The 83rd Hunger Games: District 4; Chapter 7

I'm back from vacation! And just something for you about this chapter: I have rewritten it like 4 times. I think this is the best version though. In the first version I had Elyce and another character (not saying if it's Lane or Zack) finally like get together but then I reread it and said no this sucks! So I'm waiting till the Games start for Elyce to actually kiss one of them and stuff. Just so you know this chapter does have a bit of language in it but that's why it's rated T. That and violence. Okay I'll let you read now.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games that is Suzanne Collins. Just Elyce's story came from my mind.

Oh and just in case you forgot I update every Tuesday and Friday.

Chapter 7

I walk with Tala and Finnick to a room that I haven't noticed before. "Here," says Tala, handing me a pair of insanely high heeled shoes.

"How tall are those?" I ask in disbelief. Could anyone ever possibly walk in those without seriously injuring themselves? I hope they don't expect me to actually wear them.

"6 inches," says Tala simply. She giggles at my expression of shock. "I wear them all the time. Try them on." I tug on the black heels and stand up. Amazingly I'm able to stand straight without falling over.

"Good," says Tala. "Now walk." I take 2 wobbly steps forward then strut confidently across the room. Yeah here's my little secret: Chase made sure we could walk in heels since we were 7.

"Nice," approves Finnick. I beam on the inside; finally I did something right.

"Lighter footsteps," says Tala. "Smile! Smile, smile, smile, that's the most important thing! No, no, not like that! Yes that's better. Now wave, blow kisses; like they're your best friends!" This is what I hear for the next 2 and a half hours. Along with how to sit perfectly and tons of other junk that might help tomorrow but will do nothing for me in the arena. Finally Tala leaves and Finnick takes over.

"Show me flirty," Finnick commands.

"Hiiiiii," I say, smiling and waving my fingers at the imaginary crowd.

"Now slightly viscous."

"Hello," I say, my face serious and my chin tilted up a bit.

"The flirty act's better. Combine them both, add witty and answer these sample questions. So you're a volunteer tribute. Why did you volunteer?"

"Well my friend Sainya was reaped and she can't go into the Games so I guess I volunteered to save her," I say honestly.

"Wrong!" says Finnick. "You're a Career! If you say something like that it will ruin the entire angle we've been working on."

"But it's the truth!" I protest.

"The truth won't help you! You are a vicious, bloodthirsty Career! Not a savior of the weak! You volunteered because you're a Career and you've been waiting your whole life to be in the Games." 2 more hours later and we're both screaming at each other because I apparently can't pull off flirty/witty/viscous.

"I'm done!" I yell, standing up, kicking off those damn heels and stalking out the door barefoot. Finnick doesn't bother following me. I grab an apple off the table and walk to the elevator, munching it angrily.

The doors open and I step in, punching the roof button. I arrive at the top and see it's raining now, pouring actually. I throw my apple core at the force field and it bounces back to the ground with a big black burned spot on it. It sizzles and smokes from the rain. I leave it there and storm over to the bench where I slept before. The ivy canopy provides an umbrella from the rain but it doesn't matter because I'm already soaking wet. Then I notice something, the ivy mat sinks down in the center, almost like it's holding something.

Curiously, I get up and stand on tiptoe to try to see what's up there. Damn, even with my rather tall height I'm too short. This is one time I wish I had those stupid heels. I walk back to the bench and push it over to the perimeter of the ivy cover. The bench is really heavy. Or maybe I'm just getting weaker because I'm not eating as much.

I stand up on it but I can't see anything because of the storm clouds covering the sun. As if on cue, lighting flashes through the darkness, illuminating a small black book. For a brief second I wonder if it's safe to be outside in an electric force field during a storm, but I quickly brush that worry away, deciding I don't care. I reach my arm over the ivy and snatch the wet book. I hop down from the bench and push it back to its regular spot.

After trying to brush the water off the bench, but to no avail, I sit down with a funny sounding wet squelch. I open the book up to the first page and start reading.

My name is Maysilee. I'm from District 12 and I'm dreading my participation in the 50th annual Hunger Games. It's also the 2nd Quarter Quell, an excuse for the Capitol to make it even more terrible. This Quarter Quell they chose twice as many tributes. So many disturbing, sick, despicable, disgusting people in this horrible, twisted, messed up world. Doesn't it sound like I love Panem? Yeah, right.

Anyway, I was bored out of my mind so I asked an Avox for this because I like writing. You must be another tribute. Maybe you're a Career. In that case congratulations. If you're a regular tribute then sorry. Maybe I'll see you in heaven or something because for real, what are the chances we'd actually win?

One of my District partners is named Haymitch. He's good looking and keeps to himself mostly. We all do because what's the point of acting all friendly if we're just going to die in a few days anyway? I haven't really bothered with the other 2 tributes from my District. All 4 of us are under 1 mentor. It's crazy.

I miss my friends back home. I miss everything about District 12 because no matter what it will always be better than this idiotic Capitol.

I used to wonder about my future. Now I know all it holds is pain, suffering and death. All I wonder at the moment is how long I've got left.

Oh well no, I also wonder about what kind of hell the arena will contain this year, the interviews tomorrow, everyone back home and a few other things.

Looks like I better go; Haymitch is calling, I wonder why. Maybe he found an escape out of here. I wish. So I'll leave this up here on the roof for whoever finds it. Good luck in your Games.

Love, Maysilee of the 12th District

I flip to the next page and see another entry.

I'm Glimmer. Yes, it's a dumb name, I know. But I'm from District 1 and there it's a pretty name. I'm in the 74th Hunger Games. I read that Maysilee girls' entry and I must say I'm surprised that no one has found this in like 24 years.

So yeah, I'm a Career. I can use weapons but no, no, no, Gloss and Cashmere want me to use my looks. Ugh, how stupid. Why can't I act like that Clove girl from District 2? She gets to be arrogant and sadistic and all like knife-y or whatever. You know what I mean; she gets to act like a Career. Lucky bitch.

Then there's Marvel from my District and Cato from 2. I wouldn't really bother with them but Cashmere said I have to flirt with them. At the 'Career Meetings' I just sit by myself and sneak out if I don't get caught.

I don't really write in diaries if you couldn't already tell.

I know I have a better chance at winning the Games than most people because I've trained practically my whole life, but if it were, say, Cato and I in the end I'd be dead in a heartbeat. Make that my last heartbeat.

The Gamemakers took away my District token. It was a ring and apparently when you twist the gemstone on the top a poison spike pops out. I didn't know it was there. My mother gave me the ring. Thanks a lot mom. But my stylist promised she'd make me a new one.

I can't say I hate the aspect of going into the Hunger Games in a few days. But I certainly don't love the fact that imminent death is so close. And that there's a 1 in 24 chance that I'll actually make it out alive.

Maybe if I die I'll see Maysilee or you in heaven, because if you didn't already figure it out, Maysilee died. I'll tell her that I found the book. And maybe we'll watch you write in it if that's possible.

I don't really have anything else to write about. So I guess I'll just be putting this back where I found it…

Love, Glimmer of the 1st District

I turn the page again but it's blank. The whole rest of the book is empty. I pull a pen out from the spiral binding. Well I've got nothing better to do…

District 4 is my home. It's a Career District. And contrary to what many people in the outer Districts think, not all the people there are Careers. An example: my friend Sainya. Another example: me, Elyce. I'm in the 83rd Hunger Games so it's been 9 years since someone found this. Just so you know, Maysilee and Glimmer did not win. They both died from Capitol engineered mutts. Some freaky bird thing that speared her neck with its beak killed Maysilee and Tracker Jackers killed Glimmer. But that Haymitch guy Maysilee mentioned did win.

So back to my Career status, I'm technically not a Career even though I did volunteer. My mentor, Finnick, told me to act like one and flirt my way into the pack. So yes I have to be flirty like Glimmer. I volunteered because Sainya got picked. No, she's not my best friend but I know she can't go into the Games because she has little siblings to care for. And she would be killed because like I said before, Sainya's not a Career.

I'm hiding up here from my mentor because we're pissed at each other. He gave me some impossible angle for my interview. So I ran up here and just flopped down on a bench and I noticed a sink in the ivy canopy. That's how I found this book. And sorry that it has water stains, it's raining out and I'm drenched.

Yesterday was the first time I came up to the roof because I was bored and didn't know what to do after my individual training session. I fell asleep and when I woke up, Zack, the boy from District 1 was by me and he braided my hair and put blue roses in it. It was nice.

No, no, I'm not in love with him. But we flirt a lot…well that's what Finnick told me to do anyway. And I did get into the Career pack in case you're wondering. I don't know if Zack's only using me to get sponsors for the Games or if it's something more…I just don't know much of anything now.

I don't really want to write about what I think about the Hunger Games because, well, what's the point of worrying? It won't help at all and I don't need nightmares to keep me up at night. Plus also Maysilee and Glimmer pretty much covered all the stuff about the Games.

Here's my final thing because as you can see I've been all over the place with this; please write in this book whoever is reading this. It will probably help the future tributes after you to know that other tributes felt the same way. I mean look at this: we've got an outer District tribute from a Quarter Quell, a Career, and a girl pretending to be a Career. That's like a lot of scenarios. We just don't have a normal tribute. Maybe that's you. In that case write! I'm sure Maysilee and Glimmer are watching me from wherever they are. Maybe I'll be watching you write. Bye.

Love, Elyce of the 4th District

I close the book, stuff the pen back into the binding and throw it over the ivy. A clunk sounds as it lands. Knowing I can't hide up here forever, I stand with a sigh and walk to the elevator. Well it stopped raining and I'm a little drier. I'm not sure what I'm going to say to Finnick; most likely dinner will be eaten in an uncomfortable silence tonight.

When I exit the elevator I see Blake sitting at the table. "Hello Elyce," he says.

"Hi Blake," I reply, a bit confused. "Why are you here? I thought you we're giving me my interview dress tomorrow."

"Well Finnick told me that your interview practice didn't go very smoothly. He wanted me to see if I could help."

"Smoothly? It was a freaking disaster!" I say, taking a seat across from him.

Blake laughs. "I have something for you too." He ducks under the table and pops up a second later with a pair of 5-inch high heels. But they aren't just any shoes. They're made of some clear, glass-like material and completely filled with gold sparkles and water.

"Cool," I breathe out.

"Remember how I promised you that your interview shoes would be spectacular because we forgot shoes for your chariot ride? Well here they are."

"They're amazing."

"You haven't seen anything yet," says Blake. He takes one of the shoes and turns it over. There's a little blue button on the bottom of the heel.

"What does that do?" I ask. In answer Blake puts the shoes back down, pressing the button and gold glittery bubbles erupt in the water. "That's so sweet!"

Blake gives a soft laugh. "Do you know who Cinderella is?"

"No," I say, shaking my head.

"Well she's a princess in a fairytale from before Panem. And Cinderella had a fairy godmother that gave her a beautiful dress and glass slippers."

"Oh I get it, these are like a twist on her shoes. And you're kind of like my fairy godmother."

Blake grins. "Exactly. Now try them on and show me how you plan to walk onstage." I take the shoes off the table, kick off my sliver flats and slip the heels on. I stand up and walk quickly to the other side of the room.

"Please welcome Elyce Annya of District 4!" says Blake, sounding like Caesar Flickerman.

I plaster a perfect smile on my face and strut forward, waving and blowing kisses like before. My heels are bubbling and sparkling like dazzling underwater stars or something. I sit down in a chair, being sure to cross my ankles lightly with my back straight.

"Good," says Blake. He asks me tons of sample questions. It's easier to act my angle and answer the questions with Blake because around Finnick I always feel hostile and angry. When I finish the last question I hear slow clapping behind me. I whirl around and see Finnick with a smirk on his face.

"I was wrong, maybe you can pull it off," he says, walking over to take a seat for dinner, which Avoxes are placing on the table.

"Thanks," I say. "And sorry about earlier."

Finnick waves away my apology. "Ah, we both acted like assholes."

I laugh at the truth. Lane, Annie and Tala walk in the room next. Tala squeals loudly. "Oh my goodness Elyce!" she squeaks.

"What?" I ask.

"Where did you get those shoes? I absolutely need a pair!"

I laugh and smile at Blake. "Blake made them for my interview tomorrow. Watch this," I say. I stand up and walk across the room to show off the cool bubble effect. Everyone cheers and I take a giggle filled bow.

"Blake you need to make those shoes for me! They'll be the height of fashion these Games!" says Tala.

"Better yet Tala, I'll make the water pink and add some fake fish," Blake says with a grin.

"Oh thank you!" Tala runs over and gives him a hug. The rest of dinner is quite fun. There are lots of smiles, laughs, and funny conversations. We stay up late into the night until Tala tells Lane and I to go to bed so we'll be rested for the interviews tomorrow. Blake takes my shoes and says he'll give them back tomorrow.

I walk to the end of the hallway with Lane. "Tonight was fun," he says with a smile.

"Yeah," I say, returning the smile. "Well goodnight Lane."

Suddenly he reaches out and hugs me. Slowly I bring my arms up to his neck. We stay like this for a few seconds and I'm beginning to get suspicious. "Goodnight Elyce," he says, pulling away.

We go in our separate rooms and I undress and climb into bed like every other night. I probably fell asleep with a smile on my face. If only every night could be like this. Damn those Games…

Wow this was a long chapter, my longest actually. And I confused you didn't I? You thought she was gonna be with Zack. Well maybe she is…or maybe she isn't. What do you think? Just wait for the end of the next chapter; it will mess you up so much you won't have any idea if Elyce will be with Lane or Zack. Also I want to give a shout out to those who have reviewed. It means a lot so thanks; I appreciate it. And more reviews are always welcome. So love Alice (a.k.a Glimmer).