Chariot Rides

Aileen Romeri (18) D6F

Pain.

That was all that I recognised at the moment. My skin was completely raw and bare and it hurt so much. The prep team was talking excitedly earlier and I didn't even know why. Tears were trying to force themselves out of my eyes but I wasn't going to let anyone have the satisfaction of seeing that.

And then I had thought that maybe, maybe the outfit would be decent enough to gain sponsors. I needed sponsors even I didn't want to admit it. However, the outfit was ridiculous and in my mind I really started questioning why we had to undergo this torture.

We were down in the hall with the other tributes now. The chariot rides would begin soon.

"What the heck is this?" Oren muttered. He had been muttering things ever since I saw him that day and I understood very well why his mood was so bad. We had been given yellow costumes made out of the most uncomfortable material imaginable. Supposedly, we were dressed like school buses but honestly, how were humans supposed to turn into buses? I was pretty sure there was a lot more to district Six than transport.

"I know," I sighed, "This is so itchy!"

"Too itchy," Oren said, "Ugh, what the hell were the stylists thinking?!"

Looking around, I saw the pair from One standing together. The girl was saying something, and the boy just nodded from time to time. He caught my eye and then gave me a bright smile. I didn't respond and kept on watching, not bothering to even turn away. Why should I? they were my eyes, they could look anywhere they wanted to.

They had pretty simple outfits. The guy was dressed in a tuxedo whereas Galilee was in a long gown, their outfits both coated with diamond. She had something of a tiara made of feathers and which shone like diamonds too but that was it.

That was good for them.

"Why do they get the better stylists?" Oren grumbled, noticing the same thing I did.

"Because they always win," I replied in a low voice, "That's going to change though. I guess our district really needs a victor now."

He nodded.

"I'll going to give my best."

I didn't say anything on that. District Six would have a victor, I would make sure of it. It had to be me at any cost. It didn't matter how many people I would have to kill, how many people I would have to hurt. I would deal with the guilt later. At the moment, winning was priority.

Which, unfortunately, my stylists didn't realise.

"Hey," District One stylist said to them, "It's time."

Everyone in the room tensed up, apart from Fynn and Quinoa. The guy was silently standing by himself, leaning against the wall, away from everyone else whereas the girl, the girl was on her knees, talking to her imaginary friend. It was most unfortunate that she was there; someone like her didn't deserve it.

She and tab were wearing black jumpsuits, covered in uncountable LEDs. When light fell on them, they shone quite brightly. Their hair had been made extremely glossy too, and they actually looked nice.

District Two, however, were something else. For one, they weren't wearing the same type of clothes. Amaranthine was dressed like a gladiator, the material of his clothes iridescent. Then he had donned a helmet and simple sandals. Maybe they were trying to make him look formidable. Olympia looked like a Goddess, in a very ancient looking, I think Greek kind of gown that was of the same material. Her hair had been braided in the most beautiful way, her arms had been speckled in silver paint. A rhinestone tiara rested on her head. She looked beautiful.

District Four's was generic that year though. They were both dressed up as mer-people. But the still looked stunning, with the long, turquoise blue tails, the sapphire crowns and other jewellery they wore. Victory was bare chest though, with some sort of a staff in his hand whereas Oceane's blouse seemed to be made up of millions of small sea shells.

I turned, not wanting to look anymore.

"That's it. They're going to win the sponsors," Oren commented.

I glared at him. He had literally been voicing my every thought and I didn't like it. but I knew he was right. Those costumes would definitely attract attention.

"Don't worry," I told myself, "When have you ever depended on anyone for anything? Let your training scores and interviews take care of the sponsors."

And it really didn't matter that the others had better stylists. After all, no amount of sponsors could ensure the safety of the tributes.

Burgundy Lumineer (18) D8M

I felt horrible.

The preparation for the chariot rides… let's say the situation was extremely uncomfortable. The prep tem had literally sedated me for an hour so that they could work properly without me thrashing around. I knew they were only doing their job, that I needed to look good in order to gain sponsors. But was it really the only way to get sponsors?

When I had woken up, I found myself dressed in a really weird way. My body hurt, it felt raw, it was painful. I saw that I was wearing something like a robe, royal purple in colour, and it was quite flowy and yet not girly at all. The material was too soft and too light. My skin had been painted like bronze, and my makeup had been done to bring out the colour of my eyes. I didn't look human.

I looked like a doll. A living doll.

It made me feel sick.

I didn't want to think about what they had done to me while I was sedated. They must have done more than I would have allowed, seen more than I ever wanted anyone to. It made me feel exposed and dirty although I was sure that they had not done that.

But the very fact that they dressed me up as a male doll made me feel as if I had been objectified.

"That's not the case," I told myself, "Cassidy is doing well. She doesn't mind."

She didn't. In fact, she looked happy with her attire. The doll makeup suited her though so I couldn't say much.

She also looked very nervous. District Four had already left in their chariot. It would be our turn soon.

Be positive.

"Hey," I said, "Don't be nervous. We just have to wave at the crowd."

She looked at me shyly and then nodded. "Yeah but, but what if something goes wrong?"

"Nothing will go wrong," I replied, "Why will it? Both of us look stunning, okay? It's the other districts that need to watch out for us!"

She managed a weak smile at that.

"Are you always this enthusiastic?" she asked finally.

I didn't know how to reply. I tried to be enthusiastic, and usually I was too. But sometimes, things got better of me.

"You can say that," I replied with a grin.

She smiled back. "I'm glad to have you as an ally," she said.

"Me too."

But she didn't sound as if she was happy with this alliance. Maybe, maybe she wasn't… what if she didn't say anything against it because she was too shy to actually say something? Could she have agreed because she was scared of Jute, or because she didn't have the heart to refuse me?

I needed to do something about it. No way was I going to force her into an alliance with me.

"District Five," she said softly and I turned around to see the pair from Five. They were beautiful. I gasped.

The two were wearing blue overalls, dressed like power plant workers. But then there was a spark, blue turned into golden and the sparks rose in an alignment, forming something like a butterfly in their wake. The lights were blinding and maybe that was the reason the two had goggles on. The crowds cheered madly for them, they were showered with flowers and whatever the audience had, followed by a deafening applause.

Forcing myself to tear my gaze away from them, I looked at the pair from Seven. The boy still seemed to be in a daze and that made me sad. The way he had reacted during his reapings… it only showed how little he knew of the danger he was going into. Maybe he was convinced that he would never be reaped.

The two were dressed in skin tight body suits patterned with leaves with a long green cape flowing behind the boy's costume and long gossamer wings for the girl. They both had fairy like green and brown makeup that made them look both mythical and cute.

The boy seemed to be tensed and the girl was trying to help him out, talking to him to encourage him. That reminded me of Cassidy.

"Uh Cassidy," I said, "Do you- are you willing to be my ally? Tell the truth Cassidy, I don't want to force you into an alliance."

"I-I-"

She looked at me as if she was grateful but was still hesitating to tell me. I reached out for her shoulder but stopped. What if she didn't like the gesture?

"Don't worry, I will find an ally if it comes to that. But- but tell me the truth."

"I d-don't want a-any ally," she said in almost a whisper. My shoulders slumped, because I had really hoped she would agree. But at least she was honest with me.

"Thanks for telling me. It's okay if you don't want an alliance. But if we meet in the arena, can we have a truce, at least?"

"Sure!" she said in a relieved voice, "A truce is good. I don't want to hurt you."

"I know," I replied and smiled.

Glancing at the pair from Seven, I grinned at them and the girl smiled back. The boy, meanwhile, raised his hand in greeting but the sadness in his eyes were too deep.

"Maybe I can form and alliance with them…"

Persephone "Perry" Aster (16) D12F

Mateo and Alessandra mounted the chariots, dressed in a rather unique fashion. They were dressed as farmers, Mateo wearing a farmer's hat while the girl had an olive wreath on. Although they were dressed as farmers, their costumes had a slight ancient touch to them they wore sandals, and Mateo had a sugar cane in his mouth while Alessandra held a scythe. The two stood as if they were aloof and the crowd was simply loving it.

Now, on any other occasion this would have been amazing. But considering that we were all dressing up to die eventually… it was just sick.

"What the ***!" I muttered. Bridge's eyes widened in shock and he pressed his hands against his ears.

"Oh come on. You're twelve. When I was your age I knew all the curse words by heart. Used them a lot too. It's fun, boy."

"Using 'bleep' is fun?" he asked. I laughed at that. He actually substituted the word with 'bleep'!

"Well, sometimes you need to let out your anger. And seeing all these amazing costumes is making me angry."

"But why?"

I raised his brow at him and then he nodded. Of course, now he would know.

We were dressed up as miners.

With helmets having a single bulb.

We were given spades.

There was nothing special in our outfit. There was no fire, no coal dust. Nothing. Just simple work overalls. Bridge was unable to even hold up the spade properly. It was too heavy.

Everyone was unfair to us.

Reynard and Arrington were next, dressed as sheepshearers. It was a simple costume, but the fabric was a shiny one and some woollen patterns had been carved on the clothes. On top of that there was… blood? It looked very much like blood, that red liquid. Why would anyone want to add that?!

"Gross," I spat, "Blood? On tributes' costumes? What are they trying to do?"

"Uh, keep reminding them that it's a do or die situation?" Bridge supplied helpfully.

"Well," I answered, "That could be it."

"I'm scared," the boy said and squeezed my hand too tightly for my liking.

"Too tight man."

"Sorry. But I really am scared."

"Don't worry. Just smile at the crowd."

He could manage it. I couldn't, in all honesty. I loathed these people.

"What if I, what if I fall off the chariot?" he asked nervously.

"Um, you'll break a few bones I think," I replied, "Nothing more than that."

"But that will ensure my death in arena!"

That's going to happen anyway.

"Don't think in such a negative manner, Bridge," I chided, "It's not good."

I turned to District Eleven. Aspen and Fynn were getting on their chariots. They were dressed as the children who picked apples from the orchards, their shirts having many floral patterns made of apples. They were both wearing straw hats. Nothing impressive but it wasn't horrible. The two didn't even look at each other and the chariots moved on. Aspen stumbled a little and beside me Bridge cringed. However, the girl steadied herself and stood up erect. While Fynn had a cocky smile on his face, Aspen, waved at the crowd and winked, a large mischievous grin on her face. It was almost as if she was doing this on purpose so that she would get more cheers from the audience. As if it was a competition.

Which I guessed it was.

And the audience started to laugh. At her. Because of her buckteeth. Aspen stopped waving and smiling, realising what was happening. I was certain she had turned very red, redder than her apples.

At that moment I felt like bombing the whole place. What right did they have to tease a girl for something she couldn't help?! Bridge seemed to be furious too, but then his anger subsided as if he had remembered something.

"She could have fallen!" Bridge squealed beside me.

"You can too," I said, "But you won't. I'll hold you."

"You will?"

"Of course."

It was our turn next. I walked towards the chariot confidently, dragging a very nervous boy with me. I helped him get on the chariot first then mounted it. We joined hands.

"The maximum they will do is boo at us," I said.

"What?!" he exclaimed, a horrified look on his face.

"Don't worry. I'll boo back at them."

"I don't think that's a good idea," he replied thoughtfully.

"My ideas are-"

We started.

The blinding lights made me self-conscious at last. We were the last district and the Capitolites looked slightly tired now. How dare they! Plus, our costumes were just pathetic.

Bridge tightened his grip on my hand and steadied himself. He was almost leaning against me.

The booing that I had predicted started.

I raised my hand as if saying hello but then sent them a rude gesture before waving at them again. Maybe they didn't even understand but Bridge did and he was blushing from embarrassment.

"Don't worry," I whispered, "Just grin like an idiot."

And grinned like an idiot he did.

The audience liked his smile.

A few people clapped.

As the chariot drove forward, I just wished it would end soon.

Ah the chariot rides are here. Thank you everyone for your ideas for the costumes. In most of the cases I have combined both the ideas for a district. In some cases, I made my own. Anyhow, I certainly hope you all liked them and enjoyed this chapter. I'd love to hear your thoughts and whether your opinion has changed about anyone after the train rides. And thank you all, for reading and reviewing this story. It means a lot.

Have a good day!