5
***
The capitol
The orange fluorescence that's causing my eyes to squint slightly was coming from the district 12 victors. The glow was enough to harm anyone's iris' but it was too intriguing to stop gazing at. Both are suits were a sign of our personalities. As I turn my head back to face the president, who is half way through his greeting speech. I catch Katniss give me the same glare of interest at my own costume. Her face lightens a little from the intense frown that was forced across it. It was as if our suits was a call to one another that we are on the same team. Though as much as i want to be, she's my target. I lower my head in shame just as her partner grasps her attention and whispers something in her ear. Her face seems too loosen in shock and non-belief in the whispers that have registered in her mind. She takes a slight glance at me but turns to face the approaching entrance to the headquarters once seeing me gazing at her expression.
The man who accompanies her as a district 12 must have a clear knowledge of who i am. Possibly born 15 years after my games. He looks around forty eight maybe nine, so probably took part in the one of the fifty too sixty games. My tale was still being passed around then. We approach the entrance of the training centre. I remove myself from the tight blazer and place on a thermal t-shirt that my stylist had brought me down from my new living quarters. I watch as all the victors get the chance to mingle and greet one-another. I stay put by the black horse that led into this god forsaken prison. I brush my hands through its long mane, this reminds me of the soft memories of my mother brushing through my younger sister long hair that strayed far past her shoulders right to the dimples of her back. I shake the memory off as soon as I see Katniss stood alone by her chariot as she shoos away her mentor for this years games, the boy that won the 74th games by her side.
I decide to approach her, better now than probably never. She is yet to notice my body approaching her but this is good, I don't want to scare her but perhaps the thought of a boy that is supposed to be in his late 70's coming to converse with her could scare her away if she saw me. She is perched on the edge of her chariot, from this angle I see no frustration or anger. She seems lonely and innocent, but I am yet to judge. I pull myself round the side of the chariot and place myself in a light lean on the back of the chariot beside her. Her sleepless stare doesn't shift by my presence, I am now beginning to believe the stubbornness. ''I.. um liked your costume.'' I speak with a awkward tone. She allows me a slight nod, but seems puzzled to why i am speaking to her. I straighten from my slump and ruffle my hair, she's going to be tough to crack. ''I'm Jasper by the way. I just wanted you too know... I'm here for the same reason you are.'' She gives me a glance, slight bit of attention. I look away tilting my head, then give her a nod accompanied by a trusting smile as i slowly descend from her eye sight.
I do not know whether my choice of words were right or if even approaching her was right but it has loosened some slack, but gained some guilt.
As i stride towards the elevator, i get nods from the victors and handshakes from others. All greeting me, though some stared in disgust. I stop in my tracks as a young man with bronze coloured hair places a sugar cube in my hand in one quick motion as she strode on past me. Pacing towards Katniss. I know him from watching the district four reaping recaps. Finnick Odair. The boy who managed to take over my role many years ago, as the most charming boy of Panem. He is loved by all of the Capitol. I see him converse with Katniss as I wait for my elevator. Eve distracts my stare by patting me on the shoulder, telling me i did well out there. I give her a kind smile as we move into the elevator where Liza awaits. ''I'm proud of you both.'' She pats us both on the back as excel upwards.
Dinner arrives soon. Sweet potato and lamb dumplings that bob in a bowl of vegetable soup. Though I am too concerned about the events of tomorrow to even attempt eating food. I force the food down, avoiding any conversation with the district 10 group. I push myself up and tuck my chair in, I am too focused on clearing my mind of that happenings today and getting a good rest for tomorrow. Day one of training.
After a night of shuffling dreams and night sweat nightmares, morning arrives. I stretch my back out of the awkward pose its been in for hours. I swing my feet over the side of the bed, letting them touch the cold marble tiles. I rub the fatigue from my eyes with my knuckles and enter the bathroom that neighbours my room. I balance my arms on the ceramic sink and look up to my reflection in the lighted mirror. Im not looking into the eyes of the same person i was fifty years ago, the cheeky but loving me. The alone but happy me. The physically distraught but peaceful me. Instead im looking at a monster, the monster that let the capitol walk all over me. Someone who was so rebellious against the capitol now being their assassin. Assassinating a girl that has the same power i did to destroy the wretched games and the government that accompanies it. I let the water run vigorously and slash my face repeatedly to try and wash away the monster but nothing removes it. If i am to rid myself of this persona that is controlling then it must be me myself to turn it around, not water or any false emotions to mask the monster.
I missed breakfast and Eve has had the advantage of going down to the training centre. I'm late, but why should that matter any more. I dress myself in my thermal burgundy t-shirt with the skin tight black trousers. I make my way out of my room, passing Liza and our escort Lexis are talking amongst themselves but stop soon after i arrive in the room. They both stare at me for a second before Liza breaks her gaze with a light shake and points too the stationed elevator. ''They're waiting for you.'' She gives me a nod and return it and head into the elevator.
It slows down on the bottom floor, which seems to be 2 floors underground. The doors spread open automatically and narrow dark hallway exists in front of me. I can hear the grunts of large men that a presumingly training and the slams of metal puncturing walls and dummies. I allow myself to collect calm thoughts as i make my way down the hallway. Everyone is in there training. I begin to approach the metal bars that contain me from entering the training centre. I place my right thumb on the metal circular pad that prods out of the wall. A blue line scans across my thumb and within a instant the doors slide open, the metal bar slam against the frame of the door. This startles all the training victors to look up at me. Eve seems to be the only one un-phased by my arrival.
Finnick seems to emit a sly smirk as i enter the training centre. I spot the district 12 male, who's name i found out to be Haymitch, staring at me with fierce eyes that seem to be intoxicated. Just alongside him stands Katniss who is, or was being taught how make fish-hooks, by the oldest tribute here Mags. I remember her games, so vividly. She recognises me within a instant and tugs on Katniss' shirt and points me out. Mumbling something that must be hard to understand. Katniss nods at Mags words but tends not to keep her eye off my movement. After I have passed practically all the stares, I make my way over to the camouflage. This was a fond skill of mine when i was back in my games. I never got to use it properly but it was a skill and i had mastered it well. I set up many paints and textures up in front of me. I admire all the distant looks i have received around the room. From what they know about me from my games, I was portrayed as a ruthless killer who was rebellious enough to put all the remaining lives in the arena including mine in my own hands.
I begin applying paint to my arms in delicate strokes. Browns. Greys. Greens. Oranges. All kinds of colours. I cant help but to glance up at Katniss, I can see her tensed face tense more as she notices my stare. I'm not sure if she classes me as friend or foe just yet but i can tell she wants to find out as she approaches me. I continue painting my arm as she places her arms on the other side of the table. ''Good at art by any chance?'' Her tone is jaded. ''I've never approached a canvas, but im sure i cant be that bad.'' I drop the paint brush too ruffle the stray hair from my eyes. I look up and get a good look at the girl. Her eyes are grey, fitting towards my tempest temper. Her tense frown softens. ''I'm Katniss by the way.'' She holds out her hand slightly, but i take it firmly. ''Pleasure to meet you Katniss.'' I allow a soft smile fit my face as our hands drop. ''I wasn't expecting your skill to be camouflage...'' Her eyebrows hold a puzzled look. I laugh a little ''Nothing wrong with blending in right... I mean i don't blend much in to society any more so maybe my last chance is to blend in with the games.'' I sigh a little without realising but raise my head before it lowers. She chooses to ignore what i said and looks away slightly with a guilty face.
I let out a laugh through my breathe and she turns back to face me. ''What?'' She says almost offended. I choose not too answer the question but instead shake my head a little with a scratch. ''So, why are we so alike?'' She lets her eyes wonder a little whilst saying this. ''Well do i seem like one to volunteer for a boy that is none of my own blood?'' I exclaim lifting my chin up. ''No... No not really.'' She raises a eyebrow. ''Well i did, around fifty years ago, I mean i guess you already know all about me anyway.'' Its true, everyone knows my secrets. I'm a open book just as much as Miss. Everdeen is. ''I choose to ignore what people say about you...'' This shocks me a little, because it wasn't said in a harsh tone. More of a sympathetic tone. ''Why is that?'' I straighten myself up giving her more attention. ''Well... I know what its like being the centre of what everyone talking about. Everyone knowing your past and your secrets. It makes you insecure... Lonely.'' She tries not to look me in the eyes as she says this, but gives in too the lock my eyes seem to have on her. ''We have more in common than you think Katniss.''
''Correct me if I'm wrong... but you are referred to as the girl on fire?'' She sends me a nod. ''Well... I was once named the tempest.''
I paint the Mockingjay that i found on the poster in district 10, down on the table.
