You thought you could go free
But the system is done for
If you listen here closely
There's a knock at your front door
Emerald "Emmy" Silore
District 5, Female, 13
(Chariot Rides)
...
The train ride was fairly uneventful. My mentor is the winner of the first Hunger Games, Wendy Porter, however it seems that trauma has got to her and she no longer speaks. We spent most of the train ride with her passing notes to me, she's nice enough but I'm afraid she won't be very helpful as a mentor. Nestor and I exit the train, side by side, and we're greeted by a group of people with loud obnoxious make up and puffy hair. I giggle a little at their looks and they don't pay me any attention.
"Emerald. I am your stylist, Tia." A lady with dark skin and long, braided hair tells me as she grabs my shoulders and ushers me into a building. "Myself and my team will be getting you ready for the Chariot Rides, these are very important as they'll be The Capitol's first impression on you." I nod and we enter a room with a hospital-like bed and bright lights.
"What will I be wearing?" I ask.
"That is the least of our concerns right now! We must get rid of all this hair." A plump woman says matter-of-factly and she points to the bed before putting tape-like things to my legs. A few seconds later, she rips them off and I scream in pain. "My dear, pain makes you strong." I roll my eyes at this remark but stay still, my stylist team may be my best shot at making a good impression.
I shut my eyes and take all the pain as best as I can, I think about my friends and family and saying goodbye to them. It was emotional, probably the most vulnerable I've ever been, everybody was crying and I felt so loved. If I wasn't being sent to my almost certain death then maybe I could've enjoyed that moment with them but it really could be my last. Tears come to my eyes and a tall lanky man starts yelling at me.
"Stop that at once! You'll ruin your makeup!"
When they finish 'fixing' my body, Tia shows me to a tight navy blue jumpsuit and tells me to get into it.
"Well go on then." She demands and I'm taken aback.
"In front of you?"
"Yes, come on now, I won't bite." I sigh a little and strip my clothes off, I then put the navy blue jumpsuit on.
"How does this represent District 5?"
"These." She starts wrapping LED fairy lights around me and I can't contain my laughter.
"Are you serious? I'm going to look like a joke."
"Everyone around here looks like a joke." I suppose she's not wrong, maybe The Capitol will like this stupid look.
Ashanti Nia Jelani
District 7, Female, 15
(Chariot Rides)
...
I laugh to myself as I sit in the chariot, I have a forest green bushy wig on and a brown textured dress. A tree. How stupid can my stylists get? Either way, I'm going to look good in it and I'm going to show these idiotic Capitolites how to put on a show. Daniel sits beside me in a similar sort of outfit.
"Looking fit." I snort and he grunts. He's not very talkative, in fact, he's only really spoken a couple words to me today. It's annoying, really, I think he can help me out in the arena but I'm not working with somebody who won't bother to talk to me.
District 1s Chariot starts moving, I watch on the TV screen and I couldn't tell you what their outfit is, it just seems to be extremely bright and shiny. The audience roars with applause, typical, the careers look amazing while we are the comedic relief.
District 2 is next and they seem to be in knight costumes, they do a rehearsed duel of sorts with their plastic swords and I laugh at the stupidity of it.
District 3 looks worse off then I do and that's saying something, they are both wearing massive boxes that seem to be TV screens and the boy trips over because of it. Luckily for him, the girl catches him.
District 4 are wearing their signature merman and mermaid costumes, both have tridents in their hands and seem to be trying their best to look intimidating.
District 5 are wrapped in LED lights and are by far the worst looking so far, I'm just glad I can hide behind their awful costumes.
It's almost to us and the district in front of us, District 6, rolls down into the crowd. They seem to be wearing conductors outfits, though, I can't really tell as we have passed the TV screen. Then, it's our turn and the flashing lights and screaming crowd hits me like a train. I try my best to wave and soon my eyes get used to it and I get into my element. I blow a few kisses and wink, flirting is what I'm good at and the sponsors are going to roll in because of it.
We come to a stop next to the other chariots and I look up at the president. Her brunette hair is tied into a long braid down her back and she wears a plain white suit with a couple of flowers. I despise her. She allows these games to go on and she's the reason my brother is now dead. It takes every ounce of me to stay calm and collected but I know I have to if I want to get through this. Victors have more influence and it could very well be my way to spark a rebellion in Panem.
Catalyst looks down at me and smiles, I smile back. A fake smile. The other chariots gather next to us within the next few minutes and she starts to speak.
"Welcome, Tributes and Capitolites." She has a warm and soft voice, it makes me hate her even more to know how calm she is. "Tributes, may the odds be ever in your favour. Thank you, good night." With that, she's gone and our mentors come rushing toward us and attempt to help us down. I refuse Stephan's hand and get down by myself, he's nice enough but I'll be the first to admit that I'm not good at accepting help.
"Now let's get out of here so I can take this stupid costume off!" I yell and Daniel grunts in agreement, we follow our mentors into an elevator and are taken up to floor 7. The floor is, well, it's extravagant. I'm not afraid to admit the Capitol's wealth and nice things like these is exactly one of the reasons why I hate them, even if they allow me to live in it, it's the least they could do for sending me off to my most certain death. I tear off my costume and do a mock yawn.
"Well, I'm tired. That was fun. See you all tomorrow!" With that, I run off to bed in just my under garments and diver under the duvet - blocking out the world.
A/N: A shorter chapter but a chapter nonetheless! We're only 4 chapters away from the bloodbath and I'm super excited, hopefully I can get these chapters out quick because I'm starting to get into the writing rhythm again! Also, if you have a SYOT that you want me to submit to then feel free to DM me, you better finish it though. :)
- Neb