The Fringed Curtains of Thine Eyes Advance

Minutes turned to hours, hours to days.

The Victory Tour was nearing its close and, though Pandora found comfort in her newfound bond with Finnick and the beach of District 4, there was mystery and darkness on the horizon. If there was one thing her experience with the Capitol had taught her, it was not to only expect the unexpected but prepare for it. The only problem was she didn't know how to prepare for the unknown that waited for her beyond the Tour. All she could do was wait. Time was ticking away.

Entering into the heavily guarded parameters of District 3 struck Pandora with equal awe and devastation. It was the technological hub of Panem, full of engineers and factory workers. Despite all of this, Pandora noticed the tragic poverty of the people. It was hard to look at their faces, to see the hate and spite. She had watched one of their own fall prey to the sonar eels, the muttations that nearly dragged her to the bottom of the arena's sewers. Their eerie songs still penetrated her mind from time to time, in her nightmares she would see the glow if their bodies surrounding her.

The stay in District 3 was brief, something that Pandora was unapologetically thankful for. But there was no ease, there wouldn't be for a long while. The worst was yet to come.

District 2.

Her eyes gravely stared at the rising sun. She hadn't slept all night. She couldn't. This was the District she had feared from the beginning. Petro and Nova's District.

"Hold still!" Lucius was pulling her hair into a ponytail, humming as he did so.

The train zoomed through a tunnel.

"Don't yell at her!" Vibia hissed, "She's nervous, can't you see?"

Pandora dropped her eyes, pretending they weren't there.

"Don't you worry about any of this!" She continued, tilting Pandora's chin up to brush a glimmer on her cheeks. "They'll love you, just like all the rest."

Pandora clenched her jaw. It was as if Vibia was on another planet. If there was anything that divulged how bitter the Districts of Panem were with Pandora, it was this Victory Tour. It made Pandora doubt her past choices, it made her wish that there were a way she could go back and do things differently. She rubbed her lips together, suddenly an image of Marius's smile whistled through her head.

"I don't need to be coddled, Vibia," her voice was low and harsh when she finally broke from her bout of nostalgia and replied.

"I know that," Vibia quickly reacted, peering at Lucius with offence in her eyes. "I—I was just trying to make you feel better."

For a moment Pandora felt remorseful. Vibia sounded so sincere, it was obvious she believed her own words. The problem was that Pandora didn't believe them. Through all the arrogance and naïve comments Vibia forced on her, Pandora believed that deep down she was a good person, something she couldn't say for the rest of her stylist team. Lucius was a pompous ass and Caradoc was snake-like. But it didn't matter to Pandora, likeability didn't amount to anything in her eyes, not anymore. She couldn't trust any of them, that was something she knew without a shadow of a doubt.

"Let's get this dress on you—we're coming up on the District now!" Caradoc breathless yelled as he threw open her compartment door and heaved in a rack of cloths.

"We aren't finished!"

Caradoc's eyes shrewdly moved from Lucius to Vibia, "You're finished when I say you're finished."

"Caradoc—"

"Pandora, robe off, now!"

She dropped her eyes before hastily shedding her robe. Her arms crossed as she inched closer to see the dress Caradoc had revealed. It was long sleeved with a deep burgundy hue. She felt her ribs tighten as he fastened the back.

"Ah!" She yelped, feeling Caradoc grab her wrist and pull her past the rest of her entourage, towards the exit.

"Slow down!" She shouted. Her eyes twitched to the windows that they passed. The frequent tunnels made it hard to get a good view of the District.

"There she is!" Catia exclaimed, "Now, now—come here."

Pandora practically growled as Catia's gold talons pulled her close to the doors.

With a jolt the train finally emerged from the last tunnel. Her eyes widened. Quarries were carved into surrounding mountains. Chunks of rock traveled in carts to buildings on lower tiers of the slopes. 2 was one of the Districts that the Capitol had taken under their wings after the Dark Days. Although the citizens had to labor in quarries, they still had more food and care from the Capitol than the others. The buildings and structures of District 2 were constructed from the same rock they harvested from their mountains.

"A note—" Catia whispered, "Keep this one particularly short."

Pandora nodded in agreement. They both knew why she needed to stay brief.

Just as the train started to slow the doors opened. Mountain air reached her nose. It was thin, reminding Pandora of the first time she was received in the Capitol. Her teeth racked against her bottom lip at the thought.

The station to District 2 rested near the square. Even though a tall blockade hindered her view of the square, she could hear the crowd beyond the wall. Her eyes darted around when she felt Catia pull her towards a flight of stone steps.

Peacekeepers ushered her to a running car, keeping close as they moved. She could feel her chest tighten and her breath hitch. The gun dangling from the belt of one of the soldiers was staring at her.

Once she was in the car, she furrowed her brow and narrowed her eyes. "Isn't the Justice Building right there? We could have walked."

"No," Catia angrily disagreed.

"I don't see why not."

"Pandora—" Lux Halstead rasped, he was particularly lucid today. "No."

She drew back in shock, a flush rose on her cheeks, "I don't—"

"You heard what Lux said!" Catia insisted.

Pandora's lips parted. Apparently she wasn't the only person on edge.

Lines of Peacekeepers marched along the roadside, barely glancing at the cars. They were as stoic and mechanical as robots.

"Why are there so many Peacekeepers?"

"This is where they're trained," Catia whispered back. For the first time since Pandora could remember she realized that her representative appeared nervous.

Shadows fell over them as they advanced towards the Justice Building. The car slowed soon after.

A puff of breath visibly drifted from her lips as she stepped out of the car and followed her escorts to a set of silver doors. A maze of hallways was waiting for them. Normally she would have chatted with the Mayor, but he was nowhere to be seen. When she asked Catia about this, no response was given. It shocked Pandora how cautious everyone was being. Even the cameramen hesitated to take pictures or film.

Unexpectedly, the group wasn't led close to the stage, but to a small room with only a few couches. Time passed slower than humanly possible. Occasionally she would hear Caradoc groan in annoyance, with a shrill squeak form Catia quickly following.

"Don't they know we're on a schedule?!" Vibia asked, rubbing her sharp cheekbones.

"Of course," Lucius angrily replied.

"Then why are they making us wait so long?!"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Pandora ominously turned her face to the windows. Yes, it was obvious.

"Lucius!" Caradoc whispered. The blaze in his eyes when he looked at the hairstylist was enough to make anyone's blood run cold, "Shut your mouth."

More minutes past.

When the door finally whipped open Vibia yelped in surprise. A woman with a tight bun and long face stared dully at them.

"It's time, follow me."

A stressed sigh exhaled from Caradoc. He glared at the woman with such animosity before beckoning Pandora to her feet that she froze for a moment in fright.

Ever since District 4, Caradoc had taken a more hands on approach to Pandora's affairs. Perhaps it was because of her all too heart-warming speech, or the fact that she snuck away with Finnick for a brief time. Either way, the switch that had occurred was alarming. A grimace formed on her brow and lips as she felt his hands on her shoulders.

Narrow corridors led the way to the entrance of the building. Pandora quickly peered to her side. Lucius was checking the time on his pocket watch.

She tensely grabbed at the bracelet around her wrist, pursing her lips as they approach the doors to the stage.

"Psst!"

Her eyes shifted to a cameraman, he was filming her. He pointed to his mouth and grinned, "Remember?!"

She swallowed the dryness in her mouth and nodded. The smile was static and strained, but it was the best she could do given the circumstances.

With a crack so loud and clear that it hurt her ears, the doors parted. Light shed into the hall and a cold air sliced through the fabric of her dress.

She wanted to stay in the shadows. Her feet hesitated to move.

"What are you waiting for, dear?" She heard Catia whisper.

Her jaw clenched as she took the first step, then the second.

The crowd didn't come into view until she was well past the doors. The square of District 2 was much larger than all the others. It was as hollow and cavernous as the quarries surrounding the center of town.

She moved closer and closer towards the microphone, her heartbeat matched her footsteps.

Peacekeepers were waiting behind her, flanking the doors.

Her hand reached for the microphone. She tried to find something to stare at in the distance but all she saw were the faces of the crowd. Some looked indifferent, others crudely muted, and then there were the most frightening faces, the faces that stared at her with condemnation and cruelty. This wasn't a District that was used to losing one of their Tributes. The fact that she was standing before them only reminded them of that.

Suddenly she was at a loss for words.

"Hello—" was all she managed to say.

Her voice echoed through the square.

A shocking tremor of applause shook the ground. They were clapping, but there expressions didn't match the feigned joy.

"It's an honor to stand before you today."

Silently they were blaming her for the deaths of their Tributes. Her eyes closed for an instant as the memory of Nova's lifeless eyes and Petro's mangled body surfaced. Her breaths deepened. She needed to keep it together.

"As a token of my gratitude for your kind acceptance, I'd like to thank each of you today for your presence and praise. I know—I know I don't deserve it—"

Her voice broke as the crowd parted near the front.

Her gaze lowered to see a giant of a man, with eyes full of sorrow.

Instinctively she looked away, shifting her eyes to Lux and Catia who were waiting just a few paces to her left. She could see that Catia's face was growing rigid.

"For a District as strong and stable as 2, I expect nothing less than what I've seen today—"

This was beyond a lie, but something needed to be said, anything to distract from the tension.

"I thank you all!"

The stale claps sounded again as she moved her lips away from the mic and glanced around.

Just breathe, she thought, lowering her eyes to the ground.

She had just turned away when a shout bellowed from the crowd.

"You!"

Her dress danced around her knees as Pandora spun around and widened her eyes. It was the man. He was moving past the crowd now. The sorrow on in his eyes was morphing into animalistic rage.

"You, murderer!"

Her eyes widened in horror. She had thought this about herself time and time again, but never had someone called her a killer, a murderer. Ice filled her cheeks.

Before Pandora had time to react she saw it: a rock in his hands.

He launched it violently into the air, sending it right into her shoulder.

Something cracked.

A pained scream echoed from her as she fell to the ground.

"Pandora!"

Suddenly she was back in the arena with Petro's hands around her throat.

Blood streamed down her face as her head smashed against the stone steps. Her hand clasped against her shoulder.

She felt the shard of metal slip into Nova's body, again.

No, she whispered to herself, Get up! Push it out, push out the memories…

Chaos suddenly erupted in the crowd.

"Murderer!" She heard the man repeat with a guttural yell.

The citizens of District 2 were dispersing like cockroaches.

Her eyes spastically twitched to him. He was walking towards her now.

"Hel—" She parted her lips to speak, but something was stopping her.

Her eyes squinted in pain as she pushed herself away from the steps.

"Help me!" She shrieked, unable to look away from her attacker.

He was getting closer. Her feet shuffled backwards. She could feel the sting of the hit throughout her chest and arm.

It was something out of one of her nightmares. Her head crooked to the side as she struggled to climb to her feet.

And then, unexpectedly and sharply, a shot rang out.

"Back away!" It was a Peacekeeper.

She gasped as she felt someone grab her, it took little effort for the solider to pull Pandora to her feet. She jerked her head from left to right. The memories, they were starting to boil over.

"Get her out of here!" Someone shouted.

An inherent scream roared from Pandora as one of the Peacekeepers picked her up and carried her towards the closing doors. Her heart raced as tears of pain streamed down her face. Things were becoming hazy.

Memories were cracking through her mind. Memories of blood, death, and cold. Marius' face, Nova's eyes, Petro's hate…Scorch's foaming mouth...images that were flickering so fast and violently that it was hard for her to hold back the blood-curdling scream that came next.

Just before the doors closed, her eyes anxiously lifted to see the Peacekeeper fire a single shot into the man's skull.