Pure Torture: a Hunger Games Fanfiction

Chapter 101

Unfortunately, it's not like that today. Since the Capitol has been making a huge fuss over us coming, everyone knows we will be arriving tomorrow. Of course paparazzi were sent out here to witness the incredibly momentous event of us getting on a train. I've never understood why people care so much about seeing candid photos of myself and Peeta getting on a train.

The train ride is slow and quiet. Willow talks about how excited she is to finally see the Capitol, while I half-listen. I feel guilty for a moment, but Peeta is carrying on a strong conversation with her, so I let my mind wander as I please.
"It seems so nice!" She says happily.

It's almost sickening, the way she looks at the Capitol. It's just how the districts saw it a little over a decade ago. It was corrupted and evil... But nobody knew well enough.
"Willow," I start, about to ask her to stop talking about it for my sanity, but Peeta stops me.
"You're going to love it," he interrupts before giving me a look.

I try to give Peeta a look in return, suggesting that if she says another word about the Capitol, I'll go mad.
"Willow, what do you want to wear tomorrow night?" Peeta asks, changing the subject.
"Purple!" Willow replies excitedly.
She's never been one for pink.

"A dress?" He asks.
"Of course, Daddy!" She says. "All movie stars have to wear dresses."
"You're very right, Miss Willow. Your mommy's going to look very pretty in hers," Peeta says.
I almost don't catch what he says, but at the last minute a let a small smile permeate the coldness of my expression.

"What color are you going to be wearing?" Peeta asks me.
"We both know that that's not up to me," I reply. It's not up to me, unfortunately. It's going to be up to whoever gets the pleasure of styling me.

--

The next day, Effie greets us at the train station. The station is crowded with people catching their own trains and photographers trying to snap a picture of my family.

"Katniss! Peeta!" She exclaims, wrapping us in a shimmery hug. "So good to see you two!"
"Good to see you too, Effie," Peeta replies for both of us.
She bends down to greet Willow.
"Sweet Willow. Hello again, my darling! You look beautiful as ever," Effie says.
"Hi, Aunt Effie," Willow says, giggling.

Once in our hotel room, the penthouse of the best hotel in Panem, Effie begins to debrief us. I want to ask her why we got this huge hotel room if we're only staying here one night, but she's already about to begin speaking. I mean, at least this is all being payed for by Caesar's people.

Effie explains to us that in a few hours, we'll be making our way to where Caesar's show is held. There, they'll make us over and get us stage-ready. Willow can hardly contain her excitement as Effie speaks.

Once Effie leaves so we can have some time to ourselves, I wander around the huge hotel rooms.
I walk into the bedroom with a large bed. The top blanket is the same velvet comforters that were in my rooms in the Tribute Center. I sit down on the bed and run my fingers over it. I find a remote and immediately I remember what it's for.

It's cool and sleek and feels almost glassy in my hand. I press a finger into it and the area around my fingertip lights up. I move my finger down it, and the wall changes. A beach, a desert, the streets of the Capitol itself, the middle of a meadow... The real-time recordings light up the entire wall. I scroll until I find one of the forest. Where the forest is, I'm not sure, but they all feel like home to me.