Chapter One: Holosity

I was cold. Too cold for my liking. I could feel myself slowly decaying, soon to cease to exist. Maybe if I decided to run with the Careers, they wouldn't have caught me like this. They're gone now, and I'm with my friends. My family. My real family. How I ended up allied with such fighters in the first place I will never know. I could hear their voices slowly dying, muffled voices trying to shout life back into me. I was at peace. I remember with a last breath how I ended up entwined in the vicious games of the Capitol. When the escort read my name, I felt almost like this. Empty. Only like an empty feeling that strikes fear into your heart, and not the solemn emptiness that means peace would come for me soon. I stood on the stage before the Justice Building and met my fellow tribute. Garth. A huge, beefy 18 year old. When he moved to shake my hand, his grip was tight and mean. I never expected to die at his hands. I guess honesty and trust don't come in where the Careers are concerned. There are far worse games to play.

Ceaser Flickerman's dazzling blue hair and suit almost blinded me as I took to the stage. He brushed his electric blue lips to my hand and we sat down, the eyes of all of Panem resting on me.
'Well, Holosity, how are you feeling about the games? Are we all prepared?' he said, with a smile that seemed etched onto his tanned face.
'I'm not too sure, to be honest! I'm confident. And well…' I couldn't do it. I was told to play the strong, sly yet brilliant girl from district 4, but I couldn't do it.
'Oh well that's always a good thing! Confidence! And I must say, I love your dress!'
I smiled and said, 'Thanks to Lorcan! I would probably be in some rags without him!' I felt a boost, as he maneuvered his way from the topic of confidence. My dress, to be perfectly honest, was awful. Fish scales do not suit me with my dark eyes and dark copper hair. With random scales different colours. It was too much like the Capitol. Nothing like me. Although no one seems to know me now. Lorcan had my hair in a messy bun and shoe with heels so high; my shoulders topped Ceaser's electric blue hair.
'Go on, have you any secrets to how your are to play the games? Any strategies?' I paused, realizing I had none. Well, I guess I'm screwed.
'Well, I have a few tricks up my sleeve. You haven't seen all that there is to me yet!' I was quite proud at my quickly thought out lie. He laughed and so did the audience.
The buzzer went, meaning my few minutes were up, so I left the stage to watch the others. Backstage, I got talking to the girl from District twelve. Sianer Turner. I immediately liked her, as she reminded me of my sister, Lily. A few other interviews hung in my mind. There was Garths, who, like always, looked like a God, especially in his dark silvery suit. He stole the crowd by talking about the other tributes. He said, about me, that I was one to look out for. He knew I had no secret strategies, so why was he sticking up for me? When he left, those from 5 came, a Farrell and the girls name I did not catch, then six, whose names I didn't cath. The girl from 7 was around my age, 15, and was nearly as tall as I was in my heels! Then came 8 and 9, I was beginning to feel bored now. From 10, a girl of 18, who seemed as nervous as me. Then from 11, a boy of the age of 12 sat down, after stumbling as he walked on. His trousers were too long. Then the last two of the night, Sianer, and a boy of 16, Peeta, both from twelve. They closed the show, with Peeta announcing he liked Sianer. Great. That's how they get sponsors! Why didn't I think of that?
Back in the centre, Garth, Lorcan, Finnick Odair (our Mentor), and Escort, Tallie, sat and watched replays. I watched the replays of the score announcing, seeing my 8 appear under my name and then watch the interviews. My failure to be liked over and over! All I could think of was the next day. I stood and said, 'I'm turning in. Goodnight.' As I turned to leave, Garth took hold of my arm and said quietly, 'Good Luck.'
Luck wouldn't help me at all. With the strong ones from other districts and my own, leaving a shadow over me, meant my chances of survival, were a million to one.