Cecelia ushered me through a gleaming door. Inside the room is a pale baby blue. The walls were lined with silver and white counters with enough drawers that I could probably fit every piece of clothing my family owned into one section. Everything gleamed with the same silvery hue as the door.
I heard a giggle and noticed for the first time I'm not alone. I cocked my head at the crew assembled in front of me, confused. They're all from the Capitol judging by their odd appearances, but what could they be waiting here for? Suddenly I panicked, wondering if this is a surprise interview. My mind goes blank as one of them stepped forward.
"Won't you take a seat?" She gestured towards a cushy looking, navy chair in the center of the room.
The woman's skin set me off guard, it looks like it's inlaid with thousands of tiny pulsing lights. Her skin changed from lavender to pea green as she lifted her eyebrows at me and gestured towards the seat again.
As I sit I asked, "Who are you all exactly?"
"Oh!" the woman squeaked, her accent slightly unnerving. "I'm Fannia! This is Sagitarria!" she gestured at a tall woman who skin was blue and had feathers for hair "And Ceil," a bored looking woman covered in polka dots steps forward with hair that was cut close to her head.
Fannia tentatively stepped forward and extended her long fingers to mine. I think her face is too full eagerness for her to be from the Capitol. Still confused, I lightly grasped her hand in my and she pumped it up and down, large purple eyes searching my face.
"Okay but...Why are you here?" I asked, my face scrunched up in confusion.
They don't seem as scary as they did before, but I can't imagine a reason why these people would be here.
"We're your prep team silly!" Sagitarria exclaimed with a look of wonder on her face.
She studied me with the same kind of concentration I've seen on my mother's face as she worked to carefully repair a sock.
"Prep team? Prepping for what?" I asked again, my expression still showing confusion.
Fannia and Sagitarria laughed and started pulling things out of drawers. Ceil lightly took my arm and guided me behind a long white curtain and told me to undress. I do, not wanting to disrespect these people. The cool air pricked goose bumps up and down my brown skin. I hugged my arms close and stepped out from behind the fabric.
The chair has been folded down into a padded table and Fannia pointed, indicating I should sit down. I sat on the springy edge of the table, feeling uncomfortable. Sagitarria graciously handed me a large fluffy towel and I wrapped it around my chest, feeling a bit less exposed.
"This will sting," Ceil warned, glancing at me.
I laid back and they poured a thick, pungent liquid over most of my body. It felt like tiny pins were pricking into my skin.
On some days back in the district, I had the duty to fit mannequins in clothes that were to be sold in the Capitol, so that photographs could be taken for interested buyers to look at. We had an allotted time for the mannequins to be dressed and fixed, but sometimes I felt like I had to take a longer time to fuss over them, to make sure that everything is its perfect place, that there are no creases on the dress and whatnot.
Right now, I feel like a mannequin. But instead of being fitted with clothes, I am being washed clean, hosed down, plucked like a goose, and scrubbed like a dirty floor. Why are they scrubbing at me like this? I've just taken a bath in the train, too! Am I that dirty, or are the Capitol people just clean freaks? I closed my eyes and listened to them yammer on about themselves. Sagitarria told me this is her first games and she's so excited to be picked for a fashionable district like mine. She distracted me with questions about dying and weaving and I'm grateful for her filling the silence.
Later, after they've had me bathe in various liquids, I'm allowed to dress in a pink robe and I took my seat. They painted my nails in a pearly almost pink and buff them until they shine like polished pebbles. Fannia pointed me towards the curtain, behind the curtain is my chariot outfit.
Since my District makes fabric the dress I'm going to wear will emphasize that. Ceil helped me in the outfit wrapped in blue silk that seemed to shimmer and crossed in the back and wrapped around my shoulders ending once more in the back. The front over my chest is loose but flattering. The gown drops to my feet in a straight sheet. The dress fits me like a dream, which I do not understand, since I have never been measured. My hair was styled just to hang naturally.
Fannia and Sagitarria cooed as I returned from behind the curtain. They sat me down carefully in the chair again and begin on my makeup. I'm faced away from the mirror, but I trust their expert movements and excited faces to mean I don't look too horrifying. The door opened and main stylist came in and a soft smile on her lips. The woman had beautiful long red hair, that was natural, but had a ton of forest green eye shadow. Her eyes were the most beautiful green I could have ever imagined seeing; dark and light green mixed together. She had her nails painted to match her eyes, but everything else was natural.
"Hello. I'm Valeria," She greeted, and extended her hand for a shake, and I accepted it. Valeria began to study my face. "Stand up," she told me and I complied.
She directed me towards two thin doors and Fannia rushed ahead to pull them open. They revealed three mirrors, each reflecting back a girl at a slightly different angle. I'm shocked at how beautiful she is. Her hair is expertly brushed not a strand out of place, not the rushed job I usually do while I'm at home. The curls cascaded down from her head like curly ribbons. Her skin was flawless which suggested that she's just been told a delicious secret. Her eyes are the same chocolate brown as mine, but her eyelashes are darker and more noticeable, reminding me of the big eyed dolls that sit on the highest shelf of the second hand store. She seemed poised and regal, like a well loved princess from long ago.
I had a hard time comprehending that princess is me.
"It's beautiful," I whispered, trying to hold back the emotion from my voice.
"I hoped you would like it," Valeria replied, standing back to admire her work. Her eyes skirted up and down the masterpiece, searching for any flaw. "It's perfect," Valeria stated smiling.
"Valeria thank you! It really is wonderful!" I praised, something akin to pride flooded me. I can't imagine any tribute that will be dressed like me tonight.
"It's time. Come on," Valeria said.
We walked to the elevator doors and got in. In a matter of seconds, we are brought down to the area where the chariots night is warm with the loud voices of people from afar, and the buzzing of tributes, stylists, and mentors. I saw Ryler standing there in a similar outfit made of silken fabric. We sparkled like a cluster of stars and he smiled at me next to his own stylist named Charm. She was a beautiful woman, her mahogany colored skin seemed have to flecks of gold in it as you could see sparkles when the light hit it. Her white hair was cut abruptly at her forehead, and it fell to her shoulders. She wore a gold dress that stuck close to her body.
I turned towards Valeria, who was standing behind me, "Got to adjust anything?"
She shook her head, "No, you're perfect!" she smiled proudly.
I smiled in thanks then started to observe the rest of the room. All the tributes are stuck to their horses. You can see who's from what district by their costumes. District 12 with their coal miner suits and pickaxes. District 7 looking like trees much to their chagrin, probably. District 2 actually having weapons.
My District is the only one really different from the last years.
I spotted Cecelia and Woof who was casually chatting with other mentors on the side of the hall. Haymitch Abernathy, the drunk victor from 12 was there as well. Even the victor from the Hunger Games two years ago is there. Finnick Odair. He looked almost awkward being there as well, being the youngest, but then there was the fact that all of them have the same aura. Victor of the Hunger Games. They all had marks and scars. You can see them from a distance, how much the Games affected them. They all seem wary and cautious. I wonder, if I won the Hunger Games, what scars I would have.
I didn't realize I was still staring at Finnick until he made eye contact with me and smiled, which made me look avert my gaze quickly.
"It's almost time for the parade to start," Valeria stated.
I stepped on the carriage and Ryler stepped on afterwards.
"What should we do?" I asked Valeria and Charm.
"Smile and wave to the crowds," said the tired voice of Cecelia as she stopped walking towards us with Amora beside her. "The audience loves it when you give them recognition," Cecelia added, almost in a spiteful tone.
"Oh! This is lovely!" Amora said delighted as she looked over our costumes. "You look so stunning and fierce, as if nothing could stand in your path!" she complimented happily.
"It was all because our stylists," I complimented.
"But you are the models that make our designs great," Charm quipped smiling.
"Thanks, Charm," Ryler said, while I just smiled genuinely at her.
Suddenly a male voice boomed out over the loudspeaker, making us both jump, "Ladies and gentlemen, time for the chariot parade!"
"It's show time!" Amora squealed, jumping on the spot.
District 1 was being pulled away to where the population of the Capitol was. Ryler and I both waved to our stylists, mentor and escort as we moved away to leave for the parade.
Suddenly a large screen appears and we can all see the District 1 tributes who look outstanding. One's stylists definitely haven't had a hard time with their costumes, these two are wearing a suit and a short dress covered entirely in diamonds over top of iridescent cloth. Lucian looks great in it, but Ruby's prep team hasn't been able to distract from her grisly face.
The District 2 tributes are very similar only they are dressed like warriors. They all carry some type of weapon and the girl who I remember being called Vika pretend to be fighting Cavail with a mace.
The District 3 tribute Tera had a black dress, with matching tights at the ends of the sleeves, there were small devices, and I saw the gear in the center of the suit, colored like the gears a factory and Cable had a similar out minus the dress .
Next are Zelda and Kai. Zelda is in a beautiful aquamarine dress in an ancient Greek style, Kai with the same for robes. Their stylists must've had an uncomplicated time with the costumes as well.
Five seems like their stylists were really running out of ideas already, as Nina and Callum looked depressed inside of lit-up light bulbs. The science behind how they made them light up sounded like it would be pretty interesting, but the costumes themselves, not really.
Kiva and Arun smiled to the crowd as they descended down the street in red, yellow, and green technicolor outfits. It's was an okay idea, nothing too fascinating though.
Willow and Rowan from Seven are covered from head to toe in bodysuits adorned with pieces of some bumpy brown substance making them look like trees, an obvious idea to come up with.
"So just smile and wave?" Ryler asked me as we started to move forward.
"Yeah," I confirmed, glancing to the side at him, meeting his worried gaze.
"They'll love us," I said reassuringly.
He nodded, "Thanks,"
Then we were in view of the Capitol.
Our chariot emerged out of the roof, and for the first time in two days, I see the open night sky above, the stars enhanced by the lights of the towering buildings of the Capitol. On the sides are hundreds and hundreds of people, cheering, waving, clamoring to get a glimpse of us. It's thrilling to have people cheer for you like that, to have people know that you exist.
What's not thrilling is that in that moment, I exist for their entertainment.
Roars, cheers, and screams surrounded us. I wouldn't be surprised if I become deaf after this; and if I think that this is the loudest they could be. I'm kidding myself because as soon as they catch sight of Ryler and I, I know I will be deaf after this.
I waved and smile at them, like I was told. Like I am enjoying this kind of life, the life I will never have back at home. I am here, wearing a dress even Lycra could never wear in her entire life. People are shouting my name, cheering for me as I blow kisses in their direction. The feeling rushes over me, drowning out my doubts like the humming of the machines drowning out the idle chatter of the workers back in the factories in 8.
District Eight! Mom is watching back home! So are Micah, Aidan, Mather, and Lycra! I imagine their voices cheering me on, telling me how wonderful I look, and somehow, my smile is no longer forced though my cheeks start hurting. I wave enthusiastically to the crowd, relishing in their delight, and for a brief, beautiful moment. It was the first genuine smile to cross my lips in days.
I could see myself on a screen, I really do look fierce. There were flowers tossed to us, just like the first two did. I saw a periwinkle orchid coming my way and I reached out to catch it. Thankfully, it fell right into my grasp and I cuddled it and smiling the general direction it came from. The crowd cheered for my successful catch for some reason, and the person who I suppose is the person who threw it to me, almost fainted.
I grinned sheepishly at Ryler when our eyes meet again and he let out a laugh before we go back to waving and smiling at the crowd.
Mazie and Bran are dressed in golden fabric that shimmered with small waves in the light, giving the effect of being covered in grain that's blowing in the field.
Merona cackled in her cattle outfit, pointing and laughing at everything she sees. Harrence kept looking back and forth at her with pure terror, silently wondering when she's going to turn around and kill him. I felt sorry for him.
Sage and Aster, her District partner, are wearing farmer's outfits. Again, something not very creative.
And then lastly from Twelve are Blair and Kolton. Their stylists definitely aren't very original, every Games, they've been coal miners. I don't really think the current stylists are every going to try anything new or exciting, their boredom with this going to affect the tributes though. If the Capitol people don't like the chariot ride costumes, they'll be less likely to sponsor them.
A man emerged. from the balcony suspended high above, with powder-white hair and a beard of the same color. He is wearing a black suit, and attached on the lapel is a white rose. It's President Snow. He stretched out his arms as if to embrace everyone in the City Circle. I don't know if he is capable of such an emotion.
"Tributes," his voice ringed throughout the now-quiet area. "This is a glorious day indeed. Let us all welcome the twenty-four tributes who have wonderfully graced the Capitol. Welcome, tributes, to the Sixty-Seventh Annual Hunger Games,"
The crowd cheered again. So the Games truly begin, now that the President has declared it. Slowly, the smile on my face turned into a frown. Death is coming for us in a week.
"May the odds," and his voice dripped with menace and thirst for something I didn't want to know, "be ever in your favor,"
The anthem of Panem started to play, and the cheering of the people restarted again. The chariots made one final round in the City Circle before finally going back in. Once the gates closed, the cheering of the people get muffled. My ears had a hard time adjusting to the newfound quiet.
"Can you believe that?" Ryler cried, grinning at me. "That was amazing!" I can't help but grin back.
The feeling of riding in that cart to the cries of the bating crowd is exhilarating...but I have to remind myself that they are all there to watch me die. It is a thought that sickens me to my very stomach and my smile is wiped quickly from my face.
"The costumes are certainly better than ones previous tributes worn," Cecelia smiled.
"You looked gorgeous!" Amora exclaimed.
I mustered up a smile and looked around the room until I spotted The Careers all glaring coldly at me.
"Hey!" I yelled at them. "Take a picture it lasts longer!"
Their eyes widened in shock that I had the audacity to yell at them, but Kai quickly recovered and started to walked towards me, and I instantly regretted opening my big mouth, but luckily Vika stopped him and then glared at me.
"Let's get you of here," Woof suggested, while putting his hand on my shoulder and the other on Ryler's shoulder.
"You were amazing!" Amora squealed as we rode the elevator up to our suite.
"My cheeks hurt from smiling so much," I stated, rubbing my cheeks.
"I feel the same," Ryler said.
"It'll heal by tomorrow," Cecelia explained "and you'll get used to all the smiling, don't worry,"
"If you say so," I replied.
We walked in the suite we would be staying in. It was a huge with glass windows, it looked beautiful.
Amora strode in front of us, "These are your servants," she gestured to two other kids who couldn't have been much older than us. There was a tall blonde girl, along with a shorter redhead boy, "The girl is for Paige, and Ryler gets the boy.,"
Ryler and I exchanged a look of mutual disgust. These kids were Avoxes. Children who had been punished for a crime by having their tongue cut out and being forced to serve the Capitol for the remainder of their lives.
Amora, not noticing our disgust, impatiently gestured for us to go inside, "Go on," she said hurriedly.
Ryler and I hurried inside the suite going to our separate rooms with our Avox's following behind us. As soon as I was walked into my luxurious room that had a balcony with a clear view of the Capitol streets, I sat on the plush mattress situated on my wooden bedpost, and waited patiently for the Avox to leave. She polished up a bit and then left.
As soon as she was out of the room, I cautiously opened the glass doors that went out to the balcony. As soon as the doors opened, I burst onto the balcony and breathed in the fresh air. The streets of the Capitol were filled with bizarre citizens bustling around, many probably preparing to watch the Hunger Games, which were promised to be full of excitement this year.
I walked to the edge of the balcony and attempted to lean over the side.
"Oof!" I cried out as I was thrown backwards.
I looked for my attacker, but all that was there was the balcony. I glanced around. Then it clicked. It must have been a force field put up around the edge of the balcony to discourage tributes from trying to commit suicide. So we'd be perfect for when we went to our deaths. I sighed and went back inside and waited on my bed for the Avox to come back in.
When she did, she brought a fluffy white robe with her.
"Thank you," I said sincerely, grabbing the robe and walked into the bathroom.
I went into the bathroom, and shed my clothing and when I stepped into the shower I am greeted with multiple buttons. I press the most obvious one, 'warm water regulator' and let myself get soaked. I clicked a button that made me smell like lavender. When I finished up, I stepped on a mat that dried my body before my eyes. My hair was also blow dried, untangling my hair and making it completely dry. I grabbed the robe that the Avox gave me and threw it over my naked body.
She waited silently in the corner as I changed into a nightgown and gave her my costume to bring back to Valeria. I nodded my thanks to her and she nodded back. I smiled at her as she left. Poor girl.
I glanced around. There are pictures of each victor from the Hunger Games I wonder if my picture will be on the walls of the bedrooms and Justice Building someday. I got under my royal blue covers and plopped into my pillows. I smiled a little, completely forgetting that I was going into the Arena in a few days. I frowned as I remembered that training began tomorrow. Hopefully, Cecelia and Woof would give us more good advice for the Arena. I knew about their Games and knew that they had specialized in certain weapons and used different strategies too.
Our public training began tomorrow. Our individual sessions were in two days. And I was determined to wow the Gamemakers.
I fell asleep that night thinking about our training tomorrow. I was nervous, but excited too. Hopefully, all would go well, Ryler and I would get a high score. I'd earn lots of sponsors and win the Games. I had to win. I just had to. For my mother, Mather, Micah, Aidan, and Indira.