The cattle car that took them to the Capital was a dark and suffocating place. The smell of sweat and dirt permeated the air, and the sound of the wheels on the rail seemed to echo in their heavy hearts. You were sitting in the corner, watching the other tributes warily, but your attention always returned to Tanner, your partner from District 10. He was a silent enigma, but always attentive. His ptosis made his expression always look a little tired, but you knew there was strength behind that look.

When you and he arrived at the Capital, the reception was anything but glorious. The two of you were taken to the Capitol Zoo and thrown into the so-called “Monkey House,” as if you were less than human, just animals on display for the entertainment of the elite. The bars of the cage reflected the golden glow of the lights, while the citizens of the Capital laughed and whispered outside, watching the two of you as if you were bizarre attractions.

Tanner was sitting next to you, the silence between you was full of contained tension. His breathing was shallow and you noticed how he clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white. The ptosis of his eyelid, which partially covered his left eye, seemed to give him an even tougher look. He avoided looking at the crowd, keeping his focus on the ground.

“That’s not right,” you muttered, breaking the silence. Indignation had been building inside you since the moment you set foot in the Capital, but now, faced with the laughter and contempt of the crowd, it was impossible to contain yourself.

Tanner slowly turned his head towards you, his visible eye fixed on your face. “To them, we are like animals,” he replied, his voice hoarse and tired, as if he had already accepted this fate long ago. . “They don’t want us to think, to feel… Just to fight and die.”