I looked around at the other tributes. No one was as confident or marvelous as us. The other tributes were in plain, standard outfits fitting to their district. Like District 12, who wore two basic black unitards for coal. Really? Is that the best they could do?
Simply, we rode on a glass chariot pulled by glistening silver horses down a pathway, with Capitol people screaming at us like maniacs. We were a hit, until the screen switched from Travis and me to another pair of people. It was District 12, and the boy and girl were holding hands… ON FIRE! They were flaming and gorgeous. I tried not to let my huff of jealousy be noticeable, but Travis, who was a few feet beside me, looked over at me and shrugged. I kept smiling as we pulled upon the President.
The snake-like president talked, but I wasn't listening. I found myself darting my eyes over to look at the fiery pair, whose hands were locked together. They gleamed with victory, and I sighed. Soon, Snow dismissed us and the horses pulled us, single file, back into the stables. While District 12 was getting extinguished, Albus and Senilis approached our glistening crystal chariot. "Well done, my dear," Albus hissed. I wanted to roll my eyes in a teenager fashion and say, "Um, no. Did you see the coal kids? They did well! Not us!" But I refrained. I knew in the long run this wouldn't matter. If District 12 can't fight, then this is nothing.
We were hovercrafted back to skyscraper, temporary living space for the tributes. I felt like a deflated balloon at that moment. The part where I literally got to shine was possessed and stolen from me by those dumb coal kids! Ugh, I wanted to kill them. Good thing I knew that I had the chance to do just that.
Back in my room, I undressed and changed back into simplistic, comfy slacks and a button-up tee. I sat down, face blazed with metallic glittering designs, and I felt so… discarded. Already, I felt discarded. Before I sacrificed my life for the heartless, Capitol citizens, I felt discarded. So, I got up and walked into the hall outside my room. I listened, because I had almost impeccable hearing, for anything. Any noise, any sound, any human doing normal tasks. I heard nothing.
It was then that I knew I was alone. I fingered the delicate blue studs I had so congenially put in my ears when I was giddy and lovely in my gown. It was all I had left of home. I stood there alone in the hall thinking of my family. How did my sister get these to me? I sighed and went back into my gorgeous but lifeless room. I sat down on the bed and thought of everything… home, my sister, my late brother, the Games, that Calculus test I would have taken today, things I would have said to Travis if I wasn't in the situation I was in, my life, the possible conclusion of my life… and then I conked out right on top of the downy bed.
When I woke up, dim sunlight was filtering itself through the heavy curtains in my "hotel" room. I stirred ever so slightly to open the curtains, and the sun warmed itself through me. It really was beautiful. It was homey, and I reminisced of all the times I would bask in the joyous sunlight with Trex and Evie when I was younger. We would unknowingly play a game called "Fight to the Death", where we chased each other through the yard with sticks as our swords. Whoever stood the longest without being hit won. Trex always won, and I always lost. I plan to reverse our luck this time in his memory.
It looked to be sunrise, and people were probably getting breakfast. I quickly removed my then flaky, messy makeup and I brushed out my hair into a sheet of red. I walked out into the dining room on our floor that was on the very left end of the hallway. Lulu, whose hair was now baby puke green, was eating some sort of rice patty with sorbet at the table beside Andree, who was not eating. Travis was sitting at the large dome window across from the table, marveling at the hustle and bustle of Candy Land, as Trex called it long ago.
I took a seat at the table, and Lulu piped, "Good morning, Sleeping Beauty!" I tried to smile at the reference of the ancient fairy tale, but it was so hard. "Morning, everyone," I said as sweetly as I could muster. I grabbed a plate and stockpiled a hoard of delectable Capitol eats. I grabbed many kinds of breakfast meat in a creamy sauce, frothy raspberry soup, purple melon, and soft biscuits. I scarfed it down, and I was feeling good until Lulu said, "Eat up! You are to report at training at noon." She primly nibbled on a rice patty and I rolled my eyes. Travis sat blankly at the window.
I finished eating my delightful breakfast and two Avox boys, who were handsome teenagers, rolled the cart away with ample food still on it. I briefly wondered what they did with all that excess food. Give it to the poor? No way. They would rather feed it to their dogs.
Lulu and Andree chatted and I went and sat by Travis. "You okay?" I asked gingerly while sipping on some hot cinnamon tea out of a white china mug. "Yeah, I guess so. There's just too much time to think about what is going to happen next," He tentatively looked my way. He smiled sheepishly and I couldn't help but wonder if he was going to burst into tears. I leaned back into the plush, throne-like chair and sighed. "Yeah, I know. I've been thinking too much too. But remember, we may not…" I slowed down, thinking carefully about my next words. "Have much time left." He looked away and I could see him nodding. From the side, I saw him open his mouth, but then he closed it. Unsaid words were lingering around us.
I got up and Lulu said, "Oh, Mary, I forgot to mention your Training clothes are on your bed." I nodded. Mary… it's what my mother called me. I winced. My mom called me Mary, my dad called me Foxy, Evie called me Marissa, and Trex called me Sis. Sis was my name from the 1st to 4th grade, until Trexler Finch, my beloved one and only brother, was killed by a Capitol raid at the plants. He was only 12. I walked to my nose deep in memories of him. There were two little articles of clothing folded neatly on my bed by an Avox, no doubt. I slipped them on and it was time to train.