Chapter 6: Coal and Chariots

Maysilee Donner

"Ouch," I gasp as the three members of my prep team proceed to yank every body hair I've ever had right off my body. "Could you guys at least try to be more gentle?"

"Sorry," says Celestavia, giving me an apologetic smile. She's probably my favourite out of the three of them. She's definitely the nicest. With her gold highlights and sparkly makeup, she looks the most like a District person, just fancied up. Idum is okay. He has what I think is natural auburn hair, I've never seen a colour like it before. He seems pretty quiet. I guess he just doesn't really have an opinion on how I should look. It's fine, I understand, I'm not the most beautiful person to ever walk in here so there isn't much to marvel at. Although people have always called me pretty, with my shiny blonde hair and deep blue eyes, I was never downright beautiful. Maybe Maylene and Iris but not me.

"Don't whine, Maysilee. It isn't fitting of a young lady to do so."

Hestia is absolutely horrible. She's the one practically torturing me so I look, in her eyes absolutely perfect, for my stylist. She looks just like all the Capitol citizens I saw when we first arrived in the Capitol. Her skin is a light shade of pink, her hair is a darker shade of the same colour, and even her hands are covered in drawings. I don't have much time to think about the other Capitol citizens I've seen before Hestia starts going on about my posture.

"For heaven's sake, Maysilee! Stop slouching!"

I grit my teeth as another layer of my body hair comes off.

Finally, the waxing is over. Celestavia begins to work on my hair, curling it into soft beach waves, while Idum works on my nails, painting them a solid black. No decorations, no nothing.

There's a sinking feeling in my stomach. There is no doubt that the four of us will be dressed up in some sort of mining costume, it's what they do every year. We are going to look ridiculous.

I'm jolted out of my thoughts when Hestia starts plucking at my eyebrows. I jerk back with a wince. Who knew that being beautiful in the Capitol was so painful. I almost feel bad for them, almost.

Idum drops my hand and steps back. "All done."

I smile. "Thanks."

I examine my nails carefully; at least they are shiny. But I just don't understand how we can get sponsors if they won't be able to recognize us through our ugly outfits. It's as though everyone has written us off already.

Hestia finally moves away. "They're okay, not perfect but acceptable." I feel my eyebrows which have been plucked to a fine curved line. She sighs in annoyance. "I wish you guys in the Districts could care more about their looks. It would make our job so much easier."

I feel myself flush with anger. I bite my lip, angering Hestia won't help with anything. Instead, I smile and don't say everything I wish I could.

Celestavia seems to understand how I feel because she squeezes my shoulder reassuringly and hands me a mirror. My hair at least is prettier than I've ever had it.

But Hestia continues, "Seriously, why do I even bother working with District 12. You should have seen the kids from here last year; scrawny little things. I'll bet the girl had never even heard the word waxing in her whole life! Can you believe it?"

I grit my teeth. She is really testing my patience. "We have other things to worry about," I say, trying not to sound too angry but my patience is wearing thin. "Like not starving to death."

Hestia looks offended but Celestavia gives me a secret smile and pats my shoulder. Huh, maybe not all Capitol citizens are the same.

Finally, my pampering is over and it's time for me to get into my outfit for the parade. I'm nervous. I wonder what Maylene and Iris will think when they see me all beautified. I hope they will be able to move on once I'm dead.

My stylist walks in after about five minutes. He has silver drawings on his face and arms. His nails are covered in jewels and he has piercings on his ears. He gives me a warm smile and introduces himself.

"Hi," he shakes my hand, "I'm Maximus, your stylist."

I introduce myself and we start to talk about my costume for the Tribute Parade.

"So," I say, hoping for a good answer, "what will I be wearing for the parade?"

He grins and holds out a bag. "The three other stylists and I talked it out." I realize that the Capitol must have actually hired 48 stylists this year. "And we've agreed that the usual costume seems fit for you four as well." He hands me the bag. "Take a look for yourself."

With a sinking stomach, I peer inside the bag. The moment I catch sight of a hat with headlights, I groan. It looks like all of Panem will see me dressed as a coal miner.

Haymitch Abernathy

I glare silently at my prep team as they leave the room, leaving me alone with my stylist. I will not be forgiving them anytime soon for all the pain they just caused me. I mean, who cares if I'm hairy? Not me.

One of them, a man with blueish skin, waves goodbye but I don't bother to wave back. I haven't even bothered to figure out their names. It's not like knowing their names will help me in the arena.

My stylist introduces herself as Evangeline and starts talking excitedly about my outfit for the parade. She pulls out a pair of black pants and a matching shirt from a bag swinging off her arm. I feel my stomach clench.

"Is that seriously my costume?"

Evangeline looks slightly offended. "Of course it is. Us four stylists," I roll my eyes when I realize that the Capitol was able to get 48 stylists for us. "thought that you guys would look great in this outfit. Your District does coal mining so it'll be an absolute winner."

"So, I'm a coal miner." I try to keep the disbelief out of my voice. In all honesty, I should have expected this. District 12, coal mining, of course, I'm going to be dressed like my District's main profession. I don't know how I'm going to survive the parade. How can I be dressed in the same outfit that killed my dad?

I'm so lost in my thoughts that I don't notice that Evangeline has held out the clothes to me. I jerk back and the shirt sleeve rubs against my arm. To me, it feels like acid has burned me where it touches.

"What's wrong?" Evangeline asks. "I thought you guys would like it."

She sounds so genuinely hurt that I decide to tell her the truth. "My dad was a coal miner."

She obviously doesn't understand, for she brightens up. "That's wonderful." She smiles at me. "So you'll be dressed like your dad. What a great way to make him proud."

"My dad's dead." I say flatly.

"Oh," she finally seems to understand. "I'm so sorry, I didn't realize." Of course, she didn't. "It's just too late to change your outfit. I'm sure you understand. I really am sorry."

For a Capitol citizen, she isn't too bad. Much better than my prep team at least. And she does actually seem sorry, a feat of which I always thought Capitol citizens weren't capable of. I decide I may actually like her.

"It's alright, I guess. But I don't really want to wear it."

She frowns thoughtfully. "We can't change the costume but I guess you could just not look at it? It won't bother you as much."

I agree but decide not to point out that I won't have a choice when I see my District partners, or that I'll be able to see myself on the screen during the parade. My stomach drops again. What will my mom think when she sees me? I just know that she will hate it. Her son, in the Capitol, dressed a miner. I hope she doesn't slip away, Hayden needs her.

Evangeline dresses me while I stare absentmindedly at the wall. Her idea actually isn't too bad, I can put off looking at the Capitol version of those clothes for just a while longer. My thoughts start to wander until I'm thinking of the Games.

I need to win. I need to go back home. But how could I ever kill someone? Maybe I will when the time is right, but the thought of killing a child is far too much to bear. My mind shows me images of blood, of explosions, of cries of shock and fear. The room starts to tilt and I dig my freshly sharpened nails into my palms. I can't think about that now.

Once I'm done being dressed, Evangeline reminds me to smile and wave during the parade. I roll my eyes, hating to obey the Capitol standards, but agree. After all, she must know more about the parade than I do.

Evangeline tells me to head down to the ground floor of the Remake Center while she catches up with the other District 12 stylists. When I reach the gathering place I take a minute to observe my fellow tributes.

Most of the Districts are sticking together, not straying far from their chariots. However, the Careers are all socializing together and getting to know one another. One of the girls from District 1, I can tell by the jewels on her gown, glares at me. She turns back to the other girl from her District. They point at me and she mimes a finger sliding across her throat. I shiver involuntarily before reminding myself to look strong. I turn to look at the other tributes. The non-Careers like me.

I see a strong-looking, red-haired boy from District 5 talking to his mentor. The older girl from District 10 gives me a weird feeling. She looks sly and I make a note of her in my mind. I bite my lip when I see the young boy from District 7 I remember seeing in the reaping recaps. With his fair brown hair and slender arms, he looks just like Hayden. His eyes still have an innocent look to them and I want nothing more than to send him back to his District. I know he is destined to die in these Games.

"Haymitch! Over here!"

I spin around, feeling my tool belt smack me in the side. William is waving me over. He, along with Leila and Maysilee, is standing next to our chariot. The two girls have found sugar cubes somewhere and are feeding our horses.

William waves at again and I, realizing I have no other choice and that the parade must be starting soon, head over to stand with them. I'm careful to keep my eyes on their faces or the floor. Anywhere but their clothes.

Leila looks extremely uncomfortable but manages to give me a small smile. "We were wondering when you'd show up." She points at mine and then William's. "You two actually look good in our costume. Maysilee and I just look ridiculous."

Of course, now that she has mentioned the outfits, my eyes slid over to the coal miners' outfits that I've been avoiding looking at these past few hours. I gasp once I catch a good look.

I marvel at the details; they are so accurate. The exact shade of black, the silver buttons, the hats with yellow headlights.

Bam. I feel the air vanish from my lungs. I'm reminded of my dad, never to be seen again, all because of this exact uniform. I turn around so the others can't see my face. I squeeze my eyes shut and clench my fists, trying to escape the images in my mind.

"Haymitch," someone says from behind me. "Haymitch, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," I say, through gritted teeth.

There's a slight taste of blood in my mouth where I've bitten down on the inside of my cheek. I take a few deep breaths, now is not the time to go to pieces. Somebody says my name again.

I turn around to see the three of them staring at me. William seems concerned while Maysilee looks confused. Leila gives me a sympathetic look. She obviously knows how I feel. That would explain why she looks so uncomfortable as well. Only for me, I guess it's worse.

William steps forwards. "Haymitch, are you okay?"

"Yes," I say, trying to regain some of my toughness. "I'm fine."

He must understand by my tone that I don't want to talk because he drops back. Maysilee frowns at me like she's trying to figure something out. She looks between me and Leila and a look of realization crosses her face. I spot Evangeline and 3 other stylists and quickly direct everyone's attention to them before Maysilee can say anything.

"The parade is starting soon," Evangeline says when she reaches me. "Remember, smile and wave. Get them to like you. You want to make yourself memorable." Around me, my District partners are getting the same talk.

I frown, smiling and waving at a crowd of bloodthirsty people has never been something I wanted to do. But I know I don't really have a choice. "Okay, I'll do my best."

Music starts to play and I watch as the District 1 chariot, with their tributes covered in jewels, starts to make its way through the crowd.

Our stylists herd the four of us onto our chariot. Leila and Maysilee stand just in front of me and William. Suddenly, a rain of black rains down on me. I start and glace to my side. Evangeline, along with the other 3 stylists, have just doused us with black powder. Maysilee is trying to wipe it off her face while William tries to get some out of his mouth. Seeing as nobody is going to talk, I do.

"What was that for?" I say angrily.

Evangeline gives me an apologetic look. "It's black powder to represent coal. Now you guys will look like real coal miners!"

The four of us collectively groan. But before I can say anything back, our chariot starts to move out the door and towards the crowd.

Our stylists call after us. "Don't forget to smile!"

The crowd catches sight of us. There are a few halfhearted cheers but they aren't fooling us. I catch sight of myself on a screen and immediately do a double-take. We look like miners that have been bathing in coal, not tributes trying to catch the attention of the already bored audience.

Still, we do our best. All of us, although I do it grudgingly, smile and wave. But compared to the other tributes, our attempt at a costume is laughable. Forgettable.

When the parade is finally over, our stylists are not too happy with us. Venisha, who I hoped I wouldn't need to see today, has somehow started criticizing us.

"Were you guys even trying? That was horrible! How will we ever be able to get you guys sponsors now?"

We all exchange looks. William tries to explain but Venisha cuts him off with a huff. She leaves to find Reynald, apparently needing to tell him what a disaster we were.

"This is so unfair!" Maysilee says, taking off her hat.

"I know. How do they expect us to make an impression wearing these?" William gestures at his outfit.

"Oh, we made an impression all right?" I say darkly. "A bad one."

Maysilee rolls her eyes at me but I know she agrees. After all, I'm right. I bet no one in the Capitol even remembers our names.

Leila starts to tear up. "How are we going to get sponsors now?"

William puts an arm around the younger girl while Maysilee hugs her. "Don't worry," she says, "we'll figure something out."

As we head for the elevators I can't help but wonder. How am I supposed to win now?


Here is chapter 6! I'm so sorry that it takes so long for me to update. The next chapter will have a shorter wait because it's three side character povs. Depending on the length, they will either be published as three separate chapters or one large one. I have a poll of my profile so you can vote on which povs you would like to see.I really love writing this story and I want to see how many people are actually reading them. So if you're reading this, I would really appreciate it if you could review this chapter so I'll know that you've been reading. Or, if you'd like, you can PM me. Either way, please let me know what you think of this story. Thanks for reading!