Author's Note: Hello! I'm Catalina, Lina for short. Hopefully you'll enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy reading the works I've seen here.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games, nor anything associated with the franchise. I only own this story, I'm just having fun with the characters.
Effie's POV
The train slows to a stop and I lift my head from my tablet. I am in District Twelve. It's much less glamorous than I'd expected it to be. Where are the crowds? There should be adoring fans, shouldn't there? I try to steady myself on these six inch heels, trying to get used to being five feet and ten inches tall. My shoes are already pinching and I can tell this is going to be my worst nightmare ever. I trot off the train, looking around for the Hall of Justice and just decide to kill time by wandering. I find myself lost in no time, so I step up to a grimy old man and ask "Sir, would you please point me toward the Hall of Justice?"
He eyes me for a minute, then asks "You're one of them Capitols, then?"
His voice is gruff and hateful. "Yes, sir," I reply, a little wary of how he looks at me. His eyes are full of contempt and disgust.
"Here to kidnap a couple more of our kids, are ya?" he asks angrily.
"More?" I ask, confused. "I'm unsure of what you mean. I'm new to my role."
"What's that, then?" he scoffs, looking angry.
"I am the new escort," I say, still a little proud of myself for landing this job.
He glares at me. "Find your own way, Capitol scum," he snorts hatefully, then spits at my feet.
I stare at his back as he walks away, a little bit hurt. All I've done is ask for directions! I huff to myself and hobble on along the cobbles. "Calling me Capitol scum!" I exclaim to nobody as I walk. How dare he!
A little girl, no older than four, skips toward me. "I love your dwess!" she exclaims.
"Thank you, darling," I say, kneeling down to her and shaking her little hand. She has beautiful black curls, olive skin and twinkling grey eyes. "You're very beautiful. Are you all dressed up for the reaping too?"
"Yes," she giggles. "My dwess isn't as pwetty as you's is, though."
"Nonsense, darling. Your dress is the most exquisite," I say, looking at her little blue dress. It's been patched so many times that my heart breaks. I must bring these children clothes. New ones.
A woman hurries over and snatches the tiny girl away. "Keep your filthy hands away from my kid! She's too young for the likes of you!" she snaps.
"But Mommy, she's nice!" the child exclaims.
"Nice!" the woman scoffs. "That woman is Capitol, they don't have a nice bone in their bodies! Keep away from her."
"Bye bye," the little angel calls miserably, waving at me as her mother carries her off. The woman pulls her daughter's small hand down as I wave back, feeling a wave of pain wash over me.
I carry on walking until I see a beautiful, ornate iron sign, propped up with stone pillars with the words Victors' Village marking it. I go in, wanting to meet Twelve's only living Victor. I see his home, the only one exuding an air of neglect, despite it being the only one occupied. I knock on his door and hear a gruff slur of a voice from inside shouting "Get lost, Caroline!"
With a deep breath, I open the door and walk in.
Author's Note #2: That's it for the first chapter. I hope this isn't too horrible. If you enjoyed it and want to see more or have any questions, please feel free to drop me a comment and let me know. Next update should be next Thursday. Lina. xx