Chapter Thirty-Nine; Curiosity killed the Cat

(Stephanie's POV)

Stephanie didn't see Frenkin as female and male tributes had been separated to opposite sides of the building for the first few photo shoots, which Stephanie considered a little extreme.

Ficen and she waited outside a door in a long corridor of doors. At the end of the corridor was a huge window that stretched almost the entire length of the wall. Sunlight streamed in brightly through it, making the clinical white corridor seem not as severe in a small way.

Stephanie couldn't help but think what might her family be doing back home in District 3 on a day like this. Would her father be sitting on the porch? Would her sister have had her baby yet? Would Eldi be out playing? Stephanie sighed thinking of what Eldi would say if she saw all the dresses.

Stephanie's gaze drifted from the window and the sunlight streaming through it and her heart stopped.

It was Eldi.

Only she was a little older with wavy blonde hair to her shoulders. And then a cloud passed over the sun and it waned in its intensity, and Stephanie was able to see that the eyes that looked back at her were not Eldi's bright blue, but a soft green.

As Stephanie blinked back the tears that had suddenly risen unbidden, the girl across the hallway looked back at her with a timid smile.

It was then that Stephanie realised that she was another tribute and Stephanie gave her a hesitant smile back.

The girl was wearing a billowing, sea green dress and she looked to be around Frenkin's age. The girl cast a nervous glance at Ficen who glared in response and then turned to rap impatiently on the door.

At the same time the door beside where the girl and her stylist were waiting opened and they were ushered in.

Bright answered the door a moment later and Ficen burst on it without waiting for an invitation, Stephanie followed after her.

The room was large and well lit with technical equipment everywhere, and a few unfamiliar faces were waiting expectantly for Stephanie.

Stephanie was terrible at photo-shoots and Ficen told her as much. They quickly ruled out 'seductive' as Stephanie flamed scarlet red, crossing her arms protectively across herself. 'Playful' or 'adoring' didn't work because of Stephanie's appearance, she hadn't got the right cherub face to pull it off. So in the end it was basically just stand still and smile while we try and make something presentable out of you. Stephanie was happy to oblige.

An unnecessary amount of photographs later found them heading back down to the styling station to get the next outfit.

A Capitol official announced that there would be a half hour respite so that photographs could be developed and the photographers could ensure their equipment was working correctly etcetera, before continuing.

Stephanie sighed noisily, rapping her nails against the screen as she waited. The silence between her stylists was really beginning to irk her and Stephanie sent a pointed glare at Ficen.

"I need to use the bathroom," Stephanie announced getting to her feet; anything to escape them.

Ficen didn't seem in the least surprised or interested for that matter, merely went back to reading whatever it was she was reading.

Stephanie made her way down the aisle, trying to stride confidently despite feeling incredibly timid on account of her surroundings. After being given instructions on how to get to the bathroom from a Capitol official who had looked down her nose the entire time at Stephanie, Stephanie made her way along another hall.

Everywhere there were guards stationed, unobtrusively of course. Well as unobtrusive as a six foot, bulky guard with a gun on his hip and no doubt other concealed weapons on him could be.

Stephanie felt a small regaining of privacy as she locked the door of the bathroom behind her, and slid to the cool floor with a sigh.

She sat in complete silence enjoying the blissful solitude when she could let the worry show on her face of, where the hell was Haymitch? And why were there guards in the penthouse?

The many panicked questions from that morning were beginning to slowly overcome her again when Stephanie heard a small yelp.

At first Stephanie suspected herself. But then there was another that she was sure she did not make.

Stephanie got to her feet, making the appropriate noises of washing hands etcetera, before she unlocked the door and looked about the empty hallway.

Stephanie was just about to go back the way she had come when she heard the scream.

Stephanie stood frozen half-way out of the bathroom, eyes wide as she strained to hear anything else.

In the distance she could hear the steady hum of voices from those in the prepping room.

But the hallway was silent and – suddenly Stephanie realised – Where were the guards?

She was pretty sure when she had went into the bathroom there had been at least four guards in the hallway and she was faintly aware of another one following her.

Now the hall was eerily silent.

Stephanie stepped fully out of the bathroom, letting the door behind her fall shut with a muted click that seemed deafening in the stillness of the hall.

Stephanie's heart sputtered as she heard…whimpering? Crying? Something along those lines that a wounded animal would make.

Stephanie glanced around her and already berating herself, started to creep silently down the hall towards the sound.

Stephanie had no idea what she was doing or why she was doing it. But in her mind something that whimpered like that couldn't possibly pose a threat to her. If she had of stopped for a moment, maybe she would have put more thought into where the guards had gone.

But she didn't.

With each step nearer Stephanie grew in confidence and her steps were bolder.

She turned the corner into – surprise, surprise – another hall.

It's like a damn maze, Stephanie cursed inwardly.

She walked down the hall a little, pressed to the wall, passing a few doors as she moved.

However the door at the end of this hall was slightly ajar, and a hush of lowered voices could be heard muffled slightly by the door.

Stephanie paused. She knew this wasn't wise. She couldn't hear any whimpering now, just quiet wisps of voices that while she couldn't catch any particular words, had undeniable Capitol accents.

Stephanie was just beginning to edge backwards down the hallway as fast as she dared, eyes trained on the door when suddenly the door was pulled open sharply.

Stephanie was ready to turn and make a dead break for it and sprint as fast as she could; her body having been in preparation for flight since she had heard the scream.

But then her eyes went wide with horror and her stomach twisted and knotted, her breath stolen from her, legs like liquid.

It was Cen; the stylist at the boutique.

But his white hair was matted now with blood, his neck twisted at an unnatural angle as his eyes stared at her unseeing.

Stephanie couldn't speak. She faintly recognised that as the guards had spotted her they had shouted orders and were heading fast towards her to apprehend her.

Why was he here? What had happened to him? Stephanie's lungs were burning from the lack of oxygen.

Her vision was blurring and she collapsed readily against the wall.

She could feel the tremors shake her whole body as she slid down the wall. She felt her arms grabbed roughly where she was hauled to her feet.

But then there was a voice.

But it couldn't be him?

The hands immediately released her and she fell backwards only to be caught in his arms.

Instinctively she clutched his shoulders – anything to get her balance as hysterical sobs began to build in her chest.

She looked up once and met his ice blue eyes before her consciousness was stolen from her, and Stephanie fainted in Seneca's arms.