There's one person left to go, and then it's my turn to be interviewed. It's our last night, so tonight is interview night. My stylist, Maud, has put me in a cream colored dress, that's tight at my chest and stomach, and poof's out at my hips, like a tutu almost, and is sparkly. My hair is curled into loose blond ringlets, glitter has also been sprinkled into my hair, and I have a tiara on my head. I kind of look like a fairy.
My eye's literally pop, black eyeliner surround them, made to look like I have wings, and dark purple eye shadow. My lips are a soft pink, looking slightly pouty. I guess he wanted me to go for a girly effect, but I don't think I'll be able to pull that off.
Shay told me before I left he'd be somewhere in the crowd. I didn't realize the trainers had so much, er, freedom, I guess, but it's nice to know I'll have at least one person rooting for me.
Curtis DeFinkle, the tribute being interviewed, finishes up, and I'm being pushed forward. I stumble a bit in my also creamy colored high heels, take a deep breath, and walk out. The lights stun me for a moment, and I blink rapidly, before I see the host of the show, Chevre. She has got to be the most annoying person I have ever been forced to lay my eyes on. She has this weird, bright rainbow colored hair, starting bright pink at the top, to going to dark blue, electric blue, vomit green, fire truck red, a horrible neon yellow, and ending at bright pink again, and it's all different lengths. Her eyes have been altered to this creepy gold with fake eyelashes that are longer than anything I've ever seen, and I swear she never blinks. I also swear she's had surgery so she has this creepy permanent smile on her face. Her lips are like giant caterpillars on her face. I sit down on the dark blue chairs, which have just switched color for the Ravenclaws. She looks at me, her pupils scarily large, and begins to talk. Her voice gives me a headache from when I had to watch her, now I feel like I may as well just bash my head into the floor.
"Piper! What an adorable name, for an adorable little girl." I'm sixteen you twat. "How's this wonderful experience been treating you? I'm sure all this new, wonderful stuff is such a surprise too you." Wonderful? Is something wrong with her? Well, I guess that one's a little obvious. I want to say something snarky, but I am trying to get sponsors… I try to ignore the crowd, telling myself they're not there so I'm not as nervous about them.
I just shrug, keeping my face smooth. "It's okay. Definitely not what I was expecting." She laughs at this, a weird gurgling sound that sounds like she's trying to cough and stick her finger down her throat at the same time.
"How do you think you'll do in the games? You're very small." I didn't realize it was possible, but her smile grows larger slightly, and she tilts her head. I pursue my lips. I'm not that short!
"Size doesn't matter." She seems taken aback at my cold tone. I guess that's the angle I'm going for, a cold, heartless tribute. Not much off of my actually personality though. And tributes acting like this tend to get a lot of sponsors. Hopefully it'll work for me.
"Well, I guess that's true!" Her voice gets all shrilly and high, and my headache grows. Why can't they get a normal person to do this? Why can't someone like Shay do this? I search the crowd for him, but there are too many people and I can't spot him. "Do you have anyone at home watching you? Someone you had to leave behind? A boyfriend?" She winks. "Don't be shy dear."
I want to just throw up on her. "No, I do not have a boyfriend." I reply coldly. "But I do have someone I'm hoping to see after this…"
Draco. I'm praying to god that if I win with I'll be able to find him somehow. I'm hoping he's still alive. And if not, The Order is my next choice.
"Really!?" She literally latches on to my reply, grabbing my arm. "Who could this... special person be?" Ugh, could she be any more revolting?
"An old friend of mine." I don't want to actually say his name, because he did get forcefully taken by a bunch of death eaters. I think she senses my hesitation at saying more about this, because she backs off and changes the subject.
"What will you be bringing into the arena? Something we can look forward too?" I guess I should probably say something, too interest sponsors.
"I'm very smart." I look into the crowd, hoping for someone to find me half interesting. "One of the smartest people in my years." Smartness is always a favorite; sometimes people find tributes tricking other tributes, or just plain cleverness entertaining. I don't want to say too much about my skills, in case I become a main target at the blood bath. The crowd cheers, clapping.
I look out at the crowd again, mostly searching for Shay, but also because I'm stunned at their enthusiasm. How the hell can they be so excited, when there's a chance this is the last time they'll see me live?
I search frantically for Shay, hoping he can help me get through this interview. I feel silly wanting his attention, but I can't help myself. I still can't find him, so I turn back to Chevre.
"I would've never guessed you were smart!" I glare at her. What a complete idiot. "We learn a new thing every day, don't we folks?" The crowd shouts in agreement. When is this stupid interview going to be over?
"You wouldn't guess a lot of things about me." I raise my eyebrows, trying to add a mysterious tone to my voice. It sort of works, I guess, because she pretends to grab her heart.
"My! You're really something!"
And you're really annoying.
"Piper, I have one last question for you." Thank you god. She shifts closer to me, grasping both of my hands in hers. "When the time comes, are you prepared to kill?"
I don't even hesitate with my answer. "Yes."
She shakes my hand and helps me stand up. "Ladies and gentlemen, our first Ravenclaw tribute, Piper McCartney!" Her face is right next to my ear and now I think I've gone deaf in it. "Thank you for your time Piper, and may the odds be ever in your favor!" She grabs both my hands and kisses me on both my cheeks, before showing me where to step off at. I hurry off, wanting to finish this interview as soon as possible. I hadn't been that nervous, probably because I tried to pretend no one was there. It worked, but only because I focused on Chevre's hair.
I pay little attention to the last interviews. Isla is a complete wreck, stuttering so much it's almost impossible to understand what she's saying, and Michael is radiating confidence, smiling and actually blowing kisses to people in the crowd. He is attractive, so people eat him up. Did I just call him attractive? Oops. I cross my arms, and shift my weight, feeling exhausted. As I wait for Michael's interview to finish, Kelly and Kyle saunter over to me. I stare at them, my eyebrows rising slightly.
"Can I help you?" I ask, trying to sound bored. They smirk. "You're smart. Don't you know what we want then?"
I give them a "are you freaking kidding me look."
"No. So hurry up and tell me what you want, quit wasting my time."
Their smirks falter a bit, but they come right back up. "We've seen you in training. We think you could be useful to us." Kelly says, and Kyle finishes her sentence. "We want you to make an alliance with us."
I struggle to keep the surprise off my face. An alliance? With them? Ravenclaws and Slytherins have never made an alliance before. I'm already teamed up with Michael and Isla, and I'm pretty sure teaming up with them would result in being killed in my sleep.
I don't want to make myself enemies with them though. I'm guessing saying no will make them go out of their way to kill me.
"Maybe." I reply. "We'll see how the blood bath plays out." There. Not no, but not yes. I think they like my response, because their smiles grow bigger.
"You are smart." Kelly pinches my cheeks. What is with people and touching my cheeks? I slap her hand away. "And feisty! I like you. See you later, Pip." She winks at me and her and her brother leave me. I watch them go, and they literally strut away.
There's no way in hell I'm joining them. Great, this means I'll have to avoid them at the bloodbath as much as possible. I feel like they won't try to attack me until they're completely sure about me not aligning with them. I hear the buzzer that signals the end of the interviews. We're shuffled into our elevators that take us back to our rooms. I'm shoved into mine, and hear the door lock behind me.
This is it. My last sleep where I won't worry about being murdered. I sink onto the bed, still in my dress. Now, I wish that everything hadn't moved so fast. Will I ever see Molly again? Draco? Shay? The rest of the kids at the orphanage? I move into the bathroom, looking at myself in the reflection of the mirror. Will I ever see my face again? I want to take another bath, just because it's been my routine for the week.
Stripping out of my ridicules outfit, I jump into the once again burning hot water. I scrub off the stupid makeup. I wish I had someone here to comfort me. I push the thought away quickly. No one can help me. I need to stop relying on people. Fighting back tears, I take deep breaths. I feel so weak. All I've been doing lately is crying, or trying not to cry. I actually slap myself, trying to stop the flow of tears. Nodding slightly, I rock back and forth. Already the effects of the games are taking toll, making me feel crazy.
I feel soft sheets underneath me and realize I'm in bed. I don't know how I got there, because I don't remember getting out of the bath. It doesn't really matter. I stare at the ceiling, knowing I won't be able to sleep.
I start too count sheep to try and help me fall asleep, but I keep losing count. My mind keeps wandering, images of dead tributes flashing across my mind. There's Isla, small, a giant knife through her stomach. Michael, still smiling, his head decapitated. I shudder, opening my eyes again. Every time I close them, all I see is death.
I know the games have already started. And I know I'll never be allowed to leave them.
I'm sorry if this is a little rushed, but I'm trying to hurry it up for the games. Thank you for all your comments! It means a lot. So the next chapter is the games! Is everyone excited? :3 I myself can't wait too start writing it!
