"Katniss!"
I wake with a startle at the sound of Effie's voice.
"Chariot Rides, Katniss! Get up!"
I jump from my bed, remembering today is the day I see my prep team again. I don't bother throwing on different clothing, knowing that Cinna will have my costume ready in time. And my prep team sure wouldn't appreciate if I was late…
Octavia, Venia, Flavius. They're all as strange as the Capitol itself. Only they don't force children into the arena for a fight to the death.
I open my door to find Effie waiting, tapping her bright green shoes on the floor. "Katniss," She says, her eyes widening. "You look like a mess!"
She catches on as I roll my eyes at her.
"Oh, well, your prep team will have to fix that." She assures.
Imagine having to hear Effie go on and on about everything from the Capitol to something about syrup. It's not fun, and in fact it's almost like reliving the rebellion again. She doesn't seem to stop talking- even about some subjects I don't even recognize.
Anyway, it takes us a lot of time before we're both able to meet up with Cinna. It seems as if Peeta and Portia have already gotten started on Peeta's 'makeover', for neither of them is present.
Behind Cinna is an old door. Not like an old banged up door, but it's only a little worn, something that's not exactly common in the Capitol's gates. Even the knob on it is aged to a crisp. If Cinna really thinks I'm about to see my prep team in there, he's got another thing coming. There's no way they can sit there and not try to improve the door's features. Bright colors and sparkles are what they like best.
"Hello, Katniss." Cinna says with a smile, waving Effie goodbye.
Before I know it, I'm being brought through the strange door, and into the room that lies beyond it. And it's not what I was expecting for sure.
All sorts of different designs and offers scatter the wall and roof. The carpet's clean as a daisy, leaving no trace of dirt behind. The wallpaper looks as if it's been freshly painted over, giving it much more life than in my Capitol room. And then, of course, there's the fact that I'm facing my old prep team again.
Octavia rushes over to embrace me in a tight hug, and soon after Venia and Flavius have joined in. I'm almost about to run out of air when Cinna laughs and tells them that I'm suffocating.
"Katniss!" Octavia cries, "We're so glad to see you again!" She examines my appearance in one glance. Frowning she says, "Oh, dear, you are a mess! We'll have to work pretty hard to get you all beautiful in Cinna's design!"
Venia joins in, "Right, and I really need to work out the dirt in your face! However did you become this filthy?"
I'm almost choking even after they've let me go. "Rough…day?" I say, unsure of what could be a good answer.
"Well, certainly!" Flavius says, rummaging through a purple back, the exact shade of his lipstick. "You might look unhealthier than you did the first time we all met you!"
I sure hope the insults don't continuously strike me when I'm not paying attention. But they seem to come and come again.
"Alright," Cinna says, "Katniss needs to be prepared for the Chariot Rides this afternoon. She's trying to keep up with the presses upon her strategies in the arena. She can't be wondering about how she looks."
Octavia nods, "Yes, we know. The Chariot Rides will be bound to be remembered."
"More remembered than her first Opening Ceremony too." Venia chimes in. Her gold tattoos shining under the suns light that breaking through the window.
With a couple of exchanges of farewells Cinna makes it out of the highly decorated room.
My prep team looms over me, their eyes filled with extreme joy. They're still a bit freakish, like the first time I met them, only I know how they act. Even if it's a bit childish.
"Alrighty," Octavia says.
"Let's get started," Flavius says, pulling me into the back of the room.
While my prep team gets me all set, I'm wondering about what's the Capitol has in store for the tributes. It could be anything. They've already released blood thirsty mutts on us, well Peeta, Cato, and me anyway.
Flavius talks on about how horrible my nails are, and Venia's about to go mad about my facial features. Octavia seems to enjoying her time again. It's much better than it was a year or two ago. They work for what seems like hours, never letting a moment of silence get in their way, and by the time they've finished I'm just about as restless as I was during the rebellion.
Cinna comes in near after my prep team has stopped aggravating me about how terrible my looks were before they had come in. They don't mean it in a mean way, I know it, but I suppose I did look a bit dirty. Somehow I couldn't care less.
"Care to see?" Cinna asks when he makes his entrance. In his arms is a bundled cloth. It's obviously dealing with fir, I've made myself known with all the flaming clothing Cinna and Portia have designed for Peeta and me.
Cinna has created a beautiful design of another living flame. This time it's involving a volcano like structure. He shows me a few extras that were added on to the suit, making it stand out. And like I had expected, it seems to suit me just fine. Throw the clothing on me; it'll be over within an hour or two.
A black t-shirt has been thrown together with a strange look of real fire. Magma seems to actually leak from the shirt, giving it a bright glow. A pair of tight black jeans is in the pile, and a set of military boots sits on it all, topping it off.
"Here," Cinna explains, showing me a small patch on the shirt. "It's actually a living flame."
"Actually living?" I ask, unsure of myself.
Cinna shakes his head. "Not an actual living flame, just for decoration. Portia and I figured you and Peeta had enough with real flames."
Right.
Venia shouts pleasantly, "It's wonderful, Cinna! Katniss loves it!"
That gives me a hint to say something instead of thinking about what awaits me. I nod, "I do, it's amazing, Cinna. I'm just a little troubled about what the Capitol is planning."
Cinna smiles, understanding. "Yes, I know. Why don't you try the on the outfit? Peeta and Portia are already with Effie and Haymitch. The Opening Ceremony is about to begin."
I nod, slipping on the t-shirt, feeling a cold breezy wind brush up my shoulders. It crosses my mind for a moment that the fire might be alive, but Cinna would have warned about it by now. The jeans fit perfectly, and hardly have time to put on the heavy boots before Cinna begins to my hair in a braid.
"You remember?" I ask him, not looking away from the boots as I slip the other on.
"I never forgot." He answers. "You're the most memorable tribute the Capitol has ever had.
And while that makes feel a little better, at the same time it certainly doesn't. It almost makes it sound as if the Capitol doesn't pay any attention to the other tributes.
I sit up, my boots laced and ready to go.
Cinna finishes the last of my braid, and looks at my prep team. "Amazing work!"
He tells them, and really, it is. I hadn't notice it, but Flavius has repainted my nails into their original fire color, and Venia has my eyebrows so thin it's almost a freakish. I can see she's added more by giving me a faint flash of red and orange along my eyes as well. Octavia, too, has done a great job, but after everything the Capitol had done, I'm not so sure she's the same as Flavius and Venia are.
"Thank you, Cinna." Flavius says happily. One way to get a citizen of the Capitol to like is to give them a big thumbs up on everything. Cinna doesn't need to pretend to show he's absolutely happy with their work.
"Good Luck, Katniss!" Venia calls out.
And May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor.
Octavia almost cries of joy. "You'll make a wonderful stand, Katniss! I know it!"
I can't help but smile at their words.
Cinna leads me out of the room after saying goodbye to my prep team. And soon we've met up with Peeta and the rest.
"It's about time, Katniss!" Effie says; swing her head in my direction. "On one hand you do look ready for this though. Are you sure your fine? No sickness? You didn't eat. Oh, well, it doesn't matter now; just try to make your District memorable."
She talks too much, Is the only thing that goes through my mind until she finally stops.
"Are you both ready?" Portia asks, looking excited.
Peeta takes my hand again. "I'm ready."
One word reaches my mind. "Ready,"