Here's chapter 3. I have some serious creative juices flowing right now and i don't want to lose them. So be happy that I'm pumping these chapters out like a machine.
Anyways, I'm now taking a creative writing course so I can improve on my stories. Aren't I nice. The things I do for you.
Also since we're nearing the best part of the story, the arena, I'm hoping to take a poll. If no one answers it I'll just do my own thing but comment if you have a specific opinion.
Should Peeta and Katniss stick together throughout the games or should Peeta join the Careers and they find each other like in the original.
There it is. So vote stick together or split apart. Voting will probably end in a week or whenever I end up writing the opening scene for the arena. You can vote by PM-ing me or reviewing. This will go far in making a story that is special to both of us. I hope.
Before I end, I want to address my first couple reviews. Yay.
fabfiction: Thank you I will
Helewisetran: I will try to live up to your expectations.
BilboBaggins12: Nice to see that I have a fan in you.
nothingspecific: Well, there are a couple good ones. My personal favourite with Peeta's POV is KaKaVegeGurl's "Tips of Brushes, Blades of Arrows" It's an interesting story with sort of choose your adventure-esque style to it
libfulknot: Ya I know what you mean. He seems so wise at times and I love the parts of the original book where he takes of the kiddie gloves ie, with Haymitch in the train. Also, don't worry. My version of Peeta is gonna be so possessive, but be patient. They haven't even started a relationship yet.
So sit back and enjoy the story
Chapter 3 - Ceremony
Again, I am dragged away from Katniss. Seriously, what is wrong with all these people. I am about to die for their amusement and they don't even have the decency to leave me alone for 5 minutes so I can be with the love of my life. My short life, but still. I wonder where they have taken her now. I know that Haymitch said that our stylists were going to work on us, but I can't scrub the image of how he ominously said to not resist. What were they going to do, torture us?
I am led into a large room similar to a hospital. It had rows of tables with raised edges and grates that let water out. I'm slightly worried now. I've heard of that kind of torture before. It happened a lot during the war. Peacekeepers would take prisoners and slowly cut them up until they admitted to being rebels. The drains were to keep the body visible while blood flowed freely.
"Strip" I'm told. I dumbly rely with a "What?" but inside, I was boiling. No one, other than my parents, had ever seen me fully naked before and I wanted the Katniss to be the only person to look upon me like that. Then I think to myself 'wait... are they doing this to Katniss?'
I can't stop myself and I reach out to punch one of the prep team members. Running around really had no purpose as no less than 5 Peacekeepers came charging and restrained me, strapping me onto the table and burning my clothes off with a laser like tool.
I am forced to lie there helplessly as they wash me from head to toe all the while thinking of what Katniss must be going through. The very though sent rippling waves of anger through me and every so often I struggle against the straps. Waxing is up next. I don't know if you've ever waxed someones hairs off or been waxed, but let me tell you, it is not pleasant. Oh sure, the worst of the pain is quick and temporary, but you're left with a sensation of burning, throbbing mess of flesh. What's worse is that I've gotten to the point in my life where I am starting to get hairs on other less comfortable places.
My sanity broken and my body violated, I blindly follow the Peacekeepers as they lead me through a set of doors. My stylist, Portia I'm told, will be by shortly and they leave me. All I can think about is Katniss. Wondering if they subjected this torture on her as well.
Before long the door shifts open again and an attractive young woman, around 25 I would venture, steps on through. I don't know what I was expecting, but certainly not her. She had a slim figure and a face that many would call pretty. Her hair was blonde and perfectly coiffed. Her eyes were lightly outlined with red and her eyebrows were neatly plucked. A light pinkish shimmer surrounded her lips and as I stare at her, I know that she definitely knows what she's doing I watch her cautiously as she walks up to me, inspecting me.
"You're Peeta Mellark then?" she asks. It's a pointless question because I'm the only one who is supposed to be here, but I humour her.
"Yes."
"Oh good. You know you're quite handsome. This will work especially well." I can't help but be infected with her bubbly persona, but behind those kind warm eyes was determined focus that I can't help but admire. "Yeah? You think?" I reply.
"Why yes of course." She slaps her forehead. "Where are my manners. My name is Portia. I am really sorry for what happened to you Peeta."
I cock one of my now plucked eyebrows that I convinced the prep team not to wax off, "Really, most people just cheer and congratulate me on having been picked for the games."
"Oh no." Portia shakes her head, "Do you want to know a secret?" I shrug and she leans in close. "I think these games are barbaric. I hate them and always feel sad when they come around."
That seals it. This woman is now on the limited list of people I like. For her to confide in me so quickly, I find myself a little jealous of her trusting nature, but something tells me that her intelligence is not something to be denied. I nod and question her once more. "So, what are you going to do to make me look... beautiful." I strike a ridiculous pose.
Portia breaks out into laughter and I am soon to follow. When we calm down, she eyes me and asks, "Peeta, do you trust me?"
I look her up and down as if I were inspecting her, gauging her trustworthiness and she giggles again. I know that in the short time since I met her, she has wormed her way into my heart. With that I sigh dramatically and say, "I guess."
"Enough to let me set you on fire?" Okay now that got my attention. I was now worried that my stylist was crazy. I mean... set me on fire? Who asks that.
"Umm. What? I'm sorry, I don't think I heard you right. Did you say you wanted to set me on fire. Why? Did I do something to offend you or something? If so I ap..."
She interrupts me with a finger to my lips. "They're not real flames Peeta." and I look at her dubiously.
I stand there, honest to god, nervously. Portia had me decked out with a black unitard and cape. It fits me snugly and I am surprised that I don't feel uncomfortable. Beside me, Katniss, in a similar ensemble, looks equally as nervous. We're directed to the bottom level of the Remake Center. A huge stable with horses already hooked up to chariots. Four to a chariot, 12 chariots. Portia and Cinna, Katniss' stylist guide us to our chariot and give us some basic instructions. Don't worry about the horses they'll pull themselves, don't look scared, look happy and finally stay as a unit.
I repeat these instructions in my head a few times as the stylists move and adjust me and Katniss. They move off to the side talking about possible improvements and I hear a small whisper.
"What do you think? About the fire I mean." Katniss asks me.
I decide to be honest and grit my teeth in apprehension, "I'll rip off your cape if you rip off mine."
"Deal." she replies almost instantaneously. "I know we promised Haymitch to do everything they wanted but i don't think this was on his mind." I avoid telling her I already broke that promise.
I look around. "Where is Haymitch anyways? Isn't he supposed to protect us from crazy stylists or something?" I ask.
"With all that alcohol in him, it's probably best that he stays away from anything with an open flame."
I have to laugh at that. She follows shortly and soon, we're having a grand time despite the fact that we were going into the arena soon and are about to be turned into human torches by two people we genuinely like.
The massive doors of the Remake Center open and the horse begin to file out for the twenty minute ride before ending at the City Circle. The tribute of District 1 ride out first. It's hard for the rest of the districts to stand up to them as their spray painted silver with all the little jewels and nick knack the Capitol citizens love. District 2 follows, then 3 and 4. Very quickly 11 has gone and now it's our turn. Cinna appears with a torch and I feel my stomach twist. He lights my cape on fire first and I close my eyes, ready for the pain. When it doesn't come and a gasp from Katniss reassures me of her survival as well, I open them in astonishment. Cinna lights out headdresses too and sighs in relief.
"It works." I restrain myself from screaming at him as I replay his sigh of relief in my mind. He didn't know... He didn't know if it would work and then I'm glaring daggers at him. He lifts Katniss' chin and says, "Remember, heads high. Smiles. They're going to love you!" He's too close to her. How dare he touch what's mine. My eye twitches, I grind my teeth and I'm sure that a vein on my forehead has probably burst. I have to remind myself that he is probably twice her age just to suppress the anger I feel.
Our chariot has already begun moving when he jumps off and turns around. He shouts something incoherent to us and gestures wildly. Katniss asks me if I had heard what he said and I can't help myself. Even though I don't really know what Cinna said, I pretend I did and tell her, "I think he said for us to hold hands." I grab her hand before she has time to react and together we turn to look at Cinna. Apparently, I was right as he gives us the thumbs up. Lucky guess. I just wanted to hold Katniss.
I hear a collective gasp that dims even the loud music as we enter the city. That soon changes to loud whoops and cheers and shouts of "District Twelve!" Every head is turned towards us but I don't care. All I know is that I am holding Katniss Everdeen's hand and I couldn't have been more happy. That smile that Cinna tells us to make. It comes to me so naturally and brightly, I was surprised I didn't blind the stadium.
Despite the fact that it really doesn't matter to me, I'm curious about how I look like, so I steal a glance at a monitor above us and freeze. In the dark of midnight, our forms are surrounded with burning flames. Our faces are fully illuminated as the firelight flickers across us. A fiery red halo burns brightly over our heads. We seem to be leaving a blazing trail of flame behind us. Katniss grips my hand so tightly, I think I might have lost circulations a couple of times through the ride, but it is fully worth it to see her confidence boost.
I think to myself. 'This can't be it? We need something more dramatic to get more sponsors' My keen eyes see the light gloss on our black horses and chariot. In an prolific moment of genius, I realize that what Cinna wanted to tell us wasn't just to hold hands, but to also hold on to the chariot. With a chuckle, I reach out with my free hand and touch the chariot's edge. At first nothing happens and I question myself. Did I get it wrong. But soon, the flame dances down my arm and lightly flickers onto the chariot. Slowly, the chariot begins to burn. A line of flame spreads down our chariot and the District 12 logo roars to life onto the side of the chariot. That wasn't the end of it though and the flames continued on up the reins themselves. A teasing flame licks at the horses and they too burst into cool flames. Now, a bright shining light fills the street as our burning chariot rolls on towards the City Circle. My eyes find the another screen and my eyes widen. We look like a torch in the night, but the flame so artfully dances around us, our faces seem even more prominently displayed. To complete the look, I raise our joined hands high into the air for all to see. I look over at Katniss and think that she looks jaw-droppingly beautiful surrounded by flames.
If the crowd was loud before, they were booming now. Cheers and screams grew louder and louder until we reached our destination. Now this is what I'm talking about. Sponsors will be flocking now. President Snow rose up from his seat and the flames vanish. A speech was made, but I never heard it. I was too busy feeling the sensation of Katniss' hand. Too filled with adrenaline that my ears pound with every heartbeat. Before I know it, we are carted away to the Training Center.
All too soon, Katniss loosens her iron tight grip on my fingers. Though I have to massage the blood back into my hands, I feel a longing for her grip again. She looks a bit shaky though, so I think it's time for another little act to put her at ease.
"Thanks for keeping hold of me. I was getting a little shaky there." I say, smiling in thanks.
"It didn't show. I'm sure no one noticed either." Well of course no one noticed, I was never shaky. And I smile affectionately at her innocence.
"I'm sure they didn't notice anything but you. You should wear flames more often. It suits you." I smile gently with a hint of shyness because this is real. Not an act. I really do think that she looks wonderful in flames. Cinna and Portia come over to congratulate us and suddenly I remember that I am angry with them, but rather than ruin such a great night, I smile and thank them.
Then the single greatest act in the world, happened to me.
Katniss Everdeen kissed me.
Well, it was on the cheek, but still. Her lips were on me and I was on cloud nine. The only way this could be better is if I was able to kiss her back and then it was over. I struggle to keep a hold of my consciousness, but I feel my mind drifting away. All with thoughts of Katniss Everdeen. My memory gets kind of fuzzy right about then and I think of nothing but the kiss until the ding of an elevator announces that it's ready to take us to our quarters.
I'm surprised to see Effie and Haymitch surrounding me and Katniss. Apparently, they're to escort us to right up to the point when we enter the arena.
'Ding.' I hear again. Sliding doors parted for us and I am greeted with a penthouse suite. My trained eyes easily pick up at least 4 usable weapons and 3 exits. Katniss, Haymitch and Effie have all moved over to the large assemble of couches and loveseats in one corner of the room and I move to join them. Making sure to stay as close to a weapon, in this case, a vase filled with flowers, and an exit, the door leading to the roof.
Effie goes on and on about how much work she had to do to promote us. How we struggled to over come the barbarism of District 12. I stare at her in disbelief. Barbarism? Here she was, preparing us to go to our deaths and she says that District 12 is barbaric.
"Everyone had their reservations about you. Perfectly natural you being part of the coal district. But I told them and this was very clever of me. I said, "Well, if you put enough pressure on coals it turns to pearls.'" Of course that was utter bullshit. Pearls were made in oysters, Perhaps she meant diamonds, but that's not right either. A myth I know all too well seeing as Ben decided that it would be a good idea to sit on a pile of coal all night to see if it turned.
With that, Katniss and I are rushed into our rooms. It was large. Larger than the house and bakery together. I decide that I'm way too hungry and tired to care about what all the buttons do and I just want to go out, eat dinner and sleep. I do however, strip the costume off my body, neatly fold it and place it in the corner of the room. I walk to the closet and try the handles. They wouldn't budge. I look the left and see a large panel with touch screen interface. Apparently, it chooses from hundreds of clothes based on inputted preferences. I quickly punch out a white t-shirt and a simple pair of black shorts. The machine whirs and the closet doors whip open. A rack extends out with my choice of clothes. Quickly, I pull them on.
I start to head to the dining area again, when I decide against it. A headache has developed due to the constant arguing between Haymitch and Effie and I just need some alone time to myself. Instead, I head to the roof to clear my head.
It's really quite beautiful up here. The rooftop itself was remade into a giant garden. Soft grass bends as I walk towards the centre. The wind is loud and violent up here. I can barely hear my own thoughts, but that's the point, to chase away all the useless drivel infecting my brain and just calm down. Reluctant to leave this haven, my stomach takes over and decides that it will not be ignored. I head back down to the dining area.
I get there just in time. The feast has already been laid out and I see Effie calling out to Katniss. Seeing Cinna and Portia on the balcony, I decide that now was just as good a time as any to give them a piece of my mind.
"Hey Cinna, Portia." They glance over at me. "I've got a question for you two. Did you know 100% that the outfits wouldn't burn us." My face was the epitome of innocent curiosity and I doubt that either of them could have guessed what was going to happen next.
They nervously nodded the heads, almost spastically in an attempt to cover up what I already know. My face darken and I let a bit of the hunter out. "Cause I could have sworn that Cinna gave a sigh of relief when he lit us on fire." They gulp. I can't blame them. I would be nervous too if I was facing myself. "If you ever, ever, do anything that puts Katniss in danger, I will make the Hunger Games seem like going to an amusement park." I growl menacingly at them and feel satisfaction when they squeak and nod hurriedly. As an after thought, I throw in, "Oh that goes for me too."
With that out of the way, I reign in not-Peeta and lean over the railing. I glance out at the sunset and say, "It's okay. You're forgiven. This time." They relax. "By the way, I haven't had a chance to praise you for your design. I mean the clothes were good, but the horses and the chariot, too?"
They smile and nod at me in thanks. As we stare out at the sunset, Cinna asks me, "So what's your favourite colour Peeta?" I shift my eyes to him and return with, "Why?"
"Trust us Peeta. You'll definitely like it." This time it's Portia. She's smiling widely. The question seems harmless enough so I shrug and continue to glance out into the sky. "Sunset." Cinna and Portia look at me questioningly. "My favourite colour is sunset. Something about the sun falling, igniting the sky with such a warm glow as it passes by. It reminds me of... home."
I turn and walk back into the penthouse and see Katniss has already sit down in her chair, waiting patiently for Cinna, Portia and me. We take our seats and Haymitch walks in. He plops down into his chair and we all begin eating and planning for the next stage of the games. Surprisingly, Effie and Haymitch are almost civil to each other. I wonder what has changed since the last time they fought. I refuse the wine presented to me by a young man in a white tunic and begin to eat the feast before me. Meats and vegetables are devoured as we praise Cinna and Portia for their artistic brilliance.
Soon dinner is finished and an Avox girl brings out a gigantic burning cake. I hear Katniss ask the girl how it burns and her exclamation, "Oh I know you." Uh oh. I know no one is supposed to talk or know any Avox, so as Effie explains to Katniss what an Avox is exactly, I begin to concoct a way out for Katniss. There will definitely be a need for explanation later. Oh the things I do for love.
"Delly Cartwright!" I exclaim as if I had just found the missing piece to a puzzle. "It's been bothering me forever, but she looks like Delly. She's a dead ringer for her, right Katniss?" The Avox girl most certainly does not look like Delly Cartwright, but Katniss is eager to jump through the open door left for her.
"Of course. That's who I must be thinking of. Must be the hair." I hold in the laugh because Delly's messy blond hair looks nothing alike to this Avox's coiffed red hair but I play along. "And the eyes too." Everyone calms down the Avox cuts the the cake that Cinna ordered, We all decide that rather than sit at the table, we should go down to the television to watch the opening ceremonies. We watch as the chariots roll down, the cameras catching everything. We "ooh" and "ahh" when appropriate. When our chariot was finally shown, we were all blown away at the brilliance of the flame covered versions of Katniss and myself. Then I reached out and the chariot exploded into light. There was silence. Soon Effie, Haymitch and the rest of us were giving Cinna and Portia pats on the back and hugs and cheers.
"Whose idea was the hand holding?" Haymitch asked.
"Cinna's," says Portia.
"And the chariot and horses?"
Portia blushes a bright red before shyly raising her hand. "That was me. It was nothing though."
Cinna gives a small chuckle. "Nothing? Is standing in line at the Justice building for 8 hours just to get permission to include the horses into the presentation nothing. Portia. If that was nothing, I can't wait to see what you deem 'something'." We all have a good laugh at her expense
"Tomorrow's your first day of training." I glance at Haymitch. There is no more laughter in his voice and his face turns serious. "Meet me first thing in the morning and I'll tell you exactly how you should play the game. Now off you go. Bed. Time for the grown-ups to talk.
Katniss and I walk out the room, but not before I stick my tongue out at Haymitch. We walk through the corridor towards our rooms in silence. When we reach her door, I take an extra step and lean against her door frame, insisting she pay attention to me and look at her with expectation.
"So, what a coincidence to see a Delly Cartwright lookalike here in the Capitol of all places." I cock an eyebrow at her, asking her about the Avox with all the subtlety of a rampaging rhino. We both know I covered for her and I will be getting an explanation. I see her hesitate and she looks away.
"Have you been to the roof yet?" She shakes her head. "It's really beautiful. You can see the whole city from there. The winds a bit loud though." I know she will get the hidden meaning and that no one will hear us up there.
"Can we go up?" She asks.
"Of course" I reply and lead her up through a flight of stairs up to the roof, then to a railing that overlooked the Capitol. Now that it is sufficiently late enough, multicoloured lights twinkled constantly. I think back to how, in District 12, lights come and go at a whim, the only time when it was guaranteed was when the Games were on. Here there is no such problem and a spike of resentment goes through me.
My eyes shift towards Katniss, and I can see that she would not be the first one to start a conversation. "I asked Cinna why they let us up here. I asked him why the Capitol weren't worried that some tribute might want to jump right over the side."
"What'd he say?" she asks.
"You can't," I tell her, raising my hand out. A sharp snapping sound and I pull my hand back in pain. The force field hurt. "Some kind of electric field hurls you back on the roof."
"Always worried about our safety. Do you think they're watching us now?"
Not wanting to worry her, I say, "Maybe" when I wasn't honestly sure myself. "Come on. Let's go to the garden. It's my favourite part." I look at her expectantly.
"We were hunting in the woods one day. Hidden, waiting for game." she whispers because even though the wind is loud, there might still be eavesdroppers. "You and your father?" I question.
"No, my friend Gale." My lips give an involuntary twitch and I feel just a bit more murderous. As she continued her story about two Capitol looking people who were running away from the Capitol to who knows where., I sat there half listening, half trying to force down feelings of jealousy. Every so often, I give an acknowledging sound to show that I'm still paying attention. My ability to multitask has always been good, so I split my attention between being supportive and imagining all the ways possible to kill one Gale Hawthorne. When she finished her story, I notice her shaking from the cold.
"You're shivering," I say. I take off my jacket and wrap it around her shoulder and we continue our conversation.
"Where were they going?" I ask, because beyond 12, there was nothing but forest and the ruins of 13.
"I don't know that, or as to why they would leave."
"I'd leave here." I blurt out but contain the following "with you". I glance around nervously because that was loud enough to be heard over the wind and wind chimes that rang loudly. I continue in a louder volume, "I'd go home now if they let me. But you have to admit, the food's pretty good." so I can cover the last comment just in case.
"It's getting cold. Let's head back in." I say. We head back into the warmth of the dome. Casually, I ask, "Your friend Gale, was he the one who took your sister away during the reaping?" as if I didn't already know.
"Yes," she replies. "Do you know him?"
"Not really. I hear the girls talk about him all the time. I thought he was your cousin or something with all the time you spend together." It pains me to lie so blatantly to her, but it's for the best.
"No, we're not related." I hear her say.
I nod and can't keep my voice from dropping. "Did he come to say goodbye?"
"Yes. So did your father. He brought me cookies." I raise my eyebrows because this is indeed news to me.
"Really? Well he does like you and your sister. I think he wishes he had one girl instead of a houseful of boys." There is silence as we pad our ways back to our rooms. "He knew your mother you know. When they were kids." I say. I don't know why I told her this. Probably because I felt that I had to share something with her after she poured her story out to me.
She hands my jacket back to me when we reach her door. I flippantly give her a quick goodbye and walk off back to my room. The door opens and I know that something has changed. My eyes drift towards the corner of the room where I put down the flame unitard. It's gone now. I suspect that Portia or Cinna or an Avox took it, so I'm not too concerned. I throw my jacket into the hamper, kick of my shoes, strip out of the shirt and shorts and walk slowly to the bed.
'Why was I so cold to her' I think to myself. My dismissal of her when I left was not me at all. These thoughts plague me. I can't seem to think of a reason. Perhaps it's jealousy.
I close my eyes and sigh. It's been a draining day.
So up to Chapter 7 in the book.
Next up is training day. Might start deviating from the book soon.
