Can I ask? If I almost died during the preparations of the opening ceremony how is the Capitol expecting me to survive the Hunger Games? Just to be fair my prep team was a sympathic, enthusuatic trio- Ceasar, Oliver and Viola- but they plucked out nearly every hair on my body. It takes all my will power not to run away there and then. Then when the plucking has finally stopped, the cutting started. I was known around district 12 for my long hair that nearly reaches my waste. With a simple slice of Caesar's scissors it is all gone, now I have a very annoying fringe that covers one of my eyes and the rest of my hair is so short I doubt how much I'll be able to pull it up using Baron's hair band.
The shower is the best part of this dreadful experience. We rarely wash in warm water in District 12 and it is nice to feel completely clean. But it is short lived as my prep team then covers me with about a dozen different smelly oils which imidiatly make me feel sticky all over.
When this is all over, I finally meet my stylish, a tall pale man with flaming red hair. His eyes are so immensely decorated with red, yellow and gold make up I can't even see what colour are his eyes. His name is Atlas Edenthaw. Atlas's eye move up and down, inspecting me. I suddenly feel self conscious, hating that I'm completely naked.
Atlas gives an exasperated noise. "They could have given Atlas something better to work with." He says, messaging his brow. "Just look at her. She looks like a ten year old, no shape, and no form. Nothing!"
Once, a boy called Eden Wood said that I looked like a boys, I slapped him flat on the face. It takes all my will power not to do the same to Atlas, from the way he speaks he give me the impression he's talking to himself.
"Now Atlas, deep breaths." He says to himself. "Remember you fabulous, if you can turn this child into a star you'll never be stuck with District 12 again."
And with that he leads me to a room full of materials. The next two hour is nearly as bad as the two with my prep team, minus the preppiness. Atlas scarcely speaks to me; he prefers speaking to himself and often speaks in the third person. He throws countless different coloured materials over my arms and around my waist. Then suddenly, as if inspiration strikes, he runs over to a small table, grabs a paper and pencil and begins sketching.
"Yes, yes, yes! Atlas you have done it again!" he murmurs to himself. "A few lights here, oh maybe some smoke! Yes yes! Fabulous!"
Then comes the measuring and cutting. In the end, the final result isn't as bad as I thought- A very tight glistening jumpsuit that gives the false impression that I am tall. Then out of a secret cabinet Atlas pulls out what looks like extremely long bandages and sticks them in straight lines- one on the back of each arm and leg, two going down from the small of my back to my tailbone and two, in the shape of a "v", from my shoulders meeting just about over my belly button.
"These straps light up." Explains Atlas. "Don't worry Persie you are in good hand with Atlas, this, along with my final touch, will give you the effect of burning ambers."
Atlas's finishing touch turns out to be a strange circlet crown made of a dark red material.
Atlas claps his hands as he makes me spin on the balls of my feet, clearly pleased with the result.
"Now you are ready for the world." He says. "You don't need make-up, what you lack in shape you gain in your pretty pretty face."
"Don't flatter her, that's the last thing she needs right now." Says a familiar voice.
Atlas turns round just as Mizra walks into the changing room, obviously without knocking. She looks at me with a disgusted look but then just shrugs. "Well if that's what the Capitol calla style, so be it. Percy we've got to go."
"Wait Madame, here is the remote for Persie's outfit, press the button when it is time. "Says Atlas, handing Mizra a small metal square with a large circular button.
"This better work." She says and leads me out of the room.
"Mizra!" I say outraged when we're out of ear shot. "That was really rude!"
"If you want to win the Hunger Games, your manners have to vanish, sorry if I have to show you the ropes to that as well." She says as we walk through a dimly lit corridor. "Now, as you obviously know this presentation ceremony is where you tributes have to make your first impressions."
"Yeah I know." I say.
"Now, you're going to be moving on chariots like the previous years so, being from District 12, you're chariots going to be last." Says Mizra stopping in front of a large door. "By the time you appear the audience will be practically asleep. Heck, for the past 3 years I've never been awake to see the District 12 tributes during the presentation ceremony."
"Wow that's encouraging." I say sarcastically.
"You'll have to give them a show they won't forget in a hurry." Says Mizra
"And how do you propose I do that" I ask her, seriously regretting choosing her as a mentor.
"Leave that to me." She says opening the door.
The first thing that hits me is the strong smell of horse. Back Stage is much brighter then dim corridors I had previously been walking trough. I see a dozen identical chariots in varying colours. Each chariot is tied to a single horse. Without a word Mizra leads me to the very last chariot, the last one in the line. On the way I catch glimpses of the other tributes, most are bigger than me, if not in size but in age and most are wearing even worse outfits then me. Mostly glitter and allot of feathers.
The district 12 chariot is made of ebony with streaks of red rosewood. A giant, magnificent horse is being tied to the chariot but a pale boy that, if it wasn't for the clearly dyed lemon yellow hair, looked pretty normal. Wade is already in the chariot, looking quite dashing in a black suit with a red tie.He is talking with the Doctor who is standing besides the chariot.
"Are you sure you up for this?" I hear the doctor whisper as we approach. "In your current condition this stunt could have horrible side effects."
"I don't care." Hisses back Wade. "'m going to do all I can to help."
"Hello Doctor, Wade." Says Mizra a little more loudly then I think necessary. "I guess we are all ready here. How is the horse stable boy?"
The boy looks up at her, clearly surprised. "Err, she's almost ready."
"Well hurry up!" yells Mizra. "The shows about to start."
I don't feel like going on the chariot yet, the mere thought of me being forced to be presented to the residents of the Capitol like some piece of meat was making me angry. Not at the Capitol people, no they are surprisingly nice, I figured; to the Hunger Games are just games to them. I'm not really sure who I'm really mad at. Instead I walked up to the horse.
"Wow she's amazing." I whisper under my breath, the horse's head was about twice as big as mine, with chestnut eyes and a single white strip going down the side of her face. She just screams majesty and strength.
"Her name's Epona." Someone says. I turn my head, I wasn't aware of anyone else next to me. It's the boy with Lemon hair; he's patting the side of the horses face. She's nuzzling him back, clearly pleases.
"Sorry?" I ask, not sure I heard right.
"The horse name is Epona." He repeats, giving me a small smile.
"Oh ok." I say, not sure why this boy is talking to me.
"This is her first time performing live." He says turning his attention back in the horse. "So she's a little frightened."
I Lough lightly, I don't feel like laughing but I just do. "She's not the only one. I've got no idea how I'm supposed to stand and represent my whole District in front of all these people."
"Don't worry; with Epona leading the way, you do just fine." He says, giving me a reassuring smile. "My names Ian Stone, by the way."
"Persie Keene, but everyone calls me Percy." I say.
"Hey Percy, stop flirting with the stable and get your behind on the chariot." Says Mizra not too quietly.
I roll my eyes. "Just ignore, Mizra is just naturally rude." But as I take my place near Wade on the chariot and Ian fades into the surrounding shadows I realize that his face is a few shades redder then it was a few seconds ago.
The light flicker momentarily and I can just see the first chariot begin to move.
"Good luck." The doctor tells us stepping away from the chariot.
"Try not to screw this up Percy, k?" Mizra says, as usual the voice of support. "Give them a show they won't forget."
I was about to say that she still hasn't told me how I was going to make that happen when I hear Wade speak, if not for the first time. "I'd hold on tight if I were you."
And with that, using the flat of her hand, Mizra slaps Epona's rear End so hard, she rears up and begins to sprint past the other horses. I grip the side of the chariot as fast as I can so I don't fly off. We are moving so fast the other tributes and chariots are just a blare. Within seconds we run ahead of the District 2 chariot and are live on television. Over the rushing wind I hear gasps of surprise from the audience. Trough my half closed eyes u can barely see the presenter on stage, mouth open like a fish. Probably he had been midway through his introduction when we made out unexpected entry.
"This is my curtain call." I hear Wade yell beside me. Ever since Epona's sudden sprint, he has been holding on to the chariot as hard as me. I just ménage to turn my head in his direction as I see him release his grip on the chariot, he disappears instantly.
"Wade!" I scream. Is he insane? Jumping of a sprinting horse is deadly. I hear screams erupts from the audience, they finally realised this is part of the show... or is it? Is this Mizra's plan? They show they'll never forget? Typical, Mizra could have told me about this little stunt, now how I am I supposed to stop a rampaging horse.
In the mean time, I sea numerous guards sprinting around Epona on one wheeled motor vehicles, two on either side of us. Suddenly out of nowhere another two appear in front of Epona. She makes a sharp u –turn. No I see my chance to stop this joy ride, although there is still quite a gap between the horse and the chariot while Epona turns, this is the closest she's been to the chariot so far. Without much thinking, using all my strength, I lift myself over the edge to the chariot and make a lopsided grab at Epona. I grab a chunk of her mane. I must have pulled so hard to get myself in a relatively safe position that epona reels up on her hind legs before continuing her sprint. Now that I am on the horse, I have no idea what to do to stop her. She seems too frightened and out of control.
"Epona Please calm down!" I yell at her. I see her unflatten her ear momentarily, clearly she heard me. "Calm down." I insist, hoping she is listening. "There no need to be frightened, nothings here that can hurt you. Please so slow down."
Slowly, still holding on tightly with one hand i gently rub her neck. Slowly, Epona begin to slow into a little trot. I attempt to sit up straight and look around. That's when the applauds erupts around me. I am facing the crowd; I notice that a large majority of them are standing up. In the background, barely visible, I can see Mizra giving me the thumbs up.
Hi, i hope you enjoying the story, sorry it took me long to publish this chapter, but as they say, better late then never. Thank you for reading, hoping the story is gettign interesting. Please read and review! Will try and update soon- Unny18 :D