I want to thank the readers who reviewed! They were all encouraging and awesome and I really appreciate every single one of them (: Updates will probably be on weekends, I'm not promising anything, but I'm just saying that weekends are when I'm going to work on new chapters. Maybe, if I'm not that busy I'll try to post up two chapters, because I feel bad when I post up a chapter and then you guys have to wait for a week for another one, so I will try my very best to create two new chapters (:
I just want to respond to one review, that I can't reply via PM.
Guest: Thank you! (: I'm glad you like it! And boy, you have no idea of what twists I have in store for you guys. I agree, some stories I read that are about the same thing, all end in the same way, but trust me, this will be different. Thanks again! About the updates, I will work on new chapters on the weekends since I have school, so hopefully they'll be up on the weekends. I'm sorry for not updating quickly, I will try my very best! (:
Okay, enjoy this new chapter!
My mind tells me to get up, and that I do. Morraina doesn't even need to try to get me to wake up because today is my day. The day I get into the arena. One more day closer to my victory. Am I nervous? Not at all. Excited? Hell yeah. I'm also curious about what kind of arena the Gamemakers have created for us. I know there will be water, if there isn't any, most of the tributes will die from dehydration and that won't be entertaining for the audience.
I pull the hair tie out of my hair and redo it, making it tighter. I walk out of the room and into the kitchen. Everyone is at the table already. A question pops up in my head. Why didn't Morraina wake me up?
"I told you she would get up on her own," Axin says to Morraina.
"It seems that you were right. Good morning Amethine! How are you feeling?" Morraina asks.
I rub my eyes. "I'm feeling pretty excited."
"That's the spirit! Now, eat because at 9, you'll both be taken to the rooftop where a hovercraft waits for you. You'll then be transported to the arena, but first you will go underground and your stylists will do some last minute touch ups," Morraina explains the plan for today.
"Come, eat as much as you can." Cashmere says motioning to the chair next to her. I walk over and plop down on the chair and grab a bacon from a porcelain white, elegant plate.
"Amethine, please don't use your hands." Morraina says.
"What, are you afraid that I have some kind of contagious disease?" I ask. I won't see Morraina for the next couple of weeks, so why not tease her before I go?
She clears her throat and ignores what I said, and continues eating her food. An Avox walks over and fills my plate with bacon, I tell him I'll serve myself and he nods. I walk over to the serving table lined up with food and stack some tarts, vegetables, and beef stew. I need to get a lot of carbohydrates in my body, so I'll have plenty of energy when I get into the arena.
I sit down and shove the food into my mouth, in excitement of getting into the games. Evan hasn't said anything to me so far, and I don't want to worry too much about that because we'll have a lot of time to chit chat in the arena if we aren't too busy killing other tributes. I swallow the last piece of bacon and wipe the grease off my mouth with a soft napkin.
"I'm done," I announce.
"Didn't I say that you are going to report to the rooftop at 9?" Morraina asks.
"Yeah, so what?" I ask carelessly.
"It's still 8:45" she says looking at the clock. I glance over at the clock. She's right. I want to go now. If only I had the ability to control time. I bet the Capitol can give me that power when I become victor, because when you're a victor, everyone adores you, except for the families of your victims.
"I almost forgot, you need to put this on." Morraina says. She gets out of her seat and disappears. When she returns she has two sets of clothes in her hands.
"These are for you two" she says. She hands me one set and Evan the other.
"Go get changed,"
I walk into my room and close the door. I set the clothes on the bed and hear a knock on my door. I open it and look out.
"I forgot these," Morraina says. She hands me a bra and underwear along with a black tank top.
"Just to let you know, you wear the tank top under." she says.
"I know, I'm not stupid" I spit out. "I never said you were, my gosh Amethine you have anger issues."
"You're right, and you know what you shouldn't do to a person with anger issues? Don't make them mad. When you do, they do very threatening things, so I advise that you go away now. I know how to get dressed by myself." I say.
"How rude,"
"Whatever," with that, I shut the door.
I take off the clothes I currently have on. I place the bra, underwear, and tank top on the bed next to other pair of clothes Morraina gave me. I take a long and cold shower and step out when I finish. I slip on the gray underwear and bra and put on the comfortable, forest green pants. I put on the black tank top and the storm gray t-shirt over. I choose to wear the boots I wore on the day of the reaping, because they remind me of home.
I tie my hair into a ponytail and walk outside. I run into Evan in the hallway. He's wearing the same thing. Maybe district partners wear the same clothing, so it'd be easier to identify what district they're from.
"Do you know what time it is?" I ask.
"No, but I bet it's already 9." I nod and we walk out to the kitchen. Everyone is standing up. I raise my eyebrows.
"Is this some kind of farewell ceremony?" I ask.
"We were just waiting for you." says Cashmere.
"We should leave now" Beryl says and the others nod. We walk over to the elevator that will take us to the rooftop. Your mentor or in my case, mentors escort you there. So this is where we say goodbye to Morraina.
She hugs Evan. "Please make sure Amethine isn't rude to your allies." she tells him and he laughs. "No promises," I say.
She hugs me too, and I surprise myself by hugging her back. "Good luck to the both of you," she say and gives us both an encouraging pat on the shoulder.
"Bye Morraina," Evan says. She waves. "Bye," I say. She smiles and continues waving as we all step into the elevator and the doors close.
"Make sure you kill as many tributes as you can in the bloodbath, alright?" Axin says and we both nod. "Oh and Amethine," Cashmere says. I turn my head to look at her.
"Try not to kill the girl from 2 before the final eight," she says. A smirk forms on my lips. "Who knows, my hands have a mind of their own. I might not be able to control them when they pick up a spear and throw it at her chest," I say. Cashmere shakes her head.
"I'm serious Amethine. You all need to work together, okay?" she says with a serious expression. "Okay," I mutter.
The door opens. A Capitol hovercraft lays out in the open, it will be our transportation into the arena. I start to walk towards it, but Gloss grabs my arm and pulls me back.
"Not yet. We have a few reminders for the both of you." Beryl says.
"First, do not and I repeat do not jump off that plate before the gong rings. If you do, you will trigger the underground mines and you'll get blown up to pieces." Cashmere starts.
"Go hunting every night, try and make it interesting by calling out the tribute's names as if you were playing a game of hide-and-go-seek." Beryl says.
"Isn't that what you did in your games?" I ask. I remember a fifteen year old Beryl walking through the rain forest calling out her victim's names.
"Yes, and did you see how many sponsor gifts I got?" she asks with a smirk on her face.
"Now when it's down to the final eight, you can either split up or turn on each other. It's your choice." Axin says.
"Try and set up traps so when you aren't hunting there's a chance a tribute will wander in and get caught up in it," Gloss says.
"Okay that's enough tips. You guys know the rest, right?" Beryl asks. Evan and I nod at the same time.
"Good luck to the both of you, may the odds be ever in your favor." Cashmere says. Beryl, Axin, and Gloss just nod at us. Evan and I start walking. A flight of stairs extend out of the door. Evan gets on and goes inside the hovercraft.
"Amethine!" I turn to look at my mentors.
"You can do this," says Axin. I nod and step in.
A lady with a blue suit covered in feathers walks up to me. She's holding a touch screen clipboard and is wearing a headset with a mic attached. Didn't I see her somewhere? Oh yes, she was the lady who directed me to my prep team on the day we arrived here in the Capitol.
"District 1," I tell her. She leads me past a big room full of chairs. Twelve on the left side, and another twelve on the right. It must be where all twenty-four tributes sit when we get into the arena.
She takes me into a room with a table, couch, and big window. The table is filled with delicious food, like the one back in my living quarters. The window is big, about five people can stand and look out while standing next to each other. The couch is big and comfortable, so comfortable that you want to lay down and sleep.
"Please help yourself to some food and beverages, your stylist will be with you in a minute." The lady tells me, she steps out and closes the door. I grab a plate and put a small amount of food, since I ate a decent portion this morning. The door opens and Priney steps in.
"Hello dear!" she says. I smile at her. "Hi Priney,"
When I'm done getting some food I sit on the couch and help myself. I look at the outfit Priney has on. A gold long sleeve dress with light blue polka dots which stops at her knees. Her wig shines, as if she polished it ten times.
"Where can I get some water?" I ask. I need to drink a lot of water, because the Gamemakers will provide water in the games, but sometimes they'll make it very difficult to find.
Priney walks over to the wall and presses a red button. She types something and a small square appears and opens up. It holds the tall glass of water, and extends and Priney takes the water and hands it to me. I gulp it down in a minute. It's as if she's reading my mind because she takes the empty glass and refills it.
"Thanks." I say. "No worries, I know you're trying to drink as much as you can." she says. I nod.
I finish the water and Priney refills it. I finish my food and drink two more glasses of water. A bell rings. I look at Priney for an answer.
"It's time to take our places! The hovercraft is going to take flight." she says. On cue, I feel a slight movement that means that the hovercraft is rising.
"Are you excited?" Priney asks. "Very," I say, and she smiles.
"I just love your confidence," she says. "I will make sure all my friends sponsor you," she says with a smile. "Thank you,"
The door opens and the lady in the feather covered suit enters.
"You need to take a seat with the other tributes," she says. I nod and she exits and closes the door behind her. I turn to Priney, who mocks the lady. I laugh. "What is wrong with having you stay in here?" she asks. I shrug.
"I wouldn't mind staying in here on our way to the arena. I don't want to deal with the others." I say. She nods.
"Well, before she comes in her again, I think you should go," Priney says. I turn and walk to the door. "I'll see you before you get lifted into the arena," she says. I smile at her and walk out.
I remember where the twenty-four seats are, so I walk there by myself. I reach the seats, where some tributes are already present. Everyone is here except Electra from 3, Gary, Vinera, and Derek from 8. I sit in the last chair on the left, next to Marina. She is wearing the same thing as me, except for the blue t-shirt and just like predicted, Sebastian is wearing the same thing. She smiles.
"Hi Amethine," she greets. I smile back. "Hi," Caiden sits across from me and winks when I look at him, I roll my eyes in return.
"Why didn't you choose the seat next to me, golden goddess?" he asks. He is wearing a green t-shirt, it's two shades darker than the pants.
"Because that seat's for me," we all turn and see Vinera walking over, she sits in the chair next to Caiden and smirks at me. Caiden smirks at her and whispers something in her ear, causing her to giggle. I make a mental reminder to find out if they're something more than district partners. When Electra, Gary and Derek arrive and sit, a woman in a white doctor uniform appears with some kind of device in her hands.
She comes to me and takes my arm, she aims the device. I pull my arm out of her grip. "Before you do that, are you even going to tell me what the hell you're doing?" I hiss. She can't just grab my arm and do something that I'm not aware of.
"I am going to insert your tracker," she says calmly. That's right, the Gamemakers need to keep track of everyone's location. I nod and give her my arm. A needle sticks out and she injects the tracker in. She goes around and does this to everyone. I observe the girl from 10-Bonnie, her eyes widen when she sees the needle and winces when her tracker is inserted.
When everyone gets their tracker, the lady walks out and the windows go black. They probably don't want us to see the arena, they want it to be a surprise. Two Peacekeepers approach me, and lead me out of the room. I look around, the same is being done to the others, two peacekeepers per tribute. They escort me to through a very big room, the ceiling is about 100 feet above my head and everything is made out of cement. They stop and tell me to enter a light green door. I step forward and it slides open.
The door shuts when I step into an empty room. The only thing that's in here is a clear tube that's at the end of the room, a rack with a jacket hanging from it. Priney smiles and just stands there. I walk over and she hugs me, and I don't hesitate to hug her back. She is probably one of those people from the Capitol that doesn't drive me crazy, next to my prep team. In fact, I think the only Capitol citizen that makes me want to kill them is Morraina.
"We just need to put on your jacket, and I'll fix your hair." she tells me. She walks over to the rack and takes the jacket off of the hanger. It's a storm gray jacket, which matches the t-shirt I have on, the zipper is maroon. She bends down and pulls the black combat boots that are under the rack. They're similar to the ones I wear back home, but when I slip them on, I discover that they're built for running.
Priney has me sit in a chair. She undoes my ponytail and does a more perfect one. She then does a regular braid down. Whenever I turn my head quickly, the braid smacks the air. I could probably whack Caiden's face with this if he pisses me off.
"10 seconds," a robotic voice announces.
"I know you'll win, Amethine. You can do it," Priney tells me. She leads me to the glass tube and I step in. The glass closes, and blocks the sounds from the outside. Priney give me a reassuring nod and my pedestal starts to move upwards.
Cliffhanger! Don't worry, I'm working on the next chapter. The cliffhanger wasn't on purpose, when I did this chapter I ended up with about 4,000 words and I just thought 'This is too long,' I mean, I know readers love a long chapter, but I thought that it was better to stop here. I changed one of the categories to suspense, so I can leave cliffhangers. Since the chapter had 4,000 words, I divided it in half so the bloodbath chapter will be long as well (: I just want to note that this story has reached more than 70 reviews! YAY (: I'm so grateful for all of them, so thank you, thank you, thank you, all very much! Thanks for reading, see you until the next update (: