Chapter One
Effie Trinket looked into the mirror and did not recognise her own reflection. The team had put her into make-up that they knew would serve as the perfect cover for her: her skin a shade of white so pale she was almost translucent, bright purple eyeshadow, a bright pink wig, and clothes that no person of her training would ever conceivably wear. But, if she wanted to make this convincing, she would have to look the part.
She would soon be airlifted into North America- or as the North Americans now called it, Panem. Effie grew up learning about the history that led the world to become like it is now. The world leaders who refused to do anything about the climate until it was basically too late. The rising sea levels that caused coastal cities and islands to become uninhabitable. The natural disasters that killed thousands, no millions, more until the population of human civilisation was devastated. While the whole world turned to ruin, countries became less interested in helping each other, and more interested in ensuring their population survived. This meant that the countries that did survive, like North America, had had no contact with the outside world in centuries.
Effie was from England, which itself was not the same after the centuries of abuse from Mother Nature. Some of the population managed to survive, and from there they rebuilt civilisation into what it was today.
In the last 100 years or so, the focus became not on preserving the population, but reconnecting with other countries. Britain had done a great job of building up relationships with its former allies, and even countries that weren't necessarily allies before. They had re-established trading, travel and international diplomacy. The countries agreed to make environmental conservation their biggest goal. Now that the world had some sort of normality back, the one main concern between all of these countries now seemed to be on what was happening in North America.
From what Effie had been taught, the former United States of America used to be quite a big player on the global stage- taking particular interest in issues that were affecting other countries, and sometimes playing Global Police. Now, they kept to themselves entirely, with the average person having no idea what was happening over there. However, Effie was not an average person.
When she was 20, Effie began training with the British Intelligence, whose sole purpose was to establish contact once again with North America. They had drones and spies sent into find out what was happening, to determine why they had not reclaimed their former position on the global stage.
The answer was more shocking than what everyone had imagined. The U.S.A, once a collection of 50 states, was now split into 14 main areas. 13 areas, aptly named Districts 1-13, and the (also well-named) Capitol, which was the epicentre. They also now called themselves Panem- assumedly taken from the old Latin word for 'bread'.
The British Intelligence did not find any sort of semblance of their former democracy, or even any hint of the former America at all. What they found was 13 Districts being assaulted, abused, and beaten into submission to serve the needs of the wealthier people of the Capitol. The districts supplied resources to the Capitol- their food, their clothes, even coal for electricity and technology for personal entertainment. The country was like a body, with the districts supplying blood to the beating heart of the Capitol. Stepping out of line resulted in whippings, hangings, firing squads. Almost every citizen of Panem lived in constant fear.
Until one day, they decided to fight back. In what they have since dubbed the "Dark Days", most of the districts rebelled against the Capitol, decimating the dwindling population even more. Apparently the British wanted to step in, but they felt it was too risky given their population was also nowhere near substantial enough to maintain the fighting.
Once the Dark Days were over, the Capitol triumphed, destroying the 13th District and forcing the other 12 to send two young adults (children, really) to the Capitol every year to compete into a Battle to the Death. They named this charade The Hunger Games, and forced the citizens of the remaining districts to watch their friends and family die for sport. Over the years, the Games have gotten more sophisticated, becoming a spectacle, a celebration, a tourist attraction. It made Effie feel sick.
This is what you signed up for, she reminded herself, as all the history she had learnt in her training was running through her head. Her goal was simple: she was to pose as one of the escorts of the Games. She would gain inside intelligence on the workings of the tournament and report back to her supervisors.
Part of her training had been to watch hours and hours of tapes of Capitol citizens. Their style, their mannerisms, their weird accents. Effie had watched year after year of Hunger Games' footage, but only the Opening Ceremonies. She could never bring herself to watch the actual event. She had picked up their accent quite quickly, but the mannerisms were a bit harder, and the clothes just felt ridiculous to her.
After years of training, studying, and practicing, she was deemed ready for the field work. No one knew how long she was expected to stay. It could be weeks; it could be years. Effie didn't mind- she felt extremely strongly about the work she was to be doing. She knew that even though she would now be a piece in the Games, she would be ultimately helping bring about an end to the horrors being inflicted.
While Effie was inspecting her reflection, her friend and mentor, Matthew, came in to give her the final look over.
"God, Effie, you look terrifying," he told her. The smirk he usually wore made an appearance and she couldn't help but return it.
Effie put on the Capitol accent she had now perfected. "Isn't it just fabulous darling?" His smirk grew into a full smile.
Effie had always thought of Matthew as attractive, but never let herself think any further than that. He was a few years older than her, at least a foot taller, and had chocolate-brown hair and chocolate-brown eyes. His hair usually sat in a way that made it look like he'd just rolled out of bed, but she knew actually took time to achieve with gel each morning. She thought it made him look more boyish, not like someone who had witnessed the horrors he had.
"I'm here to take you to the hangar for boarding," he said, a touch of professionalism returning. "Is there anything else you need to get sorted before you leave?"
Effie stepped out of the bathroom and looked around the room that she had been living in for the last few years. It was plain and simple- a single bed, a desk with a lamp, a chest of drawers for her uniforms and her casual clothes she so rarely wore. The walls were still as bare as when she had moved in. Other spies in her unit had decorated with pictures from home: families, and friends and even their dogs. Effie had never really felt attached enough to anyone or anything to do that.
"No, I think I'm good here," she replied, straightening up.
He gave her one more once-over, his eyes lingering on some areas the Capitol get-up accentuated more than their usual attire. Effie feels herself begin to blush, but luckily with the 50 pounds of pale make-up she's wearing, Matthew doesn't notice.
After he's finished examining her look, he snaps back into reality and says, "I guess we better get going then."
The walk through the hallway to the hangar is usually full of chatter and laughter, but today Effie's mind wouldn't turn off due to the anticipation. What would it be like in Panem? Would they believe her cover story? And if they didn't- what would happen? She knows what happens to people in Panem when they do things they shouldn't.
Matthew doesn't try to make small-talk, and for that Effie is thankful. She is much too nervous to be a good conversationalist.
The walk through the hallways is over before Effie even realises, and suddenly she is out in the cool morning air. The hovercraft in front of her has been replicated to look exactly like those one might find in the Capitol, down to the official seal. She has been in the hovercraft once before, to do a short ride to see how her body would handle it. However, that was a one-hour round trip, and this journey would be 7 hours for one way. Factor in the journey, and the fact that Panem is several hours ahead, Effie will be landing at nighttime- exactly how it was intended.
Her and Matthew walk up to the hovercraft together- which is already buzzing with life, just waiting for Effie to step on to signal the beginning of the trip.
She looks at the ladder hanging down and feels a lump form in the back of her throat. While Effie has seen videos of what life is like in Panem, she truly has no idea what to expect. And if she's being honest with herself, she's absolutely terrified.
Matthew must sense her tension because he turns to her and takes her into his arms. It's one of those hugs that says everything it needed to. When he finally lets go, Effie feels kind of dizzy, but much calmer.
"Goodbye," she says, almost whispering.
"I'll see you when you get back," he smirks, though there is no way of knowing when that will be.
Effie steps onto the ladder, prepared for the minor shock that will freeze her while she is lifted into the hovercraft. She takes her seat, and can see Matthew through one of the windows, still on the tarmac. She gives him a little wave goodbye as the hovercraft starts ascending, ready to take her to Panem.