So grateful to my faithful reviewers Luke777, sghope16, and CJstoriesandobsessions! Hope you enjoy the next chapter :)
Chapter 10
I am anxious as the prep team helps me prepare for the interviews tonight. The Reapings were a week ago, and the tributes are back in the Capitol for the start of the Hunger Games. All of them are familiar faces. Although I did not watch their Games, I got to know the winners just like everyone else did. They were at almost every party; they were interviewed every year; they were mentors to the new tributes. Finnick is a tribute, as well as Katniss and Peeta. I am nervous for them, but I also know what's coming. It is almost time for District 13 to re-emerge. This is the beginning of the end for the Capitol. After the rebels have gotten the tributes out of the Game, they will come for me, Plutarch has promised. Less than a week and I will be leaving for safety.
Kane arrives with a stunning dress, as always. It is one-shoulder, white and adorned with sky blue jewels. The fabric seems to swirl across my body in waves. I look in the mirror and am amazed at how the dress sparkles with each movement. It makes me look almost ethereal. Kane pulls out the bracelet my husband gave me and slips it on my right arm.
"I made the dress after I saw this beautiful bracelet," Kane said, a wide smile across his face. "And now you are ready." His eyeliner is green tonight, along with green lipstick. I smile back, knowing it would be suspicious to admit I do not want to wear the bracelet.
"You've outdone yourself, Kane," I said and wrap him in a hug. Kane is not my friend, but he has been close. I know this might very well be the last time I see him. He is awkward in the hug, lightly patting my back as I hold tightly onto him. I let go and he steps back, bows slightly, and hurries out of the room, almost running into Ian as my bodyguard enters.
"What did you do to the poor guy?" Ian asked, smiling at me quizzically.
"I gave him a hug," I laughed.
"Oh, you didn't."
I laugh harder. "Yes, I did."
Ian chuckles before becoming somber. "So the Games start tomorrow. Are you ready?"
"As ready as I can be, I guess."
"Are you ready for tonight?"
I nod. "Yes, let's get this over with."
Ian walks slightly behind me as I walk through the dark hallways of the mansion. The interviews are held at a large auditorium not far from my home. I could easily walk there, but the wife of the President doesn't walk anywhere in a formal gown, so a car is waiting for me. I climb in the backseat and Ian slides next to me. I relax against the leather as the driver pulls away.
"It's almost over, isn't it?" I said.
Ian nods. "It's almost over."
The auditorium is already full when I arrive. Attendants guide me to my seat high above the others in a balcony overlooking the stage. My husband rises from his chair to greet me. Plutarch is there, along with several other honored guests. I recognize most of them, just wealthy citizens from the Capitol who have paid a lot of money to sit in the President's box. I greet them all and apologize for my "lateness", explaining why Coriolanus and I arrived separately. He grabs my hand as we sit down. I glance over quickly and see Ian standing next to Orli by the entrance of the balcony. He nods to me slightly before focusing forward. The music is suddenly pounding in my ears and Caesar Flickerman is on the stage, announcing the arrival of the tributes.
One by one they give their interviews, and the crowd is crying before the first one is even over. By the time Katniss and Peeta take the stage, there are wails and screams filling every corner. Then Peeta announces that he and Katniss have secretly wed and she is pregnant with their child, and the noise is so deafening I have to cover my ears.
I glance over at Coriolanus. His face is unreadable, as always, but his jaw is tight. He is grinding his teeth so hard I can practically hear it above the crowd. Then, as the tributes all join hands in a sign of unity against the unfairness of this Hunger Games, the audience rises with them, giving them a thunderous applause. All of us in the box are on our feet as well. My husband turns to leave, but I don't even pay attention to him, completely enraptured with the tributes.
The room seems to only grow louder as the tributes turn to file out. People are screaming and crying. The woman next to me tries to say something in my ear, but I can't hear her and only smile and point to the crowd with a shrug. I also can't hear Ian as he yells at me to get down. I don't hear the gunshot, but I watch the woman's face turn to horror. I start to feel a wetness spread across my abdomen. I look down and see blood…so much blood all over my beautiful white dress. Then the searing pain hits, and everything goes black.
