"After interest in the Games drops to an all time low, President Snow is determined to regain the once amazing popularity. Twelve tributes. One 'arena.' And one game-changing twist. Welcome to the 80th Hunger Games, the Rebirth."
~ The Rebirth Games ~
Chapter Six:
Parade
The Capitol is one of the most craziest places I have ever seen. Our journey through the streets in the car only gives us a small view of the huge city. Gigantic marble slabs. Towering statues of great historical leaders in the two wars. Pink poodles being walked by their owners covered in orange cotton. Small parks with water fountains at their centers. Beeping cars with two or three floors in them; almost like buses. The place is crazy.
"Preparation for the Games is clearly a hastle over here.." Finnick says as he looks out the darkened windows. I watch as a woman with five-too-many shopping bags trips down a flight of smoothed stairs, hairbrushes and lipsticks flying out of her purse. Shocked citizens swarm around her and lift her to her feet.
"Yeah, but they don't need to do anything," I say. "It's ridiculous. All for a television show where they have to sit on their butts and watch for hours.."
Finnick stops looking out the window and turns to face me. "Danix, the Capitol is different to the rest of the districts. You do know that, right?"
And of course I know that. But I refuse myself of replying to stop any sort of argument forming. I can't deal with bickering for much longer. I just can't keep piling on more stress after the Maris thing.. My mind still wonders what she meant. Don't trust Finnick. Don't trust any of them. She could have meant anything.. Was it a matter of her opinion? Was she scared that I was leaving? Or did she find out about something that no one else knows? I can't be certain.
The ride goes on for no longe than a few minutes until we eventually pull up on a sidewalk. The door opens up, revealing a tall, buff man standing mighty outside. "Move."
We all obey his order, get out into the warm air which ignites a few squeals. Of course, probably fans running over to us already. But I can't be sure because we're shoved through a small doorway at the side of a building and into darkness. The man shuts the door behind him, waving his hand to move us forward. We pass through a small opening and into an expansive stretch of stone ground. Large, concrete walls surround us and I see a large tunnel going through one of them. I see twelve chariots lined up as people fluster around, polishing them with spray.
"The tribute parade is tonight.. You two better get ready," says Beetee.
"Any idea about our outfits?" asks Tren.
Beetee gives a smirk. "Well you're technology. Danix is fishing.. Let your mind flow and think."
Finnick and I both split up from Beetee and Tren into a small changing room a few minutes later. Inside the walls are crystal white and the room is filled with racks of clothes.
"I received word that it should be here.." mutters Finnick as he flicks through the racks. "Ah! Here.."
He pulls it out and I stare at it in all its glory. A pair of baggy green pants and a thick fish net used as a shirt. "I'm not wearing that," I say. Finnick laughs in my face, dumping the clothes into my arms. "Oh, yes you are."
After I step outside of the small cubical I got changed in, I glare at myself through the mirror. I must admit, I don't look as bad as I thought, but I'm still pretty bad. We leave the room and back out into the waiting area where I hear the loud screaming of crowds. It must be out in the Tribute Avenue. Finnick and I catch up with Beetee and Tren. I stare at Tren's costume, a glittery grey dress covered in spinning cranks and all sorts of machinery. Thin metal loops slowly spin around her body. She's extremely jarring.
"You look good," I say.
"You too," she whispers to me.
"Well agree to disagree."
I spin to find the source of the voice and I see a tall, slender girl gowning a long blue dress. Small yellow orbs stick to her clothing as flickers of electricty bounce in between them. Her wavy blonde hair gently blows in the calm air.
"Hello-" I barely get to say before she cuts me off.
"I'm Celia Levin. District 5," she says, both her hands on her hips. "You all look.. acceptable."
Finnick sighs. "I'm sure your mentor will be looking for you any moment now. You better scurry away."
"Don't worry Odair," Celia continues. "She wanted me over here. She wants me to mingle with all the tributes.." She then throws her hands up into the air and pouts her lips. "Ridiculous. It's not like we have to make friends with one another. We're going to be slaughtering one another in the arena in just a few days.."
"Well I hear that compliments aren't illegal or anything.." says Tren. "'You all look acceptable' is a bit rude."
Celia broadens her eyes instantly. "Who are you talking to? Nutbag!" she squeals. "Oh, I can be rude to you if you want me to!"
"No. Maybe you didn't hear me say that a compliment is better than being rude," continues Tren. I can't help but chuckle at her sarcasm. But then Celia turns to me with her eyes squinted. Her mouth is pouted and it slightly wriggles. She then gasps for air and lets out a screech.
"You watch it, mister! Laughing in the face of your competitor is never a good thing!" She then twirls on her neon heels and stomps away, rattling echoes throughout the room.
"Don't mind her," Beetee says. "She's clearly crazy. She won't cause you any harm in the arena."
I watch as she marches past a boy about the same height as me and pushes him back a meter or two onto the ground. Celia continues to walk away and I barely hear her muttering to herself in anger. I rush over to the boy and grab him by his hand, pulling him up to his feet.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah.. I'm fine," he says. "That girl- no. That creature is a loon." He has sea-blue eyes and tight brown hair. He wipes away the dust from brown pants and places his hand on my shoulder for support. The top half of his body is completely covered by a ridiculous looking green fluff material. I'm guessing he's from District 7, and of course, he's dressed as a tree.
"Name is Areonium Tulgrid. Just call me Are for short," he continues. But I'm distracted by the rest of his words by the screaming going on behind him. I see Celia yelling at a tall woman with a slick black ponytail. She's familiar for sure, but I recognize who she is the moment she launches Celia onto the ground with a push. Johanna Mason.
"Who do you think you are pushing my tribute?! Huh? I'll push you!"
Are sighs. "They're both such idiots. Johanna, my mentor, is so.. angry."
"I'll have to agree," says Finnick. "She can let her anger get the best of her sometimes.."
Suddenly, a loud bell rings throughout the room, bouncing off of the four walls.
"Tributes, make your way to your chariots."
"Well, I guess I'll chat to you guys in the Tribute Center," says Are. "See ya."
Finnick guides me to the fourth chariot from the top and I step up onto it. A small flap locks me in it and only now do I notice the large black horse in front of me. "Smile and wave," says Finnick. "Just smile and wave."
Once again, I repeat what I said to him earlier at the train station which makes him grin. "I'll try."
The cheers outside only increases as I hear horns booming and the Capitol anthem playing. I finally see Igneous Vullup in the first chariot move out into the tunnel. Then Obedience from District 2 is just behind him. Tren is in front of me, and within seconds my horse starts pulling me forward. I latch onto the gold bar in front of me and tilt my head up. I feel the warm morning breeze blowing in my face and I see sunlight stretch across the Tribute Center.
I finally leave the tunnel and I find myself in the middle of a confetti tornado. Screaming crowds yell as little colored paper slips pour down like rainfall. Men and women lined up on either side of me drum away at huge gongs.
"And here they are, the tributes!" I recognize his voice anywhere as it rings throughout the air. It's Caesar Flickerman. Probably sitting away to himself inside some building, narrating the event from a small hologram.
The horses clap against the ground just as I reach about a quarter of the way. And that's when I see something. That's when I feel something. I can almost see Finnick's grinning face in my mind already. I see a drop of water.
Author's Note:
Cliffhanger! Woop woop!
Hello everybody! Welcome to Chapter Six of The Rebirth Games, Parade! And of course it is titled 'Parade' because of the tribute parade! :)
I think it's time to officially say that the Games are coming very soon.. I guess I can say that by Chapter 10, we'll be starting/have started the Games! :DDD
What do you think of the two new tributes? We've got Celia and Are! There are still six more to arrive. :)
And once again, what do you think the mystery will be about these Games? What will the Games actually be about? And what do you think the thing with Maris in the Justice Building was about? ;)
Whether you liked or disliked this chapter, please leave a review if you have time! Stay tuned for more as the Games approach, and we have a twist in the tale coming very soon.. ;))))
Thank you all so much for reading, byeeeeee! :D