My heart is pounding. In the background I can still here the faint cries, but my real attention is on the man before me. A plump, short man, with a beard that is as white as snow. President Snow. He has a tinted white rose in his pocket of the black suit he is wearing. I can see the gamemakers around him.
"Welcome Tributes. May I just say. Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be EVER in your favour." He says. Thats when I see it. He was looking at me when he said it. Thats what gives me the spark of hope. The thought of Jamie watching this, everyone at the Hob, my mother. I turn directly to the camera, and wave, a smile so big, to them it must seem like I had forgot where I was. But I haven't. Hell no. The fact of where I am is burning my mind, sending a fear pulsating through my veins 24/7. Seth is still clutching onto my hand for dear life. I can't help but continue to smile. Even the Capitol are shocked at my reaction to it all. It just makes them scream louder. Some even throw gifts to us, blow us kisses, yell for us to say hello to their familys who aren't quite old enough to come. Its not long before I feel the cart back in motion. We're in the front this time, and I can hear the screams of
"ONE MORE ROUND!" and "DISTRICT TWELVE COME BACK!". It can't help but fill me with pride. How much these strangers, these people who seem heartless, have instantly taken a like to us, because of the fact that we have outfits that dance, like the shadows dance in the summer, creating art where they go. Its breathtaking, the sight of us really. I can tell. I look over all the tributes. They're all watching us. Some eyes filled with admiration, some with hate, some with jealousy. I can't look at them fully. Scared, that I will think too much how one of them could be ending my life in just five days. It generally scares me too much. The next thing I know, I'm being pushed towards an elevator by Chris, and I'm being taken to the penthouse. We arrive.
The sight...
The first thing that catches my eye, are the sea green sofa's, three places neatly around a television the size of my bed at home. Its standing on a black stand, where just about a meter infront another stands, on a red velvet carpet, so soft it looks, and probably feels, like a cloud, that I could happily lie on forever. I take a step forward, and turn, to see a huge window. So beautiful, and below I can see the people of the Capitol celebrating. Still I hear the chants, the beautiful lights dancing, people with signs. They're even worse dressed when they party, so its not long before my attention is turned. This time to the table. Its a long table, with about three sea-green chairs on each side. Infront of each is a placemat, with little flowers decorating it, curving vines up a type of tree I have never seen before. Ontop of them, is a matching China Plate, that El warns us, that if we break, she will personally break us. I know she's joking, but theres a sound in her voice that makes me worried to try anything. So I don't. The table cloth is a red, but its rough and thin, unlike the cloud-like material that coats the floor. To the right of the room is the stairs that lead to my and Seths room. Somehow, I don't feel like sleeping. I feel like eating, and then watching the reply. I'm sure Seth does too. It wasn't just me who got the attention that night. I walk up to my bedroom to change, but I am really not fussed. I slide into a simple satin dress, and flat purple shoes to match. I let my hair fall, and brush it through, it becoming incredibly silky, and feather like to touch. I come back out, and take my place next to Seth.
"That was incredible, darling." Chris says. He takes my hand, smiling madly, and gives it a squeeze. Portia nods in agreement, and smiles admiringly at Seth. I can feel my cheeks burning, and I'm sure Seth does too, because he's the first to try and change the subject. Before we can discuss anything really, the foods arrived. Oh, how delicate.
Small bowls filled with a crumbly mixture, that is filled with spices and vegetables. Turkey, much finer than the ones at home, with an assortment of vegetables, that can never be found in the hunting grounds. I go out too far, so that its illegal, and even then I can't find them. I also have a liquid that tastes like a cow I was once lucky enough to shoot, and El called it Gravy. Oh how delicious it was, and I had atleast three coatings of it, before I finally admitted defeat, and let them bring out desert. Strawberrys in a thick sauce, chocolate. I've had it once, when I was younger, and my dad was alive. He gave me a bit. All the men at the mines had a share of one bar, but he kept his for me. It was amazing. When I was finally stuffed we settled down to watch the replays. Boy was I ready for this moment. The sofa was soft, and I think I fell asleep for about a minute, because Seth was shaking me, telling me to look at the screen.
And I see it.
Us.
We're beautiful.
No, not beuitful.
Dark, powerful, beautiful, sparkling. Twilight itself. I look at myself, Ceaser Flickerman going mental with his compliments, to Chris and Portia, but mainly to me and Seth. We stand there, staring confusedly, then I look at my cape. It trails, making shadows that dance along the ground, fire flaring in a trail. Its hard to miss us. We're the most amazing thing there...all too soon its over. Me and Seth are ushered to our rooms by El. It seems like a safe haven, right now. How flawless we were. Thats bound to get us atleast ONE sponsor. I can't even desctibe how I feel. I flop down onto my bed, my head slamming against the feather like pillow. Just when sleep is luring me into its grasp, I hear a faint knock.
"Who is it?" I call, trying to hide that part of my voice which wants to scream "GO AWAY."
"Seth." The voice calls back. I stand up and open the door, allowing him in. He looks cute, with messy hair in his pyjama's. I know my pyjama's aren't very flattering. But, by Friday I'll look worse. He knows it. I know it. Neither of us metion our looks though.
"Sorry for coming this late..." He whispers, as if hiding from someone.
"Are you okay Seth?" I ask, the worry clearly placed, refusing to go away.
"No. I'm not." He whispers again. My heart is pounding. Whats happened? Why?
"Talk to me." I whisper back. I'm unsure why I whispered it. But it feels like we are being watched. He takes my hand, and although I'm shocked, I allow it, and he leads me out my room, and up onto the roof. He sits me down, and I look at him.
"What?" I say, my voice quivering.
"I..I can't do it, Rhia. I want to be able to win, but I can't. So I'm telling you this now, I'm breaking our alliance. There is deeper reasons behind it, but right now, I can't stand the fact that I wont win, and I wont put you, nor myself through it."
I stand there shocked? What the hell?
"Seth, you can win. And you know it. I told you I'm going to do the best I can to get you out. Do you believe me?"
He just nods. He pushes a stray bit of hair off my face, and smiles, his blonde hair now hiding the deep blue, crystal like eyes. We both stand up at the same time. Before I know whats happening, his lips are on my cheek, and before I can compute it all, he's gone. I can feel my cheeks burning, and my heart is beating faster.
What the hell just happened?
-THis chapter was inspired by an AMAZING writer. I LOVE her work, and she's really fun. Go check out her fanfiction! s/8331981/1/The_Flame_That_Never_Dies
Please, its amazing.-
R&R.