"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 Eight:
White Roses
My immediate guess is that this invite to dinner is a trap. A ploy to lure is into something deeper and darker. No other batch of tributes ever had to attend to a dinner at Snow's mansion. We're the first ones, so why us? Maris told me not to trust them, not to trust anyone. And so I won't. The rest of the evening consists of television, watching post-parade interviews, going to sleep, waking up in the middle of the night from loud party cheers outside, going back to sleep, repeat. The following morning, we barely did anything. Finnick dragged us tired cats out the door to get our photos taken. These photos are always hung everywhere in our districts as posters to remember us.. Remember us while we can.
By the afternoon, I find myself dressed up in a black tuxedo and standing at the door. I watch out for Finnick and Beetee's every move. They both suspiciously give me odd smiles in between complimenting Tren on her gorgeous blue gown.
We head out the lobby doors to see a broad limousine stretching down acrosss the street. Photographers flash big cameras in our faces and we flee inside the open doors. The car is almost an exact replica of the one when we arrived yesterday. I can't be too sure, but I think it's the same driver too. The journey from the Tribute Center to the mansion lasts barely two minutes. When we pull up to big gates, we hop outside just as they swing open.
"Impress. Don't distress," mutters Finnick as he uncomfortably places a hand on my shoulder. We step into the lush white gardens of the mansion and my nostrils are instantly pierced by an odd odour. A foul yet intriguing sweet scent. A mixture of sharp honey and dense forestry. They grow in never-ending lines along the margin of the grass patches. Each and every single one of them look nearly identical. Each tall with a bundle of petals, a shiny artificial gloss to each fibre. Gorgeous white roses.
"Snow will never run out of Valentine's gifts.." I whisper, silently laughing at myself.
We walk up a wide stretch of cobbled stone, up a set of marble stairs and to the large doors. A butler standing like a soldier lets us enter and I'm instantly impressed by the interior. Lavish portraits of historic leaders. Crystal white colors everywhere. Fluffly rugs across the floor. Thin vases containing more of the luxurious white roses. We're guided through a large door and into the dining room. A gigantic table in a doughnut shape sits at the center of the room. But the thing that catches my eye the most is who else is in the room with us: every other tribute.
"The lasts guests to arrive," chirps Umbree in the seat on the opposite end of the table. She raises her glass of bubbling pink champagne. "A toast." Everybody rises from their seats as we make our way to ours. A glass of my own rests in front of me. The drink inside seems alcoholic, but I act mature and take a small sip. Instantly I feel like I've consumed buckets of ash. My throat roars itself dry but I put on a cheeky grin.
"To the tributes of the eightieth Hunger Games.." Umbree calls out. "May the odds be ever in your favor." Everybody sits down, and that's when I notice the man next to her. His white beard looks even cleaner up front. I see him for the second time in two days. He glares at me with a devious smile, like he knows something that I don't. And as he does, he takes a gulp of his glass, except his contains a blood-red liquid. He pats his chest and lets out a small cough.
"Tributes. Let your stomachs do the talking tonight," he says, his deep voice echoing throughout the room. "But be warned that not even full bellies can prepare you. Nothing can prepare you for the Games."
"Then why are we in the Capitol? Why not just head straight to the Games?"
I wish I could tell you that it was Are off to my left. I wish I could tell you that it was Mara diagonally to my right. But no, it was me who said it. Maybe to be rude, maybe to be sarcastic, but it sounded all too natural. Immediately, all eyes roll across to me. Snow gives me a death stare and gently puts his glass on the table.
"Why not just head straight to the Games?" he repeats. "And what is the point off having these annual Games if we get them started too soon? Oh, my dear Mr. Tides.. Make no mistake. If you wish to have death reach you sooner rather than later, it is no hastle at all. Requests like these are easily accepted."
Now he has me shut up.. Well, except for the little "okay" I throw in after he says that. He has a smug grin as the awkward silence slowly begins to break. Avoxes enter one by one placing large trays onto the table. The lift the lids revealing exquisite foods. Frogs' legs. Gigantic roast turkeys. Mash potatoes. Smooth gravy. Steamed peas. Everything looks so delicious. But while everyone eats, I can't help but notice Snowballs in front of me glaring me down. He's the hawk, I'm the prey. Once dinner ends by the end of the hour, people begin to spread across the room and chat away.
"This is your time to get to know some new tributes," Finnick whispers to me. "Don't waste your chance.."
And I don't. He wraps his arm around me to make sure I don't flee and he brings me up to some female tribute and her mentor. Her mentor is tall with curly, greasy black hair and continues to swirl her glass around. The girl has straight black hair and her height is barely up to my shoulders.
"Danix of 4, meet Fern.. Fern of 9, meet Danix," says Finnick as her mentor rudely strolls off. "And.. I don't know what her problem is."
"Don't worry, she's nuts," says Fern. "Hey." She reaches out and shakes my hand. "I hear District 4 tributes always love a good bit of meat." Finnick chuckles and crosses his arms.
"Of course we love our meat."
"I'm talking about fish," Fern laughs. "You know, you live in the fishing district."
"Pretty funny. You're a joyful one," I say and she smiles.
"Really?"
"Yeah, the other tributes are pretty crazy," I continue.
"Crazy?" she says. "The only crazy one I've met is Celia."
"Don't get me started on her. She's a complete nutbag!"
"Tell me about it," Fern says. "I heard she was picking on her partner of District 6, Solly. He apparently punched her in the face!"
"Maybe she deserved it."
"Not just maybe. She definitely did!" exclaims Fern. "Whatever you do, don't let her get to close to you in the arena.. She seems like a backstabber."
"Fern!" her mentor begins squealing from across the room. "Over here now!"
"I gotta go.. See you."
Tren, Are, Mara and I group up together and chat away over in the corner away from everybody else. We spy on everyone, listening in on their conversations. After all, they're our enemies.
"I don't know how to break this, but I heard that Igneous and Obedience have a thing together.." whispers Mara.
"So they're gay?" I ask.
"I guess so."
"Never expected that from Careers," says Tren. "I'm guessing it's all just a sympathy vote.. The Capitol will love them as their pets. They'll sponsor the heck out of them."
"Sponsors probably won't matter in the arena. Anything could be prepared for us," says Tren.
"You're right," continues Mara. "I heard that there are no interviews tomorrow night.." Everybody instantly turns and stares at her. "What? Livvy from 10 told me.. She's a bit of a psychopath, but whatever. I trust her word."
"No interviews?" I say. "That's a bit odd.."
"Indeed."
Suddenly, Finnick grabs my arm. "It's Umbree.. She wants to chat with you."
As I walk through the silent hall, my thoughts begin to run wild. Was she offended by what I said to Snow earlier? Am I going to be punished? Everything I've done swirls through my head as the whispery winds begin to blow against my skin. I look on ahead at the dark night sky as I step out onto the balcony. A bright moon hangs in the darkness as sprinkled starts light up the night.
"The Capitol is lovely at night."
Her voice startles me at first. She moves forward, latches her hands onto the balcony, shuts her eyes and breathes in. "Breathtaking."
"I agree. But it can only last for so long," I say. She opens her eyes and turns to me.
"You're right. The Games are starting tomorrow morning, incase you didn't know.."
"I don't think any of the tributes know," I continue.
She sighs. "That's the point. Strike as much shock into them as we possibly can. That way every inch of their fear can project onto the television screens all across Panem. Make the audience live it. Feel it. Feel all the pain and emotion, like it's their own children. Let the whole world know that these are more than just mere Games.."
There's a moment of silence after she stops talking before I speak up. "You sound passionate."
"I know," Umbree says as she lets out a quiet giggle. "I brought you out here to tell you... that no matter what happens in the arena, know that that's how the Game is played.."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning.. open your heart. Let what happens happen, and accept what will eventually come."
"Can you make this a bit clearer?" I ask. "I'm not good with all this metaphorical talk.. I'm direct and straight-forward-"
"Expect the unexpected," she says loud and clear, picking a white rose from her jacket pocket and handing it to me. "If I were to tell you everything, there would be no point to the Games. This year, it's all about change, Danix... This is the Rebirth."
I don't know whether I should take her seriously or laugh. "Okay?"
"Okay," she says. "You can go back inside."
The Rebirth. Sounds like more mumbo jumbo from crazed Capitol citizens. The party only lastsfor another thirty minutes before Avoxes guide us to the exit. We are back in our warm beds at the Tribute Center in no less than fifteen minutes. What a night it was, and possibly a night I will never forget. Right now as I lay in my bed, I stare at the white rose on the desk beside me, just wondering what Umbree could have meant.
But what's worst about all this is the big news: the Games start tomorrow. And now I know that when I fall asleep, it could be the last time I fall asleep peacefully ever again.
Author's Note:
Uh-oh... The Games begin in the NEXT chapter!
Hello everybody, welcome to Chapter Eight of The Rebirth Games: White Roses!
Oh my goodness... are you all excited for the Games?! After months of thinking, my idea is finally coming to life. It's almost like watching your child grow up.. I feel odd sharing it to everybody considering it's been private and ALL MINE for all this time, but it's EXCITING! :'D
So... any final predictions on what the Games are about? This is your final time to guess!
12 TRIBUTES. ONE 'ARENA.' AND ONE GAME-CHANGING TWIST! :D
I have decided to drop the interviews simply because I want to get STRAIGHT into the Games. I'm too excited to start writing them. They're going to be awesome and intense chapters! Also, who do you think will be the very first tribute to fall? ;)
I have introduced three more tributes in this chapter: Fern, Livvy and Solly, but Livvy and Solly haven't been PROPPERLY shown yet. Don't worry, they'll get their time. On top of that, I still have Districts 11 and 12 to show off... and they are... intriguing. ;)
I'm trying to make the tributes slightly comedic, that way I'll have more situations they can get into in the Games. While I have to have some nice tributes like Fern or Are, I have to have some completely bonkers like Celia or... well, the two new tributes that will be introduced in the next chapter! ;D
With 12 tributes COMPLETELY unique, hopefully they'll have special places in your hearts making their deaths even sadder. It's going to be so sad to see my own creations DIE. Lol :P
So that's it... Next time a chapter goes up, while you won't know COMPLETELY what the twist is, you'll know lots more on the arena considering we're entering it. ;))))
Thank you all so much for reading, byeeeeee! :D