Not much to put in my authors note today. I don't own THG. Review. The usual. Oh wait, I have a new THG story, called Posy's Story. Go ahead and read it!
The horses take us on another lap around the City Circle but they stop at the Training Center. I'm nervous, but before the gates close behind us and the cameras turn off, I wave in the hopes it reaches my family and friends. Then we're in the lobby and stepping off our chariots. Cinna comes up behind me and pulls of the cape that was burning. I stroke the Friesians goodbye, and they pull the chariots away somewhere.
The Careers are smirking at me with contempt, like tho only thing I can do is smile and wave and be fireproof. I meet the eye of the muscly girl from Two, Clove, and give her a cheeky smile, wriggling my fingers at her in a wave. Then I turn away. The girl from 3 who looks like a toaster is staring at me, and so is the boy from 10 with the crutches. I turn to Haymitch because I don't know those people. Why are they ogling me? I'm not on fire anymore. Then it clicks. I'm an idiot. They were staring because I just poked fun at a Career at least twice my size. I. Am. Dead. When we get to the arena, a Career with a grudge is a big problem at the bloodbath. Now I will have to run, regardless of the possible bow in the cornucopia. But I don't regret it. The look on Clove's face was completely worth it.
Effie escorts us to our floor - number twelve, naturally. I'm glad, because the elevator ride is exhilarating and fun, and we get the best view, and we have easy access to the roof. I'm tempted to ride the elevator again because the first trip was so broken up by tributes getting off at different levels, but it seems childish and I don't need to appear younger than I already do. When we finally reach our floor, the view over the glittering Capitol takes my breath away. From up here, you can't see the mutations that the people of the Capitol have done to themselves, it just looks colourful. Clearly, district 5 powers the Capitol 24/7 - there are lights of every colour imaginable in every building I can see. I picture the faces of the Capitol retards in a power-out. Everything is bright and wonderful and beautiful.
And I hate them for it.
Why is the Capitol so special that they get everything? Why do we have nothing and they have so much waste? How can they even think that anything about this setup is fair? I remember something my father used to say: 'fair doesn't mean that everyone gets the same. It means everyone gets what they need. And the only way to get what you need is to make it happen yourself.' So what do we do? Rebel? That didn't go too well last time. We lost the outermost district, 13, and if we failed another rebellion then 12 would be next. They can't destroy my district! So how do we get what we need then? If we won a rebellion, which seems unlikely, then maybe... But why am I thinking of rebelling anyway? I am a tribute! I have no power over the Capitol, none. So I'll just go and eat something - it must be nearly time for dinner.
We watch the replays of the chariot rides, and District 12 is featured from the moment we pass through the gates. Yay. I don't really want to watch, it doesn't seem too important now that it's over, and I mostly focus on polishing off a huge plate of pasta, meat, cheese & sauce, which they call lasagna. It tastes great, really it does. I wonder if they put this kind of thing in the food packages.
Effie is running a commentary on what the tributes are wearing. "I love that dress, look I have earrings with stones like the ones on the end of the dress! Look, district 2, not so good, but you can't do much with stonework... District 3, They look a bit odd, is that boy a toaster? " I don't really listen, but I am surprised when Effie gushes on about how much she loves dolphins. I hardly even know what they are. Fish of some kind, I think. I wonder if they taste nice. Probably, if you're starving.
After dinner, we have dessert. I'm amazed because the only dessert I've ever had was one time at Madge's place, when we had jam and cream pastry things. I don't see any on the table, but I see a lot more. Strange-looking stuff called jelly, tubs of cold ice cream, treacle tart, some brown stuff called mousse, and something called chocolate. I try everything but when I get to the chocolate I become an instant chocoholic. There are different types, but my favourite is the light brown type with pieces of crunchy golden honeycomb. It's absolutely delectable. I have never tasted anything so wonderful, ever.
Once dessert is finished, we go to our rooms to wash up, but Haymitch says we have to be back within an hour. I open the door to bedroom 1 and look around. It's huge. Bigger than my entire house in 12. In fact, it's not so much a room as a large suite. I shut the door and explore my new room.
So how did you guys find that? I know it's a bit short, but I'm posting it pretty much straight after Chapter 8 and there should be more action in the next chapter. This was kind of a filler chapter, which is why it's short. What did you think? Review! Thanks everyone. Writing chapter 10 right now.
