I watch my fingers twist and turn in my lap, willing them to stop but quite unable to do so. I'm also biting my top lip again – no-one knows I do that apart from my brother Gloss – while waiting for the leader of the whole country to come and talk to me in the office. I'm squirming in my chair slightly, but that's less about nervousness and more to do with the lack of comfort this hard wooden chair provides.
The door creaks open, and I turn instinctively towards the sound. President Snow walks in, along with the sickly smell of rose and…
Is that Blood? I should know really, as I've seen a lot of it so far in the last few weeks. As he approaches the smell increase in intensity, I realise that it definitelyis blood. Why does he smell of blood? I shake myself mentally, and (with a large amount of effort) stop my hands shaking and remove my teeth from my lip.
"Cashmere" he says, as he seats himself down on the plush chair behind the desk.
I nod in response, not actually trusting myself to speak. I don't really understand why I'm so nervous. I've already faced death, how much worse can it get?
"Now Cashmere, do you remember your Games?" he says, leaning forward slightly in his chair.
He reeks of Blood.
Remember my games? How could I forget them? I killed several people, not that I care about that much, but every time I close my eyes, I'm back there. The images of those Mutts at the end, the teeth…
"Yeah…" I say, now beginning to wonder where this conversation is going. Because so far, I don't likewhere it's going. And if I don't like something, it shouldn't happen.
"And you'll remember your sponsors too?"
He's leaning so far forward his hair is within 2 inches of my face.
How could I forget them either?
"Yes. They saved my life" I remember the medicine I got sent within a day of the starting of the games. I'd already been stabbed and I think the others in my group were pretty close to killing me off for being ill. It did save my life.
He smiles.
That's probably not good.
"That'll make things easier then." He smiles at me "so you'd like to do something to… repay them?"
Alarm bells are ringing in my head, but I can't see where. I resume my cautious approach.
"Yeah…"
"Some of the patrons would like you to… be around with them for certain periods of time. They'd like certain favours"
I freeze.
That was not what I thought he was going to say.
"And am I obliged-"
"Yes. It's not a choice. You can leave now; I'll send you the details of your first… appointment."
I step out the door feeling worse than I did at any point in the game. I put my finger onto my top lip, and take it away again.
Blood.