Disclaimer:
I do not own anything in relation to The Hunger Games Saga. Suzanne Collins owns the concept and the characters of the books.
Author's Note:
I was so happy to receive my first review and I am glad that you have written your comments. In this chapter you will learn what twist President Snow has for this year's tributes. Please remember that this is rated M for a reason and I am always open to suggestions on how to make this story better.
Chapter 2:
Katniss's POV
I look over to Madge with a final look that is asking to confirm that Prim will be taken care of.
"Madge, Please make sure Prim becomes my mother's apprentice and she is taken care of?"
All Madge does is give me a reassuring look that tells me not to worry and she has Prim's back. I wave to her and walk onto the hovercraft. I look around, and I see the 22 other tributes sitting in their seats.
They all stare at Peeta and I like we just magically appeared with two heads. I am immediately on edge. This is when I realize that all tributes competing in the games this year are on this craft and we all are confused as to why there are two more reaping bowls in the front.
Effie walks to the two bowls and start to speak:
"There are some rule changes this year, and these changes require you to be paired with someone other than the tribute from your district. Your district number will be entered into another set of reaping bowls and then will be drawn. If your district number is drawn and you are paired with your original partner then the male's slip will be put back into the reaping bowl and will be redrawn. After you have been paired up you will then sit next to your new tribute partner. Now let us get started."
Another escort walks up to what is the female tribute bowl and picks a slip. Then she goes to the male tribute's bowl and pulls a slip. She walks over to Effie and hands her the two.
"District 12 female will be pairing with the District 2 male!" Effie says excitedly.
'WHAT!? What did she just say? I have to be paired with a Career? This is not possible. What am I supposed to do now?'
I go and sit by District 2's male tribute. The second reaping continues as such. I learn that Peeta was paired with my new tribute partner's original district partner. I do not trust these two at all.
We then reach the Capitol as soon as the last pair is called. We walk off of the craft with our new tribute partners and are met and released into the care of our new stylists. My tribute partner and I are assigned to what would be District 12's stylist. Speaking of my tribute partner, he is looking at me in disgust, but when I look deeper into his eyes there is also something else hiding behind disgust.
I could not help but look at him and give him my signature 'Don't mess with me or I will shoot you' scowl. I am still scowling when I am escorted into the remake center where my prep-team is waiting for me.
I am washed, plucked, waxed, scrubbed, and rubbed for what feels like hours. Then the two women who make up two-thirds of my prep-team start making my nails look even and very beautiful and they do my make-up. When they are finished a male comes up and starts to twist, braid, and pull my hair into a simple style that still allows my hair to stay down. They refuse to let me look in the mirror.
It is at this moment that my stylist walks in with a clothing bag draped over his shoulder.
"Hello! My name is Cinna. What you did for your friend was very brave. Let us get you dressed. Shall we?"
He then brings out this leotard with three-quarter length sleeves and has me put it on. It was as black as coal and has red, blue, and orange-colored gems on the front. He then has me put on a pair of coal-black yoga pants with a pair of shiny black three-inch high heel shoes that are then held on by matching black satin ribbon that wrap up my legs and tie into a bow mid way up the back of my calves.
It is at this moment that Cinna starts to spray something out of a spray can over my hair and my back.
"This is something that will keep the synthetic flames from burning you and keep them going until you return to the tribute tower. Please do not be afraid. I would not put you in any harm."
"I do trust you and I am not afraid. Thank you for making me look beautiful."
"I had a beautiful foundation to start with. Now we need to meet up with Portia, my wife, and your tribute partner."
We walk out of the room we were in and meet up with my new tribute partner. He was dressed in the same type of leotard (with the sleeves missing) as I was, but it was in a different color. Instead of being in yoga pants and high heals, he was in a pair of tan cargo khaki pants with gladiator sandals on his huge feet. He has grayish gems outlining his muscles on his leotard that is the color of gray stone. His hair had silver glitter in it and he smelled of the same spray Cinna had sprayed on me. He looked frightening and amazing at the same time.
We walk over to our chariot which is the last one in line (because I am from District 12). I step onto the chariot and start to fall. Cinna is immediately there to catch me and put me back onto the chariot. My partner then steps on while ignoring me. Our stylists then tell us to hold hands and then Cinna lights me on fire.
I look over to my partner and notice that his costume was made to use the reflection of my flames to accentuate his district's purpose and his muscular body.
The chariots start to move and we are now being viewed by all of Panem with our new tribute partners. We link our hands and start to wave to the people. He catches a fake foam sword and holds it in his hand raised in the air. He looks like the tribute that I know he has trained to be. I don't notice that I have caught some flowers and have them raised in the air as well. He raises our linked hands and for this we are rewarded by hearing the chants of our names.
"CATO AND KATNISS! CATO AND KATNISS!"
'Oh, so that is his name.' I say to myself.
He plasters a smirk onto his face as be begin is slow to a stop in front of the President's mansion.
President Snow then walks up to the podium and begins his speech.
"Welcome! Welcome! I know you all are very confused about this year's games, and it is completely understandable. I will now explain the rules for the next two years. First of all, there will be no games for a year. Your district tributes have been paired off with someone other than their district partner. For the next year, these tributes will travel to and learn each skill set that each and every district has to offer. The tributes will also learn what skills that their new tribute partner has to offer. They will then spend one month in each district until you all reach the Capitol when you will then enter the arena. During the training time, each tribute pair will indeed have to pro-create. When a female tribute becomes impregnated, she and her tribute partner will return to the Capitol to continue to train under the supervision of Capitol Medical Personnel until their child is born. When all of the tributes have returned, one month later they will go into the arena. Custody for the children of the fallen tributes will then be transferred to District 2's victors, Brutus and Enobaria, and then will be placed into the peacekeeper academy in District 2. Each child will be a citizen of its mother's home district. Thank you for your sacrifice and may the odds ever be in your favor."
I was in so much shock that I almost fell out of the chariot again. Cato catches me this time and whispers into my ear:
"I cannot and will not have the future mother of my child falling and looking like a clumsy idiot 12!"
The ride back to tribute tower was long and nerve-racking. We ride the elevator up to the 12th floor with Peeta and District 2's female in silence.
The first people we see are our mentors. Cato is immediately yelling at his mentor Brutus.
"What is the meaning of this, Brutus?"
"Cato, we have no control over what the President wants."
"Why? Why do I have to have a kid with scum from District 12?"
"Hey, I do not like the idea either you District 2 Neanderthal!" I yell.
WHAM! I hear a scuffle as I hit the floor. Before anyone notices, I stand-up, run to the table, grab the closest sharpest thing (which I notice is a steak knife) and tackle Cato, pinning him to the floor with the knife in his family jewels.
"If you ever insult me or my district or hit me again, I will definitely show you how very scum-like I truly can be!" I threaten.
"Oh, how interesting this should be 12."
"I have a name 2."
"I know, but I think I will just start calling you Fire Girl."
"Whatever Neanderthal."
We look away from each other and see everyone' jaw is on the floor.