Chapter 4
'RISE AND SHINE!' Zelina exclaimed as she walked into my room.
'Zelina calm down, it's nine in the morning.'Hogan said
'The girl should be used to waking up at this time. I mean didn't she have to when working as a servant in her district.' Retton said.
'Enough Retton, just get to work. You aren't paid to insult the tributes' Angelo snapped at her.
'Fine.'Retton said as she walked towards me and yanked me out of bed before sitting me down at the vanity and started styling my hair.
Angelo walked out of the room and came back in seconds later with a beautiful two piece outfit.
'You are going to be the beauty of the sea. This outfit is designed as a mermaid tail.' Angelo said
The top was a bra with blue scales and beads dangling down the torso. It also inculded a blue and gold mermaid tail, My hair was styled wavy and had flowers in it. My makeup was blue with wing eyeliner and I kept my beaded braclet with three pearls on my right wrist.
'Take it off.' Retton said while glaring at my wrist.
'No.' I said, as soon as she muttered those words I threw my left hand over my wrist in defense.
' Retton.' Angelo said sternly. 'You should step out.',Retton let out a sigh and left the room.
'Sorry about her.'Zelina said
'She's been like this ever since her first game 7 years ago.' Hogan said sadly.
' What happened?' I asked
'She was really close with one of the tributes.' Hogan responded 'When he was killed she lost it. Every year after that she refuses to get close to tributes.'
'Oh...' I said quietly
'Don't take it personally, it's best if you leave it alone.' Angelo said as he pulled a changing screen out and sent me behind it with my mermaid tail and bra.
It was actually a lot harder to put on a mermaid tail, I may have fallen down more then once trying to get it on.
'How's it going in there?' Angelo asked
' Harder then I thought it would be.' I answered back before falling over again
' Dear God, You take too long. I'm coming in!' Angelo said as he walked around the curtain.
' Wait! No!' I shouted
'Honey, Don't worry I'm not from that district.' Angelo said causing me to go red in the face.
'That's reassuring.' I said as I felt the heat leave my cheeks.
'Hogan what time is it?' Zelina asked
'Almost 10:30.' He responded
' Good timing.' We have to be down stairs in half an hour.'Angelo said
My team was discussing out next move when my stomach growled.
'What was that?' Zelina asked
'My stomach...' I said while giving them the faintest smile.
'No one fed the poor child?' Hogan said as he rang the bell in my room and signled for an Avox to enter.
'Get this girl food pronto, she musn't be hungry before the parade!' Hogan said as soon as he finished the Avox scurried out of the room and towards the kitchen.
'It's fine, really' I said trying to calm down Hogan.
'No, no , no, no none of that!' Hogan said
The Avox ran into the room with a plate filled with food.
Sausage, Eggs, Toast, Potatoes, A glass of orange juice on the side...Anything you could ask for. Back in district 4 we were part of the wealthier districts but my father always made sure we never wasted what we had. He made sure we never ate everything in one sitting. It's funny knowing that the rules are different in the Capitol. The Avox placed the plate in front of me and all I could do was stare at it.
'I swear on President Snow, Olivia if you get food on that outfit you won't make it to the arena.'Angelo said with a sarcastic yet serious smile.
'Maybe I should get food on me then,I think the death you have planned for me is better then the one the Capitol has.' I said while I picked up a fork and slowly poked around at the food on my plate.
'It probably would be a lot faster.'Angelo joked
'Alright enough of this let's get 'The Beauty of the Sea.' to the chariots.' Zelina said
'Agreed.' Said Hogan I had a few more bites of my food before I was rushed to the Bathroom to brush my teeth and out the door towards the chariots.
Mags saw me and grabbed my hands and put them to her heart. I could see in her eyes she didn't want this for me, not even just for me even for Alec, the other tributes past and present, but there was nothing we could do.
- -
'You look lovely." I turned and faced Finnick
'Same thing you said yesterday.' I said and laughed
'Well I could change it up a bit and say Extravagant, but I can honestly say I prefer the normal you.' Finnick said, he slowly started approaching me. I turned my back to him to pet the horse and feed it some sugar cubes.
'I prefer the normal me too.' I said as I ran my finger slowly through the horses mane.
I felt Finnick close to my back, I could feel him breathing down my neck.
'What are my chances of surviving this?' I asked
'I've seen you around the district, I've seen you fish, at least we know you won't starve.' Finnick joked.
'At least that's a bright side.' I said while looking down at my nails again.
'That is a habit you have when yur nervous.' Finnick said I looked at him questioningly.
'You look at your nails.' Finnick said, I silently agreedwith him.
'3 minutes until tributes go out.' One of the stage hands said.
'You should probably get on.'Finnick said I nodded and tried to get on the chariot but to no avail.
'Here.' Finnick said as he picked me up by my waist and placed me on the Chariot.
'Thanks.' I said as I felt myself fluster.
'Your welcome... Beauty.' Finnick said before throwing a sugar cube into his mouth and walking off.
'How sweet.'I heard Alec's voice say with a disgusted tone.
I rolled my eyes as Alec Climbed onto the Chariot.
I took a moment to take in his appearance. He had a tail identical to mine and he had no shirt on, probably to show the Capitol he could be a sex symbol. Lastly he had a trident, it was a few inches taller then him but many inches taller then me.
'You know trying to climb into bed with our mentor won't save you. It'll just show people your a grade A slut.' Alec commented. I griped my hands on the handles of the chariot. My hands were turning white, I was trying to remain calm, I can't cause a scene in front of all of the other tributes.
'First I am not, and second I am not the one trying to sleep with all of the women of the Capitol. You're hoping that if you need assistance in the arena, they'll send you supplies.' I retaliated.
That shut him up and good because after that the chariot started to move and he grabbed my hand.
The first thing to hit me hadn't been the bright sun, but the cheers of thousands upon thousands on the Capitols citizens. Savages, cheering us onto our deaths. The first thing I thought to do was smile. Can't show the Captiol I hate them, I hopefully won't be needing their help in the arena, but just in case, Give them a show.
I raised my hand to wave and gave them the biggest smile I could fake, Alec grabbed my hand and threw our hands up together as if we didn't hate each others guts.
This went on for a few minutes before we came to a stop at the end of the path the first time in my life I was as close as I have ever wanted to be to President Snow.
'Good afternoon citizens of Panem. This year we are gathered for the 69th annual Hunger Games. One Boy and One girl from District 1 to 12 were chosen to compete between the ages of 12 and 18, How lucky are they?'Snow asked
The crowds cheered, it made me sick.
'It's a lively young group this year isn't it?'He asked, more cheers.
' Good luck to all of you, try your best and put on a great show.' Snow said.
'And may the odds be ever in your favor.' Snow said before raising a glass of wine to us and to the crowd and whom ever may be watching back in our districts.
The crowds continued to cheer even as we were led back the way we came.
- -
'They are sick." I said As Angelo and Finnick helped me off the chariot.
'We know.' Angelo and Finnick said in unison.
'You need to keep up the act though. Otherwise they may not help you when you need it most in the arena.' Finnick said sadly
' I understand.'I answered
The ride back up to our floor was short and sweet since we only had to share it with district three for two floors. After we arrived back I went to my room and quickly changed from my clothes and put on a night gown and a pair of slippers. It didn't take long before Bruno an Avox came to get me for dinner. The rest of the night was uneventful. We talked of how tomorrow for our first day of training would go. We'd wake up find our training gear, be taken to the tribute center, go to different stations. Repeat the same process for two to three days, then we'd have private sessions and get scored, and then interviews and then finally our deaths.