Thank you for all of your lovely reviews- I actually wish I could hug you all :) You asked for longer chapters, your wish will be granted...
P.S. I changed Logan Galloway's name to Roman Galloway, it just sounded more Capitol.
I lay awake in my huge bed that night. I played with the wallpaper screen that covered the wall to my right, changing the scene from forest, to ocean, to desert, and about a hundred other views. After a while I actually started to fear the images on the wall, thinking- which one of them will be my arena?
I shut off the screen, and swore never to turn it on after that. I tried to comfort myself by thinking of when I was a little girl after my mom used to read me princess stories about the Capitol princess who lived in the High Tower because all of the Districts were competing for her heart, but none of them proved worthy enough. She declared she would make all the Districts pick a boy and a girl who should fight for her love and friendship, and whoever was worthy enough would become her best friend and her prince. She never found her best friend or her prince though, so the Games went on.
That didn't work either- I was angry at the princess for being so stupid and making the Games, even if it was only a story. I considered calling an Avox to make me tea, or hot chocolate, but then decided against it. The sound of Lavinia's slurred voice sounded over and over in my head.
"Oh, for goodness sake." I muttered angrily, sitting up and pushing my silk bedcovers to the floor. I need to do something. I remembered Mollie telling me and Phox how we had roof access- why not just throw myself off the roof of the building? Or at least get some fresh air, if I wasn't feeling dramatic enough to commit suicide. I padded out of my room barefoot, taking care not to wake anyone.
A sleepy looking Avox was waiting beside the door, and I felt so sorry for him I dismissed him so he could get some sleep. He looked so relieved it made my chest hurt. How could I have been so ignorant?
Mollie had also explained how we had Avoxes to stimulate what really happened at the Games. Personally, having them there made me uncomfortable, but I had no choice in it. Outside the air was stiflingly hot, the Capitol City was quiet. I had gotten used to falling asleep listening to the music of a parade or a party.
"It's too quiet, isn't it?" A voice said behind me. I turned around, expecting to see Phox's face but it wasn't Phox, it was Roman Galloway. An uncomfortable prickle went down my spine.
"No. I like it." I lied. I don't even know why I lied.
"That's not the truth and we both know it. We are, after all, Capitol people, Wren." Roman leaned his arms onto the edge of the building, looking down at the dim twinkle of the Capitol. I was surprised that he knew my name.
"We're not Capitol anymore. We're homeless, and we're now part of fake Districts who I suspect would rather eat us alive than welcome us with open arms." I said bitterly. Roman had nothing to say to that.
After a few minutes he said, "I don't know. Once people see you're eyes they'll be interested in you. You'll get sponsors. Especially with Katniss and Peeta Mellark as mentors."
He noticed my eyes. Of course, most people do, but it took me off guard when he was so kind to me. "Oh for sure. Katniss was the girl on fire, I'll be the girl with the weird eyes." I replied sarcastically.
"If you're going to make friends I would suggest you start being friendly and accepting compliments." Roman bristled, turning cold and unkind.
"Well forgive me for being wary of a boy who in a few weeks could be washing his hands with my blood." I countered angrily.
"'Well forgive me for being wary'," He mimicked me cruelly in a heavy Capitol accent. "You sound ridiculous. Lose the accent. Blend in. And stop being affected so much by anything anyone says." He stood up suddenly, and stalked back to his floor. I stared after him in shock.
Stop being affected so much by anything anyone says. Was I really that easily affected? When Peeta had tried to be kind to me, I'd tensed up. I'd been feeling guilty from hearing the red-headed Avox speaking. But Roman wasn't there for that- could he really have seen right through me in just a few minutes?
The thought sent shivers running through my body. I needed to make rules that I would have to stick to- rules to survive. I wracked my brain for inspiration. Being emotional was a weakness. I couldn't get emotional if I was going to kill someone to fight for my life. Rule 1- Do not show weakness.
And while I was at it, I might as well add Rule 2- Do not show emotion. And the last, maybe most crucial thing.
Rule 3- Do not hesitate to kill.
Tomorrow was the Tribute Parade, and after that, since it was the Final Games, a ball. But the day after that would be the start of a week of training. I wouldn't touch anything I knew for sure I couldn't do, like weights or knife throwing. Rule 1 forbade me from showing my weaknesses.
I fell into my bed that night, exhausted. My dreams were consumed with plans on how to win.
"Ooh, Clio, look at her eyes, aren't they simply gorgeous!" A Capitol woman exclaimed, forgetting the fact that she was supposed to be plucking my eyebrows. The woman called Clio came closer, oohed in marvel and compliments started pouring out of her mouth.
Clio abandoned waxing my legs to stay and admire my eyes. Though it was a bit annoying after a while, I did like the attention. The other woman and Clio had barely said any words to me, and I hadn't said anything to them in return.
"Oh, Seph,I wonder if they're real." Clio mused out loud. I almost rolled my eyes at the question.
"Of course they're real, what else would they be?" I asked. Seph and Clio clapped their hands and squealed in delight. Their doll had a voice. I only just realised how silly some Capitol people looked- Seph and Clio were well into their forties, a proper grown up age, but Seph had electric blue hair and Clio had gold body glitter covering every inch of her body and wore three-inch long metallic gold nails.
It was no wonder they commented on my eyes- most people who knew me properly did. My eyes were different colours. My left eye was leaf green, while my right eye was brown. I hated this- and ever since I could remember I had worn contact lenses to make my eyes a simple blue, or whatever colour I fancied- but always the same colour on both eyes at one time. I didn't want people thinking I was a freak.
My parents assured me I was beautiful, but it didn't convince me. They even went as far as getting a cat that had the same eyes I had- but it's left eye was yellow and it's right eye was blue. Again, this did nothing to make me like my eyes more, but I loved the cat to bits, even when it scratched me. At halloween I would get special contacts that made my eyes look like a cats- bright colour and slits as pupils.
I remembered all these memories while Seph and Clio chattered on mindlessly while they worked on me. I barely listened to them, only enough to find out that Seph's full name was Persephone, Ottilie Snow tried to sneak out of the building last night and they were worried instead of cheering at the Parade, we would be booed at.
I mentally kicked myself for listening to their conversation, the thought of being booed at made my stomach ache. "NO!" Seph shrieked. I looked up, puzzled. Clio quickly flew into action, pulling chapstick out of her jean pocket and giving it to Seph. Seph then smothered my lips with the minty-smelling chapstick. I put a finger and gingerly touched my mouth, and when I pulled it away there was blood on my fingers. My mouth tasted coppery, and I realised what I had done- bit so hard on my lip that I had broken the skin. "Honey, do not bite your lips. Ever." Seph was finally serious, her voice was almost threatening.
Typical stylists, God forbid anyone should mess up their masterpieces. My lips started to feel tingly as the minty chapstick went to work and reformed the skin on my lips. "Fine, fine, I'm sorry." I apologised, even though I wasn't really that sorry, I was mostly just freaking out. What would the Parade be like?
Worse, what would our stylists dress us is? Some Capitol stylists were working with normal people from Districts to make our Parade outfits. What if we were dressed in coal dust? The thought made me shudder. Clio washed me down one last time and then gave me a thin dressing gown to wear while my stylist 'inspected' me. Clio led me into another room and left me alone, but not before commenting on how jealous she was of my eyes one more time. This was part of the reason I wore contact lenses- people made too much of a big deal over me, and quite frankly I was a bit shy, I hated meeting new people.
Maybe that's why I was so affected when people talked to me- I tense up and start questioning everything. "Hello." Greeted a soft woman's voice. I looked behind be to see a Capitol woman with bright dyed orange curls that looked like fire when they shook. I would have known her even if the fire hadn't been the obvious giveaway- Makenna Reyes, neice of Portia, who was Peeta's stylist in the 74th and 75th Annual Hunger games. She hadn't been around for a while, since she hadn't been needed, but Portia and Cinna were her tutors and she was one of the volunteers who made clothes for refugees.
I hadn't seen her in 7 years, considering since the Rebellion it had taken everybody around 7 years to get everything organised, and it had also taken them 7 years to decide whether or not to have a Final Hunger Games.
"Hi. I'm Wren Fai-"
"Wren Fairbane. I know." She smiled kindly. "I hope you don't mind, my partner is just finishing up some measurements on Phox. I'm sorry we couldn't be at dinner last night, we were just starting to put the costumes together, it does take a while."
I exhaled in relief. "Costumes. Thank God, I was worried that we were going to be covered in coal dust." Makenna laughed, making her ringlets bob and shimmer into flames. Flames- Katniss and Peeta were covered in flames. I hoped I wouldn't be; I mean, they didn't look as if they were in pain but Cinna and Portia refused to reveal their secrets, but I know other stylists tried to copy their idea using a temporary skinfreeze (the type you use on burns) and small fires that should go out before it burns through the clothes.
Makenna's partner walked in through the door while she was laughing. "What's so funny?" He asked curiously.
"Oh, nothing, Elijah. Wren here was a little worried we were going to make her wear coal dust." Makenna giggled, as if the thought were actually amusing to her. Elijah chuckled. While Makenna was all fiery flames, Elijah was cool silver- his hair was dyed bright silver, his eyes had grey contacts and he wore a silver-striped waistcoat that contrasted against his dark skin. Together they looked like fire and ice.
"Not even over our dead bodies." Elijah reassured me. I hate to say he piqued my curiosity.
"So what will I be wearing?" I asked curiosly. Makenna's eyes twinkled with excitement, and she smiled mischeviously.
"Wait and see!"