I moved my hand over my freshly waxed skin, it felt like silk. I wondered if Peeta and Katniss' Prep Teams were as talkative as the one that had been assigned to me. Vinosh, a petit girl with a purple afro and white patterns drawn on her purpled-hued skin had been working on washing my lengthy hair that my Mother had forbade me from cutting. Trion, a tall slender man who told me that the material of his suit was from a massive snake, kept talking about how pale my skin was, and how a nice hue of silver would do wonders. Pluto, a tall and plump girl with white cropped hair and black designs on her skin was the most talkative of the lot. She rambled on about how lucky the three of them were to be working with District Twelve.
The door slid open and a tall, thin girl entered with a smile. Her eyes were completely white, just like her hair. Her skin was a deep black and small silver dots lined her collar bone. She extended her hand toward me, "Nice to meet you Clara, I'm Nyxus, your stylist." I leaned forward and shook her hand, holding my robe closed with the other. "I trust that someone has brought you your lunch already so lets begin." Nyxus pulled open a panel in the wall that unveiled rows upon rows of small tubes of many different colours and shades.
"What are the stylists planning on doing this year?" I asked. Normally, both tributes from the same district would be dressed similarly.
"It'll be nothing like Peeta's or Katniss'," She smirked, pulling out a small clear glass tube that held large red sparkles about the size of my thumb nail. "They're getting black suits that'll glow like embers. Cinna's truly amazing."
"I can't wait to see that – and riding on that chariot with them-"
"Oh, you'll be coming out last with all the new tributes Hun. This year the previous tributes will ride out first, then the other twelve will join them. A real grand entrance." I gulped as Nyxus started applying a clear glue like substance to my face. "You have absolutely gorgeous skin, no flaws. I'm going to have fun dressing you up." She winked as she started placing the red, black and gold sparkles on my face, around my right eye.
"What are you going to do with me?" I asked watching her quickly but gingerly apply the remainder of the sparkles before spraying something over it.
"Something similar to the other two, but," Nyxus smirked, "you'll be far more astonishing." I watched her take out a powder pot full of black, another full of grey and a black tube. She took these to my left eye and the tube to my right as well. She pulled out a stout pot and a thin tipped brush and began applying the deep red to my lips. "So tell me what you did back home."
"My father works in the mines with the other men," I began while Nyxus moved behind me and started to run her fingers through my curly hair, "I have a sister, Lucy – she's eight – and there's my baby brother, Argon. I'm normally the one to take care of them though. Our mother has been working on weaving this piece of cloth. It is truly wonderful, but I've had to work while everyone's sleeping just to fill the orders for the seamstress."
"That means you know how to survive. Take care of others and yourself. Live off of little sleep. And most importantly, how to use your hands."
"Everyone keeps saying that. What use are my hands? I'm just a weaver." A mirror was placed in front of my face and I could not believe what I saw. My unruly blonde hair was pin straight and wispy. My eyes looked larger and more alive and the large flame sideways like-tear drop that went from my forehead to my nostril.
"That was done with just hands, and a couple tools of the trade," Nyxus smirked, "Hands can be trained to deal with anything. But it takes talent – like your hands – to adapt to anything they pick up. You'll see what I mean soon. But let's get you in your dress for the parade!" Nyxus crossed the room and flung open the wall length door behind me. I slowly turned my head, only to gawk at the ugly black dress. "Isn't it gorgeous?!"
"I wouldn't have used gorgeous," I stammered.
"You're right – it's remarkable. Astounding even-."
"It's the ugliest thing I've ever seen," I blurted out, quickly shoving my hands over my mouth. Nyxus just stared at me – before she broke out laughing.
"You think I mean that? That's the cape you'll be wearing, and as soon as you're a third of the way down, you'll tare it off to reveal the real wonder." Nyxus unzipped the cape and let it fall around the mannequin. The fabric was pitch black, but it shimmered like flame and gold as the fabric moved. Nyxus gently unzipped the back of the dress and helped me into the small piece of fabric. The dress felt softer than silk but extremely thin.
"Now this is remarkable," I smiled, staring down in awe. We would have never been able to create a fabric that shimmered like this with what we had in District Twelve.
Nyxus just stood there, staring at me, "I'm just missing one more thing. How do you feel about adding something permanent to your nose?"
"These might be my last days. Do whatever you want."
She punched my arm lightly, "You'll make it. I have faith in you."
"What do you want to add?" I asked, changing the subject. Her eyes lit up with glee.
"A nasal cuff, gold of course," She pulled out a small but thick golden hoop from a tray across from the large display of make up, "I suggest you lay down and close your eyes." I did as she said with out question. I felt the cold metal against my nose, and then a dozen tiny spikes pierce my flesh. I let out a yelp before Nyxus applied a spray that seemed to numb the area. "Want to see it?" I gave a weary nod as I stood up. She pressed a button on the side of the wall and it rushed to the left to reveal a large floor to ceiling mirror. I looked nice. Not as extreme as most in the capitol, but nice. "Now then, let's get you to your chariot."
[Stitch]
"You two really did a great job," Nyxus gleamed at Peeta's and Katniss' stylists. We had passed the long procession of all twenty-four previous tributes and the newest eleven.
"This must be the new 'advancement' from district twelve. I'm Cinna, Katniss' stylist," He smiled, reaching out his mocha hand. I shook it lightly, bobbing my head in greeting, "You did a good job too Nyxus. Can't wait to see what you have planned for later."
"We should go take our seats, we'll see all of you after, good luck." Portia, Peeta's stylist said waving as both she and Cinna walked away.
"Now then Clara," Nyxus smirked devilishly as she helped me on to the chariot, "I want you to swallow up that meek demeanour for today, and be strong. You're new. You need to make the crowd love you. I want you to smile, but don't wave, we want to give them enough to spark their interest, but not too much that there's nothing left to see." I nodded. "I'll meet you after with everyone else. Good luck." I watched Nyxus strut away in the direction that Cinna and Portia had left in.
Soon after, I could just make out the chariots at the front moving; it must be starting. I kept running through what Nyxus had said in my head. To push down my meekness and make the crowd love me. Peeta was a natural at it, and Katniss thrived off of their relationship. I was just me. Nothing special.
I was startled as my chariot started to move. I took in a deep breath as I neared the bright light which must have been coming from the stadium. I took one hand off of the side of the golden carriage, and placed it over part of my cape. I could hear the crowd applauding and screaming as each tribute sped along the track.
I held my head up, eyes concentrated forward as I was hurtled into the light. I was shocked that the track was not a straight line this year, it was a curved incline around the arena, and then a track ran from the middle to in front of where President Snow normally sat. I could see that Katniss and Peeta were already at the end with the other second time participants. With how many tributes there were – I would not doubt if I went unnoticed.
One… Two… Three…
I tore off the cape, keeping my hand extended as it flapped violently behind me, as I rounded the bend in front of President Snow and below the other tributes. I could feel eyes burning into my skin as I held my head up, my eyes stone cold. As I came down the last half of the center, I could not feel my cape in my hand anymore. There was no skin on fabric, only skin on skin. I lowered my hand as I slowed to a stop behind Katniss and Peeta.
President Snow began his speech, welcoming us to the Quell. I tuned it out since I had heard it so many times before. Instead, I looked around me as much as possible without needing to move my head. Katniss and Peeta were in suits that glowed like burning coals – absolutely mesmerizing. Two returnees were dressed in light studded body suits while my fellow new tribute was dressed in nothing but wires around her chest and pelvis. Almost everyone had tried to copy District Twelve's look last year. Two returnees were dressed as cattle herders, with flaming belts. Another set were flaming trees.