A/N- Ok hello again people! I have finally finished chapter 5!
Before I continue, I would just like to say thanks to everyone who has reviewed- I love you and keep doing it please x
And a special thanks to my friend (who's name won't stay here for stupid reasons) who has helped me a lot with this by reading it through before I post it and making me post it! Thanks you x
Without further comments, let me give you... chapter 5!
When I wake the next morning, I feel drained. Not only am I fatigued, I am famished as well. I sit up in the bed and lean against the headboard. My head is pulsating and if it weren't for the fact that I'm practically dying of hunger, I would seriously contemplate going back to sleep. Regardless of the time.
After a while, I decide I'm stable and drag myself out of bed and into the bathroom. The sensor goes off and a blinding light brightens the room. I squint my eyes to avoid sudden blindness until they finally adjust to the light.
I look into the mirror. Staring straight back, I see a girl who looks as if she's been washed up on a desert island. Her hair hangs limp; strands twisted and mangled together. Her eyes, bloodshot and encircled with dark shadows. The rest of her face, pale and mournful. She's a mess, both outside and within. I understand why... because I'm looking at myself. The girl I see in the mirror, is none other than my reflection. And I hate it.
Still wearing the dress from last night, I strip it off and throw it on the toilet seat. The rest of my underwear follows shortly, then the shower clicks on and I spring into action. I've selected 'Power Wash' and now, water is being pumped out at a phenomenal speed. It hits my body hard, but it feels good. The sensation of pounding on my back wakes me up and get's me thinking straight.
Once the session times out, I step out the shower and rub myself dry. With the towel wrapped as some sort of a dress, I walk back into the bedroom. I'm just on my way to the wardrobe when I spot something left on the table. I go over and see a silver tray, stacked with pastries and a large pot, rising with steam. I guess they've left me breakfast.
Wasting no time in thinking about the reasoning behind the food, after what happened yesterday, I sit myself down on the sofa in front of this small feast. I grab the nearest pastry and sink my teeth into it, taste buds going wild as the warm taste of melted butter trickles down my throat. It's not long before I'm trying the next pastry. This time, a dark brown sauce, with a rich taste, oozes out the middle of the pastry. I think it's chocolate.
We had chocolate once at the bakery and used it to make these special cakes for a wedding. It was simply delicious. The smooth texture felt soothing on your tongue, not to mention the taste! In my opinion, we should have made cakes like that forever after the wedding, but it was put clear to a younger me, that we were only having it once. I remember, as only a nine year old, that I vowed I would have chocolate again one day. And here I am, keeping my promise.
Several minutes later and I've gotten through the whole plate of pastries. Normally, with food of this quality, I would savour each moment of eating it, however, my ravenous hunger took over and I consumed them all so quickly, I almost forgot to breathe. You can't blame me; I haven't eaten in a while. A long while.
My hunger is replenished, so I move on to the large steaming pot. I lift up the lid and peer inside. A dark, very hot liquid is contained and I pour some out into a mug. Holding it up to my nose, I can tell it's tea. Not like the weak, lukewarm, leafy water we have at home, but rich, strong and steaming. Despite the boiling temperature, I gulp down the first mug and pour myself another. I end up finishing the whole pot, then take a deep breath and sigh. The warmness I now feel in my body is comforting and my mind feels refreshed again.
Now that I'm washed and fed, I think it's time to get dressed and face up to the day ahead.
When I open the wardrobe, instead of seeing the bare wood inside that part of me expects, I'm greeted by an abundance of brightly coloured garments. I pull them out one by one; skirts, tops, dresses, jackets, everything. With each item, I can see that they must be originals, as the designs look so complicated and finely crafted, you couldn't possibly make a large number of them. Well, I suppose the Capitol could. They seem to be able to do everything. Pfft.
Once I've emptied the whole wardrobe, I look over every item on my bed, deciding on which one to wear. Most of them are too fancy for everyday, better for evening meals or parties. Still, even the less formal ones are fancier than anything I've seen back home. In the end, I settle for a simple, grey dress. It hangs just below my knees and swishes whenever I turn. The skirt of the dress is plain, but the bodice is wildly decorated in embroided patterns of flowers. The dress itself is sleeveless, exposing my arms and just above my chest. So, I grab a thin, black shrug and head out the door, locking it behind me. Not that I need to. People always seem to get it and out, leaving me little 'gifts'. Pfft.
The corridors are long and endless. When I reach the end of one, it just leads to another and I swear I've been walking in circles for the past hour or so. Wandering aimlessly along identical corridors for at least an hour and I'm still not remotely anywhere near where I should be heading. If I even knew where I was heading...
Just thinking about it now... I have no idea where I want to be. Never mind getting there. Another strange thing is that, I haven't even seen another person. Wow, I must be going in circles. I am well and truly lost.
Well, lost until I see a hidden staircase behind a plant.
Aha, genius.. ok, not really. I must have missed it hundreds of times...oh well, I've found it now.
I don't even think about what might be down them, all I want is to get out of this stupid corridor that imprisons me. Practically running down the stairs causes me to twist my ankle a little. Ouch.
When I step, more like leap, off the last stair, I can see my whereabouts much better.
I've seemed to have walked into a main corridor. I can tell from the size of it and the amount of people rushing down it. It must be at least the width of five houses the size of the ones in 12. But, I can say it's a lot busier.
People in white uniforms march down the corridor, Avoxes scurry down carrying plates of all sorts, general people of the Capitol dressed in outrageous costumes also totter down and then, there's me.
Inside, I feel nervous, like someone is going to recognise me and lock me away. But outside, no one seems to notice me. Surprising, seeing that I'm just standing there awkwardly in the middle of the corridor, but good, as I'm not really in the situation where I'd want to be seen.
Deliberately, I start walking in the opposite direction of the main flow of people. I receive a few puzzled looks from some people, but no one approaches me directly. I just avoid any eye contact and make my way down the building.
I pass rooms of all sorts, ranging from kitchens to spas and every other type of room you could ever imagine. This corridor seems even more endless than the one upstairs, trailing on forever and ever, but never quite coming to an end. The further I go, the less busy the walkway gets. Less people running about frantically, checking watches. Less noise and bodies to bump into. Less eyes to see me. But, more empty spaces for me to wander aimlessly through.
I'm really starting to get tired from getting nowhere, when I see it. By it, I mean a door. But, this door isn't a regular door with gold doorknobs and a gold plate, labelling the room behind. This door is tall, very heavy looking and made of metal. A panel full of buttons is attached to the wall beside it. A room only accessible if you know the combination to unlock the bolted door. Unless, it hasn't been closed properly and is slightly ajar. Just like it is now.
The door is heavy, but the gap is big enough for me to squeeze through. It's a bit tight, but curiosity forces me through it. Once I've passed through the gap, I exhale a sigh of relief. Then, I turn to see what I've just walked into.
I've walked into yet another large corridor. However, this time, instead of stretching out in front of me, it leads off to both sides of me. I seem to be in the middle. Fabulous... where the hell do I go now?
I decide to go right, just as a small group of men in white uniforms march past. Luckily for me, there's a big wooden box beside me, so I duck behind it and watch them parade down the rest of the corridor. That was a little too close for my liking. Maybe I should keep low.
As I continue down the corridor, I keep myself shielded behind boxes that line the edges of the walls. The other side looks pretty much the same as the one I'm on now, except I see yet another door. This time it's a double door, labelled with 'Training Room'. I'm just about to ignore it, as I do to other doors, but something strikes me. This must be the training room for the tributes. Therefore, Peeta must be in there.
I need to get over to that door.
Of course, the simple plan of going over and opening the door is almost impossible to even think about carrying out. There is no way I can just walk in there without causing any trouble. Annoyingly, I must obey the Capitol's rules and take notice of the 'No Entry' sign next to the door. But, I'm not giving up that easily. I'll just find another way in...ok, maybe not in. Maybe just somewhere to look in. Yeah, that sounds the safer option.
I walk down the corridor, still hiding behind boxes. So far, there's been no luck in finding a way to see what's going on inside that room. No luck until I spot a window, just a few more metres away.
Practically sprinting, I get opposite the window, check to see if it's all clear and bolt across the corridor. I'm now face-to-face with the window and eagerly, I peer inside.
A small gasp escapes my mouth from the sight I see. All twenty four tributes are in there, all equipped with weapons. Several are throwing knives at a dummy. Others, hand-to-hand combat. There are loads of different stations, each one specialising in a different tactic. No wonder the tributes in previous years are so good at fighting. The training they receive is fantastic!
I'm frantically searching for Peeta, hoping that I don't see anything to awful. However, all I see are mainly, the Careers, showing off with their fancy skills and knowledge of kiling techniques. That's just typical Career though.
I'm about to give up when at last I spot him. He's standing in the far corner of the room, throwing some massive objects that must weigh a ton. I can see his muscles flexing as he swings his arm around, releasing the objects. They soar through the air, landing quite a way in front of him. It's an amazing sigh to see.
Wow, I knew he was strong. But, not that strong.
I'm transfixed, just in awe with Peeta's skills that I'm oblivious to anything occuring on my side of the glass. Just watching him, training to kill, it's just... wrong. I've barely accepted the fact that he was reaped, but now seeing him practicing killing techniques really brings me back to reality. Peeta is in there, learning how to kill to save his life. He will only have a few days of this training, before he's thrust into an arena to fight for his life, while Snow and the rest of Panem sit comfortably in front of TV screens, watching him suffer. Probably watching him thought releases a single tear from my eye, that slides down my cheek.
My hand reaches up to wipe away the dampness on my cheek, when another hand is placed firmly on my shoulder.
My head whips around and my eyes meet a pair of sea green ones. Finnick.
"Don't sneak up on me like that!" I yell at him, punching his right arm.
"I hardly snuck up on you, Zinny. You were off in a dream world anyway" He says, rubbing his arm slightly. Pfft, wimp.
"I was not!" I retort back at him.
He doesn't retaliate to my denial, he just laughs, shaking his head a little. "Oh you're so sensitive, baker girl"
"Don't call me that!" I snap back.
"Ok, ok. Calm yourself, it was just a jokey nickname" He says, his hands in held in front of him in a 'let's make peace' gesture.
I sigh, knowing now that I overreacted. God, I'm doing a lot of that lately. Hmm, I blame it on hormones. Actually, maybe it has something to do with the fact that my little brother is about to thrown into a pit of goodness knows what, killing to avoid being killed. Perchance.
"Look, Finnick, I'm sorry. I was just.. oh, I dunno..." I apologise to him, but never quite manage to get out how I felt.
"...Upset?" He offers.
"Yeah, I suppose" I shrug back. "Sorry for being upset all the time"
"It's ok, you're entitled to show your emotions" He says.
What?
For a second I can't speak. I can't move. I can't think. All I can hear is Peeta's voice telling me, 'you're entitled to show your emotions'. They were the last words he said to me. The last words he spoke, directly to me, before I started screaming about the Capitol and never spoke to him again. His last words of truth to me. Yet, I had cast them aside and ignored them, not knowing that they would be the last words we could share. I let them pass. But now, they've resurfaced, but this time, not said by Peeta.
Images flash through my mind, colliding with one another, forming new ones. There's Peeta and me in the bakery, him with a frosting-covered nose, and me, laughing at him. This joyful image passes, revealing a new one from my past. This time, I see a younger Peeta trying to build a snowman in the freshly layered snow. His hands are blue from holding the cold snow, but he keeps building, adding handfuls of snow to the lopsided snowman.
The memories keep on coming, one after another, every one of Peeta. His first day of high school, dressed in father's old shirt and faded trousers; playing with the flat ball against the back wall of the bakery, then being told off by our parents; making up stories and acting them out, whilst shading under the tree at the bottom of the garden. Then, I see the reaping and Peeta being chosen, and the look on his face as he stepped up to his fate. This soon fades out into our last conversation and the last words he ever said to me; that Finnick has just said. Finally, ending with the image of Peeta training in the Training Room...
"Zinny? What's wrong? Have I said something?" Finnick's worried voice wakes me from my flashbacks.
"Oh, erm, what?" I stammer, still dazed from what I just saw in my mind.
"You suddenly went all quiet and weird. Like you were in a dream world again" His eyes look worryingly into mine.
"I, erm... I think I just had a flashback" I manage to say back to him.
"A flashback? Of what?" His eyes grow wide as he questions me.
"Peeta" I reply.
"What happened?" He asks.
"Everything. There were bits from when we were younger, ageing up to the reaping, then the last words he ever said to me..." I say, not quite finishing the sentence.
"Were, 'your entitled to show your emotions'..." He finishes for me.
I give a small nod and look up to him. He holds out his arms, offering a hug. I sniff and bury myself in his shirt, letting his arms wrap around my body. The heat from his chest radiates off him and comforts me. The steady beat of his heart keeps me sure that someone is really here for me. Here to wipe away my tears, provide a shoulder to cry on and keep a lifetime's supply to comforting hugs.
It's only when a deep voice interrupts, that I pull away from Finnick. I look to see a tall, broad man, dressed in a white suit. He stands, still, and looks at us uncertainingly.
"Mr Odair and umm..." He begins, staring at Finnick, then me.
"Daisy, my girlfriend" Finnick steps in, putting one arm across my shoulders.
I'm about to protest, but then I realise that it's best to just play along. So, I smile back at Finnick and lean my head into his arm.
"Oh right then. I wasn't too sure. I didn't recognise her, you know, just doing my job and keeping this place private. I'm sorry Mr Odair" The man in uniform stutters back to Finnick, then gives a small nod and walks down the corridor.
Finnick gives him a small wave and turns back to me, his face presenting a huge grin.
I glare back at him, but inside I'm laughing. He must be able to tell this, as he starts to chuckle.
"You should have seen your face, Zinny!" He laughs at me, wiping a fake tear from his eye.
"It wasn't that funny..." I deny.
"Uh, yes it was" he says.
"It was not!" I retaliate.
"Oh come on, lighten up" He says, lightly punching my arm.
"Me, lighten up?" I resist the temptation to laugh with him.
"Yes, you. Lighten up" He replies, still beaming with glee.
This guy is unbelievable! Telling me to lighten up, eh? Who does he think he is? But, all the same, he is quite a character. And always seems to make me smile...
"Ugh, fine" I cave in, letting ripples of laughter escape through my mouth.
"That's better! Laughter at last!"
"Hey, I'm not that boring you know"
"Sure, whatever you say, Miss Mellark"
"Uh! At least I could have chosen a more interesting name. You're so... um, average!"
"I am no such thing!"
"Daisy? Seriously? You couldn't have been more imaginable?"
"I do have an imagination if that's what you're saying"
"Really? Is there even space in that ego of yours?"
"Hey! I do not have an ego!"
"Sure, whatever you say, Mr Odair"
"Ha ha, very funny"
A/N- Yay, so more cute Finnick stuff. I'm really loving making up their conversations x
So yup, that was chapter 5 and chapter 6 is currently being made now, so PLEASE REVIEW :D
Thanks, FireflyLlama x