Ch16 - 15/OCT/2015
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the HUNGER GAMES.
Author's Note: I will be correcting a few chapters' grammar and story holes when I complete the story. I kindly asks for reviews to help me.
Chapter 16 – Unleash the truth
Madge and Rory were laughing again. They couldn't help. It was too funny to stare at each other like this.
"Both of you, enough! You have to make me believe you're in love. Do you know what will happen to you if everything seems fake? Or forced?", Haymitch says angry. He really needed a drink or a whole bottle. Damn kids.
"It is forced! I can't help but laugh. She is the one that started wrinkling her eyes and from that is just comical", Rory plays. He is holding Madge's hands for about two long hours and Old Abernathy isn't giving up. This is good, in fact.
"O-no! You're the one making faces. He just put his tongue out when you're not looking!", Madge justifies her acts. Rory is prank and not helping while she tries to fall in love with him.
"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." Haymitch says. He waits for his words to make some sort of effect on them. He already took notice that Madge doesn't like swearing. "Fuck is what all other contest will do. They will kiss, make out, use hands, mouth, body and even their butts to help getting them out of that hell on Earth. Even the ones that chose to be in this specific Hunger Games."
"Before this, there were odds. There were certain winners, the so called careers, and there were the loosers, you. How are you going to stand against them this particular year? All of them volunteered for the purpose of killing and winning. The Games are high. Two winners from the same District. So, laugh. Please, laugh but remember I'm here trying to… I don't know… Should I give a fuck? I don't care anymore. So, laugh you idiots.", Haymitch yells but doesn't leave.
Madge looks down for a while. Her ears seems to hurt with all the F word. She notices her hands started to sweat cold. Rory puts more pressure on her hands and caress with his thumbs.
"Okay. Why don't we try all the other stuff then? Why don't I kiss Madge and from that at least it won't appear theatrical weird or forced like you said." Rory suggests.
"Because you stupid child, you don't fall in love with kisses and huggies. A kiss must be spontaneous and desired. Soft but not sexual at first. Put yourself in place of all those capitol viewers. Here is what going to happen: Day 1, bloodbath at Cornucopia. Day 2, forming bonds and groups. Day 3: Careers hunting the weak ones. Day 4: Insinuation. A kiss here, a hand over there. Day 4: Hot fuming making out. Sex, sex, sex. Day 5: Sex, hunting, and anything weird mixing both. Day 6: Nothing new. Sex. Perhaps, a killing here or there. Day 7: Groups will cease their bonding. They will betray each other and kill. And from that, few will remain and trust me, the viewers will be bored. Because, nothing else will be thrilling. All the good emotion is done. And in the first precise day, when nobody dies, the GameMakers will be creative. Bloody creative.", Haymitch trails remembering all the Games he had to attendance.
"Forgive us, Haymitch. It's just weird for us. We weren't thinking too much about this" Madge says quietly.
"Kid, I know every single name and last name of all children under my care. Even if you went well on your presentation, punctuation and interview all this shit is decided on the very last minute." Haymitch says.
"What is our strategy then? Besides kissing and stuff? How can we decide our very own last minute?", Rory asks.
"Survive. Think. Keep calm. Avoid all the others tributes. Even the kinds and weak ones. They might kill or make hard for you to kill them. On your first day, run. Forget Cornucopia. Forget about each other. Just run. Around the field there's usually a backpack with the basic, if you grab one, great, if you don't spot one, forget it. The four first days it's death after death. All caused by hunters. On your fifth day, if you're alive and you partner is alive, find each other. Madge, look at the sun, follow its sunrise. Rory, you follow the dawn. At some point, if fate loves you, you'll make it. From that, leave it to me. I will get you sponsors and by doing that keep the viewer entertained. Got it?", Haymitch looks at both.
"Haymitch, just don't sell our souls, okay? I don't want to be the latest whore of the Capitol…" Rory speaks.
"Oh, well. That I can partially promise. Convice me you fell in love with Madge and the tragedy behind all the differences between you two, and trust me, the Capitol will make sure you two stay together, marry, have kids… All the package included."
"What? That's not… I can't kiss him and now you talk about having babies and stuff?" Madge yelps.
"I get that actually" Rory agrees with Haymitch. "Really, I do. But how can we entertain someone after the kiss? It's seems impossible. Even if we did kiss and more, what's to entertain?" Rory absently asks. All stories Madge read to him back at the waterfall ended in tragedy or after the kiss. In fact, he doesn't remember an author describing the after-kiss moments. Rory had his share of kisses and making out but nobody was watching. Or at least, not millions of people all over Panem were watching.
"Wait, Rory, children… Haymitch just said we will have to marry AND have children. Just… I… " Madge was out of words.
"Honey girl, you need to survive first. And with Rory. Survive this without him, or him without you, is just the same as selling your body. The Capitol will arrange that. And if they don't." Haymitch crosses his finger along his trough. "Bye, bye family, friends, pets…"
"Teach us, Haymitch. Teach us how to beat this game, you're our only hope", Rory pleads.
"Good. I'm tired for the day so… Lesson 1 was to hold hands and look each in the eye. Lesson 2 shall be… sleep together tonight"
"WHAT?" Madge and Rory exclaim in union.
It was Haymitch turns to laugh a lot now. Kids had to start learning…
Madge adjusted herself for the fourteen time of the night on her side of bed.
"Madge, pleaaase let me sleep. This is annoying", Rory mumbles.
"Yes, Madge. It's quite tiring. You should have your beauty sleep." Haymitch exclaims from the armchair he has been resting since the start.
"Easy for you to say. I have slept on my own since I was a baby. And now, there is boy on my bed! And a guy watching!" Madge utters.
"Haha, sugar baby. Next week it's going to be on the cold floor, with luck the boy will be Rory, and oh… did I mention millions of viewers? They do sponsor your good nights of sleeps too in case you didn't know already. Now, be a nice princess and sleep. I didn't ask more than that." Haymitch figures again.
Madge grumbles a few unkind words.
"What did you say, I can't hear while I think about your sponsors…" Haymitch says.
"I said, good night, professor." And rolls over to face the wall.
"Nighty night, kid", Haymitch says. Sleeping without his booze was hard.
"My, my. What happened to you?", Elfie asks Madge at breakfast.
"Well, I could give you a list but then we would be twenty minutes late for our schedule, right?" Madge tries to say each word without yelling at Effie. She didn't deeply sleep. When she was starting to relax a little, Haymitch broke a chair against the mirror to scare both Madge and Rory as a Lesson 3: Be prepared at all moments. She could at least day dream about killing Haymitch after that.
"Dear, dear. I have a few vitamins if you need. They are allowed. Oh! I know! Coffee. You need lots of caffeine. It's good for your skin, you know?" Effie beams at her ideas.
"No, Effie. No coffee. She needs to learn to live without all these delights before going to the real field." And it's Cinna saying this to Madge's surprise.
"I thought you were at my side!", Madge pretends a cry.
"I am, love. But Haymitch lessons are for own good. I would be cruel in his place. Fluffy beds and mattresses should be forbidden for you already. So what's in your schedule for today?" Cinna asks while serving cold water and bread for Madge.
"She has running practices all morning, bow and arrow at 2 o'clock. At 3:05, knifes and swords with optional stunts teachers. At 4:25, I schedule hunting for water and other liquids in extreme situations. At 5:34, swimming lessons with mandatory presence from Haymitch. At 6:33, she can have her bath and dinner so by the time of 7:48, she has interview practices with me and Rory with Porshia." Effie robotically speaks and looks at her watch.
"Er… won't I lunch or have a break or something", Madge asks.
"Nope. Haymitch specifically said you and Rory must be prepared to, in his words, face the harsh world", Effie says.
"Lovely. Just lovely." Madge says already tired of her lessons.
"Swetie, I know its harsh but look at the bright side! He hasn't removed your toothbrush and toilet paper, yet." Effie smiles.
Madge stares at Cinna that laughs quietly.
Okay, pretend that I am , your interviewer. I'll compliment your dress and asks a few questions. I have researched the top 10 most asked questions so you can be prepared for what he might asks. Are you ready?" Effie asks.
"Yeah, sure." Maggie smiles.
"Alright, Top question number 1: What are your expectations surrounding the Games? ", Effie asks.
"Well, I think it will be similar to all others I have watched. Since, last year it was a forest, I could guess this is could be something harder like a swamps and lots of wild plants." Madge sincerely answer.
"Okay, it sounded just fine your answer but try not guess too much. Since your father is the mayor of your district, if you get some sort of information coincidently right, they might think you had privilege information." Effie alerts. "Question number 2: What is your opinion about the Capitol? "
Tricky question "I have seen and met wonderful people in this place and I hope our friendship may persist independent of the results."
"Kind, that was very sweet of you. Try to keep your eyes leveled with the camera and sit straight with your feet gently sided by the chair. Always answer without excitation. 3 seconds with double thinking your answer may cost you your interview time. You should correctly answer two questions to assure you a sponsor" Effie thoughtful.
"What do you mean by correctly?"" Madge asks
"Ow. I thought Haymitch had said something about this already. You can't say anything that may damage the image of the Capitol. And correct answers means that the audience must react to your answers. Laughs, cries, jokes, applauses. Things like that." Effie checks her schedule.
If, , asks about the question I suggest you to use some key words like glamorous, ingenious, fabulous, diligent and fashion. Compliment his trousers, his hair or his voice. He loves it. Alright, almighty… Question number three… Who is your favorite District?"
Madge stares blankly at Effie.
"I don't know. I should know this?" Madge asks afflicted. She has never been outside her own District.
"Sort of. It's like answering to a question of who is your favorite tribute. Most answers are The Capitol itself but since you're the last one to be interviewed, if your answer is the same or alike the other tributes, you'll seam bored… or lame. You need to top the questions and not just answer them. Use it to sell your image and your abilities, for instance…" Effie sits near her beach and uses her hand as a microphone.
"Oh, my favorite district? I wish I had to choose more than one. I owed a jewel from my mother that I love so much. So I would have to thanks District 1 for such heritance." Effie blinks kindly while holding her necklace. "So, don't think about it yet. This questions was only used on 30 Games. But it brings different results, of course. Question number four, about your score, what can you tell us about it? Oh, sorry, this question is for latter, your guys still don't have scores. So, uh lah lah, Question Ever Questioned number 5, Do you have a love romance waiting for you back home?"
Madge can feel her cheeks turning pink. The air warm and her heart were racing. She knew about this question more than anyone else. She often asked herself who the characters of her book would choose to marry. She looked at Effie as if it was her dad asking her that question, "I'm not engaged in any relationship at the moment."
"That's not what she asked" Haymitch interrupted.
"Yeah, but I don't know who I like. I wasn't dating anyone back in the District anyway so why bother giving an answer that pleases the audience?" Maggie looked at Haymitch standing next to her bedroom door.
"Please the audience?" Haymitch says each word with disgust. "My dear, forget about them for a second. Cause'it doesn't matter who or what you like. If you like kitties and at any moment you say that during the Games, back home if you don't obey Snow's orders, all kitties will be dead in the morning. If you like Michael, all Michael friends will lose their jobs. If you love Joseph, Joseph's family will have half of their ration cuts forever."
"Haymitch, you don't need to torture me anymore. Just train me to win this! I don't know what you want! I don't know what they what! Why do you keep pushing me like this?" Madge desperate yells making Rory and Portia come out of his room.
"What I want, kid, is to know what you and this boy were planning by entering these games. I would understand if it were him entering to save his sister. I would know how couch brother and sister. But then, you had to jump on stage, and, I'm like… okay… maybe the mayor's daughter is nuts. I would couch her and a random boy. BUT again, another ordinary thing came up. Him!" Haymitch points at Rory. "So, now, tell me. What are you two hiding? It has to be something. And if those idiots find out before I do, hell with be on Earth especially for District 12. Do you have any idea what's going on District 8? With Rue? Death. Death is surrounding them. So tell me blondie, what is the deal with you and Rory?"
Rory keeps his silent deal. He doesn't look at Haymitch anymore and avoids Madge's presence.
"Okay, Haymitch, you win. I'm in love with Hawthorne. But not this Hawthorne. The older brother. I never told him and would never tell, for real. When their younger sister came along on stage, I knew if I volunteered, I could demonstrate that I loved him by keeping his sister safe" Madge half-lied which caused Rory to roll his eyes and Haymitch to release a long breath.
"No. It's not it. Not just it, Haymitch. Madge and I became friends. Not so long ago. We like each other and when she same for Posy, I felt I couldn't let her go alone. I felt I owned her my life for saving my sister's life. And that's the it. That's our secret. Can you keep it?" Rory stares at Haymitch. Effie and Portia exchange a few looks and waits for Haymitch's orders.
"It's a start." Haymitch leaves.
"You told him!" Madge walks from one side to the other in Rory's room. His bedroom is similar to hers but the shades tend to a much blue color.
"I said what it had to be said. Madge, you declared to be a silly girl in love with my brother in front of Haymitch. If I was Haymitch, I would trough you out of the window myself." Rory exclaims.
"I… I just need less of this place. It's all so fake so theatrical. I miss home. I miss the smell of ashes and woods. And I can't help thinking that if Posy's name wasn't there and another girl was sorted, I wouldn't have to be here. It's horrible to realize that, I might not live… I might die in the Games. Not old. Not with children. Not even married." Madge kicks the wall. She dreamed to be home. She made plans during her own dream. She would play the piano, eat strawberries and talk with her mother.
"Madge. I know. I thought the same thing. I thought that another couple would be here and both of us could be training in the woods with Katniss, Prim and even, who knows, Gale." Rory says.
"I'm sorry about that. I must be just another looser that likes your brother without getting to know him for real, huh? I feel stupid." Madge says.
"Gale is too good looking for his own good, I must say. But you would know how to tame him. I know that. You don't have to feel ashamed for loving him. I'm glad it's him actually. It might make things easier from now on." Rory plans.
"How come?", Madge curiously asks.
"I look like him, Madge. Everyone says it. And you look like Prim too. Not the personality but the physical shape. If Haymitch says we might win if we play the star crossed romance, I say he is right." Rory thinks. He has planned to replace Prim a long time ago. Now, he would have to do it in order to save Madge.
"So, for the rest of our lives we should pretend to be the other's crush?" Madge is discouraged.
"And die trying to be, actually. We signed for the whole package, remember? At least, we are lucky that we know we are doing this for the ones we truly love." Rory sadly says.
"Well… Gale would never know. If I die young, you have my permission to marry Prim." Madge jokes.
"No way. I love Prim and if you dare to die before me, I will go nuts like Annie Cresta and live the rest of my poor life drinking like Haymitch" Rory beams.
"Oh, good. You have formed a better plan." Madge plays.
"It's going to be okay, just try to not think ahead. Live each day like the last of your life. Literately saying." Rory laughs. He can feel a nap coming.
"I shall try then. Play the Game. Be the actress." Madge agrees.
"Good. Be my Prim, Madge. And I will try with all my heart to be your Gale" Rory says half sleeping.
Madge lullaby the song Just Give a Reason from and old singer called Pink, that she found among her hidden library. Her head is resting on Rory's arms and they are lying on his bed. Today was tiring and tomorrow was the scoring game.
She dreams about Gale.
NEXT CHAPTER
Scoring Games and Interview.