Put on your pretty lies, you're in the city of wonder
Ain't gonna play nice, watch out you might just go under
Better think twice, your train of thought will be altered
So if you must falter be wise
Your mind's in disturbia, it's like the darkness is light
Disturbia, am I scaring you tonight?
Disturbia, ain't used to what you like
D/i/s/t/u/r/b/i/a
…
Glass Morgans
"Oh Glass- you look lovely!" My peppy stylist coos. I shrug. What's new?
"Thanks," I reply half-heatedly.
"Okay, now you and Skye have on matching outfits! Personally though, I think you look the best!" I smirk a little. Skye thinks she better than me, being "above it all" like she's some innocent angel. I doubt anyone who's grown up in District One could be that pure.
"Thanks," I mumble again. I wonder if Amber's pleased with me. This is the right thing to do, correct?
Ten minutes later both Skye and I are mounted on top of our golden chariot. Last year they were silver, but apparently gold is more flashy. A line of chariots sits behind us. Since I'm up front I can turn around to see everyone's faces, but if I was in the back like the weaklings from District Twelve, I'd merely see the back of their heads.
So, naturally, I glare down the row of tributes. I have no doubt that this year the Careers will join in an alliance. It's only happened three times in the history of the games, but after all this is only the Eighth.
"What are you doing?" Skye spits.
"Intimidating," I say quietly.
"I think there will be enough time for that in the arena," Skye says softly. Her voice sounds frail, like she worried about something.
"Why not start now?" I smirk.
"Whatever Glass," She rolls her eyes then turns away from me.
I look back to the tributes, scanning each one of their faces of any signs of fear. The tributes from Districts 2 through 4 all look ready, except maybe the boy from Three. He looks nervous, and now that I think about it, the girl does too.
The girl from Two, I think Canzi's her name, taps her foot rapidly. The boy next to her looks awkward, like he doesn't belong.
Behind them and the tributes from Three are the ones from Four, who look arrogant and anxious. The girl ajusts her bra, making her boobs look bigger. Her District partner stares at her like she's prey, but when the girl looks back up to him she seems the same way.
"DISTRICT ONE! Are you ready?!" Someone from backstage asks us. Skye and I both nod and the chariot lurches forward.
Lani Baldova
The Capitol crowd is amazing to say the least. They cheer us on and welcome us into their city. But then I remember that were here to be sacrificed… Tar, my District partner whispers to himself sometimes, I don't know whether to be afraid or pity him so I do both.
A giant 'whoop' erupts from the stands as the girl from Four flashes them. She has on a seductive grin. She's stealing away my audience! Bi***.
"LILLITH!" they scream for her.
Lillith continues to take away my spotlight. I need to one-up her. So I scream. I scream louder than I ever have before. Even louder than when I was reaped.
"Punch me," I whisper to Tar so quietly no one can hear.
"What?"
"Just do it, please," I beg him. Tar shrugs and then sticks his arm out and pops me on the shoulder lightly.
"TAR PUNCHED ME!" I gasp, and then pretend to faint.
The Capitol people stare at me. There. My spotlight's back. I slightly feel bad for Tar, but I don't think he minds!
Lukas Seon
The sight of the Capitol crowd makes me nauseous- this many people and more at home are watching me. I can't mess up. I won't mess up.
To calm myself I decide to give nicknames to the tributes. It's something that I always did at home. I start with whichever tributes stand out the most. It might even help me because I'm not too good at remembering real names.
My District partner would be "Queenie," from Drama Queen, though it appears she isn't the only tribute who's dramatic. The girl from Five just passed out from being punched in the shoulder.
And it looks like the boy from Eight is "Psycho" because he keeps laughing at himself and his eyes look wild. The girl next to Psycho is as far away from him the chariot will let her be. I can't blame her. In the train I watched the reaping. The commentators said the kid lived in an insane asylum for years. He was in for killing a couple of kids, then he went on trial where he was judged "mentally unstable" and instead of being executed, got locked up.
I award the girl from Two the name of "Recta," after a mutt in the past games. It was so quick the tributes never saw it coming. And from what I can tell, she's fast, especially by the way she taps her foot.
When I'm done I have nicknames for most of the tributes- Queenie, Psycho, Recta, Teddy, Little Red Riding Hood (a fictional character from the stories my mother used to tell me), and the Big Bad Wolf.
Calico Weft
I glance at my District partner. His brown eyes and hair are wild, even after hours of his stylist's work. We look like a pair of socks with different patches of every cloth imaginable is sewn together. Our outfits aren't the worst, however! The tributes from Three have wires sticking out of their arms and legs and black powder smeared on their skin. The girl's hair stands straight up, like porcupine quills. It looks like they've been electrocuted.
Raiden keeps mumbling to himself. I can't hear what he's saying, but I'm pretty sure it's the same thing over and over again. He stares straight ahead, like he's looking through everything.
I smile at the Capitol, waving my multicolored arm. They cheer and applaud me. A couple of the roses they throw at us land inside the carriage. I pick one up, careful of its thorns and kiss the top of it, and then chuck it back into the stands where a couple of greedy hands fight over it. Guilt and confusion swirl around inside me. These are our enemies and I am treating them like friends.
I huff a sigh, then slouch down in my seat, mad once again at the Capitol. Moments later we arrive at the President's mansion. He stands on his balcony, marble columns supporting it. The whole area suddenly seems deadly silent. That's when I finally hear it.
"I wish I was better, I wish I weren't mad
Then maybe my friends wouldn't think me bad
I can't speak a word, I can do nothing wrong
Or else I'll be locked up all day long."
It's the words Raiden's been mumbling all night. This is the first time I can hear them. Does he want sympathy? After killing my friends? After murdering innocents?
"WELCOME TRIBUTES!" The President interrupts my thoughts. "I am ever so glad to see you today! You look like a great bunch, and we cannot wait to see the show you put on for us! In a few weeks we will have a victor among us. One who has risen from the ashes of his competitors. Good luck tributes, and may the odds be ever in your favor!" The speech is short and frank.
Tomorrow's training, I realize. That's when the competition starts.
…
Put on your pretty lies, you're in the city of wonder
Ain't gonna play nice, watch out you might just go under
Better think twice, your train of thought will be altered
So if you must falter be wise
Your mind's in disturbia, it's like the darkness is light
Disturbia, am I scaring you tonight?
Disturbia, ain't used to what you like
D/i/s/t/u/r/b/i/a
…
This is short, I know, but those last two chapters kind of wore me out to be honest. Sorry If I did not mention your tribute yet, but everyone will have one POV at the Capitol. Two boys and two girls in each chapter! The Chariots are difficult for me to make into a good, well-thought-out chapter because I could so easily sum it up into a couple of sentences…
Again- THANK YOU for all of the reviews! I'm getting like 12.5 for each chapter which is by far the record for me in any story ever! I love each and every one of you!:) Thanks!
Training Day 1 is next! Here's the list of events for the days to come-
Training day 1, Training Day 2, Private Session Scores, Interview, and then Bloodbath Countdown/ Launch. Don't worry though because I'll put the Bloodbath up an hour or two after the Countdown so you won't have to wait too long!:)
SPONSOR POINTS: Review at least one of my poems. Either Vanished (Fannie aftermath) or Painted Smiles (about the Capitol Citizens) or Raining Blood (Mags' death). I'll give you two for each review!:)
NEW POLL!: Vote for five tributes!