Chapter 3

((A/N: Sorry for being so late! Plz R&R!))

"I want to be free."

The wind is in my face as I shove the door close. I want to jump off the train, but there would be nowhere to go. But that's better than being in the Games, right? Who am I kidding, I'm never going to get out of here. I sigh, and feel a rough hand on my shoulder. It drags me back into the train and I look up at the owner of the hand. It's a guard. This teensy-tiny flicker in my heart wanted it to be Madden. I push myself up and say,

"I better be going back to my room." I stalk away as my only chance of escape gets crushed.

"Wake up! Wake up! The train has stopped! Get ready to meet your stylists!" Theresa's shrill and cheerleaderish voice wakes me after the horrible night. This is why I hate the Capitol, the people in it, and everything else that has to do with it. Including District 12.

"Go away, stupid Capitol lady!" I scream, turning my face over into the pillow. Theresa stays silent for a moment as if she's actually hurt, but then starts pounding and screaming at my door. It sounds like SHE was chosen for the Hunger Games and was extremely incapable of holding it all in.

"Okay! Okay! I'm getting up!" I can just see her frowning at my obnoxious behavior. It actually makes me smile, but just for a moment. I vow not to smile during this whole Hunger Games experience. I take a quick shower and throw on the clothes I wore yesterday. Sullenly, I walk to the dining cart. Grabbing a muffin and some milk, I head over to the table where Haymitch and Theresa are. Madden isn't here yet. I want to get away from them, but I stay and sit down.

"Okay." Theresa says sweetly, "You better look good when you get to the stylist's room." I ignore her and chew on my muffin. Madden is here. I can't stand it and walk out of the room. Theresa is stunned and almost calls after me. I hear Madden trying to talk to her. She stands up and grabs me by the arm.

"Clementine Orange. You will never walk away from me like that. Never. You better sit down, and behave like a normal girl should." Normal??? Normal being Theresa normal, or non-tribute District 12 normal. In that case, I fit in neither of those categories, so I just walk away and out of the train.

"Miss Clementine! How nice to see you! I am your stylist!" A stick figure walks up to me and holds out its arms to hug me. I push them away and try to comprehend what it said. The Capitol people have such weird accents! Okay. Miss Clementine, that would be me. How nice to see you means that they are happy that you are there, though I doubt the stick figure is actually happy. Do stick figures have emotion?? I am your stylist. What???? A stick figure is my stylist?? Seriously???

Suddenly, three other stick figures walk up to me. They're jumping up and down with delight, which freak me out. I try to get away from them, but they just get closer.

"I'm Yuria!" the green one screams.

"I'm Yuri!" the light green one screeches.

"And I'm Yure! We're Reenia's helpers!" the dark green one squeals in delight. Reenia is probably my stylist's name. Seriously? So, not only are the people weird, but their names are weird too.

"Uh… I'm Clementine…" I say cautiously. They jump up and down like little children at the candy shop, which I could never afford. I sigh and wish this moment to end. Surprisingly, it's Reenia who comes to my rescue.

"Yuria, Yuri, Yure." she says, clapping. "Why don't you take Clementine to the workshop and make her look human!" She smiles and I want to stick my tongue out at her, but I don't. She could totally break my chances of winning by creating a hideous dress for me.

The three green stick figures lead me into a room behind the styling room. It's almost like a maze, but not really. Okay, fine. It's not a maze. Excuse me for thinking. I scowl and the three stick figures look back at me. I smile weakly and they shove me into a gas chamber-like thing. Darnit! I smiled! Even if it was to please those eggheads. This black stuff comes out and covers me. I choke and gasp while they chat about the hottest new thing, "Barbies dolls." Whatever those are.

Finally, Yuri- I think- leads me out of the chamber and all three of them throw me into a tub. What kind of treatment is this?? If you think that was bad, get this. They rub off ALL the black stuff and spray on blue stuff. Then they rub that off and put on orange stuff.

"Because you're Clementine Orange!" Yure giggles. I frown, but stay quiet. They peel off about ten million layers of my skin and rub my raw, yet smooth skin with this oily lotion that makes my legs sting. I almost scream, but bite my tongue instead. I can't show them weakness. They rub off the orange stuff and throw me back in the gas chamber. The black stuff is reapplied and they giggle.

"Now you look like a human being!" Yuria chuckles. If this is what a human being looks like, then I'm scared of what they consider a monster. Look at me, I'm covered in black powder-oil-whatever it is, and they call this human-like?? I storm out of the room, and into Reenia's workroom.

"Oh! Clementine! How beautiful! Now I can give you your outfit!" She hands me a jumpsuit type thing and tells me to put it on. I slip it on and it's three sizes too big. The waist is sagging, but she gives me an orange belt with tools on it. Every tribute is supposed to wear an outfit that represents your district's work. Ours is mining. I suppose that Reenia thinks mining is jumpsuits and hammers. So not true. It's more like rags and hammers. To tell you the truth, I look better than the real miners.

Reenia hands me a mud-covered worker's hat and tells me to put it on. I follow her commands and she pulls the strap under my chin and secures it tight. I'm going to choke. Then I remember. I have to wear this on the chariot rides. I gulp and ask,

"Where's Madden?" Reenia gestures to the other door I didn't notice before. I walk into the room and see Madden, in the same black mess and a miner's outfit. A slightly less thin stick figure runs up to me. She's pale, and looks like she came from one of the districts. I immediately erase that thought from my mind. How is that possible?

"You must be Clementine! I'm Jennika, Reenia's assistant stylist, it that's what you want to call me." She seems "normal." Or, at least, not crazy. Madden's so lucky... I'm stuck with Reenia, when he gets Jennika. I'm beginning to become jealous when Jennika catches my attention. "Clementine, this um... outfit wasn't my idea. I was telling Madden how Reenia took over the project and she designed the whole thing. I'm sorry that it's so ugly." I smile for real this time and say,

"Thanks. It's good to know that there's actually someone sane in the Capitol." Jennika laughs and pushes the two of us out the door. The thought comes back. Jennika is awesome.

"Go on. Reenia is waiting." she whispers. I am suddenly calmed by Jennika and ready to go on the chariot rides. Maybe this won't be so bad after all... I think. I stiffen again when I see Reenia and her purple skin. Then, I look down at my outfit. I'm wrong. This will be a train wreck.