*NEWLY EDITED FOR GRAMMAR AND SPELLING MARCH 2023.*
So, as of the last chapter, you met Miklisho Maccoll. Now, you're going to meet a few more of them in a more personal way. I'll tell you now, you will not meet many of the ones that I personally created, but a few of them are major, so you might meet some of them. On with the story…may the odds be ever in your favor…
Also, here's a list of what the districts do to help you see why the tributes are wearing what they are-
District 1- Makes specialty goods and luxury items.
District 2- Makes weapons and trains peacekeepers.
District 3- Works with electronics and technology.
District 4- Fishermen.
District 5- Work the labs with breeding and creating mutations(mutts)
.District 6- Medical workers.
District 7- Lumberjacks, Timber Workers, and Paper Makers.
District 8- Textiles, make peacekeepers uniforms.
District 9- Food Processing.
District 10- Work with livestock, and ranchers.
District 11- Agriculture, farmers.
District 12- Coal miners.
District 13- Nuclear Power and Weapons.
Chapter 7: Meeting the Capitol
I had been in the Capitol for 10 minutes when the chaos started. First, Marcus banged loudly on my door, yelling at me that I was a cheater. Artemis and my parents showed up, and just like I predicted, Marcus was a tattletale that sold me out.
"There was a white-haired boy helping her with her bag. She got here first by cheating!" He screeched.
"Marcus, do you see any white-haired boy here? I won this fair and square. I think that alcohol you drank went straight to your brain," I reply, steering the conversation away from my cheating.
Artemis scolds Marcus for drinking, and I invite my parents into my room for a chat, without Marcus and Artemis. My parents step in and close the door, locking it behind them.
"I never knew being a mentor would be this much work," My mom whines.
"Our mentors always made it look so easy, "My dad adds. I jump onto my bed, sprawling out like I do at home.
"Now, we need to get you and Marcus down to the prep station. You have to get prepared for the parade," My dad states, getting back to business. He took a small break, and now he's right back where he was a half hour ago.
I stand up from my bed and my parents lead me across the hall to Marcus's room. He sits like a petulant child, arms crossed, in a chair by the window, staring at the brightness below.
"Marcus?" I singsong, my tone molasses sweet. "I didn't cheat, but if you want, you can take the prize," I say, batting my eyelashes.
Marcus shrugs, turning to me. "Fine," He says.
Artemis claps her thin little hands. "Yay! No arguments between tributes!" She trills.
Marcus and I look at each other and burst into laughter. My parents smile at each other and share a quick peck on the lips. Then I punch Marcus on the shoulder. He pushes me on the bed backward and I wrestle him. "Aw. That's how we started Cato," My mom says, all lovey-dovey. Marcus jumps off of me and I get up, straightening my clothes out. Neither of us know how to take the comment, it seems, but I can feel bile rolling up my throat.
"We need to get you two to your styling teams. Come on!" Artemis says, looking down at her watch. That's another thing about Artemis- she is always on time. She has always been on time for everything.
Marcus and I walk down the halls behind Artemis. Some other tributes are in the halls too. Particularly, Miklisho, Gilzira, and Jarrica.
"Oh. Come on, Gilzira. Don't be a wimp. Just take the pill. I promise it's wonderful, and it does wonders for your strength," Miklisho is sighing.
"I'm not taking anything from you. Not after this morning," Gilzira snaps.
"How dare you take advantage of us like that! "Jarrica is yelling. I tune them out and keep walking. Everyone we pass looks at me with wide eyes. I realize they are looking at my parents, who stand on either side of me, like bodyguards. We walk down about 3 floors of steps, and then we're turning down the hallway to the left, and we're in dressing rooms. A woman with aquamarine hair greets me, saying she's Melody, my stylist. A man named Austin greets Marcus. They both swear they are going to make us look perfect.
Our district makes weapons and trains Peacekeepers, which is the most mud-dull thing I can think of. We are probably going to look extremely boring, or if they have brains in their heads, we'll look like the most lethal little legends in Panem. I hope it's the second. Melody takes my hand and pulls me over to another room, where there are 3 more people, who I'm guessing are my prep team. They introduce themselves as Norlina, Octavia, and Flo. Octavia looks familiar to me. I recognize her as a member of Peeta and Katniss's prep team all those years ago. This woman looks exactly like her, with a few more creases maybe around the brows and lips. Melody has me take off my clothes and stand on a high metal platform. I do as she says, and then she's gone, leaving me with the other 3. I don't consider myself particularly pretty after a day of travel, so this going to take a while.
An hour later, I am still standing on the platform. My skin burns and my head throbs from how much I have held in my screams. I was told not to argue with them, and it makes it easier. It makes them like you more. My eyes are tearing up.
"One more honey, and then it's all over," Flo says, soothing me with her words.
"You're doing wonderful, dearest," Norlina adds
. I feel them apply the sticky substance to my upper left leg, and then I feel the quick ripping sensation from my spine to my toes. I moan a little, stifling something more.
"Perfect," Octavia breathes. She hands me a black silk robe, and I slip that on as quickly as she hands it to me. I run over to my makeup bag, which my parents insisted had some stuff incorporated. I pull out my bottle of pain reliever.
"Is it alright if I take one?" I ask Octavia.
"Sure. Go right ahead. I'm sure your head is pounding." I nod my head soundlessly. It hurts more. So I pop the pill and take a sip of water from a cup Flo hands me. I sit down and make some small talk with my prep team. They ask me about home, and about if Marcus is my boyfriend. I barely say anything, and I wait until Melody comes back. It seems like I'm waiting an eternity.
She walks in and orders my prep team to step away from me. She turns my chair around to the vanity, and then I have my robe off me, and Melody is brushing my hair. She is making it so easy to shut up and pretend I'm not there, though I cover my breasts instinctively. My hair is tugged and pulled and I look into the mirror, seeing that they are adding red streaks to it. "Don't worry. They're clip on's. But they look real right?" Norlina giggles.
I nod and Octavia pulls my dark brown hair into a very high ponytail. She fastens in a sparkly black clip on top of it, making my hair shimmer even more than usual. She paints my nails black, and then she adds glitter over them too. I am sparkly enough to black out the sun, I swear. Flo and Norlina start giggling. I close my eyes and Octavia leads me over to the platform again. I stand up on it and feel something coming over my head. Then I am pulling something onto my legs. Something is snapping tight around my ankles and up to my knees. I'm back at the vanity to get my makeup done, trying to pretend I'm not there. I'm back in 2. I'm in 12. I'm soaring high in the clouds like a bird. They add some shimmery gold eye shadow and thick black eyeliner to my eyes. It's sticky and hard to close my eyes. I get used to the feeling of it. My eyelashes are 100 times thicker with my mascara and theirs, and then my lips are coated with so many shades of red lipstick my lips might just stick together like glue.
Then they let me look at myself in the mirror at my entire outfit. From the neck up, I look like me, minus the high arching eyebrows they've drawn using mine. And from the neck down I look like a warrior princess. My top has a lime green tight shirt that looks awesome. Over that is a black leather jacket. And from my waist down I am wearing a really sexy pair of tight, leather-like pants. But they don't limit my movement like leather does.
"What are these pants?" I ask.
"Nylon leggings with the leather feel and look, but they won't make it hard to move," Flo answers. I think about that for a second. Usually, tributes from our district look horrendous in their parade outfits. They usually wear Peacekeeper uniforms or wear regular clothes and hold a weapon. But…this is just perfect. I look stunning, yet still perfectly vicious and aggressive.
"Time to gooooo!" Artemis comes in, and then she just stares. I must look even better to her. She purses her lips in the mirror, not saying anything, but giving a curt nod and disappearing. I twirl around and realize I'm not wearing shoes. "Put on the shoes you were wearing before," Melody says. I pick up the shoes and slip them on. I feel complete now.
I walk out of my dressing room, and I find Marcus standing against the wall, hands laced behind his head. He pouts his lips and I admit, he looks like a model from a store that used to exist, called Abercrombie and Fitch. And before you ask, yes, Artemis's great great grandparents founded it, and it was really popular and chic, just like Artemis.
"You like?" Marcus asks, showing off the muscles in his forearms and making me wobble in my shoes. He looks so hot right now. I feel the blood rush to my face. No. I can't have feelings for Marcus. I am going to kill him viciously. I am in love with Luke. Luke is my true love. "You look good," I say.
Marcus is wearing a white t-shirt that looks a little tight on him, but I know that Austin made it that way to make him look strong. He's wearing a leather jacket over the shirt and a pair of black jeans. I realize that he is also wearing makeup. His eyes have thick lines around them and his lips look shinier.
"Are you wearing lip gloss?" I laugh.
"Yeah. So are you!" He responds.
"Fair….but they beat boys for that back home."
"Yeah, and you're working on getting a beating right here!"
Before I can lunge at him, my dad steps in between us, pushing firmly on our chests. I feel the breath hiss from my lungs, suddenly.
"Both of you stop this right now! You have a parade to appear in," My mom says sternly. We both straighten up and walk out of the room and where all the other tributes are.
We go and stand with the other Career tributes. I make note of each one. Miklisho, Silke, Allen, Gilzira, Micheal, and MaryAnn. We quickly establish that I am the leader, as I am the only one whose parents are menacingly pacing in the background and looking just as leaderlike among their mentors. Miklisho is my co-captain, with Marcus as the third in command. We're discussing how we are totally going to be the top 8, when none other than Jarrica Vellics, the cannibal from District 5, shows up. I'm sure a sneer is plastered on my face, and it's hard to take a sneer off my face once it gets there. She speaks in a high-pitched, raspy voice. Like someone that's sucked helium out of a balloon.
"I'd like to be allied with you," She says quickly.
Maryann turns to Micheal, who rolls his eyes at Gilzira, who shrugs and looks at Allen, who looks at Marcus who looks at Miklisho who looks at me.
"No," I reply.
Nobody says anything. My word is as good as law here unless someone wants to be labeled as a problem to the rest of a group of kids trained to kill from the time they could walk. I loved my new power. Nobody will question me about anything, and bossing people around is sort of my specialty.
Jarrica glares at me, and I gesture for her to leave. As soon as she walks away, everyone's giving me high fives.
And then I look over to the other little groups of people. I see the lavender-haired escort from District 12, and I know that Luke is here somewhere. I go over to the woman and introduce myself. It never hurts to get familiar with other escorts. They can recommend you to their tributes and get you awesome allies if you want them.
"Hello," I say to her, not quite sure how to start this conversation. Effie Trinket is a legend in the Capitol, and she doesn't show her age despite being a known name for at least two decades.
"Hello there, young lady. My, my, I love your outfit! Who designed it?" She squeals.
"Octavia. She is a miracle worker," I reply with a smile. The cold career is gone, replaced by the bubbly socialite.
"Well, you look lovely darling! I'm Effie Trinket, District 12 escort. If you ever need to talk to me, please, feel free to approach me." She trills. I pretend this is new information to me.
"Actually, I was looking for Luke Mellark," I say, sounding a little desperate. She turns around and throws a little smile at me.
"I see. He's right over there," Effie says. "Don't dawdle too long. They'll be starting soon."
"Oh, no, ma'am. I wouldn't dream of it." I look over, and there's Luke, looking as wonderful as ever. I walk over to him, swinging my hips and getting in the mood. I'll have to fight hard not to start making out with him. His district partner is standing there too, so I decide on a brand new tactic. I'll act like this is my first time meeting him. I walk up and tap Luke lightly on the shoulder with the fingertip, smirking lazily. He turns around.
"Oh, hello, Elizabeth." He says.
I hope he'll play along. "Do I know you? I don't recall. I just wanted to come over and see if I could have a quick little chat with you before this parade started," I say, smiling. He knows I never smile. Maybe that will get him to play along.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I must have just remembered your Reaping. Of course. I was just thinking of coming over to you." His eyes are a bit narrower. He's trying to remain calm and cool.
"Well, look no further. Come over here with me."
I firmly pull him over with me to the chariots, where nobody is sitting yet.
"What was that about? You were acting like you didn't even know me," He says.
"Yeah, because I don't want Alice thinking we know each other. And I just wanted to say that I am the leader of the Careers, and I am officially inviting you to be my ally in this," I say.
"Well, I accept. And it's wonderful to see you too, honey," He says. He extends his hand. "I mean…completely new ally."
I shake his hand and then turn on my heel and walk away, back over to my pack. "He's one of us now," I say to them, pointing. They bob their hands and we keep talking about our strategy.
I give them everything that isn't one of my secrets. All the basic stuff. I will end up killing all these people, so I am not taking any chances telling them anything they could actually use. I'll lead them to their deaths eventually. Except for Luke. Luke and I would win together and become famous as not only the winners but also the multi-district lovers from Districts 12 and 2. "Time to go," Artemis says in my ear.
"Best of luck," I say to my Career friends.
Marcus and I walk with Artemis to our chariot. "What should we act like?" I ask her. "Just….act bored. Look like you're having the worst time in your life. Sneer at each other and look aggressive," Artemis says.
"That's not what you should do at all," My mom says bluntly.
"What you should do is look strong, but get them to like you. Like any other tribute," My father finishes, and Artemis throws her hands up and walks away. "Blow some kisses, maybe a little wave. Marcus, you should look bored out of your mind. Don't draw attention to yourself. You need to look like you're having a horrible time. It will make you stand out. And Elizabeth will be your opposite. Opposites are a mystery." My dad is explaining, my mom is nodding every once in a while. I trust them.
The chariot lurches forward. Marcus sits back and looks bored and relaxed, and I put on my smirk, getting ready to play up the crowd. "And out we go…" Marcus murmurs. "Out in 5….4…3…2…1."
And just when he finishes counting, we are out in the light of the Capitol. I smirk at them and blow kisses, making myself look adorable. I'm waving like a princess and looking strong like a warrior. I'm alternating, so the Capitol doesn't know what to expect from me. I act like a good friendly person. But the things I say in the interview will be classic District 2, slightly rude and not at all revealing. People will be falling all over themselves trying to give me things. And in a sense, give my allies things. The chariot stops and Marcus steps down, taking my hand. We are supposed to go to the stage, with the male tribute helping the female tribute. We've met the Capitol, now it's time to show we're cooler than everyone else in here.
We stand on the stage, where Caesar Flickerman, the host of the Games, will introduce us and talk a little about us and our districts. We don't need to do much, as this is not the full interview session. This is all about the facial expression and what you say with your actions, not your words.
And baby, I'm all action.
What did you think? Are you curious to find out what happens next? Review and send me a message and let me know your thoughts. Love hearing from you. May the odds be ever in your favor…