Chapter 2
"Okay Felicity, you're all set! Time for you to meet your stylist!" Tazmarie, a woman with aqua hair and midnight blue skin tells me. I have three people prepping me. Tazmarie and Orion, a bald man with white skin and chiseled features and Dellani, a woman with normal skin color, natural, long, wavy brown hair, and a friendly smile. I don't particularly like Tazmarie or Orion. But I do like Dellani. She seems sane. The only alterations on her are purple eyeliner and eye shadow and lipstick.
As the two other maniacs scamper off to find my stylist, Dellani hangs back and whispers to me, "Don't worry. Phobia isn't as insane as they are." I laugh a little. I've been in the remake center an hour almost. Being a merchant's kid, my hair, skin, nails, and other features aren't too bad. They fixed my nails into rounded artworks, only plucked my eyebrows a little bit, put a foamy and pleasant cream all over my skin that made it soft and smooth, but the only struggle, my hair. They washed it twice, combed it, dried it, combed it, detangled it, brushed it, and finally straightened it. My scalp feels a bit better, but I have a pounding headache.
Dellani leaves as a woman I have not met yet steps in. "Hello, Felicity, I'm Phobia." She says. You can tell she's from the Capitol, with her golden hair, silver skin, and shocking fashion choice, a stripped gold and silver mini gown with a poofy golden skirt and five-inch silver heels. "So, District 5? My brother became a Peacekeeper for 5. His name is Demios." Phobia tells me as she sits down next to me. I don't pay attention to Peacekeepers, I barely know who Demios is.
"For the opening ceremonies, my counterpart, Geroff, and I have come up with a very special idea." She smiles and I know I will be humiliated.
And I am right. For in an hour, Ronald and I are standing in a black chariot with white stallions, wearing the most ridiculous costumes I've ever seen.
We're in sparkly silver jumpsuits. They aren't so bad, but it's the headpiece that makes it horrid. Circular dishes, matching the suits, with a hole cut out for our heads. I hate it, but it's not as bad as District 4, who are dressed as fish in magenta and sky blue costumes with sequins. And ours is not as plain and boring as District 12's shiny black jumpsuits. They look petrified, I have no idea why.
We begin the parade and I ride down toward the city circle. When reach it, I look back, and I see why District 12 was so petrified. Fire encases them. It's real fire! I gasp and Ronald winces. We haven't spoken at all yet.
The other districts stare in astonishment. Except for the Careers. The boy from District 2 looks very, very bored, as if he can't wait until the games begin. He probably does want the bloodshed to begin. After all, he's from District 2.
Training. I don't' have many skills. I think about it as Ronald and I make my way down to the Training Room. Atala, the head trainer explains the system. My skills are weak, mainly survival. Running, climbing, plant knowledge, fire making, food preparing, and sneaking around is all I'm good at. As the days go by, however, I learn to throw and handle a knife and tie knots. They're handy skills. And I now have my strategy planned out. Stealth is my strength. I sneak around, hide, I won't kill anyone, unless completely necessary.
Finally it's our private training sessions. I wait a half hour and then it's my turn. I throw knives and climb rope ladders, I start a fire and pass the edible plant test in record time. Soon I am dismissed and I return to my room.
Later that night we all watch the training scores displayed. When my name comes up, I'm happy when I receive a 5. Ronald receives a 4. Ronald leaves and so does everyone else, but me. I wait and watch. I am amazed when I see that Katniss Everdeen, the girl from 12, has pulled an 11.
The interviews, the one thing I was dreading. Ceasar Flickerman, the host, is supposed to make it easier, I know. My mom told me. But I nervous since I won't have any mentor to help. Rhea isn't too bright, so I don't want her advice. However Ronald has been coaching with her for days.
Later, before the interviews begin, I meet with Phobia. "Oh, I just knew those costumes would work! You were fabulous!" she exclaims, and I realize that my "entourage" put together have an IQ of 1.
Tonight, however, I look nice. She puts me in a light blue silk dress. It's very simple. There are two thin straps and a nice knee-length skirt. Phobia also makes me wear white heels and an emerald green necklace with a blue stone. She ties some of my hair back, making it look higher than it is. I only wear light pink lipstick and white eye shadow and a touch of blush. Very simple, I love it.
Ronald and I go and wait in a line of tributes. I hear music coming from the stage. The boy from 1, Marvel I believe who scored 9, steps out. I wait and wait. Eventually I am shuffled onto the stage. "And now from District 5, Felicity Westerly!" Ceasar greets. I walk toward him, smiling and waving at the crowd. "Hello!" I say happily. Tonight I will be myself. "So Felicity, how was your Reaping?" he asks. "Well, it was very intense. It was my younger brother's first time that he was at the Reaping and understood what was going on. I felt really upset for him and my father." I replied. "Did they come to say goodbye?" Ceasar continued. "Why yes. We had a very emotional family moment. I told them I would try my hardest to win." I tell him and all of Panem. "Of course you did. What a wonderful young lady!" Ceasar gets the audience applauding and I glow. "What are your worries about the games?" he asks. "Well I'm nervous about the fact I might starve to death. I'm not much of a fighter, so I'll probably avoid the Cornucopia." I say. "Any strategies you would like to share with us?" "Well I plan on hiding from the fights and try to outsmart the others." I explain, not giving away much detail. "Very good!" He chuckles. The buzzer goes off suddenly. "That's all the time we have for you dear! Thank you Felicity, you were wonderful!" he says. He kisses my hand and I wave goodbye as I walk offstage. That went pretty well. I think.
The games are today. I wake up and head down for breakfast. Rhea tries to make Ronald and I feel a bit more spirited but it doesn't work. We leave for the hovercraft afterwards. I get injected with my tracker and I begin to breathe slowly. When we reach the launch rooms, I see that Phobia is waiting for me and this does not make me feel better. She puts my coat on and gives me a final look over. The prep team did my hair before breakfast, they put it up in two braid-like buns. It's perfect for me.
Phobia and I exchange silent goodbyes and I get in the tube. Suddenly I am being lifted up into the arena. I breath slowly again. Once I see sunlight, I take in the fact that I am in the arena. The Hunger Games begin in 60 seconds.
