Hey, hope you enjoy as always- chapter 3!
Both me and Phinley have been assigned dorms on the train, mine in next to his and a short stroll from the dining cart, which I had been instructed to be in in an hour and a half for dinner. I have been pacing my room for about ten minutes, it's quite small, but still bigger than my room back home. Finally I decide to undress and enter the bathroom attached onto my room in the train. All I want is to be home, sea breeze through my hair and laying on the warm beach sand. But I'm not home, no breeze or golden sand to fill the gaps in the fingers.
So now I stand, staring at a rather complicated looking control panel on the side of the shower wall. There are at least twenty chrome buttons staring at me. Each one as intimidating as the next, daring me to press it. I can feel myself knotting my brow together as I try to find any scene in these buttons.
Slowly I lift my hand and with my index finger press a button two rows in and three down. All of a sudden ice water sprays out of the left side of the shower, right into my exposed ribs. I feel a small yelp escape my mouth and, while in my shocked state, hit another button before I have time to think. This time a mint smelling soap accompanies the cold squirts.
"Stop, stop, stop!" I shout at the control panel. Hitting more buttons as I do. The water rapidly changes from scorching sudden blast with as much force as a shot arrow behind them to freezing cold showers making my spine shiver. I hear my curses leave my mouth in strange yelps of anger and shock as the water pelts my skin, scolding and painful .Every now and then an odd colour shampoo is released. Bubbles start to fill the small shower section, the smell of lemon or roses, water spurts and foam.
My eyes burn as some kind of conditioner is squirted into my face and into my eyes. Blinded and clumsy I feel myself loose my balance and stagger backwards.
Hitting the back of my foot on a small, hard step signifying the end of the entrance to the shower I loose my balance and twist to my front before crashing noisily to the floor, catching the side of my nose on what I think is the sink as I fall.
For a moment I loose all bearings and scene of where I am. All I know is a blinding pain is taking over and when I open my shampoo filled eyes everything is spinning. I can feel this mornings breakfast at the back of my throat and a sharp pain in my ears. Slowly I breath in and out finding a rhythm from the splutters and the world slowly comes back into focus.
I begin to feel the chilled titles under my naked body and the soft, almost unnoticed rumble from the train. In fact I'm pretty certain if you don't stop and listen very closely then you wont hear it. The engines soft purr.
The water in the shower is still running and reminds me vaguely of crashing waves. Slowly I push myself off the floor and with my uneasy hands pull myself up till I am standing upright and staring into the mirror that hangs above the wash basin. There is a bleeding, crescent shaped cut at the top of my nose which is slightly swollen.
Oh isn't that great... first day with Capitol technology and I almost kill myself.
Unnerved I dry myself off, afraid that I may trip and smash my back in because the towel may be another crazy Capitol invention and try to kill me. Across my body. Soft green bruises have come up where the water jets hit me with such force. I frown and watch my stupid facial expression in the mirror.
After a minute or two, with towel in hand, I shakily waddle back into the room and find some underwear. After a few more minutes while standing in my undergarments root through the draws and cupboards for some clothes, finally settling on a simple, skinny, black long sleeved top and a pair of linen white shorts.
As I stare at the clock I brush my hair through quickly and put my wet curls up in a French Plait. I still have twenty minutes before dinner, however after my recent argument with the shower I don't feel like being in a room by myself.
Slipping on my socks I trip over to the door and open it, stepping out into the corridor. Upon finding an attendee I ask for them to turn off my shower. A frown spreads across the face at the sight on my nose, but I just merely push it aside, not really keen on explaining being attacked by a shower to a Capitol attendee and before I know it I am sitting alone at a large, mahogany table in the middle of the dining cart.
The room, regardless of if it is only a train or not, is the most luxurious place I have ever seen. The carpets are richer than in the justice building, perfect lines and shaping to the walls and window frames. At the far side of the room a basket of breads from what looks like all the different districts sits, next to a variety of delicious looking cakes with mounds of cream and oddly coloured toppings. A case holding a variety of bottles is next to the table, what I can only imagine to be white liquor and alcohol sits inside.
Alcohol is a substance traded illegally in 4 and that many victors, such as Haymitch Abernathy- District 12's only surviving victor- likes to drink. A lot. Many years I have watched my television screen as he stumbles onto the stage, pissed out of his mind.
I can see tree's and mixes of green whooshing past outside the window. My fingers stroking the fine silver cutlery that covers the table already. I'm so entranced I don't notice when she wonders into the room and takes the chair opposite me.
"Nasty cut you have there... What happened?"
I look up, jumping slightly. Mags is sitting opposite me, a slightly steaming mug in hand. Her old eyes look concerned and my fingers find the cut across my nose, it stings slightly as I touch it.
"Shower...' I say shyly. A confused expression spreads across her face, asking for me to talk more, so I do. 'The showers are very hard to use, so many buttons."
"Ah."
"The mint soap decided to blind me and I tripped out of the shower and hit my nose." I prod the cut making me wince slightly. Mags laughs slightly, her eyes alight with kindness.
"Bet you thought the towels would kill you too.' I stare into her eyes, How did she know? She reads my mind. 'I did the exact same thing when I was reaped. However the towel really did attack me, a silly Capitol invention they were trying out. Now they have mats that dry you in seconds when you step on them."
"Really?"
"Oh yeah, look for the button next to the mirrors in the bathroom." She blows her drink and takes a sip, before placing the mug down and picking up a paper which she must have bought with her to the table.
"Mmm, what smells so nice, dinner out already Mags?"
I watch as Finnick enters the room, staring at the table with a puzzled look on his face.
"No, it's Annie, the shower attacked her with smelly soaps."
"Another one? We have to do something about those showers!' Looking up from the table he winks at me, however upon sight of my cut he stops and frowns slightly. 'It really did attack you?" He sits down next to Mags, eyes hazy and cold.
I nod, how stupid must I look to him right now? However my internal cursing is cut short by the smell of food and the appearance of it. People dressed in crimson red carrying trays of goodies encircle the table, placing down dishes and pots. Pasta, balls of what looks like pork in a sticky red source, potatoes, bread, rice, beef stew with the most ripe plums and so much more. My mouth starts salivating as Phinley strolls in, eyes wide when he sees all the food. He places himself down next to me.
"Well, tuck in then." Mags hands the paper to one of the servants who nods and leaves the table as she does.
Okay then Mags, I will tuck in. I would have tried everything by the time I finish eating tonight.
See you next week folks, reviews? :3
