A/N: Finally I've been able to update this one. I had major writer's block on it, but tonight, that finally went away! We're getting into the action in this chapter, the main reason I wanted to write this. There's a bit of a twist in there, but it's not a bad one (at least I don't think it is…) and I hope you love it as much as I do!
~Mock
Staring up at the ceiling, I try to block all thoughts from my head. For the couple of days, I've been trying to hide as much as possible. It hasn't been easy, with Kailyn, Qwynn, and Conner hanging over me like birds of prey. They have been having a field day finalizing my makeup and hair for the wedding.
I never thought my wedding would be like this. Getting married in the Capitol, with a bunch of people I barely know seeing that I look perfect, but most of all, marrying someone I absolutely detest. Isn't marriage supposed to be a bond of love? That's what I was always told it was. Kelsey and Paris' marriage was one of love. Why must I be cheated out of that experience?
But maybe it's for a reason. Nerissa has told me over and over to get Snow out of power. If I could do that, I might also have the power to stop the Hunger Games forever. I could restore the country into a system where not everyone starves all the time and the people have a say in their own lives. Then, maybe then, I'll find a husband of my own choosing.
Whatever the reason I'm here, I can only trust Nerissa and hope that it's for the best. Someone has to get him out of power, that's for sure. Am I up to the task? It seems fate decrees that I am.
I hear the door open with a loud bang and I'm quickly snapped out of my thoughts and sitting straight up in the bed. Kailyn is at the door for the umpteenth time today and quickly ushering me out.
"Come, come, we have one last fitting before the big day tomorrow," she trills as I scurry along to my prep room. Ah yes. The wedding is tomorrow. Leave it to my prep team to bring up a painful topic I had just managed to block from my mind.
In record time, I'm fitted into the dress, had the makeup applied, and my hair done up in a painfully high style. Just as the veil is being fitted over my head, Nerissa, Jenn, and Maple come into the room. They are all wearing identical dresses that have one shoulder, are light gold, long enough to reach the floor, and have a high waistline defined by a black sash. The makeup is minimal and their hair is left down to put the focus on me. Even though these girls are great people, I would still rather have Kelsey and Melina up near the altar with me. I can tell that I'm going to need their strength.
"Oh, this is going to be absolutely perfect!" Qwynn squeals as she steers us to a huge mirror that occupies most of one wall in the prep room. The skirt on my dress alone takes up most of the space, and it seems to have gotten even bigger from the first time I saw it. The dress is beautiful, but in no way can I see myself in it. Which is ironic, seeing as I'm looking at my reflection in this dress at the moment.
"Gorgeous," I manage to sputter out. My prep team all think that I'm still too astounded by good fortune to speak much, but everyone else knows the truth. They know how much I hate everything about this affair.
I'm gently taken out of the dress, and the prep team goes straight to work scrubbing my face free of makeup and releasing my hair from its captivating bonds. When I'm just a minute from being done, a Capitol attendant walks in brusquely.
"The President would like to see his bride-to-be," he says in a stiff, formal tone. I'm thrown into my regular clothes for that day, a plain red dress, and escorted outside. I feel like a dangerous prisoner that no one wants to escape.
I try to walk slowly, but my feet have unwillingly carried me to Snow's office door. Does the man ever come out of there? I glance at my escorts and they bow curtly and walk away around the corner. Giving myself three seconds to compose myself, I raise a shaking hand and knock on the door. A quiet "Enter," greets me, and I slip into the room.
Snow is busy writing something, and he doesn't look up at me for a minute or two. Tapping my foot lightly, I just wish he would get it over with. The sooner I can escape, the happier I'll be.
Finally, he puts his pen down and looks up. "Well, Rizwana, I do believe that you have quite a show to put on," he says while gesturing me to sit. Cautiously, I sit precariously on one of the chairs and say nothing.
"You will have certain duties to perform, and if you fail in these duties, I will kill you and your family. I have no qualms about this," he continues as if we're discussing nothing more interesting than the weather. But he can't do that! Kelsey's baby… nothing can hurt that little baby.
"You can't hurt my family! I don't care what you do to me, just keep them safe!" I say, barely managing not to start sobbing. Snow has his twisted smile on his face again, and I know I've just gotten myself into something I'm not going to like. But I'll do it. If it means keeping the ones I love safe, I will do anything.
"You would do good to keep in that mindset. I'm going to trust you won't do anything stupid, but rather help me for the good of the country." He gestures down to the paper he was writing on. "This is about District 13. They've gotten out of hand lately, and I'm afraid they must stop coming above the surface unless they want to risk destruction."
The words take a minute to hit me. But when they do, it's like I've been bombed. District 13? It's common knowledge it was blown off the map during the Dark Days. But secretly, it's been alive all this time?
"District 13 in still around? Living in secret?" I ask in a guarded voice, choosing my words carefully. It's vitally important for me to get every word right from this point on. Snow sighs and nods his head.
"The few inhabitants are living underground. It's a pitiful society and populated by only a few hundred. They said they'd play dead if we left them alone, and we agreed. It's much less messy that way. However recently, some people have been exploring over the land. If it doesn't stop, we will annihilate them."
"And why are you telling me this?" I ask, my words barely audible. He looks at me coldly.
"To see if you really mean what you said," he says. "If you truly care about keeping your family alive, you won't breathe a word of District 13's existence to anyone. Cameras are in every corner of this mansion. I will know whether or not you have kept your word." Suddenly, he goes back to writing and without looking up, he says, "You may go."
Running back to my room, I collapse on my bed. District 13 is still here. Do they oppose Snow? Maybe, with my new position, I could find a way to contact them. Start plans to dethrone Snow. Could this be the answer to why I'm here? Did Snow just give me my way out into my hands?
I don't think he suspects what he's done. I mean, to him I've appeared weak and terrified. But underneath my fear, I have a brain, and I do know how to use it. Already I'm formulating plans to contact District 13 and spread themselves to other districts. Start a rebellion against Snow.
Unfortunately, before my plans can come into complete clarity, my family, Nerissa, Jenn and Maple file into the room. The words almost tumble from my mouth, but I remember Snow's warning. I have no doubt that he wasn't lying when he said the rooms and all conversations were being recorded.
Quickly, I envelope Kelsey into my arms. She's shaking with silent tears, and then reality hits me. This is my last night being Rizwana Marquette. Tomorrow, I shall be known as Rizwana Snow. The news of District 13 had made me forget temporarily about the upcoming wedding.
For seemingly the hundredth time, I'm passed into everyone's arms, but it finally feels like we're saying goodbye. It's likely that I'll never see any of them again after tomorrow, only short visits. I'm being pulled away from their world into a dark horror masked with bright lights and glamour. Thank goodness it fools no one in the room.
We don't need to talk. Words of sorrow fly unspoken throughout the room. Our tears speak in place of weary words.
With nothing else to do, we all go prepare for bed at an unspoken agreement. Brushing away the last of our tears, each one of us don the silk pajamas the Capitol sees fit to give us. The room only has bedding enough for myself, Nerissa, Jenn, and Maple, so my family has to go back to their quarters. They all hug me again, with Melina being the last to do so.
"You will destroy him," she whispers so quietly that not even the most acute cameras could pick up her voice. She pulls away slightly and then in a normal tone she adds. "You understand me? You'll make me proud," and then she leaves. Melina was extremely strategic. We could've been discussing a number of topics that aren't tabooed with her last words.
While sleep comes easily to the other girls, it eludes me. I keep thinking of the other District, the one that I feel will help me. I'm no confident about many things, but when I feel strongly about a certain outcome, that's what tends to happen. I can feel in my soul that District 13 would be only too willing to help my cause.
And I know, that even though I'll be going to my doom tomorrow, I'll be able to rid Panem of a monster known as Snow. I will do this.
Smiling slightly, I turn over and I am unconscious in an instant, plans of District 13 bubbling in my mind.
A/N: How was that for y'all! What do you think Rizwana will do with this new news? Will they be willing to help her! Only time shall tell!
I've been doing a much better job updating lately, but if I disappear off the face of the Earth for a while, it's because I'm focusing on my original novel. I HAVE NOT STOPPED FANFICTION! The novel is coming alone quite nicely and I've been working hard on it. But I will never stop FanFiction.
'Til the next time my updates come around to this story… But in the meantime, the review button down there is just dying to be pushed. You should put it out of its misery *wink wink nudge nudge*.
~Mock
