AN: Sorry for upload wait. My laptop apparently ran into some "problems" as I was rounding off a 2000 word chapter and it deleted the entire chapter. My laptop is also having power issues and is constantly running out of charge. That will majorly effect my update patterns along with my social life. Sorry.
"Well, hello, little princess." A taunting voice rings out. My head spins around, but all I can see is black. I try to move but my wrists and ankles must be bound and I think I might be tied to a wall. "Your little boyfriend is certainly very worried about you. he's called a complete Kingdom lock-down. But he'll never find you here. And soon, Panem will be mine and you and your little family will cease to exist. And you'll only have your little Prince-y to blame for that." the man lets out a chuckle. "Now, should we get started?"
I bolt awake, my fingers tightly clenched on the covers, dripping in sweat. It's just a dream. I stand up hesitantly and walk to the bathroom, showering off all remnants of the horrid dream. I lather myself and then dry my dripping body with a pristine white towel. As I step into my bedroom, I calm myself and feel at peace. And, naturally, that's the moment my prep team decide to bound in. I'm dressed in a vermilion red dress and matching kitten heels. My hair is pulled into a complex ponytail with little bubbles of hair over the scalp area. I'm given minimal make up and then sent down to the training hall. Not many people have already arrived when I get down, only the 2 from 1, and a couple others are there. As if noticing my presence, Glimmer and Cashmere spin around and snarl at me. They sashay over, and block me into a corner.
"Listen here, 2," Glimmer growls. "We don't like you and we want you to stop whatever you're doing to the prince."
"You don't stand a chance in this competition." Cashmere adds, with a flick of her hair. "One of us will win. And you don't want to be on our bad side. We could excile you to District 12, turn your mother into an avox, and whip your sister until she dies." My heart catches in my throat. They're outwardly threatening me, my Mum and my sister. "So, I'd be careful, if I were you." They flounce off again, laughing as if nothing had happened. I didn't question for a minute that these girls would be able to keep their promise and I decided that it would be best to fade into the background. More tributes began to drift into the hall, and soon I had Rue, Katniss and Madge with me. Atala lines us all up and a fanfare sounds. King Snow walks in and sits down, glaring down at us all. Atala continues as if the KING OF PANEM hadn't just entered.
"Today, ladies, we will be working on your curtsies and ballroom skills." We spend all morning learning how your leg folds to the floor, and how to bend your leg, and where your head goes. Then we're given a small lunch, to keep us petite and dress ready, probably, and the king just walks out...and is soon replaced by Prince Cato. Ugh. I deliberately blend into the background. As we accept a dance from our partner, I keep my curtsey small and my head up. Then as we dance, I add in a few wrong steps. Then, as we twirl, I stumble in my heels, not all an accident. Small, slightly noticeable, mistakes. We take to the lifts and Madge looks at me worriedly.
"Are you ok?" She whispers in my ear. "Something's been off about you all day." I shake my head, sighing and walk off as the elevator stops at my floor. That night I find sleep near impossible and escape to the roof, lying under the stars until 5am. I get 1 hour of sleep before being woken up by the rainbow people. Today, I'm dressed in an emerald green dress, that finishes in layers at my knees, the top finishing just above my bust and being held up by lace sleeves. My shoes are matching ballet slippers and my hair is down, straight. Today, in training, we are joined with the boys. I have to dance all day with Alfie. He's actually really bad ; it's lucky the heir is a Prince, because Panem isn't at risk of Alfie Addams anytime soon...or hopefully ever. There's a massive banquet at lunch, us all being sat in District order, meaning I'm sandwiched between Gloss, from 1, who keeps nudging my leg and smiling suggestively at me and Alfie who, no offence, eats like a pig. All I can say is that I hope, whoever I'm paired with, isn't/ isn't like Alfie. If so, I am a dead man...or woman, if you know what I mean. When we're eventually dismissed I am so relieved, I thought for a moment I was going to break down into tears of joy. Until I remembered where I was and how much closer I was getting to my impending doom. That night I lay awake, hearing Clara's screams echoing in my head. I escape to the roof again, this time with my quilt, falling asleep, eventually, under the stars.