Celina 4
My prep team had worked miracles. My skin was flawless and smooth, but I was tingling all over from the wax strips that had been torn from my flesh. The dark circles had been erased, and any sign of redness on my face was covered over with make-up. I looked like me, but stunning. Kitty had dabbed shimmering azure glitter on my eyes, and lined them with really dark blue, making them look ethereal and goddess-like, whereas my lips were exactly the colour of coral. I found myself hugging the bizarre woman, coming back covered in tiny scratches from the jewels, which seemed to change colour depending on her mood.
"Oh, Darling, you look GORGEOUS!" Ferrero screamed as he entered the room, sending the snakes into a frenzy. "Now, let's get you in your dress!" He ushered the prep team out of the room, and brought in a black bag, with a simple zip down the middle. The bag confused me, making me expect a boring, plain dress, when inside it was fabulous!
Blue strips of silk layered over each other, mimicking fish scales fitted tightly over my body, flaring out just under my knees, where a shimmering net, complete with silver shells, rippled to the floor. IT gave me the impression that the strange, beautiful girl was a Mermaid, caught in a net by an absent-minded fisherman.
"Close your eyes Darling, I'm going to fix your hair." As I closed my eyes, I could feel gentle tugging as my long hair was tucked under some sort of cap. Hmm, what is he doing? My hair is my best asset, in my opinion anyway. A wave of coolness tickled my neck, and seemed to be flowing like waves down to my shoulders. I opened my eyes in surprise as my nose picked up the familiar saltiness of the sea. In the mirror, a strange creature peered back at me. A mermaid, with glowing skin and huge eyes, and with hair just like the sea! Bright blue, with miniature waves that crashed down to her shoulders, where they lost momentum, and disappeared with a final flick. I tentatively moved my hand up, and was surprised to feel my hair wasn't wet at all, it felt more like velvet, rippling under my touch.
"Oh my goodness, Ferrero, I love it!" I threw myself at my stylist, almost tripping over my long dress. As I collapsed into his arms, he embraced me for a second, and then got on with the finishing touches. Tall shoes, encrusted with pearls with golden fish hooks for heels, added at least 3 inches to my small frame. A bracelet of carefully mismatched coral was put on my wrist. A beautiful necklace of seaweed, similar to the one that I wore at the reaping, which upon closer inspection, was covered in tiny emeralds, was draped around my neck, entwined with pearls. And to finish it off, a wreath of creamy shells, fading to dark pink in the middle, was carefully placed on my waving hair.
"I'm ready." I whispered, afraid to move, and damage the careful work of my stylist. I walked on careful feet until I reached my chariot. Ferrero helped me to climb up next to Martin. He looked very uncomfortable. The costume was obviously designed for the usual, muscle clad volunteers that District 4 produced. Martin's skin had been sprayed gold, and he was dressed in only a sapphire cloth, showing most of his chest. He was holding a trident, like mine, but mine was much more decorative than his simple silver one. Mine was edged with gold, and had strings of pearls entwined around it. We both had the same hair, except his was much shorter, and he had a silver crown that looked far too big for his head.
I let out a small gasp when the rocky chariot started moving; I was looking at the District 2 girl. I think she's called Iris, she is really beautiful, and looked like a goddess, and I was thinking about approaching her in the training room. I was not prepared for the reaction of the crowd; it was as if they erupted when our chariot came into view. Huge waves of applause rained down on us, and I nervously raised my hand, even though Martin looked paralysed with fear. He looked nervous, but as I knew it was an act, I didn't try to console him.
I looked around and caught Iris's eye. She shot daggers in my direction and extinguished my hopes for an alliance with her. I didn't realise I had dropped my arm, and I tried to hide behind my flowing hair, prompting a huge 'Aaw' from the crowd. Our chariot shuddered to a stop and President Snow stood up and started delivering his speech.
Whoosh
A golden hammer spun through the air, causing Martin to clutch at the shiny material of my dress. I swear he put his hands a bit too close to my chest on purpose… The hammer clanged down on the stone pathway a few metres in front of our chariot, startling the horses, causing the pearls in their manes to clatter onto the floor. I peeled Martin off me, whispering 'I'm going to kill you!' in a tender way, too quiet for the crowd to hear. I tried to concentrate on the President's speech, but I couldn't help thinking about Iris. What had I done? I was trying to form an alliance with her, and she was throwing heavy objects at me before the games had even begun!
I stepped down from my Chariot, and ran away without waiting for Finnick or Den to come and collect us, as we had been told to do. I skittered on my skyscraper heels to the elevator, like the one on the justice building, except this one was cold, and grey.
I spied the District one and two tributes bearing down on me, and I willed the doors to close quicker. Oh no, they're here, and the smiles on their faces are not friendly.
"Oh Celina, you're soooo pretty!" Iris grinning, grabbing the wig Ferrero had worked so hard on. I tried to withdraw, but I was already backed into the corner.
"You're so toned Celina, look at your arms." The district 1 girl, Diamond I think, moved forward and jabbed me viciously in my arms, subtly twisting the flesh painfully. God, I hate them, and all thoughts of an alliance vanished from my mind. I was sure that I would be the first person the careers would hunt down. Iris slinked next to me, smiling cruelly. I couldn't take this anymore.
"Why are you being so horrible to me, I haven't done anything wrong?" I blurted out, losing confidence and ending the statement as a question, instead of a statement, as if I needed reassurance that I hadn't done anything.
"Oh I'm not being horrible; I said your dry greasy hair was nice." A cruel grin contorted her pretty face and I involuntarily clenched my fists. Iris's eyes flickered towards the tiny movement, and I knew she had found something else to use against me.
"Are you going to hit me fish girl? Do it, I dare you." She almost whispered those last words in my ear, pressing me further into the cold walls of the doors. Iris's brother Morpheus laughed, and barked out a statement.
"She won't lay a finger on you because she knows you'll break her neck." I sensed the elevator stopping and pushed forward to run out of the doors, just after I realised this was the District one tribute's floor.
"I'll see you tomorrow pretty girl!" Iris half screamed-half laughed after me, and I could hear the thud-thud of running feet chasing me down the corridor.
A huge lump of muscle thudded into me, and I screamed for help I was never going to get just as Iris and Morpheus disappeared behind the cold, silver doors.
"Did you know diamonds are the hardest material in the world? And I'm going to prove that to you with the help of my mate Rolex." Diamond gestured to Rolex, (ugh how tacky) who was still pinning me down, and had pulled the wig off my head, causing my hair to tumble out of the tight fitting cap. Diamond stood over my face and spat on my forehead, pinning my throat down between the heel and toe of her ridiculous thigh high silver jewelled boots.
The weight on my chest eased up, and I knew Rolex had stood up, and I was sure when a barrage of punches drove into my stomach, working their way up to my chest, and I could feel his fists driving the air out of my lungs, well, the air that was left. I had been screaming constantly, even though I knew the District mentors or escort aren't here. I could feel the punches receding. I slowly opened my eyes and saw Diamond whispering to Rolex, telling him to stop, and pulling him towards their room.