Chapter 9
Piece in the games
Whispers spread throughout the auditorium like a plague. Cato, Clove, Marvel all say "sheeeeew" in unison, expressing their surprise. My mind was on something else. I start walking towards the elevator.
"Well that's a bad piece of luck" Caesar finishes.
I enter the elevator, I want to look at the item Caesar gave me, but considering his secrecy, I shouldn't take any chances. I decide to leave it in my hands in case the walls have eyes.
I step off of the elevator and into my room, I fall onto the bed and pull the covers over me. I put the item in front of my eyes. It is quite a confusing thing. I feel it with my fingers and realize it is a pin. I look at it a little further away from my face. There is a bird holding an arrow in a circle. I examine the bird only to find that it is a Mockingjay.
I nearly burst into tears, remembering of the days, oh so long ago, that I would sing people to sleep with the help of these birds. Thoughts start racing through my mind about my father, about Ryeson. I can only imagine how they feel. I really hope they are doing ok. This is my last day in the Capitol. Tomorrow, I start the Hunger Games
I stay in the bed until I fall asleep, which means I still stay in bed. When I wake up, its night time. I put on some socks and leave my room. I walk through the huge living room and I feel a breeze flowing and move towards it. The breeze leads me to a balcony. I look to the right of the balcony and find Thresh looking up.
"What are you doing?" I whisper.
"Oh, Hey. I was Just listening to those two," he seems startled, but he keeps his cover and whispers back "they are some work of art"
I tiptoe to where he stands and look up. There I see Peeta and Katniss on the balcony above us. They talk about playing in the games and all I can think is boy, you better get your act together, the games are tomorrow! I hope your ready or you won't survive the bloodbath. But it's the next thing he says that makes sense. "I want to dies as myself. I don't want them to change me in there. Turn me into some kind of monster that I am not." there is silence between the two before Katniss speaks
"Do you mean you won't kill anyone?" she looks at him guiltily, probably unknowingly.
"No, when the time comes, I'm sure I'll kill just like everyone else. But, I just keep wishing I could think of a way to... show the Capitol they don't own me. That I'm more than just a piece in their games."
And then I realize, though Katniss is in denial, everyone is controlled somehow by the Capitol. Even those who never get reaped are game-pieces. The Capitol still uses the games to strike fear in their hearts. This is why the Capitol must come down. I see the fire in these two. The spark.
After a few more minutes of talking, they go back inside. I turn around and my jaw drops in awe. How did I miss this the entire time? A Capitol festival. The black streets are painted with scattered spectrums of neon colors. Thresh had probably seen me gazing at it because he hoisted me onto his shoulders so I could get a better look.
"It's a shame we missed your going away party. However, I don't think we were exactly invited" Billy stands in the door way. "I don't know if this is allowed, but who is going to tell? I did the same exact thing when I was a tribute." he gives a longing look t the crowd "and I've sat here and watched ever since"
"Katniss and Peeta were just talking about it" Thresh said, I must have missed that part. I am still captivated by the view of the Capitol. Though it is so pretty who can tell what evil it hides? "and some other stuff, too"
"well, you have a big day tomorrow, I hope you get good rest" Billy slowly walks back inside. "And may the odds ever be in your favor"
