gras and soft bread, when I heard a knock on the door, it was Effie, and she called me to eat.

OK, I'm starving!
When we entered the restaurant, Peeta, Cena, and Portia were standing on the balcony overlooking the Capitol.I'm excited to meet the two designers, especially after learning that Haymitch is also coming.If Effie and Haymitch meet at dinner, they are likely to break up, which is bad; besides, dinner is not only about eating, but also discussing our enemy strategy; It shows that their opinions are very valuable.

A taciturn young man in a white tunic served us wine, served in goblets.I wanted to say no, but then I thought, I've never drank wine, only the homemade liqueur my mother used for coughs at home, and when will I ever get a chance to taste wine again?

I took a sip, it was sour, and I thought it would taste better with a few spoonfuls of honey.

Just as the food was about to be served, Haymitch appeared.He seemed to have his own stylist too, looking clean and serious in a way I had never seen him before.He didn't refuse the wine, but when he began to drink the soup, it suddenly seemed to me that this was the first time I'd seen him eat.Maybe this time he can pull himself together long enough to help us.

The presence of Cena and Portia also seems to put some restraint on Haymitch and Effie, making them behave in a civilized manner.At least they could address each other with dignity, and their conversation was full of praise for the success of the two designers at the opening ceremony.While everyone was chatting quietly, my mind was on dinner. Mushroom soup, pea-sized tomato bittersweet, paper-thin grilled steak, macaroni with green sauce sauce, dotted with sweet blue grapes, delicious melted cheese.Like the waiter who served the wine, the other waiters, all in white tunics, were silently busying around the table, refilling our food and wine.

When the wine in the glass was almost half drunk, I felt a little dizzy, so I drank plain water instead.I don't like this feeling and hope it passes quickly.How Haymitch managed to walk and stand all day in this condition is still a mystery to me.

Then I turned my attention to the conversation, talking about our interview attire, when a waitress came up, placed a beautiful cake on the table, and expertly set it ablaze.The cake burned, spit out a beautiful flame, and finally burned around the edge of the cake for a while, until finally it went out.I was fascinated by it and couldn't figure out what was going on. "What is it burning? Is it alcohol?" I looked up and asked the waitress next to me. "That's the last thing I want—oh, I know you!"

I can't recall her name, or when I've seen the face, but I definitely know her.Black red hair, slender figure, fair skin like porcelain.Even when I say these words, I feel uneasy inside.I can't recall it right now, but I know she's connected to some horrible memories.The fear that flitted across her face added to my confusion and anxiety.She shook her head in denial, then quickly ran away from the table.

I turned around and found four men behind me looking at me like hawks.

"Don't be silly, Katniss, how did you know an Avax?" Effie broke in suddenly, "It's impossible to think about it."

"What is Avax?" I asked foolishly.

"An ex-criminal, she's got her tongue cut out so she can't talk," Haymitch said. "She might be a rebel. You're unlikely to know her."

"Even if you knew her before, don't talk to them except to give them orders," Effie said. "Of course, you can't know her."

But I do know her.Haymitch mentioned the "rebel" just now, and I suddenly remembered where I had seen her.The disdain for her made it impossible for me to ever admit to seeing her. "Yeah, I don't think I know her, I just..." I'm at a loss for words, and the wine doesn't seem to be helping either.But Peeta snapped his fingers and said, "Deli Cartwright, that's her. I thought she looked familiar at first, but then I remembered that she looks very similar to Delly."

Delly Cartwright, a pale, hulking, yellow-haired girl, was as much a beetle as a butterfly to a waitress.She's also probably the friendliest person on earth, she couldn't stop smiling at everyone at school, even me.But I've never seen a waiter with red hair smile.I appreciate Peeta's accost.

"Of course I was thinking of her, it must be because of the hair," I said.

The tension at the dinner table eased. "Oh, look, that's it," Cinna said. "Yes, there was alcohol on the cake, but it was completely burnt. I made this cake especially to commemorate your new beginnings in the light of the fire."

Finished the cake.We went to the reception room to watch the video of the opening ceremony being broadcast.There are a few couples who are impressive, but no one can match us.When everyone saw us coming out of the training center on the video, they unanimously said "ah".

"Whose idea was it to pull?" Haymitch asked.

"It's Cena," said Portia.

"A little bit of rebellion, just right," said Haymitch. "Very good!"

Rebellious?I'll have to think about what that means.

I thought of every pair in the other divisions, standing apart on the chariot, stiff, neither touching the other as if the other didn't exist, and the Hunger Games had begun.I see what Haymitch means.Having us appear as friends rather than rivals is enough to make us unique, as unique as our flame costumes.

"Phase one starts tomorrow morning. We'll meet at breakfast and I'll tell you exactly what to do," Haymitch said to Peeta and me. "Now, my lords, go to sleep."

(End of this chapter)