A/N: Apologies for the short chapter! It's the last one before the Games and I just wanted to get it over and done with so we can start the real fun and games!
'm woken at dawn and guided by Aurelia to the roof. She doesn't seem the least bit phased by the fact that I'm still wearing the lilac dress and glitter is all over my face from last night. When the ladder drops down from the hovercraft, I place both hands and my right foot on. A short burst of electricity glues me to the ladder and I am lifted into the hovercraft.
"Silk, this is you tracker," a pale man tells me, sticking his needle deep into my arm and squeezing the metal tracker into my forearm.
That's when they turn off the current and I am able to move again. The ladder drops again and comes back with Aurelia attached. Her gold hair is everywhere; must be the electric current. She's released instantly and her hands go instantly to flatten down her hair.
The Avox who offers me a little breakfast looks only about my age, possibly a year or two older. His face looks bored as he holds a tray under my nose, expecting me to be gratefully snatching food from him.
"I'm sorry. I'm not hungry," I say simply, but taking a bread roll anyway. When he raises an eyebrow, I shrug, "So what? I'm not allowed to eat because I'm not hungry? I could be dead by tonight."
He gives a weak smile and walks off. He shows no empathy at all, but maybe, just maybe, he feels a little sympathy inside. After all, I could be dead within hours. Dead, but at least I'd die with my tongue in my mouth.
I watch out the window as tall buildings give way to the rolling hills of the wilderness. I stand there until the windows black out, indicating we must be nearing the arena. A shiver rockets through me and goosebumps appear on my bare arms. The dress that seemed so amazingly beautiful on me last night no longer seems flattering, but is instead crumpled as if I'd slept in it, which I had.
"Aurelia," I whisper, "I want to go home."
Aurelia walks over and hugs me, "I know you do honey. I don't want to see you go into that place either. I don't want to watch it. You know, I've loved having you as my little model. I can't wait to see you on the other side; I've got an amazing outfit planned for your victory interview!" She seems to be just another annoying Capitol person, but she's not. Her accent makes her origins obvious, but in personality, she could be from One.
We leave the hovercraft when it lands and follow the Peacekeepers to the Launch Room. I'll be the only one to use it; it seems like a little bit of a waste if you ask me. There are so many starving families in the outlying districts yet they're making twenty four rooms under a giant arena every year, that will only be used once each.
Aurelia opens the bag to reveal the clothes I will wear. She's had no say in the matter, and seems disappointed in what she finds.
"Cargo shorts and a simple white vest top. How unoriginal," she mutters, pulling them both from the bag.
"Do I have time for a shower?" I ask. My hair's appalling and I need to wash the glitter off my eyes and rid myself of the odd sparkle that has somehow been transferred onto my body.
After checking her watch, Aurelia nods, "Yes, I suppose so. Just be quick."
I am. There aren't a range of options like there are in the Training Centre, only one choice of each thing. Within ten minutes I'm out and allowing Aurelia to towel dry my hair. She splits my hair into two and puts it into two high ponytails.
"There," she smiles, helping me into my outfit and straightening out all the small creases. "All that's left is this..." She passes me a hat, the same colour as my shorts and I put it on my head before allowing her to put my leather shoes on.
"It's going to be scorching hot. Some barren wasteland, probably," I sigh. I hate it when it's too hot; I burn far too easily.
When I mention that to Aurelia she nods understandingly, "I'll tell the others about that. Vital thing from sponsors."
"Five minutes until launch," a pleasant female voice tells me from the corner of the room. The clock in the corner tells me that it's five to ten. Apparently we'd been in the hovercraft for longer than I originally thought.
"Last bits of advice. Stay with Steel. Stay out of danger. Trust no-one. Make sure you always have enough water." And with that, Aurelia throws her arms around me once again.
I take a shaky step towards the glass tube of doom. My heart feels like a hummingbird's, thumping against my ribs. I'm going to die in this place, never to see Satin, Mother or Father again.
That final though sends me over the edge and I fall to the floor, head in my hands, tears streaming down my cheeks. I don't want to die. Twelve is no age to die. Twelve isn't an age to die at.
"Don't let me die, Aurelia," I whimper, looking to her and continuing to sob.
"Sshhh," Aurelia hushes me, cradling my head, "It'll be alright. You're going to make it out and live a long happy, victor life. You'll be rich, Silk, rich."
"I don't want to be rich," I sob, "I want Satin..."
"Look, Satin will always be with you. Shell be with you every second of the Games; when you're running after someone or taking watch, she'll be with you," she assures me, "Now come on. These Games start at ten and if you aren't in that tube at that time, there'll be trouble." The attempt at humour doesn't amuse me at all. My life's on the line and she's making jokes?
How brilliant.
"Two minutes until launch," the same pleasant voice tells me.
I stand again, putting my hat straight on my head and taking another shaky step. A pair of cargo shorts, a hat, some leather shoes and a white vest top. I'm doomed. I don't even have a token, something for me to remember home by.
"Goodbye honey. I'll see you real soon!" Aurelia gives my hand a final squeeze and allows me to step into the tube.
The glass doors slide shut, trapping me in the tube of doom. A scream escapes my throat but nobody can hear it but me; the glass is far too thick for anything to be heard. I spend the next couple of minutes murmuring to myself: 'Don't be scared.' 'Satin is with you.' 'You'll make it out. You'll be the winner.'
That's when the floor begins to rise and my entire world is thrown into complete darkness.