Expensive Gifts
There seemed to be no end to it. Katniss turned to look behind her. This hallway, with impossibly tall walls of thorny hedge stretched behind her for as far as the eye could see, curving out of sight over the horizon. She kept walking. In front of her lay the same thing. At the beginning, they had been nothing but tiny, tightly wound buds but the farther she moved, the more the flower heads matured, the bigger the heads, the more expansive the blooms become. Soon, the flowers themselves became so big; Katniss felt like she could be swallowed up by any one of them, their cloying scent driving her nearly mad. She wasn't going to stop moving; she knew she heard them. Their voices kept pulling her forward despite her hate for the white blossoms that surrounded her.
She could hear Prim laughing, sometimes screaming. She could hear Rue's whistles and whispers. They couldn't be too much farther but it seemed every step she took, was another they took away from her. Walking no longer seemed enough, so the huntress broke into a jog. That's when she heard the pounding behind her, the dull, repetitive thud of heavy feet striking the earth. She looked behind her once more; she couldn't see anything but she heard it, her stomach sinking at the knowledge of what pursued her. She broke out into a run, yelling for the girls but her voice stuck obstinately in her throat. She ran through the unending hedge of mutt roses, desperately trying to stay ahead of the mutt bird. She tried, wanted to scream but no sound would come out so she just ran frantically.
Katniss crested a hill only to be met with a dead end. There were no girls, the hedge walls were now more white than green and the sound of heavy feet continued to grow closer and closer. Desperately, Katniss searched the wall for a way through, constantly throwing glances over her shoulder. Just as she saw it, the massive predator bird, clear the rise, a pale, slender arm shot through the greenery, grabbed her painfully by the throat and pulled her through. The creature screamed behind her, furious at her escape.
Katniss fell to the ground, her face met a cold stone floor. When she looked up, she saw the girls. They were sitting on the ground, in front of her massive bed with their backs to her. The girls started keening, Prim's head snapping around to stare at Katniss with desperate eyes. The huntress shot to her feet and sprinted off to the girls. She reached them to find that they were lamenting a broken doll on the ground, its porcelain face cracked in half.
'It's broken.' Prim said. 'You have to fix it.' Rue told her but when Katniss tried to pick the doll up, the silver haired, blue-eyed doll just shattered further, something spilling from inside of it. When she looked to the ground, she saw the glitter and beauty of hundreds of diamond earrings.
Katniss shot up in her bed sweating and shaking, suddenly very awake. The sky outside her window was just starting to turn from its early purples into the dark oranges of pre dawn. She ran her hand down her face, trying to shake the feeling of the nightmare. It left her disoriented with mixed feelings of anxiety and fear. She slid out of the bed, slick with sweat and padded into the bathroom. She glanced at herself in the mirror for only a second before regretting it. The client last night had paid extra. She slipped into the shower, pressing the buttons that would start the deluge. It didn't take long for the soothing water to wash away the sweat but the memory of the dream was not fading this morning like they normally would. This one she would remember, much to her distaste. She didn't dwell on the annoying nightmare since she had bigger things to think about this morning, like seeing Gale again.
Miss Snow had informed her before the appointment last night, that this man would be 'extreme in his passions'. Extreme had been right. Her throat was still extremely sore and the quickly healing black eye confirmed the truth she'd been told. She could only imagine what she'd look like without the pills and creams Finnick had provided her after her 'extremely passionate' client left. Snow's words to her before the appointment still echoed through her mind.
"If you do well, I'll let you see first hand that your cousin is indeed alive."
It had been six weeks since she'd seen him in the flesh and four since her profession officially began. She hadn't been allowed to see Peeta at all. When she'd asked Snow for permission to visit with him, she'd shaken her head.
"That would not benefit him, Miss Everdeen. Your week will come soon enough. Keep playing the game a little while longer." Katniss sighed, finished bathing and stepped out of the shower. She toweled off her hair and wrapped the terrycloth around her. She couldn't help but glance at the small pile of expensive gifts she'd received thus far. Last night's had given her a bracelet, thick and heavy. It had taken Finnick to tell her that the thing was the most expensive item she'd been given yet. The metal was called platinum and was apparently incredibly rare here in Panem. It sat next to the small box, now open, that her first client had given her, a set of diamond earrings. She kept them in the bathroom so that during the day she wouldn't have to see them. Despite her room's immense size, it was sorely lacking in storage. Katniss pulled her eyes away from the reminders of her new place in life and walked out of the bathroom. She immediately saw the garments that had been laid out on her bed while she'd been gone.
Tribute attire.
She'd seen enough games to know it when she saw it. They had a utilitarian look about them that most things produced by the Capitol lacked while still having a strong sense of aesthetics. The fabrics, the colors and the shape all added to the overall feel of a contest. This particular costume was an odd mix of whites, browns and grays, something that would blend in well with a snowy environment. The outfit would be perfect camouflage for a wintery forest, perfect for Gale's arena. She ran her fingers over the different layers before letting her towel slip to the floor and getting dressed.
By the time she was pulling the last long sleeved shirt over her head, already having two underneath, she heard the sound of feet entering her room. She hated how unbelievably quiet that door slid open. She knew it wasn't Snow, the woman moved too quietly. Instead, she was surprised to see Haymitch, dressed as warmly as she too was.
"Sweetheart." He didn't sound happy.
"Haymitch." She wasn't happy either. She didn't need to ask him why he was here, his clothing told her that. Her time with Gale would not be spent alone. Immediately, Katniss tried to reason out why Snow would bring her mentor along with them but as usual, she couldn't fathom it. It's not like she hadn't seen Haymitch several times over the passed month. In fact, she saw him almost every other day. Whenever Finnick had to carry out his duties, Haymitch was sent to keep her company. It kept her mind off of what she had to do that night or the next, as she was sure was Snow's motivation. 'A purpose for everything she does.' If only Katniss could divine that purpose now.
"This is bullshit." He said irritably. She knew that right now, he would probably kill for anything even remotely related to alcohol. "But we gotta go." She just nodded. There wasn't anything that needed to be said and nothing that Haymitch likely wanted to hear. He hated Miss Snow pulling his strings just as much as she did. She grabbed the parka and gloves from the bed, the last pieces of the costume and followed after her mentor who was already out the door. She trotted to catch up to him. They were halfway to the elevator at the end of the long hallway when she finally caught up to him. Every step he took, his body seemed to get more and more tense. Katniss understood why without having to ask.
He was going back into an arena for the first time in almost 25 years.
It had been a shock, not to mention emotionally painful, for her to step back inside the one she'd played her game in but for Haymitch, he'd watched forty-six District 12 tributes die in them. She doubted he would ever want to step foot in one of the graveyards, much less dress up like two of this year's contestants while heading inside with someone responsible for their design, creation and testing. They reached the elevator in silence, he pressed the button and the door immediately slid open. Once inside, he pressed that same 'BB' that Snow had, what seemed like lifetimes ago. A short ride later and the door slid open to reveal the same claustrophobic hallway that was such a stark contrast to the opulence of the floors above them.
Katniss kept thinking that soon they'd be meeting up with Miss Snow but was surprised to find that Haymitch knew how to open the large metal door at the end of the industrial hallway. Its internal locking bolts clacked noisily before the door hydraulically hissed open and they stepped into the massive aircraft hanger that the young woman still couldn't believe existed under this part of the city. Both she and Haymitch walked to the grated metal staircase and to the same craft that had taken Katniss to the first arena. Its bay door was open, the ramp fully extended. Her mentor hesitated at the bottom.
"Don't turn into a coward on me now." She said quietly behind him.
"Yeah, yeah." He said, trying to sound irritated but she could hear what she'd never heard in his voice before.
Fear.
A second later, they were inside.
"Mr. Abernathy, please have a seat in the back. Miss Everdeen, up here with me." Came Snow's cold voice from the cockpit. They each exchanged a quick glance before going their separate ways. Katniss took her seat to the side and slightly behind a similarly attired Miss Snow, saying nothing. It wasn't until they craft had lifted off and exited the massive hangar that the woman piloting the craft spoke up.
"This will be Mr. Hawthorne's final day in this arena. Soon, he'll be off to test the third and final venue."
"Which he'll survive." He had to if the Snows wanted him in the arena as an actual tribute.
"Which he'll survive." She confirmed. "He's been invaluable in their final preparations. He's helped to ensure that this year's games will be remembered for generations to come." Katniss didn't say anything. She heard Snow chuckle at her silence. "You seem far more surly today than you have been of late. Something the matter little bird?"
Katniss wanted to ask why Haymitch had been brought along. She wanted to know the reason for this additional, unnecessary cruelty but she knew that her mentor was only a couple yards away. These craft were so quiet in their operation that she knew he could hear everything they said and he wouldn't like her asking about him, not to Snow.
"Bad dreams." She only half lied. Snow stayed eerily silent for a few moments. Katniss chanced a look at her profile to find the woman's jaw clenched.
"I do no like lies Miss Everdeen. You know this." Half lies seemed to count as full lies. "You are irritated by my decision to bring Mr. Abernathy along. Do not lie to me again."
"Why ask me questions you already know the answer to?" Katniss asked curtly.
"Sometimes it's not the answer that's important but the way they're answered that is." Snow replied icily. "You're a smart girl, act like it."
Katniss couldn't help but feel the rebuke. This was how it went with them these days. The young victor saw the President's daughter almost everyday. What the visits lacked in duration, they made up for in frequency, sometimes more than once a day. During those brief exchanges, Snow would tell her something related to a client and Katniss would respond with barely concealed obstinateness. As long as she did as she was told, Snow ignored her tone but the moment she did or said something the older woman didn't like, she'd be treated like a wayward child that needed a strong hand or word to get her back into line. It left Katniss free to express her irritation with her situation without fear of reprisal but it also left her no course of action against it.
Miss Snow pressed a few buttons and a small screen flipped up on the console next to her. An image if Haymitch popped up on the screen. The young victor looked at her mentor as he sat there in obvious agitation. She could see his hands fisting in the muted white colors of the pants he wore as he quickly rocked back and forth in his seat. Katniss had never seen him look so miserable. Miss Snow pulling a metal vial from a compartment near her feet drew her attention away from the monitor. The woman held it out to here without looking back.
"Give this to Mr. Abernathy."
"What is it?" She asked suspiciously.
"Something he needs." Exasperated, Katniss took the offered item and unbuckled herself. She would take anything back to Haymitch if it meant putting distance between herself and this woman. "Do not take too long, it's a simple enough to complete quickly." Katniss just rolled her eyes as she walked away. In the thirty seconds since she'd seen him on the screen, Haymitch had already gotten noticeably worse. He tried to calm himself down when he saw Katniss duck into his compartment but it didn't do much. She shook the container, hearing liquid inside and realized what this was. She didn't want to give it to him. Sober Haymitch was actually harder to deal with but he was sober, sharper if not angrier. She didn't want to give it to him but she held it out to him anyway. He snatched it from her hand without a question or word. She turned to go back to her seat, not wanting to see him regress. He did need it though she thought to herself as she touched the metal band on her arm… he didn't have one of his own after all.
"Would you like to know why I brought him, sullen child?" Snow also didn't mind mocking Katniss when she though she was acting foolishly. It always served to piss Katniss off. She buckled herself back into her seat. She wanted to say no but that would be a lie and lying twice to this woman in so short of a time would be profoundly unwise.
"Yes." She said acidly.
"I required a chaperone for you and your cousin."
OoOoO
MaidenAlice: Yeah, two boxes in a row… I do love my repeating themes. What does Haymitch know… hmmm, I suppose we'll just have to find out. I love your observations about Snow. It shows me that what I want people to know about her is getting through on paper (or screen) while still keeping the 'whys' up in the air. I used fingers because they are small and easy to package in larger numbers, thus demonstrating that Haymitch lost everyone he cared about in one fell swoop. No worries if the contest isn't your thing, it's just a goofy idea I came up with. I don't know if I'll get one, two or a bunch of submissions… though I'm guessing at a low number, lol. I'll try to keep entertaining you!
Ambrosia: At this point, we only know that she'd never seen him defied by anyone. We don't know if she liked seeing it or if she hated it, we just know that it left an impression. What's in her heart? Great question, stick around and find out. ROFL. It's like you knew that Gale would make an appearance soon…
Amyfan2004: I like my boxes. I'm glad that's what you got from the first line, definitely what I was going for. I think Katniss would have perfered that too but since he was the client, he got to dictate the pace of the evening. I think you're great with words, even your excited utterances (previous review . ) and I understand you completely. I don't think Haymitch was expecting them either. Your welcome! Thanks for reviewing!
Artist221: I like repetition, if you haven't guessed. It's fun to do and usually leave a decent impact. Grats on the correct guess, body parts and boxes seem to go together when sick, twisted villians get involved. Ooooo, is she hiding something from her father? Very interesting observation… we shall see. It's a possibility with what I've let on so far. I'm sorry that Ambrosia is getting her Gale fix soon while I leave you wanting. But do not fear, he's not far away. He never is.
Thundarrgirl: ROFL! I'm tickled. Ack, don't call her macrame! That makes me think of doilies, lol. If you must call her by a shortened name, might I suggest Rima (pronounced like Lima Peru)… it's what her father calls her (don't know if I've actually written him saying that or not). We'll definitely find out about that father/daughter dynamic far more in the future. I've always loved villains, especially aloof villians that it takes a long time to figure out. So I'd say that's what she's born from in my mind. I love that you like her evil character because she's not some sci fi or fantasy thing. I do enjoy writing me some lemons from time to time, I'm just happy that other people enjoy them along with me. This is the second time I've heard a reference to that book… I looked it up… does sound like a bit o pron, lol. Thank you for the praise, it really means a ton! HAHA, I'll let them know.
Guest: I love the mixture of feeling this fic is getting from you, make me feel like I'm doing something right. This is headed in a direction that will hopefully surprise you and keep you wanting more until the very end. I hope. Lady Gaga! I definitely could see her costume designer involved. If anyone is curious, I imagine Olivia Wilde. She's gorgeous but dangerous looking to me (it's her eyes that do it for me). Don't know how she'd look with silver hair though… Will do!
Dragonmaster1296: I hope putting you through a loop is a good thing… I do try to do that. Prostitute Katniss… I really want to say something here (this is my sixth version of your review response). Keep waiting though, I don't think you will be disappointed. Other countries… GOD I want to say something… Just stick around, its all I really can say at this point.