Chapter 3
"Shut up!" I beg as they chirp about Finnick Odair.
Remember? The perfectly completely unworthy sex god? Yes. I know details I wish I could erase from my memory.
They ignore me and continue snipping away my split ends. I wince. I didn't need to know that.
"It was a fantastic night."
Go to your happy place Johanna; ignore the horror, happy place!
Finally I get to see my stylist. That's right, I get to.
"Hello Johanna!" She says happily. "My, my, you're pretty. We could use this to our advantage."
She looks like some sort of clown. Red curly hair that sits on top of her head, her eyes are violet and she has make-up caked on her face. Her nails are long and painted midnight blue.
Okay, I know I'm just the epitome of fashionable and I couldn't paint a puppy the right color, but even I know those colors don't go together.
She's wearing crazy orange clothes.
"Guess what you're going to be!"
"A tree?"
"A tree! Isn't that exciting?" She squeals.
Oh isn't it? "No,"
She pays me no mind and stuffs me into the freaking tree costume. She tried to make it a weeping willow I can tell, but she got the bark all wrong and the leaves are maple leaves strung up and down the trunk.
The hat just made the ensemble.
You can't even see my face! This is just fantastic. When Sabrina sees me in this she's going to laugh so hard she cries. We always taunted the Opening Ceremonies. Now I just wanna hurt someone. Preferably my, oh so brilliant, stylist.
I walk out of the room to look at Blight.
"You look like a kitten soaked in water." He laughs drunkenly.
Hazel has to keep me from punching the suicidal prick. I stand around sullenly as Chance comes out. He looks better than I do that's for sure.
Just shoot me now.
When no one is looking I rub my eyes and smudge my make-up. I look at Blight who gives me a subtle thumb up. We are led down the stairs and to the carriages.
"Are you nervous?" Chance asks.
I nod. "Are you?"
"A little bit."
I stare at my feet the entire time that the Ceremonies take place. When we're allowed to get off the chariots I make a bee line for the elevator. I press seven once Chance steps in.
We're shot up to our level and I run from the elevator straight for my room. I lock myself in.
Oh jeez. This is gonna be a lot harder than I thought it would be.
I shower, pressing all of the buttons again. The shower in the training center had more buttons than the train did.
Fun, but not a bright idea.
I step out of the shower and change into a tight fitting black tank top and some pajama bottoms. I spiral my tangled hair across my shoulder and walk out to view the replay of the Opening Ceremonies.
Chance is still in his costume and sitting next to Eugene. I sit down next to a drunken Blight as we watch the Ceremonies. I look pathetic as per usual. With a feeling of satisfaction I go to bed and get the best sleep I've ever had.
I wake up ready to pick a fight. Unfortunately, that's not what I get to do. I brush out my silky brown hair and throw on the black tunic and black yoga pants. Obviously Tessa, my stylist, had picked out the clothes and sent them in by an Avox.
I look at myself in the mirror. I look pale and small. I look at my thumbnail. It was just long enough. I took my left wrist and cut across it using my nail. I made four cuts up my wrist. They are relatively deep cuts, and I use tissues to stem the blood.
Perfect.
I run my hands through my hair and stare at myself in the mirror. The flow of anger through my veins couldn't hide the fury in my eyes.
I have dark circles under my eyes despite my good night's sleep. I splash water on my face and rub feeling into my cheeks and forehead.
I sigh and walk out of my room and into the dining room.
Blight sits there with a glass of rum in front of him. I sit across from him. An Avox hands me a platter of fruits and other thick, fattening foods. I push away the hot chocolate and grab a bottle of iced water. I pull the fruits closer to me as well as the breads and jams.
Blight just watches me as I pack it down like a pro.
"You really are different." He says cocking an eyebrow.
"Because I'm not putting on weight using junk foods that won't help me or because I have a unique and brilliant strategy."
"Because you came up with that answer without thinking." He says a glint of mischief in his eyes.
"You want a reaction?" I ask smirking. "No,"
He chuckles. "You're smarter than most people."
"Oh?" I say smiling as I eat some sweet yellow fruit. "Go on, I like where this is heading."
He chuckles. "That's a pineapple by the way."
"I like it."
"If you like that try the grapes. Don't eat the stems."
"Did you make that mistake?" I ask taking a grape from the bowl.
He nods his head chuckling slightly.
"It's good. I like fruits. Never get it at home."
"That'll change after you win." Blight says waving it away. He didn't seem to mean to say what he did but I smirk.
"Johanna Mason," I say. "Victor of the sixty eighth Hunger Games, crazy ax murderer, twenty four victims and counting."
It was like a riddle. A song to chant in my head.
"That's interesting." He says squinting.
"It is. I didn't come up with it though." I say looking at the grain of the table.
Straight from District Seven. You could tell because it had the signature at the bottom of the table. I trace it with my fingertips.
It's comforting.
Blight watches me as I continue eating the foreign fruits.
I stop eating when Eugene and Chance walk in. Eugene looks stressed. He's one of the newer Victors. About seven years ago, he won. I guess he hadn't figured out how to forget the tributes.
Soon, it's time to go down to the training center.
Atala tells us the rules. I act timid and stay closer to the survival skills. Chance follows me to keep me company. Making friends with the dead. Oh joy.
I let him though, he's not a bad kid, and I'm extremely emotionally detached to most things that some people would consider vital. For example, my parents. I don't really care. My siblings, though, touch em and you're dead. Sabrina and Lincoln, I'm very attached to.
This kid won't give me problems. We bump into the two from Two at the plants station.
"Hey look Boulder," Hope says smirking at me. "It's the District Seven mouse."
"Which one are you talking about?" He asks looking from me to Chance.
"I was talking about the girl, but hey, the kid is mousy too."
"Shut up," Chance says boldly.
My eyes widen as Hope gets up in my face. Her blue eyes meet my brown. I wanna slug this chick. But she doesn't know that, now does she?
"You're pathetic." She spits in my face.
I don't know how, but I manage to get my eyes to fill with tears.
"Look at that! She's crying." She shoves me down and I stay down.
I'm not used to it. When I get shoved down at home I get the fuck up and beat the brains out of whoever touched me. I back up a little on the ground as she steps over me.
"Remember this position. It'll be the last thing you'll ever see." She spits on me.
I let the tears fall. Chance walks over to me and helps me up. "Don't cry," He says smiling at me. "They're just being jerks. You have a fighting chance."
"No I don't." I say wiping my tears away. "I'm screwed and everyone knows it."
I go back to the plants. I fail miserably, even though I know the answer to every one of the questions.
Chance and I walk over to the weapons corner. Chance picks up an ax with relative ease, seeing as he had started chopping last year.
I pick up another. I could easily send it across the room right into Hope's sneering face. But, I won't because Johanna 'the mouse' Mason wouldn't be able to do that.
I lift it up and nearly fall backwards in one fantastic, realistic, and completely faked bout of gracefulness.
Chance looks down at me in surprise. "Where did you work?"
"The mill," I lie.
He slaps his face into his hand. I give him a small smile. "Zero chance."
He sighs. He throws the ax in his hand. He doesn't hit anything, but it goes a fair distance for a kid his age. He gives me a few pointers, all of which I already know.
"Let's go run for a bit." I say. "I'm good at that."
"Okay," He brightens up.
He reminds me a bit of Max.
"Okay, so you run and I'll time you." The guy running the station suggests.
On the count of three we burst off. I only went about half the speed I could go, but I still outran Chance with ease.
"Run Mousey!" Hope calls causing the Careers to burst into laughter.
I look at my feet. "Ignore them Johanna." Chance says taking my wrist and dragging me off for lunch.
It's interesting, being fifteen, and having a twelve year old attempt to boost your spirits, than the other way around. Strange stuff.
Welcome to my life.
We trudge up to the seventh floor, dead tired. Chance goes to his room with Eugene and I sit at the table propping my feet up with a cold bottle of water, while Blight drinks shot after shot.
"So Blight, gimme some tips." I say lazily. "What did you do wrong in your games?"
"I didn't find water at first."
Huh, that'd be a pain. "Go downhill right?"
"Yeah." He says downing another shot.
"Anything else?"
He doesn't answer me. Now I'm getting angry.
He raises the shot glass to his lips. With quick reflexes I swat the glass from his lips. It flies from his hand and into the wall across the room.
"Answer me!" I boom.
His shocked face portrays respect, but he still refuses to answer me. I slam my fists into the table with a very loud slam. "Answer me!"
"Uh, run from the bloodbath. Don't stay long." He says quickly as fear enters his eyes. "Let the Games unfold."
I calm down somewhat. "Next time I ask a question, answer it." I warn, my eyes flashing.
I walk from the room as Chance and Eugene come running. I push the kid into the wall as I leave. Eugene looks positively shocked. Well, Chance probably knows my strategy. If he doesn't die in the bloodbath I'll kill him myself.
I slam the door of my room behind me. The Avox that was cleaning it jumps. She looks at me with wide eyes. I run my hands through my hair. She stands at attention. I pace back and forth for a minute.
"Get me some fruit." I say. "Eggs too."
She leaves the room in a hurry. She comes back quickly with a tray of my food. She watches as I eat like an animal. I get into bed after sending the Avox off and fall into sleep. The next morning Blight is quiet and barely looks at me. Eugene tries to engage me in conversation.
"Johanna," Chance pipes up from beside Eugene. "When you shoved me yesterday, what were you thinking?"
I glare at him. I become my own bitter self around these people. I was tired of being shy and timid. I could act when I'm around people that matter.
"I was thinking that my mentor is a blithering drunk who can't answer a damned question." I snap looking over at Blight.
He winces but continues eating. "What happened to shy, sweet, Johanna?"
"She doesn't exist, never has, never will." I snap. "I was lying. It's my strategy." Chance is taken aback.
"I've worked in the forests my whole life, not the mill. If Hope had pushed me down back in Seven I'd have beaten the crap out of her." I say rolling my eyes.
I continue gorging myself on the eggs, fruits, and bread.
"Oh," Chance says looking down at his plate. "I won't tell anyone."
It's a bit of a relief. But not much.
Training today, is awful to say the least. Chance didn't want to be around me, so he stays as far away from me as possible. I got pushed around by the Careers a lot more because of it.
When I get in the Arena, I'm going to kill Hope.
Sleep comes easy and before I know it, I'm in front of the Gamemakers all alone.
Now for the fun part.
I walk over to the axes confidently, tripping on the way there. I pick up an ax and repeat what I did the first day of training.
Then I pretend to think. I grab a spear, and try to throw it.
Yeah epic failure.
"Hm," I say aloud.
I walk over to the knot tying station and tie a bow.
"Your time is up." The head Gamemaker Seneca Crane says.
I bow, lose my balance and nearly fall to the ground. I walk hurriedly out of the room.
Once I'm in the elevator, I cheer loudly for myself.
"I'm gonna get a two!" I say punching the air.
Later, I sit in the same room as Chance, who is still ignoring me, as we watch the scores. The boy from one gets a seven, while the girl gets an eight.
Two has a round of nines.
Three is pathetic with a five each.
Four has tens.
"Well, better watch out for four this year." Blight says slurring his words.
Five gets fours.
I don't pay attention to six.
I get a two and Chance gets a five.
"Nice." I say smiling at the screen excited that my district partner, who is twelve, outscored me.
I don't pay attention to anyone after that.
"Okay, interviews tomorrow afternoon." Eugene says walking off with Chance.
"You know what you're going to do?" Blight asks casually.
"Yep, convince my stylists to make me look weak." I say rolling my eyes. "They're dumber than a stack of logs."
"Johanna!" Someone sings in my ear.
I jump up and slam Randy into the wall with my hand at his throat. "Don't do that." I growl.
I let him go and he runs from the room. Hazel and Tigris are left staring at me in shock.
"What?"
"I-it's time to get ready for the interviews. It's nearly two o'clock." Hazel stutters.
"Really?"
They nod. They drag me off hesitantly to get ready. I'm a tree again. Another freaking tree. It's a simple design and it makes me look small and weak, but again, it's a tree.
"Have you no creativity?"
"I knew you'd love it!"
"What makes you say that?"
"Look at the joy in her face!"
"I'm scowling."
"That sparkle in her eyes,"
"Can you hear me?"
"She just looks so happy and wonderful!"
"Obviously not." I say as Tessa raves about my dress.
It's like a royal pat on the back for her. Blight is laughing as he clutches his bottle of poison to his chest. Tessa shoos me to the elevator so that I can go to the interviews.
I avoid Hope's eyes. Then again, she's District Two's only hope.
I'm sorry, that was cheesy, well, no I'm not.
I sit down in my seat and watch the interviews indifferently; I only pay attention to Hope's. She looks like a stuck up killer.
Now, it's my time to shine. Or suck majorly.
I walk on the stage shyly. It seems this year's color was green.
"Johanna Mason!" Caesar Flickerman says in a way that would seem he was shocked. "Doesn't she look fantastic?" He asks the audience.
I smile shyly. "Thank you Caesar."
"So, Johanna, sit down, tell us about you." He says generously. "Is there any special boy back home?"
I blush and shake my head no.
"That blush says otherwise." Caesar says smiling. "Spill,"
"Well there is this one boy." I say blushing deeper. I hate being sensitive. Can I please just bite his green head off? I don't continue.
"So, tell us about your family." Caesar says smiling at the audience. "Isn't she just sweet?" There's cheers from the audience.
"Well, I have five siblings." I say quietly. "An older brother, two younger sisters, and two younger brothers."
"What are they like?"
"Not like me." I say looking down at my feet. "They're bolder and braver and smarter."
"I doubt that. You must be very smart Johanna." He says looking at the crowd. "A beautiful girl like her must be the complete package."
Oh shut up, you'll make me gag.
"No," I say shaking my head and refusing to look up.
"Modest too!" He says guffawing at the audience. "So, what do you like most about the capitol?"
"Oh there's so much about the Capitol to like!" I say still slightly soft-spoken. "But, I think most of all I like the people. They're just so, nice, and hospitable. They're different from the people at home. They like me for me."
Be careful Caesar. You might get your shoes dirty in a bit. I might vomit any second.
Caesar opens his mouth to ask me another question, when the buzzer goes off and I'm swept off the stage so that Chance could try his hand at charming the audience.
Saved by the buzzer.
I walk across and sit down next to the male tribute for District Six. I zone out until it's time to go. I go straight to my room. I ask the Avox to bring me my usual order, and pack it down.
After all, tomorrow, I'm going to be in the Arena.
