In wrote this chapter before Chapter 4, because I was inspired! Yay! There is a distinct possibility that this could be the longest chapter I've ever written, as it when I wrote it by hand it took up 5 A4 sides. (Oh. I just wrote Chapter 4, and it's longer than this one. Never mind :D)
This chapter's dedicated to Persephone's Flower, for pointing out how Marina's character was straying into dangerous Mary-Sue territory.
You guys may have noticed that this chapter has been edited, and stuff like Marina's name has changed. Well, that's all down to the advice Persephone gave me. I hope you think it's improved by the changes!
5
I let out a whimper of pain as the woman with the bubblegum pink hair rips off another strip of fabric from my leg.
"Hey sweetie, don't worry!" she says in her squeaky voice, "we're almost done now- and you're nowhere near as hairy as some tribunals I've seen!"
Oh, well, thanks for that.
She pulls off another strip, and despite myself, I let out a little squeak.
"It's alright sweetheart, just one-"
R-iii-iii-iii-iii-iii-iii-pppp
"-more. There you are!"
She steps back, admiring her handiwork.
"At least we didn't have to do you're under arms! The underarms are hell!" She gives me a conspiratorial wink. I smile back weakly.
"Get a bit of meat on you and you'll be fine! You're such a little scrap of a thing! You only look around seven or eight!"
Even though they're preparing me for slaughter, it's hard to hate these people. They just seem so stupid! The prep team begin to circle me, wielding tweezers and other various hair removing objects.
"You know sweetie," says another woman, who I think is called Lorena; "You actually aren't half bad looking. Much better than that girl from last year. She was such a plain thing."
I feel a surge of rage. That 'plain girl' was called Kit Bloomsworth, and her head was smashed in by a spiked mace within the first minute of last year's games. That was part of the reason there were no volunteers this year. Seeing a sweet, funny girl getting her brains smashed out and spread over the sand tends to put people off. I'm snapped back to the present by a tugging on my hair.
"Yes..." Lorena is saying, "What wouldn't I give for that hair..." she fingers her own purple locks discontentedly. "It's quite nice, actually...not a patch on Capitol hair, but it has potential..."
"When you're finished Lorena," the woman with the pink hair interrupts tartly, "maybe you'd like to start greasing her down?" she rolls her eyes at me and mouths Sorry about her!
"Alright Katerina," Lorena says, pouting, "I was just looking."
Katerina ignores her.
"Alright Marina, Vi will be in in a moment."
"Vi?" I ask nervously.
"Your stylist. Normally we have Gillian, but she's...er...a bit poorly right now, so her daughter, Violet agreed to step in."
"A bit poorly my foot!" Lorena says nastily, "Off her face you mean!" she sees me staring. "Drugs. Rehab."
"Oh." It seems like me and this Violet might have a bit more in common than I first thought. Except the only place my mum's looking to fix her problems is the bottom of another bottle.
"Okay sweetheart, we're going now." Katerina says, patting my cheek. "You'll look as sweet as a little pie by the time Vi's finished!"
She and Lorena turn and walk towards the doors. Just before the doors shut behind them, I hear Katerina say "What a dear little thing! Such a shame...". The doors slam shut. To them, I'm a pet to be put down. That's all I am to the Capitol. They already assume I'm going to die. But I'll show them.
The doors open again and a young woman comes through She's tall and is wearing a bright purple blouse with a black pencil skirt, black tights and high heeled black shoes, the spiky heels of which make tapping sounds on the floor as she walks towards me. She cannot be more than twenty six, her pale face is free of wrinkles and mostly free of make-up, which is unusual for someone from the Capitol, although she does have a thin black line of eyeliner around her dazzling purple eyes, and her lips are a deep pink. Her short silky black hair falls naturally on either side of her face, pulled back slightly at her forehead, revealing a widows peak.
"Hello Marina," she says in a surprisingly low, husky voice, "I'm Violet, your stylist.
"Hello." I say quietly.
"Okay, just give me a second." She walks around me, looking me up and down. Seeing as I'm stark naked, I naturally blush scarlet. Catching sight of my face, she grins.
"No need for that honey, it's just us girls here." She finishes looking and passes me a robe, before leading me to a small lounge, with plush purple velvet sofas, and an amazing full length window overlooking the city. I sit down gingerly on a sofa, and I'm immediately swamped. Violet presses a button, and the table between the sofas split in half and our food rises up. We're eating something called 'pasta' drenched in tomato and basil sauce, with chocolate gateau for dessert Violet explains. I've eaten half of my pasta before she speaks again.
"So, Marina. For your look. I've been talking to your mentor, and she tell's me you're going to play it cute."
I hastily swallow my mouthful of pasta to answer. "Yes. That's right."
"Okay. Well, she know her stuff. That's probably the best angle to go for."
Vi sighs, and gives me a searching look.
"Marina, I'm going to be honest with you. You're not any thing special, you're not going to stand out from the other contestants."
I nod. "I realise that." How could I, with that beautiful girl from District 1?
"I'm not saying you don't have potential. You've got beautiful eyes. The freckles need a bit of work though..." she frowns at that. "Yes, we'll need to get rid of them. But at least you're not covered in oozing pustules, or you don't have dandruff flaking off left right and centre..." she shudders delicately.
"Thanks for that." I say dryly.
"You're welcome." she says, giving me a sweet studies me. "Marina, the reason I'm telling you this is because it's the truth. I'm not saying you can't change. Our team is pretty good. By the time we've finished with you, you'll look unforgettable. Ethereal. We are going to make you look like a goddess. Any questions?"
I sigh and shake my head, before taking another mouthful of pasta. I wish they'd hurry up and shove me into the arena. At least then I won't have to be waxed anymore...
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I'll get writing the next one soon!
