Chapter One: Fitting into the Seam
"Cinna, I don't know how we'll ever be able to repay you for this," Tasie thanked the man who had been her personal stylist for the past three years.
"I'd be offended if you tried," he told her, thereafter pulling the sixteen year old girl into a firm hug.
The entire situation was bittersweet. While Cinna felt reassured knowing that the two teens before him would be safe from now on, he disliked the fact that he'd most likely never see either of them again. Yes, it was for the best; but that hardly meant he had to like it.
"So, what should we go by?" Redley interrupted the tender moment, feeling that there were more important matters to discuss.
"What do you mean?" Tasie inquired, pulling away from the embrace whilst using her sleeve to dry the tears on her face.
"He means your names, darling," Cinna explained. "It wouldn't be wise to keep the ones you have now," he informed her.
"In case they try to find us?" she asked, not remotely delighted with the prospect of having to give up her name.
"Exactly," he affirmed.
"I don't know…"
"Do you want to go back there?" her brother asked somewhat harshly.
She glared at him, "Of course not-"
"Then stop hesitating, Tasie," Redley practically demanded. "We've come too far to get caught now. I mean, so what if we have to change our names? Already, we've died our hair, tanned our skin, and have gotten contacts. Why are you giving up now?" he crossed his strong arms, becoming frustrated with the younger teen.
"I'm not giving up!" she stopped a foot for emphasis. "It's just…the only thing I have left of mom is my name, Red. I was named after her," the newly dyed brown-haired girl reminded him of their mother, Anastasia. "And now that she's gone…it just doesn't seem right to change that part of who I am."
"What you feel doesn't matter anymore," he sternly enlightened her. "We're practically fugitives now. Nothing is going to be about what you or I want from this point on, so you'd better get used to it."
"Quit it," Cinna cut in, having had enough of their bickering, "We don't have much time left," he let them know. "This is how it's going to be," he turned to Tasie first. "Your new name is Raelynn. You live in the Seam, alone with your older brother. Your mother passed just last month from starvation, leaving you two on your own. As for your father, he was lost to a mining accident several years ago. Being that your brother is of age, neither of you were forced into receiving a new guardian. Now, being just sixteen, your only job is school," Cinna then pulled a folder out from the bag of necessities he'd packed for the two. "Here are all of the papers you will need to prove your citizenship in District Twelve in case anyone asks. I've already managed to slip a copy for each of you into the Justice Building, so no one should suspect anything. Since you will be starting school at the beginning of a new year, none of the teachers will question you. However, if by chance they do, you will merely say that you were once homeschooled by your mother, but given the current circumstances, you've had to go public," he then turned to Redley, "Your name is now Brighton. You have twenty-one slips of paper in the Reaping ball this year, as it is your last. You have never allowed for your sister to take any tesserae, so she will only have five. Once the Reaping for the seventy-third Hunger Games passes, you will go to work in the mines. Now, there's a small shack at the very end of the Seam. This is where the two of you will be staying."
"No one lives there?" the eighteen year old checked.
Cinna shook his head, "I have already made certain of that," he then handed over a bag containing everything they would need to get by until work could be found. "Take care of her," he told Redley, giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze.
He nodded, managing a small smile, "I will."
"What are you going to do now?" Tasie spoke up, her voice wavering in mixed emotions. "You can't go back to work at the house…" she noted, knowing they'd be highly suspicious of him.
"I'm planning to apply as a stylist for District Twelve's tributes," Cinna said, "that way, in case either of your names is drawn, I'll be able to help you."
With those words, Tasie leapt into his arms once more. "I'm really going to miss you," she told him, trying her hardest not to cry.
"I'll be missing you as well, darling," he ran a hand through her hair soothingly; knowing this action always calmed the girl down.
"The hair-dye will last, right?" Redley spoke up, again interrupting their hug.
Cinna sighed tiredly and pulled back from Tasie for the last time. "Yes," he assured him, "although the contacts will need to be replaced at least once every week and the tan is something you will have to work on as it will fade within three months time."
"Do we have enough contacts to get through the year?" he asked, aware that people in the Seam had grey eyes while those residing in town were known for their blue ones. Unfortunately, he and his sister had neither, which is why the contacts were so essential. People would wonder how they ended up with emerald and the last thing they needed was any added attention. As it were, their hair was once a beautiful platinum shade and their skin a nice ivory color. Now, they resembled everything Seam.
"Yes, all that you require is already there," he directed Redley's attention to the duffel bag. "After a year, I'll be sure to get more for you."
"How will you do that?" Tasie wanted to know.
Of that, Cinna still wasn't sure. "I'll figure something out," he replied smoothly.
"What about our last names?" the eldest inquired.
"Bay," he answered swiftly, already having come up with it some time ago.
Before Redley could respond, a whistle went off, indicating that the Reaping would shortly take place.
"I need to get back to the train while everyone is occupied in the square," Cinna started the farewell process. It had been a miracle that the trio was able to stowaway in the first place. All that remained to be done was for him to get back to the Capitol without anyone noticing again. "You two run back to the house as quickly as possible and unload everything. Don't worry about changing," he looked at the outfits he'd dressed them in. "You will fit in perfectly."
"And you're sure we will get past the blood test?" Tasie voiced her worried thoughts.
"Both of you are completely in the system under your new names. The Peacekeepers hardly take the time to memorize each face, so you don't have to fret over them. As for the citizens, if they ask, you tell them you hardly left the house for anything other than a Reaping. It was the loss of both parents that's causing you to come out now, understand?"
The two nodded, showing that they did. "Thank you Cinna," Redley acknowledged all that the man before him had done for he and his sister. "I know you didn't have to help us, but I'm extremely grateful that you did."
"I would have never left you two alone with your father," the stylist spoke truthfully. He couldn't bear to witness another day of Tasie and Redley suffering through such abuse. Ever since the loss of their mother, it had gotten so much worse. "There is really no need to thank me."
"Still," he extended a hand, which Cinna took shortly after. "I'll always appreciate it."
"Me too," Tasie exclaimed, giving him a quick peck on the cheek.
Letting go of Redley, Cinna simply smiled warmly at the duo. "Watch out for yourselves, alright?"
"We will."
And with that, he stepped out from behind the Justice building and discreetly crept back onto the train, leaving President Snow's children behind.
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