The Other Side of the Glass

Chapter 4: Dinner, Death, and Other Nice Things

Disclaimer: Hunger Games=Not Mine

The bedroom set up is pretty much the same as when I was a tribute. There is a neatly done bed with two dark wooden tables on either side. The tables both have silver lights that are in some weird design. On the wall opposite of the bed is a wooden dress. In the corner of the room is a television hooked up to the red wall. It looks fancy compared to the Districts, but casual compared to the Capitol.

I make my way to the dresser and find more comfortable clothing (a sea green shirt that has "District 4" in big white letters and brown sweat pants) before plopping down on the bed with a sigh.

A lot happened today, too much happened today. The events replay in my mind from the Reaping to the goodbyes. The stress seems to build on and on making me not want to do any of this. I had enough and the Games haven't even started yet. All these thoughts, surprisingly, are making me sleepy.

I must've fell asleep briefly because I am awoken by the smiling face of Magikka claiming that dinner has started. When I get into the dining car, August is holding a spoon up with his upper-lip. Fira watches before hearing my steps approach. I sit down next to her and she smiles at me before turning back to August.

"Like that will be a valuable skill to win." She said like she was continuing an argument.

"It is!" August claimed after setting the spoon on the table.

"Sure…" Fira rolled her eyes.

I gave a small chuckle. They both seem so innocent, in their own realities. It was as if they weren't going into a fight to the death.

"You keep telling yourself that and it may actually happen." I looked between the both of them. They were both so different, but yet the same.

From what I have seen of August, I have concluded that he is kind of goofy. By the glass cup he just knocked over, he is definitely clumsy. He seems care free as if nothing bad will ever happen.

Fira is a completely different matter. I know she can be smart, but yet she is way too innocent to dab into certain topics. She has always been in her own reality, not really realizing the world around her. She thinks way to fast for her mouth leading into jumbled words and sentences, her parents always playfully teased her for that.

But, they both are going into a fight to the death. They both have a young part of them-a part I miss from my self-an innocence that is just so…pure. They both don't know what they got themselves into.

Dinner goes by fast and we are shoved into the "TV room". As I get comfortable by Fira and Hercules. Magikka sits in the small fluffy chair Hercules sat in when I was a tribute. August sits on the other side of Fira.

The TV turns on to reveal a black background. The words "The 36th Hunger Games" floats onto the screen before "Stage 1: The Reaping" joins it.

The announcer this year is a short, young woman with red hair in tons of miniature braids. I tune out as she begins talking and then the Reapings begin.

From District 1 is two familiar looking people and then I remember when Fira and I watched the Final 8 interviews together a month or two after the Games because I wanted to see what they all said about me. The girl (Rosalyn Saval) has bright red hair and a jump in her step as she walks onto the stage. The boy (Grant Lewelyn) has dark brown hair and seems determined. They both were friends of Azura, a fellow tribute from last year.

I tense before they then go to District 2. The girl (Annabeth Fields) with large blue eyes approaches the stage with a look of pride on her face. A volunteer boy (Percy Grace) seems strong and indestructible, he will be a challenge and I know it.

District 3 has two people that are easy to forget. The girl (Yahan) may have the body of a thirteen year old, but by the way she walks, she has the thinking of a kid the age of six. The boy, Dexter or something, cries as he walks onto the stage.

I watch quietly as they replay our Reaping making me feel sick as they showed my expression when Fira's name was called.

In District 5, the tributes grab my attention. The girl, a blonde named Xena Panama, looked as if she is above the crowd. Her eyes show no emotion and she has the pose of a fighter. They definitely need to watch out for her. She may be fourteen, but age doesn't count in the Games. Ronald, a brown haired boy, walks with a swing in his step and a cocky smile on his face.

District 6 makes me want to raise an eyebrow like 'really?' The girl, Vixen, has red hair and a sly smile. She makes no noise as she walks. She reminds me of a real fox or what pictures I have seen of them. Assassin doesn't look like an assassin. He is small, even for twelve years old, as if he hasn't grown up yet.

I begin to get goosebumps, thinking of chilling thoughts. How is Fira going to get out alive is she has to deal with all these other smart, brave, determined tributes.

District 7 has a weird pair. A volunteer girl with a brave expression walks on the stage. She looks as if she could be a part of District 1. Her name is Diamond, which I would have expected from a higher District tribute. The boy is twelve years old with huge overgrown buck teeth and long shaggy blonde hair.

District 8 reveals another strong girl by the name of Scarlett. She has a very overdramatic theme going on as she smiles and blows kisses at the camera. She seems young though. The boy is older with an oblivious personality as he trips walking onto the stage.

District 9 has a girl named Jada, who seems like she rather be in front of a mirror than fighting to the death in a bloody arena, and a boy named Jem, who is super quiet.

District 10 has a boy named Di Angelo and a girl Starr who both seem easy to forget as does District 11 with Dark and Bellatrix, and District 12 with Theo and Nymphadora.

After the closing, I still have the shivers. As the rest drift off, I stare at the blank screen. How am I getting Fira out of the Arena alive? There are so many other tributes that are bigger, faster, and stronger. Another question pops in my head as I stare at the screen.

What if August is pretending to be friends with her and then end up cutting her throat in middle of the night at the Arena?