Chapter Three
This chapter has been revised!
Heartbreaks
The heavy world's upon your shoulders
Will we burn or we just smolder
Somehow I know I'll find you there
This is definitely the most annoying part of the Games: The remake center, the place where the prep team makes us shiny and spotless and over-the-top, so we can be just like them. They don't have to do much to me, as I'm rich enough to clean myself every day. The one thing they do was forcibly curl my hair. I don't have much of a choice; those curlers are hot! Finally, I go to my stylist, Skittora.
"For the tribute parade, we're going to put you and Parker in gladiator outfits," she smiles dreamily.
A gladiator outfit… I choke back old memories and bitterness. That's what Cato wore when he was in the tribute parade.
Skittora dresses me up in the gold gladiator costume. They are supposed to look tough, but the costume gives me the appearance of a doll. I really can't keep still for this long, but I have to. Your outfit gives you sponsors too, sadly. But I guess I'm okay as long as everyone else's outfits are terrible.
"You look wonderful, Aqua!" she gushes.
I turn around and look in the mirror. I guess I really do look good. The gold costumes blends in with my gold hair, which the stylists thankfully minimized any glitter in it. It's quite rare that I dress up for anything, so this feels strange. I'm just glad I don't look too fancy and dressed-up as I'm sure Stingra and Hunter do. I have the urge to laugh, but I might cough out rainbows and sunshine.
"It's time to go to the chariots!" Skittora exclaims brightly. She is nice, but can be extremely annoying.
We enter the stables with Parker and his stylist whom I don't remember the name of. I see the other tributes for the first time in real life, hoping I might be wrong in assuming the majority were weaklings. Sadly, they are.
The costumes are the same as any other year. Nothing about any one of them is extraordinary, special, or different. One's cloaked in sparkly silver, and Three wears it as well. Three's, however, is sharper and more jagged while One is soft and dazzling. Four are deep blue decorated with pastel fish; Five looks like a couple of lightning bolts; Six are train conductors. The tributes of Seven are trees, with I can't imagine is fun to walk in. District Eight wears a bunch of fabric squares, which are definitely not a good fashion statement. Nine's dressed in gold; Ten make an unhappy pair of cattle, and Eleven's farmers. I don't have time to see Prim and her partner before I get in my chariot.
The music starts playing, and Stingra and Hunter ride off. So much for looking tough in front of Panem.
Then Parker and I get in. As we're gliding down the Avenue of Tributes, Parker and I wave to the audience, along with everyone else. I want them to know that I'm rich, I'm happy, and I'm dangerous.
When we at last get to the end, I see Prim. After Katniss won the 74th games, I guess President Snow didn't allow District twelve stylists to do anything extravagant with their costumes, so Prim is wearing a pathetic coal miner costume. I snicker. She deserves it, and I want her dead.
After uneventful announcements we dismount and leave. We finally arrive at the tower where we'll be staying for the first time. I ride up the elevator with Emberlynn and Parker and watch the Capitol surrounding us become smaller and smaller.
Once we get to our floor, I go to my room. It's even nicer than the train. There's an aquarium filled with tiny colorful fish over my oversized velvet bed. A golden chandelier with reflective crystals brings a soft light. As much as I adore it, I don't have time to get comfy; I need to discuss my plans with Parker, Enobaria, and Emberlynn.
I stroll out to the dining room table where Emberlynn and Enobaria are sitting, and Parker joins us. Before we can talk about the Games, we are served a large meal. I'm given a plate of spicy chicken by an Avox, along with cherry juice, a sliced mango, and an array of various cheeses and cheese dips. It's all of my favorite foods rolled up into one meal.
"So let's start where we left off before. You're set with an alliance, you just need a strategy," explains Enobaria.
"I think we should just kill everyone," suggests Parker, grabbing a barbecue rib. "Grab lots of supplies, too."
"We need to think this through a little more," I say. "We can't just slaughter everyone. These are games, so we're going to have to give the gamemakers entertainment. We should at least figure out who to kill first, who to stay away from, and such."
"That's correct, Aqua. If you're going to win you need a much more complex plan," agrees Emberlynn. "Although you have a huge advantage over everyone, you still need to organize yourselves."
"Tomorrow is the first training day, so if you want more people in your alliance, that's your time to get them," explains Enobaria. "And I know you're going to want to go right to the weapons, so if you get Tonya and Edison on your team, have them do the survival things for you." She sips whatever crimson substance fills her glass.
We finish our food and go back to our living quarters. I see a remote and curiously click one of the buttons. The enormous window in front of me no longer displays the Capitol, but a gently blowing field of wheat. Boring.
I click the button again and view something I've never seen before: the ocean. It's deep blue and glimmers in the sunlight. Foamy waves lap upon the white shore. I have always wanted to visit this place, and it is beautiful. With the dull roar calming my tense nerves, I climb into my luxurious bed and sleep so I'm ready for the next day.
Earthquakes
Shake the dust behind you
This world sometimes can blind you
Still I know I'll see you there.
'Come A Little Closer' by Cage the Elephant
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