74th Hunger Games - Katniss Everdeen
I wasn't expecting to see someone else volunteer for their brother or sister this year, sure, Cato's from District 2, and if it weren't for that miniscule twitch in his face, I would've assumed he volunteered just because he wanted to kill someone. But no, Cato cares for his brother, of that, I'm sure.
The televised portion of the reaping ends soon after. There was only one other Tribute that caught my eye, the girl from District 11. As soon as she walked onto the stage, I immediately thought of Prim. Rue, as I learned is her name, has a certain air about her that just automatically makes me want to protect her. She looks around the same age as Prim, and her face has a certain innocence about it that I couldn't help but connect with Prim. I feel a pang in my chest when I think of this young girl being sent to her death, so young and innocent but I can't help but feel relieved that it's not Prim being sent to her death.
I stand up and make my way towards my cabin, giving Haymitch a nod as I pass by him. Once inside, I flop down onto the bed and run through the reaping again. Cato Valerius, I repeat his name in my mind. There's something about him that screams danger yet I know there's more to it. He's a lion that's ready to kill, that's for sure, but there's definitely something more than just that stone-faced boy that strolled onto stage.
I sigh and crawl underneath the covers, we're due to be in the Capitol sometime in the morning and I want to get some sleep before I'm dragged out in some ridiculous costume in front of the entire nation.
I wake up to the sound of harsh pounding on my door. I think I can make out the sound of Effie's voice through the door, yelling at me to wake up and get ready. I groan and sit up, blinking away the exhaustion from my eyes. Standing up, I quickly make my way over to the bathroom for a shower. Judging from how impatient Effie sounded earlier, we're nearing the Capitol and I know she'll want me showered and dressed before then.
A few minutes later, I'm toweling off when I hear another persistent knock at the door. "Katniss, are you almost done in there? We're minutes away from the Capitol, and I will not have my Tributes be late." She goes on to talk about how important being punctual is but I tune her out and focus my attention back on my hair. I slowly braid my hair before waltzing back into my room and pulling on my dress from yesterday on. Checking myself over in the mirror, I sigh and smooth out the wrinkles at the front of my dress, I guess I'm ready now.
The Capitol is... unique, to say the least. The buildings are intricately designed and the people that live here dress like eccentric loons. I catch a glimpse of large crowds waiting for us at the train station, they're chanting my name over and over and I find myself, much to my annoyance, blushing at all the attention I'm being given. I step away from the window and walk over to where Haymitch and Effie are. They're standing near an exit, Lyle right behind them, his face blank.
We come to a stop and the doors automatically open. The noise from outside is nearly deafening, and I hold my hands over my ears as I step through the doorway and follow closely behind Effie. She leads us to a small convoy of armored vehicles kept under guard by peacekeepers who stare out at the crowd warily as if they're expecting some sort of mob rush from the crowd. A peacekeeper steps forward and pries open the door, gesturing for us to get inside quickly. The driver peels off as soon as the door closes and I'm left wondering what the hell is going on.
The vehicle screeches to a halt outside a random building and we're ushered inside before the crows can properly react to us. I'm whisked away to a room where I'm introduced to two members of my 'prep team', Flavius and Venia, they immediately order me to strip and lie down onto the table. I stare at them in shock for a few seconds before they repeat themselves and I finally start peeling off my dress before climbing onto the table. They instantly set off to work, waxing and plucking every stray and errant hair off of my body. They rub a soothing salve onto my skin once they're done and I can't help but sigh contently when I feel a cooling sensation set in.
I'm handed a robe and ushered into a backroom, they tell to wait a couple minutes before they disappear out the door. I let my eyes wander around the room while I wait, there's not much in here, just a couple mirrors and a small closet. The sound of a door opening draws my attention back and I glance behind me to find someone that actually looks normal. He introduces himself as Cinna and then proceeds to ask me to disrobe, motioning for me to spin around slowly. "I have just the thing for you." He says as he gestures for me to put my robe back on and follow him.
We walk in silence for a few minutes before Cinna glances back at me and smiles. "That was a brave thing you did back there, you know? Volunteering for your sister, not many people would do that." Cinna taps his chin thoughtfully, "Of course, there was that other Tribute from District 2, what was his name again," He wonders aloud as he leads me to a small dressing room. He snaps his fingers and smiles, "Ah, Cato Valerius, that's right, he volunteered for his brother, then again, he is from District 2, but that doesn't change the fact that he volunteered for his brother." I take note when Cinna mentions Cato and listen intently, hoping to pick up any extra information that I might have missed since the reaping but he stays quiet and pulls out some sort of measuring tool. Cinna gestures for me to disrobe and he quickly takes my measurements before handing me a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. "I'll have your outfit ready in a couple hours. You'll look amazing when it's done, trust me."
A little over two hours later, I'm standing in a fitting room being squeezed into what can only be described as black spandex covered in layers of a strange gritty material. I won't lie, I'm a bit unnerved with how tight it is against my skin but if Cinna says to wear it, then I'll wear it.
As soon as I'm finished being fitted into my outfit, I'm shipped back off to Flavius and Venia and they introduce me to the final member of my prep team, Octavia. They sit me down and set out to make me a 'Capitol darling'. I scowl at the phrase but comply when Octavia asks for my hands. She grumbles about how filthy my hands are, how callouses infest my palms and fingers, and how the grime builds up beneath my finger nails. I begin to feel a bit self-conscious but then I realize that I shouldn't care what they think about me, I've never been one for looks anyways.
Eventually, after all the scrubbing and polishing and curling, I'm released back into the custody of peacekeepers. They lead me to a staging area filled with chariots, and I spot some Tributes walking around with their Mentors. I look around for Haymitch or Lyle, even for Effie, but I can't seem to find a familiar face anywhere. I amble around for a bit, waiting for a signal or a sign to do something but nothing comes. The peacekeepers watch the doors cautiously as if expecting trouble, the other Tributes follow their Mentors around like lost dogs, and I just sit there waiting and watching. I never thought I would say this, but out of all things I could possibly feel right now, I feel… bored. I would start laughing, but I think that would draw unwanted attention towards me.
Speaking of unwanted attention, I begin to feel like I'm being watched, even more so than I already am; call it hunter's instinct, if you will, but I can't shake the feeling, even as I spot Haymitch entering the room and start walking towards him. I glance around, checking the corners, groups of Tributes with their Mentors, and other hiding places I can think of as I make my way towards Haymitch. Normally, I would just think myself paranoid but I'm not in the forest where animals surround me, I'm in the Capitol where cameras and peacekeepers are over abundant. I decide to ignore my instincts for now and focus on the task at hand, the Tribute Parade.
Haymitch advises me to be cool and confident, to not show any fear or anything else that can be used against me while I'm out there. I nod along as he speaks and grip the edge of the chariot nervously. The first six Districts have already left and we're slated to leave in a couple minutes. Cinna is behind me working on some last minute adjustment and he reassures me that everything is alright and to not freak out. "Just remember what Haymitch said, stay calm." He says as he lights me on fire.
A/N: Hey there guys, sorry if the chapter isn't what you expected. I'm trying to change POVs every other chapter with a chapter combining Cato and Katniss' POV in between. So it should look something like this: Cato/Katniss, Cato, Cato/Katniss, Katniss, etc. Anyway, leave a review and let me know what you think.