A/N- Sorry for not updating for a while! I forgot to mention that I was staying at my nan's for a few days...
Well, so as soon as I got back, I finished this chapter for you! Enjoy x
Disclaimer: Yeah, you know by now.
The next morning, I wake with a smile on my face. Not a fake one, but a genuine smile. I sit up in bed, yawning and stretching out my arms.
"Morning, sleepy head" Ethan says, walking into the room.
I yawn again and smile at him. "Morning"
He comes over and sits on the bed, beside me. His skin is shimmering with little droplets of water and his hair flops across his face, damp and darkened by water. The smell of coconut shampoo wafts from him, as he leans over and plants a light kiss on my cheek.
"Sleep well?" He asks, brushing my hair from my face.
"Great, thanks" I reply. "And you?"
"Fantastic" He grins at me, rising from the bed and walking to the door. "See you at breakfast"
The door shuts softly behind him and I tilt my head back, looking up to the ceiling. I'm still smiling; almost glowing with happiness and contentment. Last night had been my best since I moved in. I hadn't lay awake, thinking about what I couldn't have; I hadn't roused from nightmares every hour. I had slept peacefully, comforted by Ethan's arms. Well, that's what I'm lead to believe. Why else would he be here this early... and taking a shower?
After we left his place yesterday, we went back to Monroe's. He didn't suspect anything between us; just went on about the Quarter Quell for ages. Me and Ethan had sat, quietly, listening to Monroe's rambling about the significance of the Quell and how we're all going to be in for a surprise this year. When I asked him what the twist was, he had tapped his nose and told me to be patient. Pfft, so much for the rambling.
So, once dinner had ended, me and Ethan went back to my room. We'd ended up chatting far into the night, a little tipsy after the wine we drank at the meal. We had to drink a lot to get us through Monroe's lectures. To be honest, I can't really remember what happened last night. All I know now is that Ethan didn't go home...
I walk into the breakfast room and take my usual seat. Monroe is already tucking into his morning supply of rich coffee and Ethan has already taken most of the croissants. Both of them look up when I sit down, smiling warmly at me. I smile back and pour myself a mug of coffee. This is new... all this smiling is starting to freak me out...
"It's the Quell announcement today, right?" I start some conversation, avoiding the awkward smiles.
"Hmm, yes indeed. The third Quell already, I can't believe it's come so fast" Monroe speaks first, answering my question with utmost joy.
"I've never been alive for a Quarter Quell" I point out.
"Ah yes of course. You're only eighteen" Monroe says, nodding his head.
"Nineteen next week" I remind him.
"I didn't forget!" He exclaims, raising his finger and wagging it towards me. "I'm planning a big surprise for you, Zinnia"
"I look forward to it" I grin at him.
"Yes. As I was saying..." He continues his ramble about the Quell again.
He goes on about how the idea for the celebration of each 25 Hunger Games came to be and how all the Quell twists were already decided when the first Game launched. And blah, blah, blah.
"And so, today, the third Quarter Quell's twist shall be announced on live TV in exactly three hours, twenty-seven minutes and fifteen seconds" Monroe finished, checking his watch for accuracy.
Obsessed much?
"Yes, well we're all looking forward to it, Monroe. We would love to sit and chat about it some more, but I have to take Zinny to see a certain person" Ethan cuts in.
I look at him in confusion. A certain person?
"What?" I ask, bewildered with his last comment.
"Ah, let's just say it's a part of your birthday present" Monroe replies, glancing at Ethan with a knowing look.
"Yup, so you'd better get dressed and ready so I can take you to get it" Ethan says, pushing me out the room by my shoulders.
"But it's not my birthday 'till next week" I point out, as I'm taken to my room.
"Yes, but you need it now" Ethan says, leaving me in my room and slamming the door behind me.
Ok then... Who could I possibly see to receive a birthday present from? Um... I have no idea.
"Keep them closed, no peeking until I say so" Ethan orders me, his hand over my eyes, blocking my sight.
"I can't see anything anyway!" I exclaim, tapping on his fingers.
"Good. That's the point" He says, guiding me slowly along.
"Where are we going?" I ask.
"Just wait and see" He whispers in my ear.
I'm guided along a path of some sort, before entering a building. I know we're inside, as I heard a door open and the material of the ground feels different. Like I'm stepping on carpet. There's a few muffled whispers as Ethan continues to walk me round, still unable to see. It feels like we've been walking for hours when he finally stops.
"Ok, you can open your eyes now" He tells me, removing his hand from my face.
"Hurrah" I say, raising my eyelids and blink a few times to adjust to my new found sight.
I look around me and see that we're standing in a dressing room. A very messy one. There's mannequins everywhere, dressed in lavish dresses and matched with sparkling accessories and hats. A couple of large loungers sit in the centre of the room, facing a small stage. Small spotlights light up the catwalk, as well as the rays cast over the many outfits displayed around the room. The taste of perfume sticks in my throat as I stand, gawping at the fashions stood before my eyes. I cough a bit and Ethan laughs.
"Surprised much?" He laughs. "You're speechless"
"I'm not surprised... I'm confused" I reply. "Why are we here?"
"As we said; you're meeting someone" He remarks, taking me over to one of the lounges.
We both sit down and I face him.
"Who would we be meeting here?" I ask him, but he doesn't answer. Instead he just nods over to the door.
It opens and someone walks in. Their heels tap on the floor as they walk into the room. A tall, skinny woman enters and I can see black swirling patterns tattooed on her skin. Queenie.
"Zinnia darling!" Queenie exclaims, tottering over to me in her ridiculously high heels.
"Queenie!" I say back, standing up to greet her.
She wraps her skinny arms around my neck and squeezes me tightly, almost strangling me.
"I missed you dear, so much!" She tells me, drawing back from me. "I was devastated when I heard that you had left"
"Really? You liked me that much?" I gasp, shocked with her comment.
"Of course, dearie! You were my favourite client" She says, smiling widely at me.
"Oh thanks, Queenie. I liked you a lot too" I say. "You made me look beautiful"
"And that's what I'm going to do again" She says, before adding. "This is a birthday present that Ethan and your father organised"
"A makeover?" I ask in disbelief.
"Not just a makeover..." She mutters, walking across the room to a hanging curtain. "There's a dress especially designed for you!"
Swiftly, she pulls the curtain across, revealing the dress. She claps her hands in delight as she watches my expression. It's...it's amazing.
The mannequin displays a dress of marine blue. It's a halter neck, with the top fitted up to the waist, then a long, flowing sea of material. The skirt of the dress is a paler shade of blue than the bodice and the material is in thin sheets that swish in the breeze. Around the whole dress, tiny sparkles catch the light and shimmer, creating an effect on the walls. I run to Queenie and hug her once more, pulling her in tightly this time.
"Oh my gosh, thank you soooo much! It's the most gorgeous dress I've ever seen!" I thank her.
"You're welcome, my dear. It was a pleasure making it" Queenie replies.
I let go, staring up at her in shock. "You... made this?"
"Indeed I did. Every last seam and sparkle was sewn by my very own hands" She tells me, holding out her long, bony fingers in front of me.
"Wow, this must have taken you ages!" I gasp.
"It did, but let me tell you one thing" She says, then bends down and whispers in my ear, "It was worth every second"
"Hurry up Zinnia! You're going to miss it all!" Monroe shrieks from the lounge.
"I'm coming" I yell back, tying the rope on my dressing gown.
I don't know why Monroe is so excited about the Quarter Quell, it's still the same game where teenagers kill each other to survive. In fact, it's worse than that. There's always some extra twist to the Quells and I'm just glad that I could never be reaped for one.
"Sit down, Zinnia. It's just starting" Monroe orders me, all hyped up like a little child. I never thought he would be this excited about a Quell. All the same, he does look hilarious and childlike...
"Calm down, you're gonna start squealing in a minute" I add sarcastically, taking a seat in front of the TV.
"Aren't you excited though?" He asks me, "It's your first Quarter Quell"
"Not really, no. It's still sick" I reply, bitterness in my tone.
Monroe doesn't say anything back, he just ignores my last comment and focuses on the screen. The anthem starts to play and the cameras zoom into President Snow, standing on a large stage, assisted by a young boy in a white suit. In his hands, the boy is holding a small wooden box, containing several yellow envelopes that hold the truths of the Quells.
Whoever designed the Games must have planned ahead for centuries! There are enough envelopes to last hundreds of years of Hunger Games. And each twist was decided all those years ago, to be announced every twenty-five years. Including today.
Snow begins his famous speech about the Dark Days and the reasoning behind the Games. I'm not paying much attention, but Monroe is practically glued to the screen. Snow then goes on to talk about the previous two Quarter Quells. In the first Quell, the tributes were voted and chosen to be entered by their districts. I can't begin to imagine how horrible it would feel if you were chosen. Betrayed by your own family and neighbours. The thought of no one caring whether you lived or died. No one bothered by the fact that you were being sent to your death. If I was alive then, I probably would have been chosen. In twelve, I never had any real friends; just friendly acquaintances that were probably only nice to me because they felt they had to. Thinking about it now, I bet they were always talking about me, gossiping about how I looked different to everyone else. I guess they were right in saying that; I am different. I wasn't from there, I was from the Capitol. The stupid Capitol.
The second Quarter Quell was the year when Haymitch won. There were twice the amount of tributes that year, making a huge forty-seven other competitors for Haymitch. I still don't know how he won, but maybe one day I'll find out. Maybe.
At last, the speeches come to an end and the moment the whole of Panem has been waiting for, has arrived. The revealing of the next Quarter Quell. Snow dips into the box and produces the enveloped marked '75'. Without hesitation, he opens it and reads from the card.
"On the seventy-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that even the strongest among them cannot overcome the power of the Capitol, the male and female tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors" He announces, clear and simple.
And it is clear and simple. Only previous victors will be reaped this year. A sick feeling rises up in my stomach. District 12 only has three living victors; Haymitch, Katniss and Peeta. As she's the only girl, Katniss will have no option, but to go back into the arena. And I know that Peeta will go in with her. Even if he isn't reaped, he will volunteer. This time, I'm a hundred percent sure he will.
"I have to get back to Peeta. I have to" I declare, marching up and down my room.
I'm still shaken from the announcement and as soon as he heard the news, Ethan came round. He knew I'd be freaking out and guess what? he's right.
My first reaction was a stunned silence, while I processed the information. After sitting without saying a word, it hit me hard. I had then moved on to the complete opposite; I had a small tantrum. I say small... I'd screamed a lot and ended up almost smashing my bedroom to pieces, raging with the president. How dare he do such a thing. After everything I sacrificed to save Peeta's life, and he gets him thrown back into the arena. Once again, my efforts count as none. There's no getting him out of this one.
"Zinny? Can I come in?" Ethan asks again, tapping on the door.
"If you want" I say back, my fists still clenched until my knuckles turn blue.
His head peeps from behind the wood, followed by the rest of his body as he enters the room. When he sees the state of the room, he sighs and walks up to me. His hands firmly grip my arms and he holds me still, attempting to calm myself down.
"It's ok, Zinny. Just breathe and stay calm" He speaks to me softly.
I nod and take my breaths in deeply, slowly.
"That's my girl" He says. "Now, just let things out slowly. Tell me what you're thinking"
I try to speak, but my lip quivers and I find myself unable to produce words. I try again, but my throat is too dry and tears start to swell in my eyes. I swallow and try again, but I can't do it. I can't talk to him. I can't talk to anyone. My rage has subsided and now, all that's left for me to do is cry.
So I cry. I let the tears flood down my face and drip off my chin. I let my body collapse in Ethan's arms and weep into his shoulder. He pats my hair and whispers words of comfort as I snuffle into his t-shirt, soaking the material with my tears.
When my tears stop pouring out and just the dampness is left, I lift my head from his shoulder. I wipe my face with the back of my hand and sniff, looking at him. I'm expecting him to wipe away any more tears, or hold me again, but he doesn't. Instead, he takes my hands and looks me in the eye.
"Run away with me" He says.
"What?" I ask, surprised with his offer.
"Lets go, just the two of us. We can leave this place behind and live a better life. Somewhere where we can be ourselves and where no one will know us. Lets run away together"
"Where would we go?"
"Where my old friends went. District thirteen"
A/N- Yeah, the beginning was fairly slow, but now the story is gonna get back to what you know from Catching Fire.
So if you like it and wish to leave me a comment PLEASE REVIEW. Chapter 5 will be up very soon, so keep reading!
Thanks, FireflyLlama x