AN: The format for Fanfiction is really weird. It makes it look like I wrote a lot less than I really did. Hmm…Well I promise it's not as short as it looks. Plus it looks short because its mainly dialogue or short paragraphs. But that's just how I write. :)
The Mouse and the Fall
Dahlia
"Why are you so pale?" Zach asks me through his peacekeeper helmet.
"I'm not sure," I admit taking my helmet off. "I guess I am a little nervous about meeting the rest of the Capitol.
"Don't worry," he says putting my helmet on for me, "They will love me."
Thanks, Zach. That helped a lot.
Nikki
Its tense as we wait for the opening ceremonies. Despite the colorful and absolutely ridiculous outfits, you can feel how nervous everyone is, or maybe it's just me. I try to break the tension by talking to some of the tributes.
The nearest tribute to me is Astell, dressed as a mouse she is undeniably adorable and somewhat silly looking in her costume. She is so small I doubt that she can even see over the top of the chariot.
"Hey," I mumble as I stand next to her. "I'm Nikki."
She looks up at me with big blue eyes, "I know. I'm Astell."
I don't know what to say next. . .So how do you plan to survive? That's just stupid.
"I miss my sister. . ." she says in a whisper and hangs her head. Her confession takes me by surprise.
"I miss my brother too." I say, "He was killed in the Games a few years ago. We were twins." Why was I telling her all this? After Hi my name is. . . you don't usually spill you whole life's story on them.
I guess we just have that connection.
Ellianna
What were the stylists this year thinking? Everyone looks absolutely ridiculous in their outfits. A bush, a mouse, a light bulb, a jellyfish and even a mutation? Seriously were they all high or something?
I'm just glad I got away with a simple red sundress. Although the red in the dress eerily reminds me of blood. . .
No I will not be put into the arena today.
Bruce is talking to the horses. I strain me ears to listen, desperate to get my mind off of blood.
"They all think I'm crazy!" he mumbles to the horse. "But I'm not crazy, I just want to go home. I'm scared."
I laugh. "Too used to life at home?" He sticks his tongue out at me in a pathetic attempt at an insult. "You're an idiot."
Ash
Really, district twelve always has the worst outfits. Other than district eight, we have the most boring outfits. Not to mention the most ugly.
Well, not the most, I mean. . .district three is a light bulb.
Does the Capitol have a personal vendetta against district twelve or something?
Of course they do, otherwise we wouldn't have the Hunger Games.
Marina
"Aw, come on!" Rascoe groans at my costume. "You're not dressed as a fish!"
Rascoe is wearing a strange combination of pink and blue fabric with weird little dangly things hanging off of a weird oversized headpiece.
"Oh, I get it! You're a jellyfish!" I say poking the headpiece.
"Yeah, I know. Why aren't you dressed all weird?"
"I was a starfish. . ."
"Past tense. . ." he questions.
I shrug. "I modified it."
Bennet
I take one look at Ellessa and laugh. She's shooting daggers at me but I don't care. Her outfit is priceless.
"Love the tail," I say through a laugh.
"If it weren't a rule not to hurt tributes before a game, you would have a black eye right now." She threatens through clenched teeth.
"I'm just glad I got to see this before I die!"
I guess I got lucky. All my stylist gave me was a lab coat like suit. Well, I assume Ellessa is suppose to be my experiment. . .
Rielle
I see him. Bennet. Standing next to his sister dresses as what appears to be a mad scientist. Weird.
I make my way over to him. My heart is pounding.
"Hi." I say. I hope my voice doesn't sound shaky, because I feel like I'm shaking.
"Whose she?" his sister accuses pointing at me.
"She's. . .uh,"
My heart sinks. He didn't notice me in the reruns.
"I'm Rielle." I say for him and hold out my hand for Ellessa. She ignores it.
"Sorry, I didn't pay any attention to the reruns." He says. Ellesssa rolls her eyes and walks away. "I'm Bennet, by the way."
"I know. I did pay attention." I smile at him. He smiles back.
"So, what are you suppose to be dressed as?" he asks eyeing my grey frock.
"Not sure. Apparently my district is dull."
"And what district would that be?"
"Eight."
He stops for a second. And his eyes go wide.
"What?" I ask.
He gulps, "Nothing," I can tell he is lying. "It's just, a tribute from that district killed my brother a few years ago."
Great, there go my chances. . .
"Oh. . .I'm sorry."
There is an awkward silence between us for a while, then he speaks.
"I guess we better get ready. Sounds like we might be heading out soon." He says.
"Yeah," I nod and walk off to my chariot in utter defeat.
Lyra
District 1 is the first chariot to go. Emerich is standing right next to me, with that menacing smile and all those scars, I'm scared out of my mind. I take a deep breath and the chariot rolls forward.
The Capitol lights are blinding and the cheers are deafening. Emerich loves the crowd, but I'm blinded by it. I grab hold to the front of the chariot so I don't fall off, pull on a fake smile and soak in the Capitol in all its glory.
I try to enjoy it all but the only thing I can think of is Don't get to close to Emerich. Don't fall off. Don't get to close to Emerich. Don't fall off. . .
Tasha
The opening ceremonies are almost as bad as the reaping in my eyes. Being dresses as a light bulb is pretty humiliating. But its not the worst. At least I'm not dressed as a bush like seven. Or like a jellyfish. Or like a mouse.
Well, my point is, it could be worse. I could be dressed like my sister. . .
Umber
I feel bad for Astell. Here I am towering over her and she can't even see over the chariot.
"Hey, Astell." I say over the din of the crowd.
"Yep?" she basically screams back at me.
"Get on my back."
"Huh?"
"Just do it, you'll be able to see better."
"Okay, don't let me fall off, okay?"
"No worries."
I pick her up and put her on my shoulders like I'm giving her a piggy back ride. At first she clings to my head so she won't fall off, but after a few minutes of being in the air she lets go and starts waving at the crowd. I am careful not to let go of her feet.
"This is fun! They love us!" she says. I can see on the monitors that she spread her arms out like she's flying.
Anton
"Looks like district ten is having some fun." I say after watching Astell on the monitors. I have been trying to start a conversation with my district partner, who seems intent on not talking the whole time she's been here. She just stares straight ahead not saying a word. Its freaking me out.
"Wish we could have some fun like that." I sulk and turn my back on her to begin waving at the crowd. But they don't care about little district six. All they care about is Astell the flying mouse.
Astell
The wind in my face, and the world below my feet. Flying feels so exhilarating. I can feel the Capitol draw in a breath, tensing up, ready to catch me if I fall. I love it!
I can feel the wind pick up and I am slightly pushed off of Umber shoulders, not enough to knock me off, just enough to give me a small panic attack. I regain my balance and composure.
Then the chariot hits a rock.
The small bump is just enough to send me flying backwards and out of Umbers grasp. The Capitol gasps and I think I screamed. I expect the ground to hit first, or to feel horse hooves, but neither occur. Instead I find myself in the boy from eleven, Hackett's, arms. He caught me.
Hackett
That was close. A bit too close.
I'm glad I caught her. Astell reminds me too much of my own daughter.
"You okay?" I ask setting her down in our own chariot.
"Yea. . .fine." she says through a shaking voice. "Thanks."
She curls up into a small ball at our feet and stays there the entire ride. Nikki tries to talk to her, but Astell is in a deep state of shock.
Emerich
Dang that Hackett. He should have let that girl fall. She is an unnecessary target. A minor annoyance better left dead. I run the moment over in my head, only I replace Hackett with myself, and let the girl fall to her doom.
She looks better between horse hooves anyway.
