My stylists work the entire morning on my tiny body. I didn't think it would take this long, but it does. They pluck each hair that is out of place and they apply a light shimmering gold powder to my skin. They paint strange brown lines under my eyes. My hair is sprayed with something, I'm not sure what it is, but it turns my hair green.
"Trust me, you will look stunning," My stylist Yeis assures me when he notices my look of utter horror in the mirror when I see my hair.
After my hair is finished being sprayed and shaped I am to turn away from the mirror and I must not peek. Yeis makes sure I shut my eyes and then he slips something over my head. It must be a dress of some sort because it falls to the ground around my ankles.
The fabric rustles around for a minute while he adjusts everything.
"You may look now Rue." He whispers in my ear when he is finished.
"Oh," I say brightly. I understand the green hair now.
The dress is a nice bright green around the shoulders, and as it drapes to the ground it fades to a rich brown. I am supposed to look like a tree.
Yeis steps forward and perches his strange yellow hands onto my shoulders. "What do you think?" He asks me.
"I think I look beautiful." I tell him. The dress is made of something I can't even begin of having back in District 11. It feels expensive.
Each tributes opening ceremonies costume is supposed to reflect upon their district. Most years district 11 is naked with leaves glued all over their bodies. I am happy Yeis has come up with something unique.
He takes a step back from me and a look of sadness takes over his face when he thinks I am not looking. I know exactly why he is sad. It is because I am twelve and he knows that I will be one of the first to die. No one ever has faith in a twelve year old tribute. I feel slightly angered by the way he looks at me. I want to tell him that I am smarter than most twelve year olds. I want to tell him that I can run really fast, and that I know more about plants than anyone I know. I keep my mouth shut.
"Well then," He begins to say when he has collected himself. "It is time for the ceremony."
He leads me down into the lower level of the Remake Center where we meet up with Thresh and his stylist. He is dressed similarly to me. He wears simple brown pants and a green shirt. His hair is also green and it seems to bother him, as he keeps scraping bits off when his stylist isn't looking. It makes me giggle.
All of the tributes are loaded into their carriages which will pull them into the arena. I take my seat and stare blankly ahead. I am nervous to go out in front of the crowd, but I know my family will be watching and I want to make them proud.
I think of what they will be doing at this very moment. Tuning into the ceremony no doubt. But did they eat tonight? How much money is left? Have they been able to get up high enough in the trees to pull the last apples and earn some more money? That was usually my job.
I am pulled out of my worrying by the cart starting to move. Suddenly the pulsing music is all I hear. The cheering faces of the capitol are all I see. The crowd erupts in thunderous applause and I know it isn't for me, or for our costumes. It is all for Thresh. The Capitol knows he will be able to put on a bloody show for them all. They adore him. I shrink back in my seat a little and try to smile my best.
Suddenly the applause is even louder than before. I glance over at Thresh but he hasn't done anything.
I risk asking him. "Thresh, what just happened?" I whisper.
"District 12" He says simply with a shrug.
I glance back over my shoulder and all I can see is fire. The tributes themselves are on fire. Their capes and their headdresses hold tongues of flames that highlight their faces.
The crowd is yelling their names. They go wild for them.
Soon all of the carriages begin to fill the loop of the city circle. We are pulled right up to President Snow's mansion. The music cuts off when he steps onto his balcony. He begins his welcoming speech to all of the tributes and I try to compose my face, but I am worried sick. It's alright though; the cameras seem to be trained on the District 12 tributes. He is finished his speech quickly and Panem's anthem begins to play loudly. When it is over our horses are pulled into the training center that will house us until the games begin.
A sort of claustrophobia sets in when I am inside the building. This will be the last place I will see before I am in the Arena. My chest tightens and I want to go home. I want to curl up on my lumpy mattress, in my mother's arms, and have her sing to me all night. I whisper Mama's song under my breath and realize that there is no going home.
Sorry that this is so short. Please review and let me know what you think :)