Dreaming of Nightmares: The 525th Games

Chapter 10: Smile, we're on camera

There was nothing wrong with the picture of a girl was a bloodied nose, in fact, they expected at least one person to be injured before the games started. This early was a bit surprising but an injury was suspected given how many tributes there were. The girl's nose still had a considerable amount of blood leaking from it aside from what was matted and crusted by a bandage. Overall she wasn't too bad.

One thing that continuously confused them however was how nonchalant Melody was acting as they pushed her back on the table, one of the doctor's grabbing a machine to fix broken bones. She had a small smile on her face as if she was happy about it all and the way her hands kept on twitching made the doctors concerned. She for some reason could be having a form of a seizure or maybe she was just full of energy, either way her lack of caring worried them.

She gave a content sigh and parted her lips as if about to speak, quickly snapping them shut again.

"Stay still." one of the doctors quickly mumbled, their yellowed hands starting up the machine. The female on the table offered a smile, trying to move her legs up and down only for restraints to close over them. She gave an aggravated sigh as the doctor came closer, placing the device gingerly on her nose. An odd beeping sound and a blue light emitted from it as the sound of bones being put back together was present. Melody mentioned something about crunchiness but the doctors dismissed it, for there minds were on other things.

Particularly how soon the chariot rides would be and how this little incident was costing them time. They felt more annoyed at the person who did this to her then the girl herself. Spinel or something was his name. They didn't care, they were just pissed off. With an aggravated sigh from all of the doctors they helped her up, giving her a push as if to make a point.

She stumbled a bit laughing and exited.

Bianca froze as a prep team member dragged a finger across her cheek, their sharpened nail probably drawing blood. Well, it most likely did for the woman's nails were about a foot or so long. She felt mildly disgusted by it all. The prep person who was doing her hair sighed harshly and angrily threw a hair brush on the ground, the long nailed woman abruptly stopping as if entranced.

"Where is Lionel!?" the woman shrieked, stomping a rather large foot to the ground. She looked back and forth as if expecting him to appear before her.

The woman doing her make-up started up again as the other lady continued to ramble about a man named Lionel. By the looks of it she was about to rip somebody's head off. Her fists were clenched and she was shouting about the whole debacle.

"I have arrived!" a high voice exclaimed and Bianca rolled her eyes at the man's get up and voice. He was wearing a flower patterned shirt with a leopard print fur shawl wrapped around him. His eyes were an altered silver with what seemed to be flecks of blood in them. With a hand carelessly thrown on one blue covered hip he sighed, coming closer.

The woman who had been throwing a tantrum reasonably settled down as she walked toward the man, her eyes still blazing. "Lionel!" she exclaimed, harshly setting a hand on his shoulder. Bianca could feel the sliminess of some sort of gel that was being put on her face. Lionel's eyes narrowed at the sound of her voice and he seemed to be annoyed.

"Sorry." he said, though he seemed to not be fazed by it at all. In fact his lips crooked into a sly grin as he sighed, shrugging her off. "I was getting Calista ready." he explained, turning on heel grabbing Bianca's outfit.

When they finished with Bianca's getup they led her to there chariot. The chariot itself was rather nice and the horses were even nicer for the fact they looked like they were made of rocks. For why it looked nice was lost on her, maybe because they went well with the district? Bianca felt the urge to pet one of the horses but thought better of it as an attendant helped her onto the chariot. Both Bronze and Bianca were to be in the front of the chariot whilst Calista and Vince were in the back. Calista didn't seem too happy on the matter and Vince didn't seem any better. He was looking at Calista and throwing a few remarks at her, good or bad.

Bronze himself felt very restricted as he stood with poise, all of his muscles tightened. He looked around at the other chariots, the Capitolite's catching his eye in particular. The costumes they were wearing were like there everyday wear, flamboyant and unnecessary. The boy was visibly scowling even from such a distance and the girl seemed confused, as if she was trying to figure out how to act.

The people in district one were fascinating as they all were standing on what seemed to be a cloud. The girls both wore long, pure, white dresses with little angel wings attached; and with what seemed to be a halo was literally floating over each of there heads. The boys however looked considerably different. The one boy who was bit on the plumper side seemed to be talking to something, his outfit a royal blue. On top of his head was a crown. And the other boy with his feet distanced apart and a glower on his face was wearing the same thing, except his crown was bigger, as if to make the boy look older then he really was. To Bronze the boy looked young.

With a controlled sigh he looked down to his own wear, which was very little. In fact it seemed as if his stylist couldn't think of a good idea and painted him to look like a bronze statue, which was quite the play on his name. He was mildly annoyed but chose not to show it for he trusted his stylist's judgment, even if it meant he was practically naked aside from a loincloth. The rest of his district looked like rocks, Vince being the stone mason and the girls being as said before, rocks. He felt rather left out.

With a sudden lurch the horses started out in perfect harmony, cheers being massive as their own rolled out. The cheers became even louder as the rest of the district followed.

Astoria looked at the district before her, all of them resembling fishes of some sort. Or it seemed as such. They all had long colorful tails and the one girl with curls radiated confidence. Dangan beside her seemed rather uncomfortable as he shifted, quiet as ever. It took a lot of will power not to yell at the poor boy. Astoria noted that in the little screen like things above them a particular female was being showed quite a lot.

Astoria raised a slight hand and waved, nervous. Though, she wasn't nervous in the least bit. In fact she was hoping she'd come off as innocent or something crappy like that. Less of a target on her back and more love from the Capitol, as long as she shone in the interviews. A flower was thrown at her and she gently yet shakily bent down to pick it up, offering a faux smile. The flower looked ugly.

Eleanor stood up tall as she smiled brightly, waving. Of course the Capitol paid no attention to her, as they were dressed up like trees.. As in every year. To be honest it was annoying Eleanor. Even her father had been a tree.

Her and Lese's hair had been matted with green gel and had been expertly sculpted into leaves. Not a single place on their bodies were left untouched as they were coated in literal bark , to get a realistic feel as they said. She couldn't deny how realistic the bark felt, but it's not like they would care. For practically 525 years district seven had been trees, causing even the president to sigh. They really were not that creative, huh? She looked to the Capitolites waving and smiling elegantly as Lese struck several positions, almost pushing Eleanor out of the chariot. So, when that happened Eleanor harshly elbowed him feeling delightful in his pathetic grunts.

She looked up to the little screens above and saw district eight dressed as what seemed to be blankets. It was nothing spectacular, just thin sheets wrapped around frail bodies. The girl seemed as if she was closing into herself and the boy just stood there emotionless, looking at his hands.

Rai glared lightly at Amaryllis, as if willing her away. Well, not that more so as if he was trying to make her stay in one place. She was standing in an odd fashion as her threaded wheat cape trailed in the wind, her eyes looking up to the sky. He hadn't interacted with her much and it was as if she wasn't present on the train. Carallo and him had looked about, more so his escort then himself and they couldn't find her anywhere. In fact they looked for her as the train got to it's destined area, only for Amaryllis to appear at their sides. He felt suspicious in ways he couldn't explain.

Glancing to the ring on his finger he saw the color red, dull but there. He felt an annoying feeling in the pit of his stomach as he looked behind him, nearly falling off when the horses walked over a bump. He could only see district ten and nobody else, for all of the chariots were huge. To him at least. The girl had an.. off putting smile on her face as she jumped about waving at people. She was dressed as a cow and her partner a farmer. The boy seemed wary of the younger girl as she gave him a light push, a spark lighting up in her eyes.

By the time all of the horses drew into a circle the President was before them, long hair pulled into a simple bun. The President seemed to smirk as all of the districts came into view, some of the tributes excited whilst others terrified or annoyed. Ryleigh looked up slightly grumpy to what she assumed was the President.. Wait, of course it was. She shook her head with mild annoyance as the President's lips parted.

"Welcome, tributes!" the President exclaimed, raising two arms into the air. The deafening roar of the Capitol was loud in Ryleigh's ears as claps, flowers and screams were shown. The President laughed lowering her arms. "That's what I like to hear. Are you as pumped as I am?" she asked loudly, her face twisted into something to be described as amusement.

The Capitol screamed even louder and the female tribute from the Capitol jumped around, waving to the President like some school girl. The President winked clearing her throat.

"Anyways, I would just like to welcome all of you Tribute's to the Capitol and hope you enjoy your stay-"

Ryleigh snorted at that as did Dano, as if copying her. Her eyes sharpened on the younger boy as he offered a smile. "-and May the odds be ever in your favor!"

Ryleigh froze briefly. Didn't the President typically say more? It seemed as if the woman was trying to get rid of them. Ah, hell who was she kidding! Nervously she placed a hand on a coal dusted arm, looking to and from, eyes stopping on the boy from nine and his partner. Rai caught her eyes and glared slightly causing her to blush and look away at Dano. Dano sighed as the Capitolites started to leave the building, several attendants rushing over to help them. While Ryleigh accepted there help a bit annoyed Dano just jumped off the chariot, a smile still on his face.

The President gave a light sigh, brushing a piece of hair away from her eyes. She was rather pleased with the turnout of people, all varying from all over. As well the fact that everybody was tuned in was exciting! Though, it was forced and expected but she wasn't going to allow that to sadden her. Her hands went down to her pantsuit as she brushed invisible lint from them, her mind racing with ideas fro the arena. Of course after the tree dilemma she had to get her act together.

The President looked about as she entered the game maker room, all of them abruptly standing up as she strode in. They bowed slightly and she could swear the assistant game maker glared at her. She glared slightly back as she walked down the steps directly to the television screens.

"Have you added what I wanted?" she asked indirectly, watching the tributes go to their designated rooms.

"Yes." somebody responded, awkwardly clearing their throat. They scratched their head as they continued with what they were supposed to do.

"And what about you Nelina?" the President spat, whirling around to glare at the assistant. The poofy haired lady sighed scratching her head.

"What about me?" she offered meekly, feeling a light fear. She knew that the Presid- er- Head Gamemaker had something against her, for what reason she did not know. She was glad somebody else took the spot with all of the pressure and with five years under her belt she was already thinking about her career choice. She could've been anything and she chose to kill children for a living.

At least it paid well.

"I'm asking how your doing, idiot!" she raged, pointing a finger to the air.

Nelina gulped looking back and forth. Really, why was this woman doing this? Everybody was staring and she could practically feel hatred radiating off her boss. She was scared for her life and it wasn't the fear of doing her job incorrectly.

The President dropped her hand quickly to her side, huffing and pointing her nose in the air. Nelina was totally out to get her. Seriously, the woman clearly wanted to be head gamemaker and would stop at nothing to get what she desired.

"Fine." Nelina offered shakily, forcing a smile upon her face. Why was the President glaring at her in such a way?

Why was she smiling like that? There must be some hidden intention the President thought blindly. Nelina was an evil woman, so horrid that she thought about complaining to the President, until she remembered she was the President and gave her own short sighted laugh.

"Are you guys hungry?" the President asked, looking around. She chuckled a bit more and scratched her head. There were a chorus of confused and frightened 'yes's' and the President smiled to herself, before she frowned.

"Not you though!" she thought of adding more as she pointed to Nelina but thought against it. The woman simply didn't deserve her words.

Another chapter! Woo! Not sure if this is good. Actually, not sure if any of this is good lol. I hope to get better though. Anyways, thanks for reading! Oh! And I will be making another SYOT because I have no life and need another story to keep ideas going. Also.. idk. I just feel like it XD

Questions-

~ Any standouts?

~ Was the writing okay?

~ How do you feel about the President? (She's not meant to be taken seriously :3)

Thanks again! Have a great day! :)