Sorry for how long it took me to update! I was on vacation and we didn't bring the computer. So, without further ado, here is the chariot ride chapter:
Glamor POV (D1)
I know I look hot. I mean, I guess I always do, but right now I am shining. Literally. My two annoying stylists have put me in a jumpsuit thing covered in purple gemstones that make it look almost like scales. They also covered me in silver glitter from head-to-toe. The jumpsuit has only one shoulder on the right side, and on that side a large slit in the shape of a triangle exposes my glittering silver belly. My hair is pulled back in an almost messy bun at the top of my head, and the bun is spangled with purple gemstones. Everyone is going to be captivated by me. I'll have sponsors lining up. "You know, for being slightly annoying, you two are genius." I say, smiling a dazzling pearly smile to Desdemona and Hero, my stylists. Desdemona, the dumber one, looks unsure of whether to be insulted or happy. Hero takes on a happy expression.
"Thanks!" He trills. "You and Carbon will look dazzling!" Hero and Desdemona do one last touch-up: extra glitter, adding some more gemstone clips to my bun. Soon, my prep team and I are ready to make an entrance. Desdemona takes my arm because I can't see all that well with my silver glittery contacts.
"Here we go, you'll be the prettiest tribute there!" And the deadliest, I internally add to Desdemona's statement. I see Hero push the button for the first floor of the Training Center with his strange magenta finger and the elevator drops down and we see the floors woosh in front of us. Adrenaline courses through me. I love this elevator. I wish Dad had one, it would be so awesome. The elevator glides to a smooth stop and lets out a delicate ding announcing that we have come to a stop. As the elevator door opens Desdemona takes my elbow again and leads me to the stables where our chariot waits. The chariot is made with real silver and the snow-white horses tethered to the chariot are boasting harnesses made out of the same purple gemstones that make up my suit.
"Where is that other kid?" I ask Hero, scanning the stables for my wimpy district partner. He's got nerve! Making me look stupid waiting for him in front of all of Panem! "He's going to be late!" I grit my teeth. All the other tributes are here. I groan in frustration.
"Just relax, Glam. When you scrunch your eyebrows together it wrinkles the glitter. Take yoga breaths. In…now out…" Hero has now closed his magenta eyelids and is practicing his deep-breathing. What the heck, I have nothing to lose? I have gone through four sets of yoga breaths when Carbon finally shows. He climbs into the chariot wordlessly.
"You're late." I spit out through my silver glittery lips. I study Carbon's outfit. He is shirtless, with tight spandex pants made out of the same material as my jumpsuit. His chest was covered in silver glitter, and they outlined the places where his muscles should be, because I know that he has none. Carbon shrugs, not looking at me, keeping the calm expression. I groan again and clench my fists. He infuriates me sometimes.
Hero tells us what to do: "Glam, try not to kill Carbon. You know, smiling wouldn't be a bad idea either. Carbon, try to look tough." I involuntarily snort. Hero and Desdemona scold me with their eyes. An Avox stable hand slaps one of the horses on the rear-end and the horses canter off. As we gallop through the rainbow streets of the Capitol I smile and wave, and the Capitol citizens scream for me. I blow them kisses, and their screams maximize to a deafening roar. I have the Capitol melting in the palm of my silver hand. And that's just the way I like it.
Marcus POV (D4)
I wince in pain as Frederic ruthlessly pulls out all of the hair on my body. "Don't worry, Marcus, you will look great!" Frederic pours another round of scalding hot wax on my chest, waits about a minute, and yanks it off with his four-inch long lavender nails. Weren't fake nails only for girls? Well, I guess heels are only for girls too, but that doesn't stop Frederic. My prep team, Velia, Crimson, and Lottie, all bustle around Frederic, hanging on to his every word. They cut the hair he says to cut, exfoliate (whatever the heck that means) the skin he says to exfoliate. It's almost funny, how doting they are to him. But I know that if I laugh I'll mess up something or other and it'll just make the torture last longer, so I keep my mouth shut. Finally, after about an hour of prepping, I'm presentable in Capitol terms. I look in the mirror and groan.
My hair is spiked up in the way that I could never get it and I am a fishing net. Seriously. I am in what may be the most ridiculous and overused costumes of the century. I groan again; louder this time. "You look fantastic!" Frederic gushes. The prep team hurriedly comes up with more adjectives to add to that.
"Amazing!" Lottie chirps.
"Brilliant!" Velia follows suit.
"Uhh…" Crimson scrunches his bright red eyebrows, trying to think of a bigger word than the other two. He snaps his fingers. "Stupidefying!"
I laugh so hard I have to clutch my stomach. Frederic looks disapproving, Velia and Lottie look like they don't really care, and Crimson looks utterly confused. Cleary, he was trying to say stupefying or something. Nevertheless, it was hilarious. And I needed to find something to laugh about since I was about to be shown off to the Capitol like a showpony and then be sent to my eminent death.
"That's enough, lets go or we'll be late!" Frederic says, and the prep team grabs my arms and tugs me toward the elevator; Crimson still looking confused. I let out one last laugh and the elevator descends to the ground floor. A small dinging sound is let out as we reach the ground floor. My prep team proceeds to drag me over to the stables where our chariot and Emma are waiting. I can see Emma from yards away, she must be wearing five-inch tall heels or something. As we get closer, I can see that her outfit is a heck of a lot better than mine that supposedly matches.
She is wearing a dress made out of aqua material over her chest and private area, and covered with an aqua net leaving everything else barely covered. The net gets thicker towards the bottom, and is swirled around at her feet. Her chestnut brown hair is piled high on the top of her head and dotted with seashells. Two brown ringlets hang on either side of her face. She looks striking. I have the aqua material around my privates too, but the net is draped over my shoulder like a toga. It is horrible! If anyone from the Capitol cheers as we go by, it'll be because of Emma. I climb into the chariot, greet Emma with a flustered look on my face as she stares at me with her piercing blue eyes, and look ahead.
Here goes nothing, I think as the chariot races off.
Annora POV (D8)
I look in the mirror at my outfit. Or should I say outfits. I have a flashback to one of my favorite books as a child, The Patchwork Girl of Oz. My mother used to read aloud to me the adventures of the Patchwork Girl, a doll brought to life made out of a quilt with many different colors. I guess my stylists are going for the whole Patchwork Girl look today. At least they have gotten rid of my acne scars…
My dress is made out of different patches of colors, reaching all the way down to the ground. Every time I move in the slightest, the colors flash and swirl around me. It's both mesmerizing and horrific at the same time. My long brown hair has been cut in such a way to make my face look thinner and longer. My eyebrows are shaped to the point of almost disappearing from my face altogether. My olive skin has been smeared with multicolored glitter and my eyelids have become rainbows. At least my big brown eyes have been left alone. Aster… I think holding back tears. Aster has my big brown eyes. I have a hard time thinking about my baby daughter anyways, but usually its happy thoughts. Now, it's the thought that I will never see my precious two-year-old again. My eyes tear up some more. My stylist, Ladybug, catches this and turns on me in disapproval. "Stop wallowing!" She shrieks. "Your makeup isn't waterproof!" She pinches my arm for good measure and drags me down to the ground floor. I have been given a witch for a stylist.
Downstairs, the multicolored chariot is waiting with Ashur, my handsome district partner sporting the same color that I have. His is a lot more showy than mine is. He's practically naked! Bright patches of varying sizes polka-dot his body, larger ones strategically covering all of the things that should be covered. His stubble hasn't been shaved off but his previously long hair is cut in a style that causes it to hang slightly in his face. Two or three years ago I would've been tempted by him, but Bentley has ruined my life. I will never ever be a foolish boy-crazy teenager again. And it's all because of Bentley. The thought in my head as we dash through the rainbow streets is that everything is Bentley's fault. Everything.
Kesha POV (D12)
I smile at myself in the mirror. I look tough. All of the other stylists look like little wimps with long dresses and nudeness. But what my stylist, Briss, has done, is probably the most brilliant costume yet. Well, besides the "girl on fire" of course, but mine is in a close second. I told her to not even think about putting me in a dress, even though Marley, our mentor, told us that bossing around Capitolites was a very bad idea. Briss was cool about it though, and told me she wouldn't dare think of it. Then she winked at me and brought out my costume.
I am wearing khaki cargo very short shorts that ended high-thigh. My tank top is cut barely below my ribs and gives off the appearance of being on fire, though it doesn't light up. Around my newly pierced belly button are flame-colored gemstones. My hair is streaked with red, yellow, and black highlights, and soot covers my face. My small ears have been pierced a least ten times each. Below my short shorts are a sort of stocking thing that is tight around my knees but loosens toward my feet. I am wearing combat boots. I look like someone to not mess with, and this is my best edge yet. I turn around, and despite my tough demeanor, hug a very surprised Briss.
After my public show of gratitude is over, I stomp off toward the elevator. Briss follows, having to trot to keep up with my fast pace. I press the ground floor button, and the elevator exhilaratingly plunges down. A small bell sound announces that we have reached the ground floor. Briss tells me where to go and follows behind me. I fix a scowl on my face and storm off to the stables. I make a right when chariots, horses, and tributes enter my line of sight. My braid swings around my face as I sharply turn. Soon, I reach the last chariot. I hoist myself up and wait for my counterpart.
"Kesha, your scowl is perfect, keep it up." A small ringing sound slightly startles me, and Briss pulls out a small silver thing. "Hey, Lino. Ok… Sure… Ya she's here… ok." Briss slips the thing back in her pocket and tells me that Ax and his stylist are almost here. After another two minutes or so, Ax climbs into the chariot.
"Off we go," I say, letting out a small smile as the soot-black stallions race off.
President Jennings POV
"Make sure that the Gamemakers are where they are supposed to be," I hiss to my personal assistant, Jel. Last year, the Gamemakers were way too late and all of the tributes were forced to stay into the stables until we found the Gamemakers. They were drinking, of course. And, of course, we have a brand new Head Gamemaker this year.
"Yes, sir," Jel chirped solemnly. I smooth my wavy yellow hair. Jel calls in for a makeup crew with her fancy earpiece, a gift from yours truly. When the makeup crew finally comes, Jel orders them around. Give my canary yellow hair some more gel, put some more blush on my botox-ed cheeks. Finally I am deemed ready to address my adoring citizens. "Ready to knock them dead, sir?" Jel smiles at me.
"As always, Jel." I step out onto the balcony to see the tributes come before me.
I can hear faint cheering from down the street. When the cheering reaches a crescendo, the tributes from District One pull in front of my balcony. I always like their costumes the best. Covered in silver glitter and gemstones they have probably one of the least original costumes but always seem to pull it off. Another pair of tributes come, apparently dressed up as a doctor and patient. The girl, a tall, beautiful, leggy girl, has her curly chocolate hair pulled into a high ponytail, except for two wisps on either side of her face. Her golden eyes are shining behind black cat-eye glasses. She is wearing a strapless black dress that barely covers her behind. A long doctor's coat is buttoned at her belly button, and he is wearing high black stilettos. The boy's outfit is simple, with blue shorts on, to mimic a patients smock.
The tributes from District Three are next. The tributes are both dressed identically: in black jumpsuits with blue lines running along the whole outfits in no particular pattern, like wires, and several large illuminated circles, looking like they would be buttons or something. The outfits make sense and actually look pretty cool in the night. Four are dressed up as nets. The girl pulls it off but the boy looks awful. I chuckle to myself.
The tributes from District Five pull up next. The girl has long scarlet hair done in a braid to her right side. She is wearing a long dress with multiple animal patterns, it appears as if many miniscule diamonds have been sewn into the stitches. The boy is very small and dressed in a suit that looks like the redhead's dress. The stylists probably decided to do the boy a favor and not show how scrawny he is.
From Six, the District of science geeks as I call it, come a tall, mean looking girl wearing dork glasses and a skimpy dress and lab coat (cheap knockoff of Two's – but the other girl wore it better) and the boy wearing the same thing except for a muscle shirt and a speedo-type thing. Lame, I think.
A green chariot with brown horses, the one from District Seven, pulls up. Inside the chariot is a petite teenaged girl wearing a dress made out of leaves. Her skin is painted to make her look a little bit more brown and her curly brown hair is entangled with leaves. The boy is tall and muscular, wearing leaves around his crotch and a leaf headdress. By the way they look similar and how the girl is leaning on the boy, I would say that they are related; even siblings.
From District Eight come what look like a pair of clowns. Not even kidding. The girl is chubby and smiling, trying in vain to win over the crowd. Her eyelids are painted rainbow colors and she has big brown eyes. The boy is ruggedly handsome and daringly uncovered. The Capitol girls are swooning. I look back and even Jel is mesmerized. I set my jaw. He will die. I'll make sure of it.
District Nine's chariot races into the drive. The girl looks like she is going to a fancy party, with a huge fluffy fur coat. Her brown hair is curled and piled on top of her head, and she is holding a bow and arrow. The boy looks like he is supposed to be a deer or something, what with the huge antlers on top of his head. He is painted a nut-brown, and he is wearing brown pants. He looks absolutely ridiculous. By the way he is looking at the girl from Five, though, it looks like there will be some drama this year. My full lips curl slightly.
More cheering ensues from the crowd as the tributes from District Ten arrive. I can see why, the girl is absolutely gorgeous. She is wearing a long floor-length white dress covered in hundreds of different math equations. Her hair, an interesting mix between bronze and blonde, is pulled into a high bun, with a golden pin with the number "10" holding it together. A thick golden belt to match her pin cinches her dress at the waist. The boy is wearing a tuxedo to match hers, with a golden tie.
District Eleven, the agriculture district, pulls next to the District Ten's chariot. The girl is dressed like a field, or something. She is wearing a golden strapless dress, and she comes equipped with her own breeze. I takes a little while for me to notice that her gown is made out of individual strips of fringe that move as if the dress is a field of wheat caught in a breeze. It is breathtaking. The boy is a lot more unoriginal. He is wearing a plaid shirt completely unbuttoned and denim pants. A huge pitchfork is in his hand.
District Twelve comes last. The girl is petite and pretty, with her ashen blonde hair pulled into a high braid and streaked with black, red, and orange. She has on cargo shorts and a midriff. She looks very tough and I wouldn't underestimate her small size. The boy is wearing a muscle top and cargo pants, his raven-black hair streaked with gold. They look very intimidating. But they will probably die, like everyone else but one. Or two, if they are from the same district. I never understood why that rule hasn't been changed yet. It'd be so much more fun if all but one died.
I love my job, I think as the cameras are directed on me.
Hope you guys liked it! Sorry that not everyone's POV was in it but I thought that we should know what some tributes thought of their costumes. The Prez has a pretty evil mind, huh? He was actually pretty fun to write. So, please review review review! I have decided that I would like to have at least four reviews for each chapter, just so I know how I'm doing or if you like whats happening or if I should change something. Thanks guys! Oh and tell me whose point of view should be next. I hope to have the next chapter updated soon.
-Ally