Seeing the other Districts reapings gave me relieve and stress at the same time. First, I didn't recognize any names. This is a good sign; I don't know who is supposed to live and I can imagine that they all will be dead in a couple of years if is for my hand or not. Second, I am the youngest. By far. The girl from 5 is the next in age and she is fifteen. Except for this the reaping is normal.
There are the beautiful and deadly blond careers with ridiculous names from 1, I mean Aurelius and Silver? They are bad separate, but together? I can't believe anyone takes the luxury district serious. The big and intimidating look from 2, a volunteer for the male tribute of 4, probably trying to repeat what Finnick Odair did the last year. I doubt he is not going to make it. Is rare for a district won twice in a row, the careers can make it, but all others? Not so much. The rest is also the same from the small nerdy looking kids from 3 to the ones with emaciated faces from 12.
Later Lyanna bring me to a separate room, and she began to tell me strategies and basic notions – don't light a fire in the night –, she even tells me that she is going to teach me how to throw knives. Is the best weapon for me now. I don't have time to be trained in sword, lances or axes and even if I had the time, I am too small and weak comparing to the others. Maybe I could be quicker than them, but I prefer not be that close.
I am thinking of different strategies for the Games the next day when I see it. The Capitol. Or at least its first skyscrapers. Dubai is my first thought. That is the first thing that it remembers me, or well, it would have been if the city of before was build a thousand years in the future, because, right now, the modern buildings and daring architecture that used to be reference would look old and shabby here.
The Capitol actually is not a city, is more like a small district, with its center having the wealthiest people and the structures for the Hunger Games, but since is the only part we, from the districts, see we call it "the Capitol", after all putting a foot here is hard, going back to tell us is harder. The other poor ones that need to work to make sure everything works here live-in satellites cities around the center or in the border of the nearest districts. And say poor very lightly, the poorest person here will be a millionaire in the bottom districts.
And before I can finish analyzing the beautiful city, I see them. The description of Effie Trinket in the books made me think my escort was the most capitolian a person can get with his blood red skin and weird clothes, but seeing the people outside of the train I come to a shocking realization. The man I nicknamed Bloody Man was plain for them.
I guess this is why they chose twelve as the younger age, is when you know that the kids will cry because of the games and their eminent death and not because of the humanoid creatures that live here. I am not fully convinced they are humans. They enjoy watching kids killing each other and abuse of body modifications so much that I doubt half of them can remember how they look before it.
Even so I wave at them cheerfully, one of my hand making sure my flower crown is still in place. I need to put my persona on, a cheerful and hopeful little girl that acts like your little sister or daughter, someone you can empathized, the polar opposite of my true personality. But is better that way, it will probably be hard to keep it if I stay too much time in the Capitol if I win, but it will give me something much more precious. A part of me that they don't control. I decide how I am going to truly be and how I am going to present myself.
Aster rushed Lark and I to the exit where peacekeepers surrounded us, but it was uncertain if they were there to make sure we don't run away or to protect us from the creatures around us that keep stretching their fingers in an attempt of touch. I smile to the crowd until something caught my eyes.
A little girl, no more than five, and if you disregard her obvious capitolian clothes and bright blue hair highlights, she looks normal, maybe too young to plastic surgery even for the Capitol standards, her mother is holding her so she could have a better look. Just like you would do with a child in zoo. But what have caught my attention was the flower crown on top of her head, made with forget-me-nots it was a clear reference to my own.
I don't know what the peacekeepers are going to think about this, even if they don't like, what are they going to do? Kill me? In a month I will probably be dead anyway. I walk to this girl and she claps her hands excited that I am going to talk with her, as if I am some kind of celebrity, instead of a pig going to the slaughter.
"This is so unfair! Red is my favorite color, but blue comes second! And you have a bunch of blue flowers. Do you exchange some?" My voice is unnecessary high and childish and my gestures are too open and cheerful for the situation I am in. But I can pass as either been a kid or talking to one, neither will be seen as 'too much' by the districts or the Capitol.
The girl nods and blabber something I can't understand, but she passed me her crown and I carefully took some flowers out and change for my red ones keeping the shape, before placing it back into her head.
"Mom! Did you see it?! I have the same flowers as the flower girl!" The girl exclaimed to her mother almost falling from her lap since she moved abruptly.
"Now we match! Oh, I must go now! See you in the parade!" I've been taking too much time and I can see that the peacekeepers are instants away from dragging me out of there. And is better to live with a good impression.
Noah and Lyanna are giving me reckoner look while Lark appears disgusting for my behavior. I can't give myself the luxury to care for his opinion anymore and with him showing so much hate for the Capitol is better if I am not associate with my district partner. I cling in Noah's arm and start to babbling about how amazing the people here are, how incredible is the city and if we are going to be able to see anything before the Games.
He gave me strange looks before realization came to him, he laughs and pet my hair as if I was eight instead of twelve, normally I would have hated to be treated as younger than I actually am, but now it fits my purpose.
"Well played, kid. Well played" Noah whisper into ear before I am taken by my prep team.