Chapter 1: The Arrival
The Train rounded the edge of the forest, revealing a city like no other. The buildings were tall, and shimmered in the morning sunlight. The city was surrounded by an intricate man-made lake that looked smooth as glass and mirrored the city it encompasses. The city itself would be beautiful, if not for the dirty and deadly secrets within its walls. This was the Capitol, city of Panem.
"Katniss, I think we're here," I said quietly. Katniss groaned in response. I could tell by the look on her face that she was just as excited to be here as I am. This is to say, not at all.
The train spiraled into the heart of the city, thousands on exotically dressed people gathered at the train station to greet us. I was actually overwhelmed by our welcome wagon that I got caught up in the moment. I smiled and waved at the joyous people, I hesitated after I realized what I was doing, but I have to get people to like me anyways. I chuckled to myself, Why not?
"What's so funny, Peeta?'' Katniss asked.
"I am actually happy to see the people who want to see me die." I replied, to which Katniss laughed.
"It's masochistic. They look at us like a pig to slaughter, and we are. It makes me sick, and I would give anything to know what goes through their heads, when they watch the Hunger Games." Katniss said.
"Maybe they only see it as it is, a game." I answered.
"That is ridiculous. If they actually did think that way, they would have an extremely immature way of thinking." She retorted.
We were escorted by the Peacekeepers to our transportation that took us to a round building with a dome ceiling. Over the entrance read; "Panem et Circenses". When I ask Effie what it meant, she made a tut noise.
"It's Latin for Bread and Circuses, of course." Effie answered in a condescending voice as we passed through the mahogany doors. I bit back the nasty retort that came to my mind. Ugh! She can really get on people's nerves, no wonder why the capitol made her the escort of District twelve. They shunt everything unwanted in 12.
The inside was made of polished marble floors and mahogany walls. A crowd of people gathered around the blazing fireplace, idle chit chat and drinks all around. I did a quick head count of twenty-four adults and teenagers and kids. The tributes and their stylists. Our stylist were walking towards up, they were matching perfectly. From their burnt copper skin to their outfits, which were cut for the appropriate sex.
"Hello, my name Cinna and this is my sister, Portia." Said the man, in a casual tone.
"How do you do? We are going to be your stylist for the games." said the woman.
"Hello." Katniss and I replied in union.
We headed towards a door on the other end. We waded past the other tributes, trying not to disturb the other tributes. I was doing a good job avoiding contact except for the male tribute of two; I accidentally grazed his back in attempt to avoid the female of six. He was at least a half foot taller than me. I turned to apologize, but I was being dragged along by Katniss, so I gave him an apologetic smile, instead. He just stared at me, blankly.
The other side of the door revealed a large round room with twenty four doors. The doors themselves closed off the dressing rooms for the chariot rides. We were walking to the doors on the very right of us.
"We are to dress you within coordination of you district export, which is coal. Portia and I have a crazy idea that will knock the bedazzled socks of the Capitol. We created a synthetic fire for you to wear." Cinna explained.
"This fire will not burn you, but it gives us all of the effects of fire. Convenient right?" Portia explained further.
"That is so cool!" I said, it was all that I could give them as thanks for everything they will do for us.
"At least it's not the usual coal miner outfits," Katniss offers.
"My thoughts exactly," said Cinna.
Katniss and Cinna went through the door on the left and Portia and I went on the immediate right. The room was small, but still bigger than my room back home. The Suit I was to wear was shiny leather, skin tight shirt with matching pants, thankfully with more room down there.
My prep crew was there waiting for me. I took the notion to get their names. To men and one woman, Socrates was a short but broad shouldered man, with blue streaks through a mullet, and matching blue eyeliner. Mytiil (ME- teal) was a tall thin man, with a lion's mane of sunset orange, my particular favorite color. He had thick aureolin yellow powder outlining his face that faded towards the center. Cleo was short ad dainty, with a peacock feather headdress that almost obscured her platinum blonde hair. She had peacock lashes, with orange lipstick.
They went to work on me scrubbing away district twelve's distinct dirtiness. Some part of me felt like they were scrubbing away the ages on my body while that chattered away, talking about things that only Capitol citizens would wear. They styled my hair in delicate, but wild array. No make-up thankfully, Cinna and Portia wanted it to be as natural as possible, so the audience can recognize us easily, before and during the games, maybe even after.
Once Portia fitted me into shiny leather outfit, I'm amazed at how refreshed I feel. My youth is glowing; this is what I would look like in my prime.
As we rode out on the chariot, the fire billowed behind us. I felt no warmth in the fire, only a light tingle across my shoulders. Me and Katniss locked fingers, she was absolutely stunning. The fire created a halo the framed her face in the back. She looked like she was glowing on the inside, like the fire was inside of her.
The chariot ride weaved its way through the city, displaying us to all of the Capitol. People goggled and pointed at us. I couldn't blame them for staring; I would to if someone was on fire. The ride round out to the front of a tall building with thirteen floors. We were ordered to go into the lobby of the building where we would meet up with our mentor and our stylists.
I helped Katniss out of the chariot and we kept holding hands as we walked up to Haymitch. Cinna and Portia went to work removing the fire off our suits. The lobby was crimson carpeted, with oak wood walls. A chandelier hung overhead, elegant looking with a five foot wide frame, and delicate crystals dangling overhead. Haymitch was rambling on about how we were naturals, but we needed to show a little more enthusiasm. My attention was elsewhere however.
The boy from two, who I had bumped into earlier, was staring at me, this time with amusement. I wondered what he could possibly be thinking, but I didn't let that bother me too much. Every time I turned away to ignore him, I felt the need to keep checking whether or not he was still staring. He was… every time I peeked over my shoulder.
We left the lobby first, taking a ride in a fast elevator that shot straight to the top. The floors assigned to us tributes, ascending in numerical order. Naturally ours would be on top, and District on would be on floor two, seeing as how the lobby was the first.
"Did you get a chance to look at yourself, Katniss?" I said as small talk.
"When? On the chariot ride? Of course not, I was to busy trying to stay on!" Katniss answered.
"You were so stunning on the ride. The fire framed your face just right; it gave you a fiery angel kind of look."
Katniss looked like she was baffled. "You looked amazing too, you know."
I joked. "I always look amazing, duh!" I gave her a sloppy grin.
She replied with a fist in the shoulder, and a smile on her face.
We ate supper, which consisted of a buffet of the Capitol's finest dishes. I ate the Tiramisu, then a delicious clam soup called Bowl- la- base [sic. Bouillabaisse]. I always eat my desert first, you don't get to appreciate it as much when you're full, and it is always the best part of the meal. Being a baker's son would make you think I have desserts all the time, but sadly I don't. We sell the desserts; we get to eat only the stale, or out of date, food we make. Not quite as satisfying.
Full to the brim, I scrambled up and walked to my room. I didn't have to look hard for my room, the door actually had my name on it. I enter the room, bloated and sleepy, and took it in. The room was huge, like a ship's deck, kind of huge. The carpets were white, and the walls white washed as well. All the furniture was built in a chic manner, with smooth edges of metal and sharp angles everywhere. The bed was twice the size of queen sized beds, and the bedding matched the room to the same precise shade. On the bed was a bouquet of complimentary red roses. The smelled wonderful, and their scent wafted through the room.
I striped off my clothes and climbed into bed, and I was carried away by rich scents and cosmic images. Dreaming of a different time, a better place, and staring eyes.
Thanks for reading, please drop a review and like if you enjoyed!