Chapter 3
I looked at the crowds surrounding our train. I hastily threw on a hoodie with gold laces. I looked away from the window. I really didn't want to be seen. Capitol people were creepy, anyway. Multi-colored skin, pink hair, diamond clothes, you name it, they had it.
As I walked through the station I kept a straight face and averted my eyes. The people were weirder up close, flashing cameras in my face and asking random, dumb, unimportant questions.
When I finally made it to the hotel I was staying at, journalists and broadcasters, paparazzi and reporters were gone. I looked at a sign. It read:
STRICTLY NO PAPARAZZI. Assured by the sign, I walked in.
No, there wasn't paparazzi. There was my fashion team, ready to redesign me into a tragically new person. Make my hair glow in the dark or something. But no, that wasn't the case. "Guys, guys," a man walked in, with sunglasses and a buzz cut.
They stopped gabbing. Apparently this was the head stylist.
"Alone time! Chop chop!" the man clapped, then faced me. "Terrance Bouvale, have we?" He looked at me, as if he wanted to plan me out. "Follow." He snapped his fingers and I obeyed immediately.
He had me sit in a blinding white chair. He did something to me. Then I faced a mirror.
My hair was layered perfectly. I… I have to admit, I looked great. Even with this chill look. "Wait, your clothing is ready." Almost as fast as my face had transformed, my clothes had too.
Again, the mirror. The costume…was magnificent. A copper colored chest plate and pantalets. I looked like a knight. A powerful one. Hmm, I wondered. Powerful knight. How does that relate to District 5..? Then I understood. Powerful knight. Power. Nice twist, I thought, then got ready for the opening ceremony.
The opening ceremony. My costume was probably the best of them all. It was fun, watching open mouths and staring eyes follow me as I just pointed at random girls who passed out. Even my District partner, Hadley, had a hard time keeping herself focused. She was a little lightning bolt, which I found rather cute, considering she was 12.
After that, I surveyed a few tributes I might want to team with. Hmm. There was the District 1 boy, Wave, but…When I made eye contact it looked like he could tear my eyeballs out with no eyeballs himself.
Another one…The District 10 boy, Stag. He offered a smile when I looked his way. He was… 17? I thought so. He was easily taller than anyone here. I walked up to him.
"Hey," he said, a little shyly.
"Hey." I said. "Um…I wanted to know if you wanted to ally with me in the arena. This is when I'm looking around. I mean, Hadley's cute, but…Not smart enough."
Stag nodded slightly. I could see the sadness in his eyes. "I'll help you win," I added, and he looked up. "Really?" he asked. I nodded. "Really."
