Chariot Rides

Liya Chiaro (17) D5F

Liya had never anticipated that she would have to face such circumstances. There had always been a desire to adventure, yes, and a desire to break away. To be her own person. How many times had she thought of leaving her parents' house? How many times did she think that she needed to be independent? Had she not, while having her meagre food with her family, wished to meet new people, to see new places? She had certainly craved change in her monotonous life.

Never had she thought though, that one day she would be sitting on a three-legged rosewood stool in front of an ornate mirror, that was taller than she was, with extremely heavy makeup on, looking slightly less human and slightly more mannequin-like in appearance. Earlier a single tear had, against all restraint, trickled down her left eye. What followed was just horrendous.

She had seen Peacekeepers gang up on people, but it was always a third-party view. That day, her entire prep team circled her like the predators they were acting as. They screamed and yelled at her for ruining the makeup they had worked so hard on. She yelled back, calling them inhuman, but there were like five of them and one of her. Ultimately her stylist intervened and told off the prep team dryly. It was clear that she wasn't really keen on helping Liya, but she had to simply because of her tribute status.

The makeup was back on, as perfect as it was before. Liya was unable to recognise the plastic life sized doll in front of her, adorned in sparkly jewels that glittered like electric bulbs. The plain black dress, falling to her knees hugged the doll's figure tightly. The calf-length black boots that had four-inch heels barely looked as if it could support standing, let alone walking. Liya found it hard to believe that the plastic doll staring back at her was she herself. She hated looking at the mirror, but she was required to sit still as her hair was being, against her wish, styled up in a high bun. Her freckles simply disappeared due to the sheer amount of foundation and blush that was used.

"Hurry up! The parade is about to start off now!"

Liya shut her eyes tightly at that, clenching her fists, trying to control her rage. She knew what was coming, and it would be smart to keep quiet right now. Anger would get her nowhere and she acknowledged it. Still, there was a considerable difference between saying and doing, and Liya, with her breathing ragged now, was trying to bridge that same gap.

"Wait! We can't start the parade now! The tribute's not ready!"

"What the hell were you people doing till now then?!" the Master of Ceremonies asked as he barged into the dressing room. He was a short man with a strong voice, and it was evident that the latter caused an intimidation among the prep team.

"The makeup had gotten smeared, sir," Liya's stylist said finally in her calm voice, "The tribute was unwilling to cooperate."

Now that was not true at all.

"Is that so?" the MC, Orcus asked, his brow raised as he turned his cruel little eyes to Liya.

"No."

"Did you say something, Ms Chiaro?" Orcus asked, his voice holding amusement as he looked at the girl sitting in front of him, still facing the mirror.

"I said no, sir," Liya said, keeping her voice from trembling. She was not saying this in the heat of the moment, after her experience with her prep team she had realised that it wasn't wise to show emotions. No, it was calculated. Liya didn't like doing this, but now was the time to be fake, and be fake as hell.

"Sir, this mascara was stinging my eye and so I got a bit tearful. Instead of fixing it, they started getting angry at me. Sir, I'm from a very humble background and am not used to such luxuries. I tried to act to the best of my abilities. But I was humiliated for something that was not my fault at all. All I'm concerned is with doing my best in the upcoming Games, and I was under the impression that my prep team will help me. Instead, they chose to humiliate and harass me, wasting valuable time."

"She's lying!" one of the members of the prep team cried out, "She was crying and ruined all our hard work!"

"Sir, looking at me, do you think I've shed a single tear? After having such a great opportunity as being a participant in the Games, representing my District in the entire country, I'll cry? Ha, never!"

"Stop lying Liya-" her stylist began, but was cut off by Orcus.

"Get her ready in five minutes you buffoons! I'm not having any of your nonsense. It's your mistake that you couldn't get the work done in time. Stop blaming the tribute!"

"But-"

"Shut up."

And with that, Orcus marched out of the dressing room.

Liya smiled to herself, taking in the faces of her prep team. Fear was etched on each of them. This was sweet revenge.

Horatio Aravani (14) D12M

Horatio was about to run his hand through his gelled hair, but then recalling that it was gelled for a reason, so he dropped his hands to his side. The hall was vast, with white marble floor and large roofs, having the most intricate paintings on them. He'd have to lie down on the floor to look at all the paintings, and he couldn't do that for the simple reason that his costume would be spoilt. For a change, a very weird change, they were dressed in tight fitting suits, of the colour of coal and covered with powdered gems. He was literally shining.

Teddy sat beside him silently, looking at other tributes who bustled around in the hall, their stylists adding last minute finishes to their appearances. There was just no point though. Whether those touches were applied or not, they all looked exactly the same to Horatio. District Twelve tributes were the only ones who were sitting, and they did not look inclined to get up anytime soon.

Son, why don't you try to get some allies?

Horatio turned his raging eyes to face his father, who looked as concerned as ever. Looking at him, Horatio was again reminded of the purpose of his presence in this hall. He had to play, and play hard. Not because he feared death, that was not the case at all, but because he had to return to Claude to haunt his life forever. If he died… he'd be completely reunited with his father.

I'll try dad. I just don't know who to talk to first.

Why not the lovely young lady sitting next to you Horatio?

Dad, her reputation proceeds her. For my own sanity, I'd avoid someone like her.

It'll be wise if you do at least talk to her, son.

Horatio sighed inwardly, closing his eyes as he did so. His father had been pretty persistent about talking to Teddy. Even on the train, he had been trying to persuade him. now, Horatio rarely disobeyed his father, but this was Teddy Formico they were talking about! Everyone in Twelve knew what she was! How could he just ask her to ally when he himself despised her presence?

"When the *** are they going to start?" Teddy murmured, bringing Horatio back to the present. His father shrugged at him, as if telling him to go ahead. Exasperated, Horatio finally gave up, and turned to face Teddy.

"I don't think it'll start for a while," he said, "The Five girl is still missing."

The young man was so uncomfortable with speaking to the vile woman that his own voice sounded strange to him. he cleared his throat, hoping that his discomfort didn't show on his face or in his voice.

"I wonder when she'll be here," Teddy replied, "Anyway, how are you going to pose?"

Horatio was, in all genuineness, taken aback by the question. Pose? What pose?

"I didn't get you…"

"Look," Teddy said, turning to look at him directly, and then smiled lightly, "When we'll be on the chariot we'll have to do something. Waving, jumping, dancing, smirking…you get the idea. So what're you planning?"

"I haven't really thought about it."

"Oh," Teddy said, "It's alright. We'll smile up at those people and wave at them. That'll make them think that we're thrilled to be here, and maybe they'll sponsor us?"

"True. Although, to be honest, I doubt they will. Capitolites have become increasingly miserly in the recent times."

Teddy laughed at that, nodding her head in agreement. She looked at Horatio as if seeing a new person, or as if she suddenly remembered something, maybe a combination of both.

The parade had begun already. It was time to get going soon.

The two stood up, ready to get on the chariots. A few last-minute touches were being added, but they were the last so Horatio wasn't worried.

"Horatio, I was wondering why you volunteered for this."

Horatio's lips formed a thin line at the question. He knew it would come, and that was a reason he didn't want to heed his father's advice. The boy turned to the man who got had persuaded him to talk to her in the first place, hoping that he would provide an answer. He again shrugged though, and this time Horatio gritted his teeth.

"Hey, hey, you don't have to answer that!" Teddy exclaimed, "I understand. There must have been a personal reason for that!"

"Thank you," Horatio replied, sighing in relief on the inside. Firstly, he didn't want to explain anything to this girl. Secondly, even if he did… how exactly was the young lad supposed to express in words the compelling circumstances that pushed him to take this potentially dangerous step? How could he just say 'oh that guy killed my dad and a few other guys and I had to make him so guilty that he couldn't live with himself!'? Now, the reasoning sounded perfectly acceptable to Horatio. And maybe it would sound such to others too. But then came the problem of how did he know all this? There was just no proof against Claude. Was he to say that his dead father was his chief informant about all matters that concerned him? When he looked at is situation from a third party's eye, it just didn't sound all that right.

His mentor helped him onto the black-diamond chariot, and then proceeded to assist Teddy, who simply got on by herself. Ignoring their mentor, Teddy smiled at Horatio and then grabbed the side of the chariot.

"It's alright Horatio. I'm sure you have something in you that makes you so conf-" she started but was cut off right there.

"And maybe District Seven couldn't keep their feet on the chariot this year…"

Andrei "Drei" Altair (14) D8M

Andrei must have just had the opportunity to wear the best costume that District Eight might have received. Ever. The thing was that chariot ride costumes had changed considerably over the years. Usually now, people wore suits or gowns of flashy or attractive material to represent their districts. Gone were the days when District Four tributes were made to dress up as mermaids and District Eight tributes dressed up as sewing machines.

Instead, his bright yellow suit stood out, and his white shirt was printed with sewing machines. It actually looked pretty cool. Last year they had designed a suit that was multicoloured, with a slimy green being the prominent one, and the shirt had been a mud coloured shirt that was just too tight. It was, in simple words, painful to look at.

However, in her long laced yellow dress that had a trail and which was patterned with sewing machines as well, Jordan, with her hair tied up in a high bun, looked regal. Drei knew she was taking the attention away from him, simply because she was prettier and managed to pull off the rich look as well as any Carrier- or even better.

But Drei was unfazed by that. Looks got people only so far in the Games. Wits had, time and again, proven to be more useful. Now he wasn't a particularly bad boy, but Jordan just gave the vibes that alerted the child. She wasn't someone with whom he could open up. She wasn't someone he could trust.

The crowd was cheering for both of them, and Drei raised his hand in greeting, wearing a cocky smile. The smile that would usually put people off drove Capitolites to the point of ecstasy. The cheering turned into roars of support, and soon beautiful flowers were being showered on District eight tributes. Drei knew that many of them were for Jordan, but many of them were for him too. As for Jordan, the older girl refused to say a word. She just stood there like a fashion model, her eyes meeting everyone's in the crowd, a small smile on her pretty face. Maybe it was this attitude she showed that people were going crazy.

"Love you guys!" Drei shouted out and raised his hand making a victory sign. The cheering became harder than what seemed possible, and whistles soon engulfed the area, along with thunderous applause.

As Drei lowered his hand, he noticed the pair from Seven. The two seemed to be waving at the crowd absently and were busier talking than trying to convince people to sponsor them. Dwayne, in his bright green suit, leaned against the side of the chariot and waved at the crowd. He stood in a position from where people could see him, and he could see Shama. The younger girl turned out to be smarter as she stood straight, beaming at the crowd and waving enthusiastically, talking o Dwayne in a very low tone so that only he could hear.

Drei knew trouble was brewing up there. Dwayne looked slightly…angry? His young District Partner suddenly snapped, and flicked her hand at him, who was already in a very dangerous position. Maybe her tiny hands hit his giant body a bit too hard, or maybe he was just surprised, but Dwayne Wildflower's footing was lost. However, Drei was impressed by the pace and logic of decision-making, as Dwayne, instead of trying to save himself, grabbed his offender's wrist and pulled her down on the hard ground with himself, while the chariot moved on.

"And maybe District Seven couldn't keep their feet on the chariot this year…"

Andrei, although rightfully worried, couldn't stop the cruel laughter from escaping his lips, or the mere thought that he didn't blame Orcus for trying to stifle his laughter when he said that. The District Seven tributes, Shama on top of Dwayne, were a miserable sight, and strangely enough, there was not one person who would come to their rescue. The boy, in all his beautiful clothes, looked hurt, and blood was soon seeping from his elbows. The girl was uninjured as such, but she was now telling off the miserable boy.

Andrei thought about helping them up, and stepped back just a bit. However, when he took in the sight of the crowd laughing, he couldn't help but feel that if kindness be shown here, it would just end up harming him. and he wasn't interested in lowering his chances. Not now. Not when it was a matter of life and death. So Drei stepped forward to his position again and watched, with an interest that a bystander has, the crowd jeer at the tributes.

It was really only a matter of seconds, although it seemed to be pretty long. To Andrei's surprise, Casper jumped off his chariot and jogged towards the tributes, helping them up on their feet. He cast a quick look at Dwayne's elbow as one who truly had a inner knowledge about worldly aspects of life, and ignoring everyone he tore off a piece of his own suit, rolled up the sleeves of Dwayne's suit and shirt, and then wrapped the cloth around his wound. All the while, the injured boy stared blankly at the boy who was attending to him, and who now pulled both him and his District Partner gently towards the chariot that had now come to a halt.

An unnatural silence fell in the area as every eye watched the brutal District Two Career help the miserable children. He lifted Shama in his arms like an adult lifts a playful child, and set her on the chariot. The girl, her eyes bleak, suddenly gave him a hug, and he, in turn hugged her back as Dwayne got on the chariot as well.

Following the little episode, young Mr Cavette ran back to his own spot and hopped on effortlessly. Siobhan smiled at him and nodded in approval, as the chariot rides resumed, and every person was chanting only one name.

Drei's childish heart cursed his foolish brain for refraining from helping the tributes. In the situation when he had thought he'd turn out to be a laughing stock if he intervened, a Career stole the opportunity to actually be a hero.

For now, it didn't matter who wore what, or which tribute posed in what way. everyone was muttering only one name- Casper Cavette.

Hello everyone. :) I know, it has been a ridiculously long time. I understand many of you might have felt that I had given up, and I don't blame you for that. It really has been way over three months, and I guess you may even be surprised to see this update. I would if I were in your place.

Things were busy recently, and I swear I had no time to write. At all. However, I'll try my best to get out faster updates now. I won't give up on this, however long it takes. Thnk you everyone, for your patience. It's a really rare virtue.

So, let me know what you think of this chapter. Everyone will have their time to shine, so don't worry.

Have a great day!