Chapter Six
"Hey sweetheart," Haymitch slurred, his breath thick with the smell of liquor. "I've never seen you before."
Effie had to fight to not let her disgust show. She had in fact seen him once before- on the stage during the Reaping since it was expected that all former victors participate in the ceremony. Clearly, he was too intoxicated to notice it was a different person this year.
"Nice to meet you, Mr Abernathy."
"Got some new tributes for me?" Haymitch said, turning his attention to the two sitting on the lush couch.
"Yes," Effie started, trying to maintain cordiality, "we have Iris Riverhorn and Cinder Fairsmith."
Haymitch hobbled over to the couch, the whole time being followed by the eyes of the two young tributes. They clearly didn't know how to take him in. They had no doubt seen him around before, as he had been the only victor from District 12 for almost 25 years and was dragged out every year for the Ceremony. This circumstance was very different though.
He sat opposite the young girl, and in what must have been an attempt at humour, asked, "So I assume you're Iris?"
The girl offered a meek nod as a response.
"Cinder?" Haymitch asked, turning to the boy.
"Yes sir," Cinder said.
"Sir!" Haymitch replied, still slurring. "Been a while since someone's called me sir."
The boy maintained eye contact with Haymitch, clearly unimpressed with what he was seeing. Who could really blame him, seeing as Haymitch was the one responsible for trying to keep him alive in the Games?
Effie suddenly felt a pang of rage towards Haymitch. No wonder the District 12 tributes stood no chance. Sure, they aren't as well looked after as some of the tributes from other districts, but who wants to deal with Haymitch to sponsor two kids who are probably going to lose anyway?
In that moment, Effie made the resolution to try and make up for Haymitch's lack of diplomacy. She would get these kids the sponsors they deserve, and maybe, possibly, bring one of them home.
After a long moment of silence, Haymitch finally spoke. "Well, I'm going to be your mentor for these Games. If there's any special skills I should know about, now is your time to tell me." He turned back to the boy. "You look big and strong."
The boy offered a slight nod. "I work at the butchers in town. My dad owned it."
Effie felt slightly hopeful- he was used to using big knives and was clearly strong to be able to break down meat. Maybe this year someone would win.
Haymitch, however, side-eyed the boy and then turned his attention back to the girl. "What about you, love?"
The girl, who looked to be about 90 pounds soaking wet, lifted her head and fixed her red, puffy eyes on Haymitch. "I don't know… I can't fish, or hunt, or lift heavy things! I can't do anything."
Effie's heart sank. Haymitch took another swig of whatever was in the glass he was holding.
"Well, I guess that's what training is for," he replied.
At that, Haymitch stood up and walked out of the room, leaving the two tributes and Effie behind, looking bewildered.
The boy, obviously frustrated by the day's events, walked out of the room, in the other direction. The girl started sobbing again. Effie wanted to comfort her, but she knew there was no use. She left the room as well.
At dinner that night, Effie did her best to make the Games sound exciting. She told them the plan for the next few days, about how they get the penthouse in the living quarters, about the parade the following evening. Even if the tributes were listening instead of stuffing their faces, she doubted it would have worked anyway.
Everyone went to bed after dinner, Effie included. Once she was in her room with the door safely shut behind her, she let all her emotion flood to the surface. She couldn't stop herself from crying. Every time she finally felt like it was coming to an end, it would just start up again. She knew it was ridiculous that she should feel like this when her life wasn't the one on the line, but unlike the tributes, she felt responsible for what was happening.
Eventually, the crying left her exhausted, and she closed her eyes for the rest of the night.
Breakfast didn't go much better than dinner, but it was good to see the tributes eating so much. The least she could hope for is that by eating more substantial and regular meals, they would gain some strength before being sent off to die.
Effie wasn't hungry, and just picked off the edges of the blueberry pancakes she had grabbed.
Despite feeling exhausted, she knew she couldn't let it show, and tried to talk to the tributes about the coming day's activities.
"We will be at the Capitol in just a couple of hours! Then we will hand you over to your stylists who will get you ready for tonight's parade."
Just when Effie thought the kids couldn't look any more unenthused, Haymitch walked in, still wearing the clothes from the day prior.
"Morning," he said cheerfully. The kids did not reciprocate the cheeriness. "What are you guys talking about?"
"The tribute parade," Effie muttered.
"Oh! Great opportunity to get sponsors."
The kids finally looked up from their meals. "Really?" Cinder asked.
"Sure. It's your first proper impression on the people of the Capitol. You want to make it count."
"How do we do that?" Iris asked shyly.
"Look brave," Haymitch replied. He turned his eyes to Cinder. "Look strong."
They both nodded.
After breakfast, Haymitch stayed talking to Cinder. They were talking about different types of weapons in the arena, and which ones were like the knives Cinder had experience with. Iris tried to tune in to the conversation but was clearly lost with all the technical talk. After a while, she walked out, and Haymitch and Cinder took no notice of her.
Effie felt her heart pounding. Haymitch had clearly already decided that Cinder was the more worthy competitor of the two. Effie would not let Iris be cast aside so easily.
Later, the team had lunch, and just as they were finishing the train pulled up to the platform at the Capitol.
There were hundreds of people waiting to get a glimpse of the tributes from District 12. Neither Cinder nor Iris stood up to go see them at the window.
"I know it's hard but go wave out the window. They'll love you," Effie encouraged.
Iris stood up first and went and put on her best fake smile. She was waving out the window when Cinder came and stood behind her, his lips a tight line, but still waving at the crowd. The audience outside were going wild.
They disembarked from the train into a carriage like the one back at 12, and after a while arrived outside the Tribute Centre.
A team of peacekeepers led the group off in different directions. Cinder and Iris were off to meet their stylists, while Haymitch and Effie were going to a function with other mentors and potential sponsors.
At the function, Effie did most of the talking, as Haymitch, despite having changed clothes since this morning, still looked dishevelled. He was talking more to the mentors, who were former victors themselves.
Effie tried to promote her tributes as best she could. All the sponsors she spoke to seemed to be more fixated on Cinder, as he clearly looked like the stronger of the pair. Effie made sure to vouch for Iris as well, and when the sponsors asked if she had any special talents, she said, "You'll have to wait and see!"
After a couple of hours, it was time for everyone to leave to get ready for the tribute parade.
Effie changed into a black ruffled-blouse and skirt, complete with orange tights and a yellow wig. Haymitch surprisingly scrubbed up well, wearing a green blazer and brown pants.
The two headed down to the parade and took their seats in the crowd. The parade started, with each group of tributes showing off their outfits based on the exports of their Districts.
She could see the older, more muscular tributes from Districts 1 and 2, decked out in sparkly gems and colourful fabric. Effie couldn't deny they looked spectacular, but immediately pushed that thought from her mind out of guilt.
She watched chariot after chariot of kids of varying ages in colourful and thoughtful outfits, until finally the last chariot, carrying her two tributes, appeared. Effie wasn't surprised by the costumes they were in, but she was disappointed. They were decked out in coal miner's outfits, complete with white hard hats, and what appeared to be black dust smeared on their faces and clothes. Compared to the other tributes, they looked utterly boring.
They smiled and waved the whole way down the parade line, until the end when President Snow spoke. He creeped Effie out, but she didn't let it show on her face.
When the parade was finally over, and everyone was reunited at the Tribute Centre, Effie congratulated them on a fantastic job.
"Thank-you," Iris said, with a smile still on her face. It was the first time in two days that Effie hadn't seen her crying.
They went up to the top floor of the Tribute Centre and Effie watched as the kids' faces lit up when they entered the room. Even Effie was impressed, clearly the train was just a taster of what life would be like for these two until they had to go to the arena.
They ate dinner, with Iris and Cinder gorging themselves, starving after a long day. They went back for seconds, and then thirds. Afterwards they sat holding their bellies, probably trying to keep it all in.
After dinner, Effie wished them a goodnight, congratulated them again, and reminded them to be up early for their first day of training.
Despite them seeming underwhelming compared to some of the other tributes, for the first time in two days, Effie let herself feel hopeful that at least one of these two would survive.