There's a bit of sunlight streaming through the window when I open my eyes again. I must have fallen asleep despite my fears. But something's different. I feel relaxed in a way I haven't felt in a while.
"Morning." I look up and see that the pillow I am sleeping on is Finnick's chest. I yelp at bit in surprise. He just laughs.
"How long have you been here?" I quickly check to make sure I'm still in clothes, knowing Finnick in the Capitol, anything could happen.
"A few hours. You were screaming and no one could wake you up. So I told everyone to go back to bed and that I would handle it. After I lay down next to you, you almost instantly stopped screaming. I must be magic." He says.
I blush a bit. "Yea," He continues putting his arms behind his head. "You squirmed a bit at first but then once your subconscious realized I was here you clung to me and slept quietly." He looks amused.
"Sorry." I say.
He looks serious. "You don't need to be sorry. It's not your fault I have a way of affecting women." He says smiling again. "What did you dream about?"
I don't want him to know that I dreamt of my father and Finnick where one killed the other. So I ignore it for now. When Finnick sees I'm not smiling back he looks serious again. "What time is it?" I ask.
"A little after ten." He says.
"Ten?" I've never slept that late before in my life. I've always been up at dawn to help with the early morning fishermen with their nets and then to help Brooke get to school on time.
"You didn't miss breakfast. Well, we both did because you wouldn't let me go" he smirks to himself "but you can order food to your room through the intercom."
I nod. "How much time do I have?"
"Before you get attacked by your stylists?" He read my mind. I nod again. "Between one and two hours."
"But the opening ceremonies aren't until tonight!" I complain.
"It's the first time they see you up close, and it takes them at least two hours to get you in perfect condition before they start making a character out of you."
I pout. I knew this meant I would be having people touch me, scrub me, wash me, and clean me. I don't usually like it when people grab me. Or play with my hair. I can't stand it. However, there are certain times when Finnick plays with a lock or two that I don't mind. But that's because it's Finnick and I've known him forever. Right?
"Do I need to change clothes?" I ask.
"You don't need to. The stylists won't care. You'll be mostly naked for most of the cleaning anyway."
"What?" I feel sick. I didn't know I was going to be naked! Why didn't Finnick tell me this earlier? "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" I ask speaking my mind.
"Because I knew you'd freak out." He says calmly. He brushes my cheek. "I know you too well Annie. Now are you going to tell me what your dream was about?"
"Breakfast first." I say quickly. Finnick rolls his eyes and lets out a sigh. Then he gets up and walks over to the intercom and orders up a bunch of food.
During out mini feast I tell Finnick about the dream with my father in the games and Finnick killing him then coming at me and it scared me. As for after I fell asleep a second time, I don't remember if I dreamt anything. It was obviously something bad otherwise I wouldn't have screamed.
"Finnick!" We both cringe at her voice. Talika comes barging in with her now 7 inch platform heels and peacock suit, feathers and all. "Finnick darling you have a message." She says sweetly as she hands him a letter. A defining smell hits my nose as he opens it. We both shiver slightly. Finnick reads the note.
"Fine." He says. "Sorry Annie, I'll be here when you leave for the ceremonies, but I've got to go." He stands up. Then I watch him walk out.
Damn Snow. I get up and glance at the clock; I should have maybe a half hour if I'm lucky.
"Where is she!" Excited voices yell from down the hall. Maybe not so lucky.
The bedroom door opens and I'm practically trampled on by 3 horrendous looking people with thick Capitol accents.
"Look at this hair, so long and gorgeous!" Exclaims a freakishly tall woman with piercings all over her face, unhumanly blue eyes complemented by a neon blue afro.
"What about these nails and her skin? Most children have skin slick with oil or sweat but not you my dear!" Says a man a little shorter than the first woman but has green and gold tattoos running all over his body with a purple Mohawk and the same shade purple lips.
"But look at her eyes! So green!" Says a second man who is much shorter than the first two but has bright orange eyes, and no hair except for the small piece he has pulled into a ponytail on top of his head and his skin is slightly pinker than normal.
Before I can respond the woman with blue hair picks me up and tosses me into the bathroom shrugging me of my dress and anything else that was on my body. "Alrighty dear, lets get you cleaned!" She draws a bath of scorching hot water and begins to scrub away at my skin until I'm sure there was nothing left. The door opens again and the two men walk right on in with bath oils and hair creams. They work on me for what feels like hours.
Finally they stand back and look me over. Still naked.
Then they squeal in delight and all rush out of the door. Now what? I grab the robe that was on my bed that they left for me and find that it was extremely soft.
It's gotten slightly darker outside. I can see the people scrambling about to get set up for the ceremonies. Every television and radio will be set to this event. Everyone in this city getting ready to watch the unveiling of the children being condemned to kill each other. I feel sick.
I notice a small remote on my nightstand. It's very similar to the T.V remote but curved different. Does it control the lights? I pick it up and test it by pressing a button.
Suddenly the sounds made from the people outside have disappeared. I turn back to the window and instead of seeing the Capitol's skyscrapers, I see a woods. But it's not just a picture, it's actual live footage. I wonder…
I push the button again and it switches to a field of grain. Push it again and I see trees filled with fruit. Push it again, and I find myself looking at the ocean. The sounds of the waves, the smell of the sea, it all comes back in one big swoop and hits me hard. I feel myself tearing up instantly. No, I can't do that. Not now.
"That's my favorite." A voice says from behind me. It makes me jump. I turn and find myself facing a man my height that has a bright yellow body tattoo in a strange pattern, sickly pale skin, but bright healthy honey brown eyes, blonde hair and ruby red lips. "That's why I picked District 4. So that I could work with water."
"With water?" I ask clutching my robe.
"In the past yes, but now, I have a new inspiration." He looks me in the eyes, his now showing hints of gold.
"That has to do with me?"
"Yes!" He says excitedly. "I watched your selection and as soon as I saw that hair, your body and your eyes I went straight to work on the outfits!"
"Outfits?" I say putting emphasis on the 's'.
"Well of course! Your opening ceremonies, your interview and of course your victory speech!"
A small nervous laugh escapes me. "What makes you think I'm going to make it out of here? I'm as plain as they come. I know nothing special."
"My dear, once the others see you, you will be something special." Then he calls everyone back in. "I'll be back with the dress in two hours." He says then leaves.
The freak show going on around me is actually very frightening. I mesh of color whips over my eyes and it's hard to adjust to the different hair and eye colors that I have to remind myself are normal here. The tall woman pulls and styles my hair. The purple Mohawk man polishes my skin and does my nails. And the short man with an orange ponytail does my makeup. I've never worn makeup. And after this, I don't plan to ever again. Like I would have the chance…
I try to distract myself by listening to the freaks conversations. "Did you hear who got a new poodle doo last week?"
"No! I thought he wanted a stripe cut!"
"Nope, he went for the poodle doo!" They giggle some more. What the fuck is a poodle doo?
The smaller man pipes in "Ezzré sure knows what he's doing!" Ezzré? Was that my stylist's name? "She's going to be fabulous!"
After what feels like forever, the freak show pulls away and admires me again. They've rubbed some kind of sparkly gloss on my arms, legs, chest and back. Then they added jewels, only silver blue and green ones in swirled patterns up my skin. I sparkled whenever I moved. My toes and fingernails had an iridescent pearl nail polish with shimmering blue tips. That was all I could see. They wouldn't let me look in a mirror until Ezzré put me in my dress.
I was finally relieved when he did show up. He was carrying a white garment bag. "Here we are." He says. "Now close your eyes." I obey. "Lift your arms for me. That's it." He says as he glides the thin yet very smooth fabric over my head. Then he does some pinning and zipping. "Lift your feet please." I do, and he slides what feels like sandals on my feet, but with a definite heel. Then he places something on my head. "Okay, open."
I look into the mirror, and I now know what his inspiration is. "A water goddess." He finishes my thought.
My hair is half up in a messy up do, and the majority of my hair hangs down my back in soft waves like the sea. In my hair are shimmering ribbons of blue green and gold. He placed on my head, a sort of tiara that has gold and silver interwoven like a crown for a god. My eyes are brought out with hints of green in a smoky blue dramatic look. My cheekbones are defined with a light pink blush. More jewels are spread around my eyes. My lips are a neutral color with a lot of shimmer. My dress has a sweetheart neckline that stays tight to my body until it reaches mid-thigh then in drapes down in a light flowing skirt that stops about mid-shin. The top of the dress is a dark green like seaweed, then through all the shimmering, it fades to a calm iridescent sea blue that ends in a light sky blue at the bottom. Around my shoulder and connecting my waist I have a silver sash. My shoes are like gladiator sandals but they're clear, with blue on the bottom as though I was walking on water. When I move, the whole dress looks like waves. It's absolutely breathtaking. And I'm not the only one who thinks so.
Finnick stands in the door way with a goofy smile on. His hair is messed up a bit. "You look nice." He says clearing his throat.
"Thanks." I say. As beautiful as he thinks I look, or how sponsors think I look, I will still be me inside. Always. And this, covered in makeup and sparkling goddess, is not me.
"Time to go time to go!" Talika screeches. I meet up with Tyler in the elevator. He looks like a mini water gladiator. So cute, but tough, sure to get sponsors.
The elevator ride is short, then we are separated from Finnick, Mags, and Talika and left only with our stylists. Ezzré and Tyler's stylist who has very long green hair and honestly I can't tell if it's a man or woman. We enter a large area where horse drawn chariots are lined up and ready to go. I spot our horses immediately. They are the only ones with blue and green ribbons.
Then I realize everyone will be seeing everyone for the first time tonight. Better make a good impression. Mags told me earlier to be mysterious. Leave people wondering so they don't forget me, but I don't look like too much of threat. Ezzré agrees with this idea. So when I feel everyone's eyes on me, though we're not the last to arrive, I cock my head sideways and look all around me not meeting people's eyes. Like I'm taking in my surroundings without noticing anyone else.
Out of the corner of my eye I spot the District 1 and District 2 tributes gathered in a small group sizing everyone else up. They keep glancing over at me. I do come from a career district, but I look nothing like a career. Well, no one is making that mistake again from what happened last year. A girl from District 7 who is my age was the weakling in the whole 24 tributes, and when it came down to it, she killed everyone in her path without a second thought.
"Hey." A strong voice that sent shivers down my back called.
I turn around and find myself staring at the blonde haired blue eyed boy from 1. He's really tall. "My name's Jem. What's yours 4?" He asks taking my hand and kissing it.
"Annie." I reply. Then I go back to what I was doing.
"I'm still talking to you." He says impatiently.
"Did you think I stopped listening?" I ask looking back at him.
He looks frustrated, but then cuts back to his charming self. That must be the angle his mentor told him to take, because clearly he has a short fuse. "We were wondering if you'd like to join us in training Annie." He says and touches my shoulder. I flinch away. He laughs. "What, don't like being touched?"
"I never said that. I just don't like it when someone touches me without asking first." I reply with the best flirt smile I can manage.
He smiles back. "See you later Annie." He says. Then turns back to the group to report what I said no doubt. The District 1 girl keeps eyeing me though. She's draped in lots of gold silk with her hair in a tight bun and gold spewing from it like fireworks. The dress is also very revealing with jewels covering her most private areas and feathers of assorted colors at the base. District 2 girl's is more modest. Her stylist focused on gray and red it looks like. Her dress is charcoal colored, she has red makeup, and her boots go way past her thighs. She then has almost a body armor coat. However it is very short and very low hung. It almost looks like scales. A snake.
As everyone piles into their chariots the crowd grows louder outside. Suddenly, an alarm sounds and we are thrust out chariot by chariot into the screaming fans. I catch a glimpse of my picture on the big screen a bit more often than both other career district girls, which makes them mad.
At the end of the road we pull into a courtyard still in full view of the crowd. A large podium with him standing behind it is now focused on the big screen. I can't really see him from where we are now because he's on a platform that must be at least fifty feet high. President Snow gives a very long and touching speech about the rebellion and how it was stopped, and from the ashes rose a settlement of twelve districts who offer tribute to the games each year and yada yada yada. I've heard this every year, so mostly I block it out. I look out at the crowds taking it all in. Everyone is dressed in crazy fashions and odd colors. It almost gives me a headache.
When the chariots pull us back to the station and everyone is piling out Tyler pulls on my dress. I look down at him. "Annie, that boy keeps looking at you." He says shyly. I glance over in the direction that he was pointing to, and see the big District 8 boy look away from me. He glances again, but quickly turns around. Why would he be looking at me?