As Cerise caught one last glance at District 8 before the train rounded a bend, Flamenca wrapped her talons around her arm and led her away from the window. She took her down the hallway with Rayon in tow.
"Here is the common room: the victors and I will most likely be here. Here is the dining room: I'll get you for dinner. Here are Cecelia's and Woof's quarters: you can also find them there... and here are you two." She let go of Cerise's arm at two doors opposite each other. "Cerise, you are here," she opened the one on the right. "And Rayon, you're here." She opened the other. "I'll be in the common room if you need me." With that, she strutted back down the corridor.
Cerise and Rayon stared at each other for a moment, her clutching the one remnant from home and him leaning nonchalantly against the door frame. Then, seeing the fire in his eyes, Cerise backed into her room, shutting the door quickly. Feeling choked up, she dropped the bear and ran to the window and yanked it open, letting the wind whip her face and hair. The lilies Scarlett had so lovingly weaved in waved in the wind and soon became loose. Before she knew it, they were flying away in the breeze, their red bright in the sky.
That's when the tears came, watching the cerise lilies floating further and further away, out of her reach. The tears rolled onto her cheeks, then blew off with the wind, sparkling like crystals then evaporating into the sky. Cerise hunched over the windowsill and as much as she tried to hold it in, the pain came out like an uproar from her throat in the form of a silent scream. Her hair whipped around her face violently in the train's wind. The beads of water kept falling down one after another, without a sign of stopping. She turned and hit a cushion and tried to scream, but her voice was melted by the sound of the place. The muffled sobs wracked against her chest. The world turned into a blur, and so did all the sounds. The taste. The smell. Everything was gone. The last painful emotion slammed against her before she lost the feeling of feeling.
"Cerise?" Flamenca's shrill voice cut into her like a knife. "Cerise, dinner's ready, could you come out?"
"I'll be out in a moment." said a weak, hoarse voice Cerise did not recognise. Wiping her face, she lifted her head off the wet windowsill and sat up on the window seat where she was draped. Exhausted, she dragged herself to the bathroom and looked briefly in the mirror. Her dark brown eyes gazed sadly back at her, tears tracked down her round cheeks. Luckily enough she could not afford makeup, so no black streaks marred her face. Her rose gold hair hung loosely around her face, nothing remained of her previous hairstyle. She quickly splashed her face with cold water and though it did help her complexion, nothing could hide her eyes, bloodshot and sorrowful as they were. So she ignored them and made her way to the dining room.
Cecelia immediately stood up when Cerise entered. She hurried over and took the small girl in her arms, pressing her lips on the top of Cerise's head.
"I'm so sorry, Cerise," she whispered.
"You sound like Cedar," Cerise mumbled as she wrapped her arms around Cecelia.
Cecelia laughed lightly then sighed. "Come, sit down. Let's get some food in you. I bet you haven't eaten all day yet."
It took a moment for Cerise to realise how hungry she was and gladly followed Cecelia to the table with the others. She sat comfortably next to Cecelia on the end of the table as the female mentor pushed a plate towards her. Laid out on the table was an array of foods Cerise had never seen before. Sauces of all different colours coated plates full of meats and vegetables. Allowing the exotic smells and warm, comfortable atmosphere take her in, Cerise breathed fully for the first time all day. She carefully took small spoonfuls of most dishes, determined to taste them all. Cecelia's hand clasped hers as they talked to Woof and each other, smooth, basic topics, like Cecelia's kids, Scarlett and Cardinal and Cerise's clothing business.
Then, just as dessert was finished, Cecelia cleared her throat and stood up, all sense of geniality gone from her face.
"Tomorrow you will arrive in the Capitol. There you will have one week to win over Capitol crowds if you want any chance of sponsors."
The comfort was sucked out of the room as those words were spoken. Cerise and Rayon looked up at Cecelia, hanging onto every word.
"Woof, Flamenca and I will do our best to help. Oh, and of course, your styling team." Cecelia continued. "But in the end it's up to you whether or not you survive in the arena." The silence was deafening and Cerise's heart beat rapidly. "Over this week, you will train physically during the day with the other tributes and train mentally with us in the evening. The evening training will cover what angle you go for and other techniques to win over the crowd."
The mentor looked at her tributes, Rayon slouched over his seat and Cerise hunched over her plate. Both sets of eyes, however, were locked on her. She sighed and forced a smile on her face.
"You should go to bed. Look your best for tomorrow."
The tributes walked silently back their quarters. Rayon turned to face Cerise.
"What d'you think the Capitol's gonna look like?"
"Oh," she was taken aback with his sudden break in silence. "I dunno, I guess-"
He cut her off. "Doesn't matter, they'll love us. I think District Eight's gonna be a favourite."
"Why?"
He laughed before responding. "With our looks combined, they'll love us."
She tilted her head. "What d'you-oh!"
He slipped his hand on her lower back and pulled her close. They were now less than an inch apart. She felt his breath, hot on her face. His face was closer now, too close. She spun away from his hand and before she even had time to think her door slammed and she was back in her room.
Her mind caught up with her body and she shuddered at the thought that came. She locked her door and got ready for bed; slipping out of her kitten heels and pulling off the dress Scarlett and Cardinal made so long ago. In the drawers were many nightgowns so she slipped on a satin on and crawled under the covers. The satin nightgown reminded her of the painful goodbyes. She saw Scarlett's wide tearful eyes, Cardinal's shaking hands and waves of emotion from the day swept over her. She saw Flamenca pulling the slip from the glass sphere, saw Cecelia's anger, and finally saw Rayon's icy eyes looming in darkness.
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-hewwo1503