First off, I am so sorry if my last chapter was disappointing. I was in a little of a rush, but this time, I am taking my time, and I am not going to make any mistakes in spelling, spacing, grammar, or font. I hope that everyone likes this story so far. I am working hard on it. I thank the people that commented and sent me messages and reviewed. By the way, if you reviewed before, my story somehow had gotten deleted, so I had to upload the story again, without the reviews. So you'll have to review up some new ones to replace the old ones. And I beg you; bear with me, because I am going to get this story into high gear and extremely action-packed soon enough. You got a glimpse of the tributes from other districts, now you'll get to meet some of them in some higher detail possibly in this chapter and definitely in the next. And the ones I created are probably not going to be too involved, except for a few. Anyway, on to the story! Enjoy…
Chapter 6: The Capitol
*NEWLY UPDATED JANUARY 10, 2020*
I have never been to the Capitol in my life. Nor did my parents ever really describe it to me. So when we finally got to the Capitol, I was awestruck. I was completely blown away at how beautiful it was. And I thought my home was perfect. This was beyond perfect.
Let me fill you in on what happened before we got to the Capitol. We were told we'd be there in about a day or so. We sat there and discussed how weird everybody was, and then….well, Artemis came in and took us to dinner, where Marcus and I both stuffed ourselves. We couldn't get enough of this food. My parents smiled at each other, sharing a private memory. Artemis started scolding us on manners and not eating so piggishly, but my parents calmed her down. Turns out they had done the same thing. Marcus was pretty much back to normal. The alcohol must have gotten to his brain, because he was in full-blown tribute mode now, going over strategy with my dad. My dad agreed with him, even though I secretly knew both my parents weren't going to give him the same advice as me. They wanted me to win this thing. Not him. But my mom was giving him some subtle tips that I had been told when I was 3. They were old news, but Marcus seemed happy to get them. We continued to eat, and then at almost the exact same moment, Marcus and I jumped up from the table and headed to the bathrooms. We didn't even close the doors. We were puking like crazy. But the food was so worth it. It was better than anything I had ever eaten.
My mom came in and rubbed circles on my back. I barely noticed her touch. I was too busy thinking about Luke. He was on a train too, going to the Capitol to be put through the same routine I was- prepping, styling, parading, training, scoring, interviewing, and then finally, competing to the death. We would be together soon enough, but until we were, I would be getting sick after every meal and exerting so much effort from focusing on what everyone was saying I would go through a half a bottle of Aspirin in ½ a day. I had already taken 6 today. I made sure that they were non-drowsy. OK, fine, I switched my bottle for Marcus's. I would be staying awake and he'd be falling all over the place, sleeping like a baby. I was a sneaky person, and the stupid oaf wouldn't even bother to check the label. And just for giggles, I took a few pairs of his training shorts and traded them for mine. Let's see how that works out.
I told Artemis I was tired and she relented, letting me go back to my compartment. I immediately went to the bathroom, where I figured out how to turn on the shower and then I got crazy, pressing nearly all the buttons. The water was filled with all kinds of amazing fragrant shampoos and conditioners, and soon I felt relaxed. Every stress of the day is gone, and I am closing my eyes, enjoying the hum of the water on my already smooth skin and glossy hair. I turn off the water and step out, grabbing a towel and drying off. I pull on a tank top and my underwear and I glide over to my bed. I slip my body under the sheets and blankets. Then I close my eyes and dream.
I can see Luke and me together in the Arena but through someone else's eyes. I can almost imagine Marcus sleeping and me supposedly on guard duty. Luke stays awake too. We kiss gently, again and again, calming ourselves. We're forgetting our troubles. I look gentler, smaller here. Then this amazing vision turns into a nightmare. I see Miklisho sneak over to our cave. Luke and I have our eyes shut, and Miklisho comes into the cave. The person whose eyes I am using doesn't stop him. He pulls out a sword and slashes it into Luke. He moans and falls to the ground. A cannon sounds off in the distance. I look down at him, crying over his body. Miklisho aims at me, and I lean down into Luke. He stabs into me and I fall flat on my back next to Luke. But that isn't me. It's Alice Dawson, the girl from District 12. Luke was kissing her. And I am seeing through my own eyes. I go over to the bodies, and pull out a lighter, igniting both of them. I join Miklisho and he leans into me. I wrap my arms around his neck….
I wake up in a cold sweat. That was so horrible. I didn't need to see the rest to know what would happen next. I get out of bed when someone knocks on my door. "Hold on a second," I say. Marcus walks right in, ignoring the fact that I have no pants on. Too late to put them on now I guess.
"Wow, nice ass." He says, looking at me. I don't know how to respond to that.
"Get out you pervert!" I shriek. I push him out and slam the door in his face. Then I sigh in relief.
I pull on a pair of black denim short shorts over red leggings, a red camisole under a purple cardigan. Then I pull on a pair of ankle stiletto boots. Let Marcus talk about my butt in these, I think to myself. You may be wondering why I am dressing so…..inappropriately. Here's the thing- my parents don't care what I wear, as long as it's somewhat weather appropriate. It's late November now, and it's easily only 50 degrees outside. So I wear warm leggings under really short shorts. And a thin camisole, under a cashmere cardigan sweater, is considered appropriate too. The boots I can wear anytime I want. I know we are going to be in the Capitol today, so I am wearing something cool. To top it off, I redo my nails with purple nail polish and slip on the fingerless gloves. They'll be my signature thing from now on. Then I pull my hair up into a high ponytail. I don't have pierced ears, but I find a small box full of awesome clip-on earrings in my makeup bag. I decide on a pair of dangly black ones that look like crystals. Then I add on black eyeliner, mascara, a light pink blush, a thin layer of black eye shadow, and then a dark purple over that. I look at myself in the mirror. Then I add some red lip gloss. Now I look dangerous. Intimidating. Threatening. Marcus will have a heart attack when he sees this. Artemis probably will too. My mom will be praising me on yet another wonderful arrangement, and my dad will say...probably nothing. He never understood clothes. Yes, I know my parents pretty well.
I stride out of my room and down the hall, my heels click-clacking and the waiters parting to let me by. I feel like a popular girl in a high school. That reminds me that I'm missing school. Bonus! Anyway, I seat myself in between Artemis and my dad, giving Marcus a clear view of me no matter where he looks at our circular table.
"Well, good morning to you." My dad says, giving me a once-over and a thumbs up. "You sleep well?"
I nudge his shoulder playfully. My mom throws a fork at him. Dad rolls his eyes.
"Well, aren't you getting into the mood?" Artemis says, giggling behind her hand.
"We'll be in the Capitol soon. I need to show the people I am ready to compete. Ready to make them love me." I say back, trying to make myself look even more menacing.
"It would be a little better with black lipstick." She replies. Then she goes back to her breakfast pill. Artemis never eats anything. She'll drink a cup of coffee and take a pill that supposedly has no calories, no preservatives, no sugar, no sodium, and makes you full for 4 hours. Then she takes the same pill for lunch and dinner and drinks something other than coffee. That would be why she weighs about the same amount as me. And she's 10 years older than me.
Marcus is facing the windows, and he jumps up from his seat. "Oh my God!" He exclaims. He runs to the window behind me and gapes out. I stand up and wobbly walk over to him in my boots. They are far too high for me, I realize. What Marcus and I see out the window has to be the Capitol. It's too beautiful to be anything else. Stunning white buildings, perfect roads with about 1000 people walking up and down the streets and riding in cars meet our sight. In our District and most others, only the wealthiest of people have cars. My family has one, but I know Marcus has barely ever seen a car in his life.
The train rattles to a stop, and we go to our compartments to collect our bags. Mine is heavy, and with the combination of the bag and my shoes, I can barely walk. A nice blond Avox takes my bag, and I offer up a genuine smile. I was told never speak to an Avox unless you're giving them an order. Avox's are criminals, and to punish them, the Capitol cuts their tongue out of their mouth, denying them the power to speak. They usually are on the trains, catering to a tribute in their every need. And this one is like all of them. He smiles back at me, and then it flickers off when Artemis comes over at me and scolds me, saying I am not supposed to acknowledge them at all. She leads me off the train and into the view of the cameras. Again, I play bored and look annoyed, maybe tossing the occasional smirk out. The camera people let me by as I shove them all off out of my direction. Once out of their sight, my dad takes my bag from the Avox boy and hands it to me. Marcus has his bag thrust into his arms. "What….the heck…" I say in between breaths. "You two need to build up some strength. You're carrying your bags, and you're taking the stairs to your rooms, which are on the 22nd floor."My dad says, a wicked smirk on his face. Marcus and I groan simultaneously. "The first one up gets to sleep until 8 tomorrow instead of 6."My mom coaxes. I start walking as fast as I can. Marcus is behind me. I swear that boy has more packed then I do. It's probably haircare products. We get inside the Training Center, which will be our gym/home/prison for the next week. Great! I am spending a week here. With Marcus. In training. Where he'll kill me. But… Luke will be here too. All of the tributes will. Now is the real opportunity to spy on people. And to have some fun messing with people that won't fight back. And make my master plan commence. Let the Games begin.
Marcus is still far behind me when I get to the 10th floor. I am struggling to carry my bag. Something brushed up against me, and I think its Marcus. "Quick, give me your bag."
I hear a new voice. It's male, and I have heard it before, but not in person. I can't turn to see who it is. "My hands are ready. Quick, hand it over, and then run as fast as you can. I want you to win this. That bozo needs to learn some humility." The boy exclaims. I pass my bag to my left, and I feel it get pulled out of my grasp. The boy pounds up the stairs and I run after him. I see his white hair in a blur. Oh. My. God. Miklisho Maccoll is carrying my bag for me. I rush up the stairs double time, wanting to get there to have an actual good conversation with him. I ignore my nightmare, figuring it's just because I've put an impression of him in my mind. I pound and pound and pound and soon I am on the 22nd floor. I walk through the hallway, aware of the fact that Marcus is at least 10 floors below me. I see Miklisho sitting on my bag in front of a door. I walk up to him. "Thank you." I murmur, making my voice as seductive as I can. I need practice for when I'm talking to Luke. "Oh. It's no trouble. I hate it when older boys make idiots out of younger girls." Miklisho replies. "It's not that fun." I agree. "You know, I can make you feel very good." He says. This is what I was hoping for. My seduction is working.
"Oh. Really?" I say, flirting with my lips and tongue, biting down slightly on my tongue. "You aren't one of those... older boys?"
"No. Of course not. I could be the best boyfriend you'd ever have." He says matter of factly.
"I'm not in the mood for a boyfriend. I recently had a devastating breakup," I lie.
"That's cool. I understand. My bed is always open for you; if you want it. I can make you feel better," He says.
Now I understand Miklisho. He's a nasty little flirt. He says he hates it when younger girls are abused by older boys. A girl falls for that and goes to sleep in his bed, and he abuses her the same way he said he hated. I suddenly don't find him so cute anymore.
I grab my bag and walk into my room with a casual, "You should leave. Marcus is a tattletale. If you want me to win, you have to be gone when he and my mentors get here. And then I'll make an excuse." I say. I throw out a smirk and walk inside. I can hear Miklisho still.
"She'll be with me by tomorrow." He says. Too bad I'm not doing anything with him. It's too bad I'll be the one to kill him in the Arena.
So, what did you think? Did I do a good job? Am I still a good writer? And please, review so I can know what you're thinking. I promise, I'll write the next chapter soon and it will be published soon too. Thanks again to everyone who reads this, and reviews and writes me messages. It makes me happy and helps me write faster. Delicious Love (remember earlier in the story when Elizabeth said that?), MrsLukeCastellan. PS. May the odds be ever in your favor.