Chapter 6

           TheTrainingCenterhasatowerdesignedexclusivelyforthetributesandtheirteams.ThiswillbeourhomeuntiltheactualGamesbegin.Eachdistricthasanentirefloor.Yousimplystepontoanelevatorandpressthenumberofyourdistrict.Easyenoughtoremember.

           I’veriddentheelevatoracoupleoftimesintheJusticeBuildingbackinDistrict12.Oncetoreceivethemedalformyfather’sdeathandthenyesterdaytosaymyfinalgoodbyestomyfriendsandfamily.Butthat’sadarkandcreakythingthatmoveslikeasnailandsmellsofsourmilk.Thewallsofthiselevatoraremadeofcrystalsothatyoucanwatchthepeopleonthegroundfloorshrinktoantsasyoushootupintotheair.It’sexhilaratingandI’mtemptedtoaskEffieTrinketifwecanrideitagain,butsomehowthatseemschildish.

           Apparently,EffieTrinket’sdutiesdidnotconcludeatthestation.SheandHaymitchwillbeoverseeingusrightintothearena.Inaway,that’saplusbecauseatleastshecanbecountedontocorralusaroundtoplacesontimewhereaswehaven’tseenHaymitchsinceheagreedtohelpusonthetrain.Probablypassedoutsomewhere.EffieTrinket,ontheotherhand,seemstobeflyinghigh.We’rethefirstteamshe’severchaperonedthatmadeasplashattheopeningceremonies.She’scomplimentaryaboutnotjustourcostumesbuthowweconductedourselves.And,tohearhertellit,Effieknowseveryonewho’sanyoneintheCapitolandhasbeentalkingusupallday,tryingtowinussponsors.