OKAY I SO DESERVE VIRTUAL SLAPS
LIKE NOW
AND CRITIQUES
THIS IS ONE OF MY BETTER CHAPTERS, BUT STILL, YOU GUYS DON'T DESERVE THIS.
CHAPTER 10 IS GOING TO BE OUT VERY VERY VERY SOON.
SO BEAR WITH ME
AND THANK isabugg FOR EDITING THIS. WITHOUT HER EDITS THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN HORRENDOUS (see what I mean?)
9
Two seconds.
That's around the amount of time of silence for everyone to perceive what's going on. Then, the audience screams and squeals earsplittingly, some flailing their arms, a few even faint. While they go berserk, the pieces of the puzzle all fit together. Why he volunteered, the rooftop, making sure I was alright, why he was jealous at Sirix. He, for all that time, was hiding that he was in love with me. He loves me. He loves me. It takes a while for this to sink in. I don't know if I can even believe all of this.
His lips are surprisingly warm and somewhat sweet. My eyes are wide while his are shut tightly, his charcoal colored hair eclipsing his eyes. A sense of urgency vibes through the kiss as he seems to lean in. Confusion and surprise on my part dulls the passion I think he was hoping for. He pulls out, and we stare at each other. As I study his features, I see sorrow painted all over as he barely murmurs an apology.
When he walks back, I can see Caesar, who is utterly astonished. He throws himself onto the throne like it's a torture device. Caesar asks, "Did she know?"
"Uh...I don't think so." he answers as a blush etches his face deep red. Retaining an bored expression, he adds a, "I think she was pretty ignorant when it came to my feelings." and the cameras eat up my face instantly. My face flushes, and so I look elsewhere, desperately wanting to run away from the City Circle to somewhere I'll be safe. My muscles grow stiff, and adrenaline runs through my body. Feeling a bit queasy, I blurrily try to sense what is going on.
The next person that invades my thoughts is Sirix. I look at him and my lead-gray eyes find his ocean blue irises only to find that those eyes flit away and stare intensely at the ground. He seems to fidget in his seat. Is it an illusion? Or are his gold accents much duller than they were?
The wails from the audience are so deafening that Caesar is unable to calm them down. It's almost comical how little the buzzer does to shut them up. Only the anthem blasted at full volume can make them remember what we are and who they are in this world. As the tributes rise, I study the floor, as if it was the most interesting piece of art in the world. I admire the orange and marroon swirls in the marble-like surface.
Tsubasa is smart enough to not entwine his hand in mine because I see the other tribute's icy stares at us.
After saying his goodnights, Caesar dismisses us tributes and reminds the Capitolites to tune into the Games tomorrow morning. We file into the elevators swiftly, and I don't bother to look at the other tribute in the elevator with me. But, I find a familiar hand, with it's scars and calluses reaching for the 12 button. Suddenly, I'm unable to stop eyeing him.
Tsubasa attempts an apology."I'm…sorry. If you don't feel the same way it's alright with-"
I stop his words immediately with my own mouth, as I kiss him. I need him. It's no use hiding it any longer, because in the arena we could be dead at any moment. But I don't want to lose him. After a moment of being startled by my actions, he relaxes. A spark in my chest makes my empty hands run through his hair, which has a comforting feel unlike every other thing in this hellish, over-the-top Capitol. He rests one of his palms on my back, near my waist, and uses the other to caress my face in such a way that a jittery feeling runs up my spine. Only my pulse, echoing through my ears, makes noise. All seems perfect, so perfect I don't want to lose it.
A high pitched squeal from Effie is all it takes for us to flinch and stare at her awkwardly as, besides our mouths being apart, my hands are still in his hair and his arms are still locked around me. We split apart somewhat slowly, because there's a mutual feeling of 'Effie sort of ruined the moment'.
"Oh! You two!" she starts blabbering about how cute we are and how 'we should keep this angle up'. Keep this angle up?
His hand, strong and warm, takes my frigid ones."Sorry to burst your bubble Effie, but it's not an angle." A sheepish grin appears on his face and...
BAM! Suddenly I see Sirix, beaming the same way. "Well, if my work is that good, how about we work together?" is the dialogue that goes with that boy. A somewhat disturbed expression must have run on my face, for I am stared at like a mentally insane human. I brush his name away from my thoughts and pretend I was trying to kill a fly.
If only that remark before would make Effie up. But no, she only prattles more and more, so when Haymitch calls us over by him, I consider it a miracle and scurry over.
"I thought it would be unfair not to tell you, but I intended this all along. It was a trap, per say, and you fell right into it." He slightly smirks.
"Wait a second-the whole 'we're death enemies' angle was fake? Just a part of your master plan?" I say.
"Yeah. Hell, that was the core of it." He replies.
"Well...damn. You sure outsmarted me." Tsubasa laughs a little. "When did you realize that the plan would work?"
"Oh, no, I knew the minute you volunteered you had more than just 'friendship' feelings for her." Haymitch says.
"This is getting sappy; I'm going to eat." I groan and stomp off to the rhythm of Haymitch's laughter.
Cinna is to my right as always, but somehow, everything seems different at the dinner table, as awkwardness takes over. But somehow we all start talking about the other tributes' interviews. First and foremost, Haymitch tells us he got a good chuckle out of Copper's interview because of how illogical he was; he wants to team up with the Careers but yet he wants them dead, and he announces that in front of them. "See how long he'll survive," he slyly smiles, as a bowl of broth is set in front of him.
Effie then mentions Mayu, and murmurs about how she's met her mother, and she "never deserved this." Yeah Effie. I doubt you actually will care once the blood is spilled.
Portia then gushes about her favorite. "Oh, that girl, Lindsey, from District 7, she was so much fun to listen to. I mean, I wanted to get as wound up as her! She seemed to act like the Games would be a party." she says with some laughter.
Cinna adds, "Don't forget Sirix from District 6. He was so relaxed, it was almost like him and Caesar were longtime friends! I couldn't stop laughing when he made fun of Caesar's numerous hair colors. I tell you...the man has serious...issues..."
Us tributes flinch, as we sort of forgot that we never mentioned Sirix to everyone here, so I hold my tounge and just nod with a polite grin.
Haymitch has obviously watched tons of interviews, so it's no surprise he blurts out, "An interesting, nice looking tribute from District 6. Man, is that a change from the usual."
"He is actually very interesting. We did training with him, and he seems like a good ally." Tsubasa slips up.
"What the...?" Is the mutual response of the rest of the table.
"Well, I guess District 6 and us will be good friends this year. Morphlings, yay." Haymitch grumbles and he slams his liquor bottle onto the table, spilling all over. He yells for an avox, but I rush nervously to clean it up and I throw the bottle away.
That does little, since everyone is given wine by the servers before a delectable dessert tray comes before us. I don't drink any of it, since I don't entirely trust that someone like Effie hasn't ordered this so we'll get slightly drunk and spill all our information. In fact, when the redheaded Avox girl comes over, I give it back to her surreptitiously while chatter takes over. Trying to get Tsubasa's is much harder, especially because he's actually drinking it.
Officially, I'm convinced Haymitch did this, because he asks, "Rin, were you in on this...alliance?"
Fiddling under my seat, I start by saying "Yeah..." but I'm interrupted by my fellow tribute, who must be intoxicated somewhat.
"Are you kidding?" He snorts. "The guy practically confessed his love to her during training. He held her all close and showed her archery techniques and stuff. But he was all apologetic afterwards. Then he probably was planning a makeout session for after the interviews that I destroyed."
An evil smile is apparent on Haymitch's face as he responds, "Oh? That's interesting..."
Suddenly, anger boils up inside of me. It's almost like a fire, left untamed. Rapidly, it goes from a small flame into a blaze, as I screech, "YEAH! And I also threw a sword at Copper because he was pissing me off with his superiority complex he was growing that he used on YOU Tsubasa! And I did a lot of other crazy shit during training," Now I sound more like pleading. "I'm telling you, Sirix just wanted to help!"
I then find my body being dragged by myself, escaping to the garden on the roof. Tsubasa tries to follow but I close the elevator doors before he can get in. Cold fury is expressed on my face as I watch him lay his hands on the glass that separated, hurt darkening his appearance, his hair all over and his tie still electrifying as I zoom up.
Curling up in a ball, I barely notice the drone of the elevator as it approaches the top. When the doors open at the top, I have to think hard about getting up and out of this elevator. After a few seconds, the doors try to close, so I jump out. I know exactly where the next stop on that elevator will be. I have no want or need to back there.
Slumping over to the bench, an unexpected soul is laying on the reinforcement, elbows sticking out as his hands hold up his head. Looking up at the sky, his legs go to the end of the long bench and the armrest is his footstool. His tie is looser and he's unbuttoned the first two buttons on his shirt. Stepping on something, I notice it's his shoes have been kicked off and he's barefoot. Now that he's in front of me, I notice he has some sort of gold makeup on that somehow works with his slightly tan skin. The gold accents that were on his jacket have dulled, and by the looks of it, so has his pride.
I stand, paralyzed, as our eyes are locked on each other. Lost, my lips feel like they're coated in sawdust as I struggle to find what to say. Surprised, he almost falls out of the bench trying to sit up straight.
"Well." Sirix croaks. "Funny seeing you here." He gets up, and stands up straight in front of me.
"This is for not telling me he was in love with you." He slaps me, hard on the face. It burns at first and then simmers down to a tingle. I say nothing.
"This is for ignoring me onstage." He slaps me again, harder, and when his hand comes in contact with my other cheek, the pain is hard and cold. Feeling tears welling up in my eyes, I stare at his chest.
"This is for angering me beyond control." Again, he slaps me, and the pain is blinding. All I feel is my flesh on fire.
"And finally, this." He tilts my head up and kisses me. While I am a bit shocked, I'm somewhat comforted in a way, so I push forwards. Laying his hands carefully on my face, the pain in my face dulls. His lips are smooth and gentle, and he acts as though I'll shatter into a million pieces if he pushes any more. A tear falls down both mine and his cheek, as we know this is so wrong in too many ways and if anyone found us, we'd be dead. Stroking his cheek to wipe his tear away, we both feel the fear of tomorrow together, but a wave of strength overcomes as he takes my hand off his face and clutches it tightly, with it, the life of each of us. I trace his arm with my finger tips, feeling the warmth of his skin on my icy hands.
"What was that for?" I ask.
"That was to show that I love you." He chokes out.
It's one of those confessions where you have no idea how to react. I feel my face go hot. " Why?" I throw my head into my hands. "You are so...perfect. Why does it seem so wrong if I can't decide?"
He just reminds me, "you don't have to."
"Eventually I have to! And don't forget I probably will not be coming back after this!" Yelling, I realize I'm hysterical. "I hate how I'm almost required to cause problems for people. Why can't I just keep a low profile for once?"
Brushing his lips to my forehead, he assures me, "I am just happy to have met you before death."
I stifle a sob, and manage a croaking noise instead. I can't imagine him dead, gone, forever. "I can't bear to live with you dead..." I bury my face in his shoulder.
But then I remember Tsubasa, so determined to make me a victor that he came to the games with me.
These two boys...while they may be very different, I see similarities between them. Of course I can't decide. They are both amazing.
When something glimmers in the sky, both our faces crank upwards.
"The stars!" He'e been following my eyes, and now the same facial expression I had as a child looking at the stars is on his face. Such genuine joy, the same joy I wish I coule have. "I love the stars."
I smile. I'm so hopelessly happy that I don't know what to do. "I love the stars too." I reply, as I cock my head up to admire the beauty.
A few minutes of this is all it seems we're allowed before I hear the familiar sound of high heels clicking. Effie! "Run!" I whisper. "If she finds me with you..."
I don't need to say anything more. He sneaks out and back to the elevator, and Effie comes to guide me back to floor twelve for our goodbyes to Haymitch and her.
Back on District 12's fine floor, we get a minute, since Haymitch spilled something and is attempting to clean it.
"How was your make out session with Sirix?" Tsubasa hisses.
The sensation of falling is what I feel now. So much so that I sit by a trashcan for a few minutes in case I vomit.
"What the hell are you talking abou...ou...oh cra-" I attempt to ask him, but I throw up midsentence from all the stress of today. I ignore the bile on my mouth and finish, "What the hell are you talking about?"
He hands me a napkin, so I wipe my lips. "Oh, I just figured, since you were all pissed at my stupidity of getting drunk and telling them." He has his hand on his face, covering his left eye. "I'm sorry, okay? Really. Please," He looks more disturbed. "I can't lose my only happiness now."
Crumpling the piece of paper in his hand, I feel helpless. While I have strong feelings for Tsubasa, I can't stop thinking about Sirix. What am I supposed to do?
Goodbyes are short and sweet. Effie mentions how she was "so proud to see me blossom into a fine woman". She adds how she might get a "decent" district next year.
My conversation with Haymitch is different. "What was her name?" I ask, searching for information on his dead love.
A pained expression overcomes his face as he answers, "Maysilee Donner."
Maysilee Donner! That was the original owner of the pin Madge gave me. I stroke the area where my mockingjay would be pinned on my shirt, only to find the smooth fabric of my dress. "I have her pin. It's my token from the mayor's daughter."
His eyes light up, but he then resumes his scowl. "Stay alive."
"I don't plan on getting killed." I raise my eyebrows.
He pats me on the back. "Good. Now go get some sleep."
Walking back to my suite, I feel the false sense of security as I open the door. They can't hurt me until tomorrow. At least be ready for it. But I'm wrong. Very wrong. They already have hurt me. They've sent me to fight my friends, given me a diseased sister to fight through it, and destroyed who I was.
Sleep is a joke tonight as I am an insomniac, tossing and turning every minute. What hell will I be thrown into tomorrow? Will I survive it?
Fear runs throuh my veins. A jittey feeling, similar to the one I feel when I was kissing him runs through my veins. Only now, it doesn't make me feel warm. Terror is more like it.
I manage an hour of sleep or so, before Cinna comes to escort me to the hovercraft. "Rin, wake up," he cooes as he taps my cheek with his soft fingertips. Making a noise I cannot describe, I get out of bed and follow him. Softly, we tread up to the roof, and a hovercraft is waiting. I climb one bar and I'm frozen-I can't move at all. When I arrive in the interior of the hovercraft, a woman in white clothing is ready with a syringe.
"Stand still." she sternly orders. I'm a statue? What does she mean? I can't utter a sarcastic remark at her, so I just stand there as I feel the stabbing pain of the needle. The tracker is in place, so I am free to move. Cinna is now up, so we go to breakfast.
Finding it hard to eat, I sip the water given to my heart's content. Might as well, since water is harder to find than food. The minutes speed by, and it's already time for us to go down to the stockyard-I mean the launch room. While the Districts nickname it the place animals are slaughtered, it's technically called the Launch Room.
This year's tribute outfit is simple-a pair of tauny pants, a forest-green shirt, a black belt. Cinna throws me a hooded jacket, coal black, that seems to be made of a material that reflects body heat. "It's probably going to be cold at night-keep that in mind." He murmurs. I nod.
Slipping on fingerless black gloves, I see they are padded with a material to reduce blistering from weapon use. What will these hands of mine do for the weeks to come? Will they even be in use anymore?
Cinna holds my hand as we wait for lauch. "Just follow Haymitch's advice" he says. Staring at the ground, I feel the warmth of his hands on my cold and clammy skin.
"LAUNCH TIME IS NOW. TRIBUTES MUST ENTER THEIR GLASS LAUNCH TUBES." A pleasant female voice calls us.
I shudder over to my tube and enter it, knowing my safe barrier I used to have is now gone. Cinna speaks to me, "I'm not allowed to bet. I know I'm not. I wish I could though, I'd bet on you."
"Really?" I ask. "Why?"
Cinna smiles. "You have the spirit and the skills of a victor. So go out there, and win. For me. Please?" I nod. "I will always be there for you."
The tube starts to rise.
Cinna says one last thing to me. "I believe in you."
There is darkness all around me. Then, a blinding light comes into my view as I'm lifted up without the casing around me.
I smell trees. As I look around, I see a small grassy area surrounded by trees and a lake. We're in a forest. Long past the lake, I see a wheat field. One would have to travel far to get there. I smell the pine trees, just like at home, but I also see maples and oaks. The Cornicoupia is in the middle, glistening in the light, and supplies are strewn about.
I flinch a little, and I am beyond surprise. In the middle of the supplies directly in the horn, I see a cedar brown violin case. The same case from when I played for the Gamemakers.
The Gamemakers have given me a violin.
Question for the critiques: WHO SHOULD RIN CHOOSE AT THIS POINT IN THE STORY? (I'll be asking this from time to time to see if your opinion changes.) PLEASE TELL ME HONESTLY.
Now is the fun part for me, because action and romance mixed is my high point. I'm good at action and developing characters, so definitely you'll meet some more new characters/tributes. PART II IS STARTING!
SO CRITIQUE
PLEASE
CRITIQUE
PLEASE
PLEASE
PLEASE
OKAY ALSO NEXT CHAPTER YOU'LL GET A SNEAK PEEK AT THE NOVEL I'M WRITING
now go read isabugg's stories while waiting.
BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
