(Age 23, The 75th Hunger Games- Quarter Quell )
"We've got a problem".
Cashmere's smile dropped and we both whipped our heads up at Gloss. I'd skipped the rest of training after my little stunt with Everdeen. I was just beyond done with anything to do with training. Instead having found comfort with Cashmere braiding my hair.
I sighed. "Let me guess, Enorbaria and Brutus wern't happy I left?"
Afterall it wasn't typical career behaviour, although it did make me seem more than arrogent.
Gloss scoffed. "Doubt they cared. No, our problem is Katniss Everdeen".
I swear both Cashmere and I rolled our eyes simulatinously. She huffed. "She's a child from District Twelve, that alone should tell you she's not a threat".
Gloss shook his head at us. "You two wern't there, You didn't see her shoot today. She's good. Good enough that it felt like watching somone practicing their signiture at the acedemy. And Velvet didn't play nice with her today".
I rose my eyebrow at him. "So, now you're the one who wants to be allies with District Twelve?"
He shrugged. "No, I'm just saying she's not somone to be over looked. We were wrong about her."
Gloss gave as a final glance before walking into his room. Cashmere scoffed beside me. "We were wrong about her". She spoke two tones deepeer to imitate her brother causing me to smirk in amusment. "Can you believe him? The girl on fire an actual threat? She doesn't even own a pair of heels, let alone have the ability to weild a weapon like a signiture!"
I shrugged. "It doesn't matter how good she is. She has no allies apart from Peeta Mellark and well...I doubt he's going to catch us".
We both instantly smirked.
I wasn't bothered or anxious about my evaluation, I knew my skills with my machete alone would get me at least a ten.
Normally tributes had to wait in silence before their names get called. Yet, it appears due to our status and the fact that we all knew eachother, everyone decided to talk. While admittedly never leaving their own seats.
I occupied the first seat of the first row. Two districts per row of seats. Which I didn't care so much in my last games but it means that District Four is sitting directly behind District One.
Meaning Mags was sitting behind me and Finnick behind Gloss. Only Finnick was sitting so close to Mags that he was practically behind me too. His constant whispering and sniggeres were getting on my nerves and I tried with everything in me to drown him out. He was speaking so softly to her that I couldn't make out what he was saying. Instead it was just a constent whisp of his voice. An annoying whisp at that.
I sighed deeply in irritation causing Gloss to give me a small smile before rubbing my back encouragingly. Thus, invoking another snigger from Finnick. That's it!
I snapped my head behind me and shot Finnick the most repoachful look I could muster. "What's your problem Odair!?"
His sea green eyes seemed to light up upon me finally giving in. He chuckled silently. "You're my problem, Love".
I clicked my tongue in annoyance and opened my mouth only to be cut off by Gloss.
"Velvet".
My eyes were still ensnared by Finnick's. Finnick rose an eyebrow casually. He seemed to be testing me to see if I'd actually look at Gloss or not. I huffed, my eyes never leaving his sea green ones. "What?"
I heard Gloss grunt beside me. "Don't do something you'll regert. You can just kill him later in the arena".
Finnick chuckled, as if me killing him was nothing more than an amusing thought.
What, like I couldn't do it?!.
I hated that he knew exactly the right buttons to push, the right expression to use before I'd finally snap.
"District One, Velvet Watts. Report for indvidual assessment".
Finnick held my glare with a smirk of his own. Both of us practically ignoring Gloss. He clicked his tongue and tilted his head to the door. "You going to answer that, Love?"
I felt a tug on my arm and dropped my gaze from Finnick. I looked up at Gloss who gave me a determined nod.
I took a deep breath before standing and making my way towards the training facility. Fully confident with my head held high, eager smile on display for all to see.
All thoughts of Finnick gone as I entered the room. My eyes glanced at all the weapons and stations before a cough above me stopped my observing eyes.
Pultritch Heavensbee. I swallowed. He hasn't been a gamemaker since the seventieth hunger games. Since my games, because of what happened...what he let happen for a full hour.
Countless thoughts ran through my head. Why did Snow choose him after what happend?. Did he get punished like I did from those games or was he simply left alone because he's from the Capitol?. Did he want to kill me with that wave? or had he been rooting for me and sent the machete for me to kill Mike with instead?. I had so many questions for the man currently smiling down at me almost in pride?...Not crulety but there was something laced under that expression. Something that I couldn't pick up on.
After all those years of being taught how to read and observe people yet, I couldn't read his face. I definitely knew that he knows something that I don't. Maybe even something about me specifically.
He cleared his throat agin. "Miss Watts. You have exactly ten minutes to demonstrate your chosen skill. You're time starts now".
I instantly walked to the machete sation only to fall short. They'd expect that. They'd seen me at my last games, given me a ten. I turned back up at them, all of them having my full attention. I was the first to go afterall so I'd probably have their attention for the whole ten minutes.
I bit my lip before my eyes went back to Heavensbee's. They'd been watching us all week and I'd watched them back occuasionally. They's seen me at the machete station because I heard clapping from their box. Five of them had seen me throwing knifes with Gloss. I bet they'd probably fangirled over me and Enobaria spearing with each other. No matter what I give them today, they'd still give still give me a ten based off what they've already seen.
Heavensbee rose an eyebrow as if in encouragment. I dropped my gaze and turned my head to the left which just so happened to contain a rack of swords. It hit me, the memories hit me faster than a train.
The swing, the blood and the screams.
I felt an angry tear fall down my cheek. It was his fault! His fault I'd forever be messed up and tramuatised. I looked up at him with a fiece glare before staring down at the timer. I had nine minutes left, enough time for something else, something different. Something that would give me personal satisfaction. Afterall, I don't have to be a career in here, even Snow isn't allowed to know what goes on during this ten minutes. It's sacred, for the gamemakers eyes only.
I found a sinister smirk make its way onto my face. I quickly grabbed a sword, a dummie and a bucket of red paint.
With a paintbrush on the floor below them in big block letters I wrote the line. The line that I hadn't said but been paying for, ever since I'd been crowned a Victor.
I then, with bloody paint stained hands dumped the remainder of the bucket on the neck of the dummie. I was crying I knew that, but I think they were happy tears. I felt free in this very second recreating the moment in which my life had turned to shit.
With shaking hands I picked up the sword and swang. The plastic head flew in the air, a bit of paint splashing with it before it cracked against the concrete floor with a thud. I dropped the sword dramatically and looked up at all of them with angry satisfactory tears. I made sure my eyes were only looking into Heavensbee's grey ones before I screamed, screamed my lungs out repeatedly and didn't stop.
I sat screaming, covered in a blood coloured shade of paint and started at the gamemaker who'd runied all four of us in that arena. He may of forgotten but I never will. I screamed for all of us, all four us. Me, Sparks, Mike, and the mad girl from Four. It was only once the buzzer rang that I instantly stopped. I stood and bowed, the words 'Don't Let Them Have It!' written in paint for all to see.
I walked with my head held high as I exited the training facility. Gloss was waiting behind the door eager to walk in but faulted in his steps. I gave him a confused look to which he indicated to below my head. I looked down to see most of my body covered in paint. I started laughing, an actual happy laugh.
Gloss shook his head at me and continued on as if the interaction had never even happened. I then kept walking until I entered the waiting room where all the other tributes were seated.
As soon as I entered a flurry of gasps and whispers ensued. I don't know why but my eyes connected with Finnick's. He looked intrigued before he whipped his head towards Johanna Mason. Both of them then stared back at me with identical smirks.
I scoffed, so they're allies? That expalains allot. At least why they seemed to be plotting all the time. Perhaps, they think I'm mad and an easier kill now? Wouldn't suprise me. I found myself smirking back, they're both in for a shock then. I'm more than capable of hacking them both to pieces.
I strutted out of there, past all the Victors and straight to the evelator. I'd still get my ten. Theres no way they couldn't give it to me after seeing me train all week. But that? that was the most exhilarating moment of my life since before I volunteered for my games. I found myself giggling in the evevator, just that tiny taste of freedom was enough for me to find my spirit.
I suddenly had something to fight for. Not a deranged mother, but the feeling of being free. Even if I have to kill every tribute in the arena to feel like this again, then I'd do it. If that made me a bad person then I didn't care. Because at the end of the day it actually makes me someone I've been telling myself I'm not. It makes me a Career.
I looked down at my dress in distain. Velvet. Its a velvet dress. Just when I thought I couldn't be more pissed at Snow, he goes and does this. Insists that I wear velvet tonight.
A white, velvet, tight fitting and low cut dress. I hated it for all those reasons but it also washed me out with my pale skin and blonde hair. I had a hundred tiny diamonds glued in my hair with excessive diamond earrings. I looked a bit tacky but Cashmere actually said I looked good and was somehow pulling it off.
I hoped she was right because the whole outfit made me want to puke. I joined the line up, one of the last to appear it seems. Johanna scoffed at me as I past her and I could hear Finnick's chuckle as I took my place in the front of the line. They'd obviously taken notcie of the dress' material.
The last person to arrive was Katniss. She entered and we all glared or showed our distain at her attire. I smirked, it's worse than mine.
I heard Johanna scoff again. "Really, a wedding dress?"
Katniss sighed "Snow made me wear it".
I huffed under my breath and muttered "Well, you look ridiculous".
I saw Katniss stare at me. In fairness, I thought she was too far away to have heard that.
She rose an eyebrow at me. "Says the girl named Velvet in a Velvet dress".
I found myself glaring back at her. "Snow made me wear it".
I could tell she wasn't expecting that. Infact, I saw a few suprised looks on many victors that surrounded me. I shook my head at them and faced the front of the stage, ignoring them all. Sometimes I hated how the outer districts always assumed that we wern't just as controlled as they are. From the many pairs of eyes still on my back I could tell allot of them assumed I'd worn it thinking I'm materialsitic. When really Snow tourtured his career victors just as much as those from District Twelve.
I heard a familiar chuckle behind me. "Make him pay for it!". I turned my head slightly to find Johanna had stepped out of her place in line. She was smirking at both Katniss and I. I quickly whipped back my head infront of me, ignoring what had just been said. Waiting nervously for Ceasar to call out my name. That is until somone held my shoulder.
I looked up in alarm and saw Katniss looking down at me regrettably. "I'm sorry for what I said. I think you look good. Not ridiculous at all".
She was smiling at me, offering an olive branch of sorts. I indicated to her hand resting on my shoulder and she promptly let go. I huffed. "You know back home, Velvet is considered a normal name. Katniss on the other hand would be considered feral...like yourself".
I met her stare and she took a step back in understanding. Just becuse we're similar didn't make us allies. I was still a career from One and she was still a poor girl from Twelve. She nodded at me in final recognition that if we meet tomorrow we won't hesitate. Whatever happened five years ago was in the past and now I'm on a completely different side.
"...to express our love. And heartbreakingly to say goodbye to all but one. What a night. Let's hear it."
Screams. I knew once the screaming started I'd be called on in mere seconds.
"It's so exciting! Ha ha ha!". I made brief eyecontact with Caesar while learking in the front of the wings. I felt put off by his false smile. What on earth did Snow have on a guy like him?
"Let's start off with the District we all love. Straight from District One, The Victor of the Seventieth Hunger Games!...Valvet Watts!"
The screams intensified and I walked out with my normal glamorized smile. Caesar's hand held mine and he held my arm out for all to see me. To see my dress, giving everyone in the audience a perfect view.
I heard him gasp beside me. "Doesn't Valvet just look stunning in Velvet!?"
That had the entire auidence laughing. It was hard to grin and bare it. I hated that we didn't know any better. I'm being ridiculed, along with my parents and my entire District. All because our whole education of the world is fabricated by the very people laughing at me. We're taught only what they teach us in the academy, a school that rips children away at a young age and brainwashes us. It's a running joke thoughout Panem, the names we called ourselves back home. It's even a joke to Districts 2-12, mainly because they don't understand, can't relate. Another way to seperate us. Snow knew this was a personal form of torture to the people of my District, he obviously feels the need to remind us of our place after my last games.
My mother's name is Chiffon. My father's name was Felt, my brothers were nemed Canvas and Lace. To us the name Caesar would turn heads. And yet, I'm the one being laughed at by an entire country because my people aren't taught anything of the real world outside our district.
I felt tears falling. Fuck.
Stop, stop crying! They were angry tears but I played it off as sad ones of course. I had to spin this around quick. Somehow turn it into something so I still looked like a career to everyone in that audience.
Caesar held a hand up to the crowd to silence eveyone and then held the microphone in my face. "Have we offended you, my Dear?"
Well duh. Me and everyone in District One!
I sobbed. "N-no of course not. S-sorry it's just...I-I can't stop crying. Just hearing and seeing all those smiles. I j-just can't even think of how sad you'll be when you lose us all".
Caesar nodded at me. "That's alright, Under the cicumsatnces it's all understable."
I sighed somewhat depressingly. I knew I wasn't supposed to be doing this but I didn't care. This might be the last night of my life. More tears started to flow. "I know, I just...well I'm going to miss you all so much and I just can't stop thinking of the pain you'll all endure from losing us".
What had started in my interview, had began an oncoming train of every Victor using their last words to try and stop the games.
Gloss and Cashmere had a joint interview. Cahsmere standing beside him really invoked allot of sympathy from the Capitol citizens, especially when Gloss called them all his family. Something I found very hard to not snort in laughter at.
At the moment I was only one at the back platform of the stage. Everyone could still see me, unlike all the other tributes I'd be on stage the entire night. Another thing to cause me to be jealous of Katniss, who only has to be out here for her and Peeta's interviews. Me, on the other hand has to stand here, not sit, but stand for all twenty four interviews...in heels!
Cashmere left the stage around the three minute mark and the rest of Gloss' interview involed similar tactics I'd used like bring up the grief they'd feel when we die. I stood standing there tuning most people out, dreaming of this show ending just so I can take my heels off. I sighed before checking how far along we are before I clicked my tongue in annoyance. Really? it felt like I'd been standing for an hour yet it's only Betee's interview.
I saw Bettee look at Caesar pointedly. "If the Quarter Quell were written into law by men, certainly it can be unwritten".
Caesar hesitated slightly before he nodded. "Yes. Interesting concept".
I smiled. Seemed the pattern was continuing. I blocked everything else out and started staring into space while looking relaxed. Anything to just not look as bored as I felt. I was thinking of practicing spears with my older brothers as a child when a hundred screams woke me up from day dreaming of simpler times.
I looked down below me to see the back of Finnick's broze hair as he strutted onto the stage. I huffed, typical Finnick Odair.
"Finnick!" Caesar smiled at him and I watched Finnick smirk back.
He looked good. Face left normal and rugged. Full natural beauty on display. His shirt, more so a toga exposing most of his chest...it wasn't a bad sight if one was willing to forget his entire character and personality.
Caesar looked knowingly into the crowd . "I understand that you have a message, for somebody out there. A special somebody". Caesar chuckled and Finnick's signature smirk seemed to widen. "Can we hear it?".
As soon as Caesar put the microphone in-front of him, he'd dropped his persona completely. I watched on in stunned silence, wouldn't Snow get him back for that? My eyes instantly looked on, meeting his serious vulnerable stare in a screen to my right. "My Love, you have my heart for all eternity. And if-". He paused and tipped his head. "If I die in that arena, my last thought will be of your lips".
What the actual fuck was that?!
It wasn't anything special. Infact, it was a typical Finnick Odair move. Connecting to the slutty Capitol women so they'd stop the games. But I doubted that, because I'd never seen him like that. Never had a glimse at the real Finnick. Oh, and My Love?! The way he emphasised the word love, the name he always without fail called me? I felt myself suddenly becoming hot.
There was no way...maybe he called everyone that? After all, why say that when two days ago he talked about killing me? Or why say that when he's the reason I'm a prosituite like him?. I rolled my eyes at myself. Of course he isn't talking about me, it's just a coincidence.
I suddenly felt beyond stupid. Finnick Odair without realising it, just played me like he did every other woman in that audience. I guess this would be my own great shame. That despite his hate and cruelness to me I still found him attractive. A secret I'd take to the grave. Afterall I'm from District One, I have an eye for pretty things and Finnick was pretty, beyond pretty. I hated that I was still a little ricth girl, still materilistic. Materilistic enough, like the disgusting Capitol women to think for even a second he actually meant me. I bit my lip in disgust and shame. It doesn't mean I won't gut him like the fish he is tomorrow at my first opportunity.
I didn't bother listening to any other interviews after that. I also avioded looking to my left in the direction of Finnick who was exactly in the centre of my row. I'd remain uncaring, appear as if I hadn't even bothered to pay attention to what he had said.
Angry clomping had me raising my head to find Johanna Mason marching onto the stage. I turned to the screen on my right and watched as Caesar looked into the crowd. Johanna smirked beside him. "We've seen allot of tears here tonight". I heard her chuckle and I clenched my teeth. There was no doubt in my mind that her laugh had just been a personal dig at my interview. "But I see no tears in Johanna's eyes. Johanna you are angry". Caesar put the microphone in front of her. "Tell us why?".
She chuckled darkly before turning to Caesar. "Well, yes. I'm angry.". She was still smiling at him before continuing. "You know, I'm getting totally screwed over here".
Caesar nodded. "Uh-huh". I could tell he wasn't enjoying Johanna's take. He was almost giving her a warning look. "The deal was that if I won the the hunger games, then I get to live the rest of my life in peace". She turned directly to the camera and rose her eyebrows. "But now, you want to kill me again". She paused and chuckled but it was manic. "Well f-ck that! And f-ck anyone that had anything, to do with it!". She huffed angrily before strutting off the stage in rage. Damn, I can't believe that just happened. If I did that my mother would be in a wooden box faster then I could blink. Caesar was left on an empty stage and gave a tight lipped smile to the camera. "One woman's opinion, whose next?"
I didn't know how much longer it had been since Johanna's interview maybe an hour and a half? I was tempted to just walk off the platform and hide in my room. This might be worse then the actual games. Spending what could be the last night of my life having to stand for hours on end in heels, in the same spot and doing nothing. It's just a waste of what little time I might have left. Although I knew if I returned home then my District would never let me here the end of it if I walked off. Even If I did end up winning them the greatest honour in Panem, they'd still hate me for it.
A cough broke me out of my trance and I looked to my left to find Enobaria. Well, at least it wasn't Finnick. We briefly made eyecontact and she winked at me, I had no choice but to wink back with a smile. I'm fearing the moment when I'll choose Gloss over her. She'll be so betrayed, after she's thought this out to a T with me being essential to her plan. The final two, just me and her? No way!
I stared back out at the sea of Capitol people and gulped. Can Gloss and I take her out? Or will I get my throat ripped out by her teeth? scary thought but it could be my fate in the arena.
A bright light made my eyes snap down to whoever was on the stage. Of course the flames are making an appearence. Katniss Everdeen twirled before everyone as her dress turned to ash. The white material seemed to be morphing as she raised her arms above her head.
She stood before us all. An actual Mockingjay.
I heard Gloss scoff beside me but I didn't tear my eyes away from Katniss. I was witnessing something that scared me to my core, something I was too blinded to see had already started. Something I've been too sheltered in my district with all its propoganda to realise. The revoultion had already started and Katniss was the face of it. Or atleast she would be after tonight.
Peeta's interview was next but I couldn't really comprehend anything after what I just saw. Or at least I thought I couldn't until Peeta dropped the baby bomb. Gloss was right. We'd been wrong in over looking them. Smart and cunning all along. And one was so skilled with a weapon to the point even Gloss said she used it like a signiture. Like, she'd been training with it for years if not her whole life.
I bit my lip in fear, I looked worried at a good time too because the Capitol people were so riled up I doubt any were looking at me. Suddenly the odds didn't seem so in my favour.
What with Katniss and Peeta...essentially a career level archer I promised to kill with a cunning brain by her side. Finnick, who'd have it out for me the second the cannon blows with Johanna Mason as his back up. The freaks from Three, who I was still weary of since they were known for taking out entire career packs with their contraptions. And Let's not forget I'm not even safe in my own alliance. I'm eventually planning to double cross Fangs so she won't kill Gloss.
Yeah, I'm so dead.
My hand was suddenly being lifted into the air and I turned to Gloss in confusion. I relaxed when I realised we wern't raising our hands as careers demonstrating pride. No. We were raising them in unity, all of us against the games...Against the Capitol. I just hope my mother or Cashmere won't end up dead because of this. Just as that thought entered my mind the lights suddenly turned off leaving everything in darkness.
When we'd made it to our floor we both stood waiting for news. The ultimate yes or no. Cashmere suddenly entered the floor, Mavis flagging her side. In one swoop Cashmere grabbed both Gloss'and my hands before a silent tear fell down her cheek. She then sniffed rather loudly as if the tear would hopefully suck itself back up. By the way she couldn't look us in the eye I knew...
I shared a hopeless look with Gloss before he kissed my forehead. That was different but I guess he's scared too.
I heard him sigh deeply before giving me a small smile. "We should get some rest while we still can. Who knows how much we'll get with District Two around us".
I nodded. Just like that we all somberly left to different rooms of the first floor. All of us feeling the weight of what had just occured, well all but probably Mavis.
That night as I tossed and turned, I wondered if all of us would stick to being unified. Would we all throw our weapons down in defiance like I had in my games? Or would we all kill eachother as soon as that canon goes off?
I stared at the ceiling frustratedly. Who was I kidding, we'd all been crowned for a reason right?
