Tibithia takes us to a place called the RemakeCenter. This is where we will meet our stylists and prep teams and prepare for the chariot parade tonight. Seeder and Chaff have told us not to resist what they do to you, no matter what. I go to one room and Thresh goes to another. My prep team comes in and introduce themselves. Hasex has light lavender skin and bright purple hair, Yaley has long fuchsia lashes and pumpkin-orange hair, and Tarew has overly-large lips and crimson locks. They are all quite freakish as they surround me, getting a good look at me. They wash my hair with a cool substance which makes it even softer than before. They scrub me down and soak me in oils and soaps until I'm absolutely clean, not an inch of grime left. They dry me off good and then put some light makeup on my face. As they leave, Yaley informs me that my stylist will be here in a few moments.
I sit on a table and swing my legs. I am wearing nothing but a thin paper robe. My stylist comes in and introduces himself as Kasul. He is not nearly as odd-looking as Hasex, Yaley, and Tarew; he has a normal tone of skin and shoulder length gray hair. His eyes are solid gold and the only alteration he has that doesn't make him look good is a tattoo on his forearm; it's a sword running through a rose. I don't really understand it, but I'm not going to ask. He reminds me about the parade and then helps me get my costume on; it's a light blue dress where the hem sticks out a bit. Over it, I wear overalls/ denim skirt and on my head, lay a wreath of silver branches, to show 11's main job, agriculture. I look in the mirror. "Do you like it?" asks Kasul.
"Oh, yes, Mr. Kasul," I say. "It's really quite lovely." He grins.
"Just call me Kasul, okay? No Mr." he says. I nod and he smiles even bigger. "You are just golden, honey!" he says, "I'm sure you'll make a big splash at the parade!" I say thank you and he takes me down to the lowest level of the RemakeCenter. It's like a huge stable of sorts and almost all the tribute pairs are down there. I find our chariot and stand next to the tan horses that will be pulling it. Thresh and his stylist shows up a few minutes later.
"Hey, you look nice," he whispers to me with a grin.
"Right back at you," I giggle. Thresh is wearing a plain, white shirt with overalls and, of course, he has the wreath of silver branches on his head. Kasul tells us to get on the chariot and await the doors opening. We follow the instructions. A few minutes later, the giant doors swing open and District 1's chariot gets the ball rolling. I hear Caesar Flickerman, master of ceremonies, commentating in the midst of all the cheering. Soon enough, our horses start trotting and we take off through the doors. I'm scared at first, because I have never done this sort of thing, but I figure, if I have enough balance to climb the thinnest branches on the highest trees at home, I can stay on this chariot. As few moments after our chariot ha had its glory, I hear the crowd grow even louder, screaming the names Katniss and Peeta. I even hear Caesar say, "Good Lord, what is that?" We're too fast to turn around and when I try, I nearly fall off! Once the chariots pull to a stop I turn around and see that District 12's tributes are on fire! Their jet-black jumpsuits are burning! It's probably fake flame, for it doesn't seem to be harming them in any way. I turn my attention to President Snow, our dictator; he gives the usual speech that no one really pays attention to because of the shining tributes that stand out in the darkness.
Once it's over, Tibithia takes us to the TrainingCenter, where we will be staying for the rest of our time in the Capitol. We go to the 11th floor in something called an elevator which can go up or down when you press a button. We clean up in our rooms, which are equivalent to the size of my house in 11. Seeder calls me in for a celebration dinner in the dining room. Once I get there, Seeder gives Thresh and I the pills again, although, this time, I will try to eat more before I take them so Chaff won't laugh at me again. Tibithia starts off the conversation by saying, "Well, if 12 hadn't been on fire, I guess you might have made a better impression." This gets me laughing really hard. "What?" asks Tibithia, "What is so funny?" I look up and her expression just makes me laugh even harder. Seeder starts laughing too and Chaff and Thresh even let out mere chuckles. It's just Tibithia, Kasul, and Thresh's stylist who sit there, puzzled. Tibithia folds her arms on her chest and sighs, "What?"
"I guess" I say in between giggles, "that we…just don't…say stuff like that…in 11!" We all burst out in laughter and Tibithia gives a little huff and excuses herself. The rest of us sit in amused silence for the rest of dinner, exchanging glances once in a while.
When I get to my bedroom I prepare to go to bed. As I'm lying there, the good mood leaves me, little by little. I remember why I am even here and I shed a single tear and fall asleep.