Prologue 5: The Escorts

Trigger Warnings: Some details in cutting, suicide attempt, eating disorder (Bulimia and Anorexia)

~She took him faster than you could say sabotage
I never saw it coming, nor would I have suspected it
I underestimated just who I was dealing with
She had to know the pain was beating on me like a drum
She underestimated just who she was stealing from~

Karou Samptons (30), District 1 Escort

Karou Samptons glanced at the white skyscrapers in the window. She could hear the buzz of excitement that the Hunger Games were near and she could hardly hold her excitement that it was finally arriving once again. It would have been ten years since the Dark Days ended and she would rather not think about.

"Karou, have you thought about what outfit you're choosing for the reapings?" Her sister, Clarissa asked with excitement lacing her tone which Karou smiled at her sister's enthusiasm. Her usual bubblegum pink hair was dyed into a dark blue that almost looked like a blueberry. Her dark skin was coated with blue markings all over her arms, legs and stomach from what what she could see.

Karou frowned as she thought back to the time where she went shopping to gather more clothes that everyone would fawn about. Sadly, she couldn't remember if she even thought about the dress much less buy one. It must have slipped her mind and with the engagement party about her friend's marriage could conceivably be the reason, but Karou could be wrong. She was always wrong with a low IQ but it didn't matter if she had a low IQ or not; she was from the amazing Capitol with all its high-tech technology that continued to amaze her. She replied in a charming manner, "I think I must've forgotten about the reapings, dear sister… Perhaps you want to help me in finding an outfit that would exceed the expectations of the district?"

"Which district are you going to?" asked Clarissa, her silver eyes shining with excitement of the word dress and possibly shopping. Clarissa loved shopping, but Karou didn't find it to be the centre of her entire world; she just simply enjoyed getting new stuff.

"One."

"Come on, sis… We must find you a perfect outfit that is much better than district one's outfits," cried Clarissa. Karou trailed behind her precious sister and couldn't contain the grin that managed to find its way on her pale features. Karou wasn't inevitably the one that would have been close to her sister, but it wasn't until after the rebellion where her ties with her family broke. She was obviously a loyalist and supported the Capitol no matter what.

"How many years has it been since you signed up to be an escort, Karou? I keep forgetting and besides… Ooh, a shiny transparent blue dress that would match greatly with your eyes. Also, it would be excellent for Maeve's bachelorette party taking place right after the Hunger Games started if I recall correctly," Clarissa squeaked in a high pitch voice. Karou didn't listen to what she said right after when she stated when she signed up to be an escort. It would have been two or three years, she thought to herself. Karou could remember when she obtained the letter informing her that she would be an escort to District one after the last one died so severely in a freak accident.

Suddenly, Karou gasped as her eyes landed on a familiar person. Her hand reactively gone to her neck to find the absent chain necklace with the silver heart attached to it. A necklace she wore for a few years before Claudio called off their engagement as she was an insufferable dame that couldn't stop trusting others. Oh how much she had been a fool then, thinking that Claudio had been her endgame but he wasn't. A stupid fool indeed. Karou managed to get her revenge on him in which she still giggled about. Karou was about twenty-four at the time in which she came home from collecting a bouquet of lavenders and purple peonies for Claudio. Claudio still had his beard that was hopelessly romantic for her and she simply had a thing for a mousy beard that wasn't too long. His hair was platinum blonde that looked practically silver in the sunlight with matching skin that didn't had the Capitol's offerings of different skin colours that ranged from vibrant to dark. His ice-blue eyes always seemed to be the centre of the world and she found herself wishing that he would simply marry her. Everything just seemed so perfect until it headed into ruins. Karou walked into her dark penthouse with all the lights turned off and the flat screen turned off also. Of course it would be, her modeling gig had taken forever and it was already past midnight by the time she walked into her penthouse with the smell of raspberries and chocolate filling the air. It simply made her mouth water at the sweet smell.

She tossed her purse on the white couch right next to the door and walked sleepily towards her room to finally call it a day. Her eyes was already strained enough as it was and she was too tired of actually getting her glasses all the way across the room. She kicked off her black flats that she was grateful she brought earlier instead of being in killing high-heels that she had like ten pairs in her walk-in closet.

She head quiet, hurried whispering coming from her bedroom in which she was curious as that usually isn't good. From what she heard at Ferro's was that always be curious when you heard some weird sound coming from a bedroom. Never in a million years where Karou imagined that it would happen to her. She didn't believe in paranormal activity, and she needed proof to jump to conclusions. Everything just seemed weird already.

"Claudio, honey, is that you?" inquired Karou in a serious tone. Her silver eyes blinking rapidly as she swiped her hand to get the lights on. What she was, made her one grab a knife kill both of them, two wish she killed herself or three, Someone resurrected them once she killed them in a slow painful death and than kill them again. A strange girl with purple hair with red streaks in it with faded blue skin sat in the bed with her large onyx eyes staring wide, as she covered herself up hastily to cover her half-naked body.

"Kar, it's not what it looks like-" started Claudio before Karou interrupted his explanation.

"Save it. You have two seconds to get out of my face and have one day to remove your stuff out of my apartment before I throw it down the shoot." That was her last words before he left her alone. She felt ecstatic almost. She couldn't believe she fell in love with him.

"Shit," muttered Karou as she stared at the familiar pale features of Claudio, someone she had not seen for a few years as she was too busy with her modeling career to actually care. Her days now varied from noon to nine at night maybe midnight for the shows so she really had no time to actually explore the Capitol even though she wasn't the one that liked being outside underneath the hot rays of the sun, the massive crowds that often littered the streets all wearing flamboyant clothes that made them unrealistic; she shouldn't be talking as she did change her eye colour to dark brown to silver and dark, hispanic afro hair into an unnatural red colour that looked like a fire on her head and was left with a few curls in her hair. "Of all the things he has to be here. Having a bad reputation among the Capitol women didn't mortify him enough to actually show his face at the mall."

"Ignore him or I could turn off the lights and dress him up as a rebel so he could be avoxed for being a traitor to the Capitol?" suggested Clarissa her tone taking a protective tone. Sometimes, Karou envied of how protective Clarissa could be to her friends and family while Karou would just be in the back, not wanting to save a bullet for either of them.

"Shut it Clare," hissed Karou. Karou didn't want to see her to get hurt, as she was her last family member. The rest of the family died during the rebellion when the days never brought the bright, warm sun in which it was just filled with miserable, hopeless, murky water of endless grey clouds. Their family died during one of the bombings at the shopping mall near the boundary of the Capitol where a bomb was placed inside the building and exploded leaving countless people dying in the smoke and the explosion. "You don't want to be avoxed do you?"

"Well no, but at least it makes you happy so you don't have those panic attacks whenever you see a picture of him."

"Very funny," said Karou dryly. She took off one of her black high heels with the heel pointed in the front and aimed hitting Claudio when he approached slowly. It hit him straight onto the bottom of his right eyelid, so he cried out in pain when the heel struck him. She felt a giggle coming out of throat and let it escape drawing more of a scene. Whatever… It wasn't like she cared or anything, escorting and modeling was more important and besides at least she was able to sleep peacefully hopefully during the nights.

~I'm looking for a place
I'm searching for a face
Is anybody here I know
Cause nothing's going right
And everything's a mess
And no one likes to be alone~

Theodore Avis (25), District 2 Escort

Theodore propelled himself towards the edge of the pool where Magnus was waiting, holding up a timer in his dark hand. HIs dark lips was parted with a smile on his face as Theodore swam towards the other end of the pool.

He soon reached the white wall. Carefully removing his soaked, black goggles away from his face he saw Magnus holding hands with his boyfriend-Chase. Chase probably just shown up with his groomed appearance of his short, blonde hair slicked back with two black earrings with a single red rose on each ear. Chase was from the upper district of the Capitol where all the actors/actresses lived including the President, herself.

"Chase what a big surprise. Usually you hate going to the gym with us," said Theodore in a composed voice. He brushed away a piece of his mousey lock of hair to get out of his face. For as long as he knew Chase (which wasn't long seeing of how he knew two months ago), he usually liked going to the cinema to watch the latest film or attend a party that was filled with countless people, of which it would probably give Theodore an anxiety attack. Theodore was unable to talk to people, being afraid that he was wrong, and mortified if anyone found about what he was dealing with. He just didn't want to be judged, and being an escort was almost a nightmare. It somehow soothed him that it would only last for a few weeks where he would only interact with only a few people at a time and not like a dozen. "What made you want to come?"

Chase grinned for a few seconds before leaning in to peck Magnus on the cheek. It was strange of how Chase accepted his sexuality so smoothly and wasn't the one that would hide it underneath layers and layers. Not freaking out if anyone found out his sexuality. Sometimes, Theodore felt ashamed of himself as he was probably the oddball in the relationship with him being bisexual, and all with Magnus, gay as hell so was Chase. Don't forget the one-sided love that Theodore had with Magnus in which it just made him hard. "What I can't surprise my boyfriend?" asked Chase with an amused glint in his violet eyes.

"Very funny," deadpanned Magnus. "Was there a date I completely forgot about? Or did Admit One is now in cinemas that I wasn't aware of." His voice went to a higher octave instead of his low, shy voice.

"I got a surprise for you."

Magnus grinned almost in a cheshire cat kind of way and seemed to put a jump into his steps as he followed the pristine Chase out of the gym, leaving a soaking, chilled Theodore in their wake. A small lump almost like a boulder dropped into his stomach leaving him with an uneasy feeling. It wasn't like Theodore minded that Chase stole Magnus for a few hours every couple of days, usually to go to the cinemas or play laser tag or at least, he assumed that was the case. He couldn't but feel like he was just abandoned and he didn't have a friend anymore. Hundreds of thoughts raced through his head. What if Magnus would simply not remember him in two days, week, months? What if they stopped talking to each other tomorrow? What if Magnus moved out and simply moved onto his life? Certainly, he didn't need almost a clinging friend that held onto their friendship with a tight first, afraid that if he let go everything would be different. Usually when Magnus brought home a new boyfriend, they were just almost the boring ones that didn't bring any joy to his life. Now, he often spent his nights panicking if whether or not Theodore should express his feelings to him, but everything could be worse.

Blood started rushing to his head so quickly, the world had started to spin every time he cocked his head to the side to hopefully see the plain white walls that was filled with very few achievements of the amazing Capitol's swim team achieved throughout the years, but that was before the districts even started to rebel against the Capitol. It used to soothe him of that was what he was doing. Only fighting to be on the swimming team that disintegrated quickly soon after the Dark Days. Fragments remained, but no one participated in the practically abandoned swimming pool. Now, it just seemed like he couldn't do heart was beating so quickly that he was sure everyone would hear from a mile away. The water practically drowned him as it lapped over him repeatedly as he just stood there. I could do it…

I can't…

Everything just seems so impossible especially breathing. It felt like he wasn't getting enough air in them to breathe properly. The world just seem to whirl around him almost like a hurricane and he was trapped outside with nowhere to go. The winds almost seem to pick him up and throw him onto the ground, possibly breaking every bone in his body and ding instantly. Right now death just seem merciful.

Theodore clenched his eyes shut, almost forcing himself to stop breathing for all eternity until his lungs screamed to contract. He did this until he felt his heartbeat settle down into the rhythm of the composed beat and his lungs weren't bringing in so much air into his body as if it needed it. Theodore couldn't remember the last time he had an anxiety attack and it usually didn't help if he was alone in the swimming pool, with no one to help with him. It was like Theodore was just going to be alone all his life, if he had to admit. He still couldn't get those thoughts that Magnus was abandoning him for his boyfriend.

Right down it almost felt like he should go talk to a therapist, but that idea made his heart rate pick up just a tad bit. Talking wasn't one of his strengths as it always seemed like every time he spoke, it seemed that either no one was going to listen to him or what he says is wrong. He just didn't want anyone to judge him on his weak social skills. He could only manage talking to either one or two people at a time, but a different topic that didn't linger on him for too long. A worse nightmare…

It almost made Theodore regret signing up to be an escort for hoping that it could make his social skills improve instead of freaking out that he would mess something up, or he was unable to say something properly that people would judge. Now that he thought it about it, he'd been a fool almost thinking that it would help. Stupid. Right now he just wanted to lay in his cozy bed and sip a mug of hot chocolate with plenty of marshmallows on top and not get up for all eternity. It just seemed like his best bet of not moving for all eternity.

Gosh, why did he do this to himself? He was going to mess something up, maybe his outfit (in which he hasn't found one yet as if he could wear just a loose, maroon long sleeve top and black sweatpants) or his speech that he hadn't even rehearse not once. I seemed like everything was doomed to be messed up on.

~Empty thoughts start to crowd my mind

Am I only living to survive

Shake it off but I've lost the drive

Just let me be, Just let me be~

Reyna Candon (23), District 3 Escort

Reyna stared at the black ceiling with stars plastered across the ceiling; it seemed like a good idea at the time before the darkness creeped into her like some childhood monster that would just be with her every single second every day. At night, it was worse as the grime monster whispered chilling things to her, "No one likes you." or "You should kill yourself to make everyone happy including yourself." It made her even worse than what she already was feeling.

Reyna just felt constantly tired, and never having an appetite which would explain her skinny, petite figure. Her clothes hung loose on her and she never cared what kind of outfit she wore as what was the point; she wasn't pretty nor was popular enough, to have people care about her. Everyone simply abandoned her, mostly for not believing that she just felt like utterly crap, unable to swim up to the surface.

Some days, it felt like she was fine and she wasn't suffering from depression while most times, she just wished she no longer existed. It felt like she was a teenager again with hormones constantly going crazy every second. Like it was all in her head and that it would simply go away, if Reyna went outside more to smell the fresh air as if it that done her good. As if it was her fault that she suffered from depression, and it would simply go away with a magical swish from a wand.

My fault.

My fault.

My fault for having depression. My fault for being born. My fault for everything.

Everything just seemed like it was Reyna's fault. Holding up her tan right forearm where countless scars- some that we were fresh and some that seemed to be a few years old against the light coming from the window. She felt the urge to grab one of her razors in her nightstand to see the crimson blood cover her arm almost in a masterpiece of a way. This was just another battle she had lost, and Reyna didn't want to cover up those scars no matter how hideous they might seem on her wrists. She couldn't remember the last time she felt the sharp pain whenever the razor broke open her skin with blood spilling everywhere.

Reyna was only surprised about one thing: she hadn't killed herself in over two months. She knew that didn't make her stronger as her friends before they abandoned her, walked in right before she lost consciousness with her wrists slashed with blood dripping onto the floor. Apparently, they didn't want her to die just yet. It wouldn't better, all she was-was someone everyone left alone forever. She was doomed to be alone forever. Course, who would want a freak like her?

Reyna slowly got up from her comfy bed that had very few pillows on it, almost wincing as her muscles popped relieving her of the stiffness that it brought her. Didn't matter, it wasn't like she cared. Her blue eyes stared down at the white plush floor where blood still lingered almost bringing her into a faint memory of how much she thought people would care for her. Apparently, they only cared enough when something bad happened to her in which they treated her like a porcelain doll that would break if enough force was brought to it.

She already knew the day was going to suck anyways. Everyday it sucked becasue no one simply cared enough to actually get her out of her isolation of an apartment since she was half-lazy to even find herself a job in the lower-class of the Capitol where most of the people worked either as a seamstress or whatever job what they wanted. Jobs was boring and besides, she would most likely fail to even get one and would just act like a robot that only functioned with instructions. Even her books that used to bring her joy just simply was there for its own existence. No more imagining herself that one day she would be a princess carried off into the sunset with her prine. Those were the days before water filled in her head, drowning her in the process, leaving only a shell of a person whom she once known.

Trudging into the bathroom where countless pill bottles laid on the counter-half of them was to deal with her depression in the early days where she had assistance. The other half, however, was to deal with her insomnia where voices constantly whispered inside of her head. Looking into the dirty mirror that held handprints were noticeable and smudges of makeup lingered in the corners of the mirror. She didn't care if the mirror was dirty was it wasn't like she was expecting any company over whatsoever. Greasy teal hair hung loosely onto her tan, dead look. Dark circles lingered underneath her dark eyes and her dark lips were chapped and dried. It made her seem like she was a skeleton.

No wonder she truly despised looking at the mirror. It made her even more ugly than before, and made her feel even worse about herself. No amount of makeup could erase everything she hated about herself. She would most likely would feel more outcasted in the Capitol, where she didn't care of the the high-tech of what the Capitol provided. It was just all fake, and erased everyone's identity into something different.

Reyna, honestly, couldn't believe what made her want to sign up to be an escort for the Hunger Games. Someone to finally be worth someone? So that she could feel comfortable in her own skin? To interact with people that she knew wouldn't judge her? What kind of escort cutted herself? Those were all plausible reasons that she wished she had, but she didn't know what made her do it. It seemed like a nightmare.

But there was one thing that Reyna knew she had to be, even though she felt worthless and depressed; she knew that she had to be the best escort there was even if it meant, concealing her depression and scars.

~All the shine of a thousand spotlights

All the stars we steal from the night sky

Will never be enough, never be enough~

Hades Jordan (35), District 4 Escort

Hades grinned as the beat went on, steady and even. It seemed that everything worked out for the best and that if this goes well, his band would be able to have a record deal. Irwin glanced at him briefly with happiness shining bright in his bronze eyes, his fingers stringing the red guitar slowly. He couldn't believe of how far they had truly came.

Coming from all different backgrounds seemed unique, and none of them had a musical background before. Hades been interested in music all his life, but never seemed interested in playing a musical instrument as his parents forbid him to during the time he was growing up as they suffered from migraines a lot so there was nothing Hades could do about that. He loved hearing the drumsticks beating against the drums, the strings of the guitars making different sounds. Sometimes a woodwind player, but that was just rare. Bands that people created in the Capitol, had little to no woodwind instruments so it almost made him dismayed sometimes as it was a cool thing to add in.

The song slowly came to an end with Dorian, the drummer, hit the last note of the song. The audience went mad in which Hades felt good about it. It felt to perfect almost besides skipping an 'a' flat on his flute, mistaking it for an 'a'. It almost seemed perfect, but nothing was perfect despite him not practicing last night.

"Oncore!" yelled someone from the crowd in which none of the band mates were unable to hide their grins from escaping. It just felt so good to be on a stage with a few people screaming about awesome it was and he had to agree. They were perfect, and probably didn't need much practice.

Hades exclaimed something in a chipper voice, "Thank you everyone. We'll see you next time!" The usual words, but Hades knew that it wasn't enough to get a record deal. Playing on the outskirts of the Capitol, favouring the poor instead of being in the midst of the shopping centres and crowds filled with the flamboyant kind of people.

"We did it…" said Irwin. "Again. Again and again."

"And not enough to get a record deal," added Jasmyne in a dismayed kind of voice. She was the only female in the band, playing on a trumpet. As a result, she had chapped lips as she never used chapstick to moisten them or so she said. Hades didn't know what to think, but it was true. He heard that many trumpet players received chap lips as a result in playing too often. "It's never enough, and frankly, I'm getting tired of these bitchy choices of locations instead of being where the popular spots… It's not like we're getting noticed, Hades." Her sweet, melodic voice held venom in it.

"Okay, fine. We'll do it tomorrow," stated Hades without any emotions in his voice. He was just afraid that people would think it wasn't good enough. This was his passion besides shopping. Shopping was always fun. Jasmyne's dark features twisted into a smile that seemed force, but Hades was all to used to fake smiles to even identify if it was forced or not.

"Good," said Jasmyne. Her dark skin briefly brushing next to pale white skin before she walked away with her dark blue boots that had heels attached to them, gently clicking onto the gray sidewalk. Dorian, Irwin and Hades made eye contact. Two pairs of identical emerald green eyes stared each other with the only one person had silver eyes and that was Hades, himself.

It almost seemed like it just wasn't enough for anyone to get attention. They simply existed, being in a house for hours at a time practicing for almost nothing. It just seemed odd knowing that, they simply existed for entertainment purposes only. Only some oddballs playing some music varying genres, depending on what they believed on.

Despite him being a musician, he also was an escort for various of reasons. Hades simply wanted to be popular in the district, wearing his green and blue outfit he found at the mall on sale too, and excited to be tributes' escort for this year's Hunger Games once more.

~You can't hide it

You can't fight what the truth is

You can pretty lie and say it's okay~

Lucia Bellows (33), District 5 Escort

Lucia held the tube of burgundy hair dye up to her client's fawn hair. The solution wasn't permanent, but that was how the client wanted it. It was for her daughter's 16th birthday. The theme was burgundy and silver for her client's daughter or so she said. Lucia didn't ask questions. Besides, she had another party to go later once again before she would be whisked away off to what it seemed to be the most boringest district of all the time. District 5 truly lacked the excitement in which she usually doesn't pay attention to the lack of enthusiasm and the often curious glances coming from her tributes. Sometimes she hated the her job of the lack of enthusiasm, especially if it was just her to mentor and escort them and no one seemed to want her help.

Soon, Lucia found herself rinsing out the dye off the woman's hair. Squeezing the dark hair tightly in her small hands, she sighed to herself, once she pressed a silver button to blowdry the woman's hair into a purplish-red colour in which it did look good on her. Lucia had to admire that as she loved the colour burgundy, but it never did suit her pale skin and lavender hair. It looked really hideous on her, but she couldn't help but admire it.

"There you go! Do you like it?" inquired Lucia, as she held a silver hand mirror in her right hand for the client to view the backside of what her hair looked like. Lucia held a smile on her face as she awaited the client's response. It even got rid of the grey strands of hair on the client's face and it looked like she was in her twenties, instead of being in her middle age with chubby dark skin.

"It's awesom'!" chirped the woman's reply. "I haven't felt this young in ages… But you still have a lot of years left in you. Come on, ge' your hair dyed als'."

Lucia let out a small chuckle at the woman's amusement. If only, she could. She was half-tempted to do that, but managed to refrain herself from doing. She loved trying new things, but sadly she doubted her purple roots would like that after getting them done yesterday to fit in with the new trend. Lucia was up to date with the newest trends that had to deal with anything that complemented her snowy like skin. Her violet eyes gazed over to check that she did everything perfect instead of missing a spot. It would provoke her to want to do it again, and again hoping to appease her instincts to have everything perfect. She responded in a grace manner, "No thank you. I'll consider your words though."

The woman's smile brightened at Lucia's response. Her silver eyes sparkled as she stepped out of the room, pausing only to stop and put cash on the counter on the way out. Lucia paused for a second before she grabbed the cash of the counter and put it away before it annoyed her even more.

"Lucia you here?" called a feminine person.

"In here, Kathy," she called out. She brushed away any fuzz balls off her white polo shirt and black leggings with matching high heels that were quite comfortable to wear after a long day at work. It was just super fun to work at a salon where she could often clean up after any mess that she managed to make and it won't bug her to clean it up.

Kathy stepped in. Her black hair was tied loosely in a low ponytail to keep her midnight hair out of her honey skin. Kathy's jawline still looked masculine despite how much surgery she had in order to receive a vagina and breasts. Kathy was originally a boy, but that made Lucia love her even more. Kathy wore her white shirt that had multi-colour paint stains, grey trousers and brown boots. Probably accidently getting paint splatters all over her outfit, from her artistic job. Lucia wished that she didn't get paint splatters all over her shirt, and at least washed it before she arrived. She had a burning desire to take off the shirt and wash it.

"Hey," murmured Lucia nervously. She couldn't figure out why she was nervous. She gnawed on her bottom lip for a bit until the pressure in the air finally eased just a bit. She smelled something sweet coming from the plastic bag, something chocolate. She hoped it was chocolate since she was on her period still. "Please tell me you have chocolate."

"Obviously. I'm not like a stupid girlfriend, whom would dare to forget chocolate for you and myself," laughed Kathy, once she finished her statement. Her turquoise eyes sparkling like diamonds in the sun, as Lucia grinned at her.

"No shite."

"Anyways, um…" Kathy trailed off, her tone sounding almost sad and distance, compared to the friendly, and cheerful she had only a minute ago. "I hate to say this to you, but you're just this perfectionist that always wants to clean. I mean look at this, everything is spotless and you even organized my apartment to where I can't find anything. You're not perfect, and neither is anyone else."

"Are you breaking up with me?" asked Lucia, her voice cracking in the process. Tears threatened to drop in which made her vision all blurry, but she knew. She couldn't cry here, nor anywhere else.

"That's exactly what I'm going to do."

I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm fine. I'm fucking fine. "Not like I care or anything. Just give me the chocolates and leave." Please, don't leave. I want you to stay. I care about you. Just don't leave me for someone else. I'm sorry I'm such a perfectionist, but you should've known when you met me. I warned you, and you simply brushed it off.

~You see the struggle flood the skin

From promises to paper-thin

She turns a blind-eye, will of stone

From stunning smile to flesh and bone~

Celeste Marrow (29), District 6 Escort

Celeste stared at her bulking ribs that shown of how much she lost weight. She wasn't skinny enough. From the countless models that had skinny-ass bodies that wore dresses that clung to their curves nicely, with legs skinny and wasn't marred by countless fat in their legs. The models wore a confident smile against their skinny, petite frame. Everything that Celeste wanted to be.

She was simply too fat, with the excess of the fat on her body. Her caramel stomach was too fat, and still looked like she had watermelon on her stomach, instead of it being skinny. Celeste didn't remember the last time she hate something. Yesterday? This morning? Days ago? It seemed that whatever she did, didn't help. She was simply too fat for her liking, but not everyone else. Smiling, and saying that she looked good, but it simply wasn't enough.

When was the last time she felt comfortable in her own skin? When she ate meals three days a week? When she didn't do situps or pushup at three o'clock in the morning to help prevent fat building up in her body? Celeste didn't had an answer to any of those questions. Last night, she pushed her body to far to where she simply fainted on the marble floor. That was an experience that she didn't want to risk again.

She spinned on her heel, and walked out of the white bathroom, heading to where the food is located at. She wanted everything that she could possibly think of. Fried chicken, crepes, steamed vegetables, boiled potatoes, steak and pork.

She ordered her food and after a few seconds, her food appeared all steamy and hot. She took a bite of her the barbecued chicken with steamed peas and carrots layed on the side, mixed heavily with low calorie ranch. It made her want to throw up, when the chewed food went down to her throat and into her stomach. The food was heaven, but she couldn't help but get that nagging though in the back of her head of how much she shouldn't try and enjoy a meal, it would only make her fat again.

Soon, the steamed vegetables and the chicken disappeared, in which made her a bit nauseous from eating to much. Celeste hurried to go to the paper-white bathroom, in an eager like manner. She wanted nothing to do with this. Forcing herself to throw up, feeling the familiar burning sensation in her throat as food that she previously hate, went into the toilet. It made her disgusted to see chewed up food in the toilet, but she knew it had to be done. She had to be thin again.

After all, what use was a fat escort who didn't had any control over her food? Celeste didn't know what to do if she mortified in front of district 6. She only hoped that she would get a victor soon, so that she could move to a more special district that gained victors constantly instead of it being slow. Besides, she only had a few days left until she traveled to the miserable District 6 to reap the two tributes for the Hunger Games. She only hoped that they were bloodbath material so that she didn't try hard hard.

Wiping away the salvia off her skin, and looking herself in the mirror. She found herself looking at someone who only appeared to be a skeleton that looked like she would collapse any day now. Her skull was more pronounce instead of being covered with chubbiness. Her dark brown eyes were no longer her most pronounced features that she loved, only to be sunken in. Her dark afro hair had countless split ends and looked like she would grow grey roots instead of the beautiful brown afro that she used to love while she grew up into an adult. Celeste knew that she didn't look like one of the models that were super skinny and looked comfortable in their own skin.

Sometimes, Celeste wanted to stop doing this to herself. Sadly, she didn't know how as everyday, she would force herself to exercise for hours at a time and pig out once in a while. A routine she couldn't force herself to stop. She didn't know what to do, but she couldn't get help from anyone. Whoever heard a Capitolite who struggled with an eating disorder to make herself look beautiful?

Next year, she would stop being an escort. she had to fix herself, since it was already too late as it is, and the Hunger Games only lasted about a month.

~Head in the clouds

Got no weight on my shoulders

I should be wiser

And realize what I got~

Amara Chadwick (25), DIstrict 7 Escort

Amara let out a small giggle as the boy next to her flirted. His blue eyes lingered on hers with his auburn and black hair stuck up easily. She usually went for the blondes or the light hair dudes, but she supposed that it was well worth it. And besides who could avoid those dreamy blue eyes that reminded her of the sky when the sun was shining?

SHe hadn't expected to find herself falling for him really quick for her twenty-fifth birthday party. Usually everyone partied and knock themselves out by the use of liquor. Speaking of which she really should check on Zuzanna, one of her friend, who loved to drink anytime of liquor with martini's being one of her favourite.

"You're really incredible, and so beautiful," whispered Amara, gazing into his eyes. It was probably the effect of alcohol or something like that, since she usually never hit off so quickly with another living person. Of course, she acted like a stuck-up bitch who would judge someone based on their appearance would probably be one of the main reasons no one talked to her. She had Zuzanna, Mira and Claudline that made her feel so special. "I really want to spend all my life with you." She hadn't realized that she blurted that out allowed, before his gobsmacked expression told her that she did. Idiot.

"I'm not interested in a romantic sense. I'm gay so I don't feel the same way towards you," He said in a cool voice. Amara blinked rapidly at the news. She'd been flirting with a gay person for like hours, but probably for a mere half and hour or so. Why did all the cute boys had to be gay? It seemed that she would be destined to be single all her life. "I like you as a friend of course."

Amara pushed aside gold bangs that covered her pumpkin eye on the left side. She didn't let the frown, but she almost felt hopeless in some sort of way. SHe didn't know how to explain. Besides why be sad on her 25th birthday? She only lived once, so she might as well enjoy it.

"Amara there you are!" screeched Mira. Her yellow-gold eyes stared into hers with plenty of black eyeshadow popping out her almond shaped eyes. Her blue lipstick was smudged only slightly and all over her front top teeth, that looked like she reapplied her lipstick a rushed manner. Her dark skin was beaded with sweat and saliva? Amara didn't want to know. "It's Zuzanna. She passed out, and I don't know what to do!"

"Take her somewhere comfy or something. I don't know, besides she probably passed out. You know how she is when she gets so excited with the mention of a party and martini's, she sometimes faints," Amara brushed off.

"How about taking her to the hospital?" suggested the perky tone belonging to Mira. She was considered the smart one, but yet so dorky at the same time. She wore huge glasses that didn't have prescriptions in them. She had perfect vision, after getting surgery to get them fixed when she was twenty. Her violet hair was tied up in a braided crown. Her silver butterfly tattoos almost danced on her dark skin tone, starting from the left corner of her lip to all the way up the bottom of her left purple eye. "You know, in case she got alcohol poisoning. I've read that many people get alcohol poisoning from drinking to much than simply passing out, and friends bring them and die. That's just my lovely opinion!"

"FIne, take her to the hospital. I can't have some girl messing up my birthday party," said Amara in a rude tone. She rolled her eyes at that. She couldn't get one lousy girl's opinion to get her down. This was her birthday after all.

~Right now, I'm in state of mind

I wanna be in like all the time

Ain't got no tears left to cry~

Riven Harvins (31), District 8 Escort

"Lorrain, you okay?" asked Riven, as his water blue eyes stared into the pale, shivery frame belonging to his sister. After Lorrain getting diagnosed with terminal cancer, seemed to take away his social life, or well what was left of that. He was that one geeky kid who watched anime for a living along with Lorrain, as long as she didn't overdue herself. He went from usually going out of the house, spending time at video games and comic book stores to barely even any getting out of the house.

His washed away green look to him, was one of the signs that he hadn't been out of the house. He wanted to get his skin to transparent white instead of the washed away sickly green he's stuck with. Riven knew that green skin was out of season with purple currently in season along with other flamboyant colours he couldn't find himself getting int. Especially wearing fishnet sweaters out in snowy weather like they got last winter.

"I'm fine, brother. Now don't worry about me," croaked Lorrain weakly. She let out a small cough with traces of blood on the tissue that he managed to see before Lorrain concealed it away. "Go enjoy your life. Don't let me get in the way. I'm only twenty and besides I'll be better tomorrow." Her voice managed to get a little bit perky on the last word, but Riven couldn't help but worry.

He was supposed to protect his only sister. She tried to remain hopeful that she would get tiny bit better, as some sort of miracles. He didn't believe in those kind of miracles, but he knew miracles happened frequently. A brain-dead baby, only 6 months old, that currently has tons of problems with a brain bleed level four, happened to be crawling around and starting to flex his muscles but his limbs were weak. There was a few other miracles but none was good at that. It wasn't like she was neck down paralyzed that is starting to regain feeling on one side. There was no cure for terminal illnesses as of yet.

"But what happens if you die while I'm gone?"

"I swear, I won't die while you're gone. Now go somewhere, and don't worry about me."

"Alright."

Riven still couldn't help, but feel like he should just stay here until Lorrain felt well. He didn't want to see her die, and besides she was the last living family member of his that was still alive. Every family member of his turned out to be a rebel or killed in the explosions; mainly they were rebels that was killed instantly. Riven didn't want anyone to die, but he knew he would be the only one left of his family once his sister passed on.

He promised her on her 21st birthday, Lorrain could be escort for DIstrict 8, but it might not happen. He promised though, but some promises were meant to be broken.

~You magnify the universe

Grab your purse

Grab your love

Pretty girl, don't get stuck~

Artemesia Blanes (32), District 9 Escort

Artemesia grinning ear to ear as she awaited for what it seemed to be all eternity to finally get her painting finished. She wanted something that would represent of how much it costed her, in which made small dent in her wealth getting all the things she wanted. Artemesia had her long hair curled at the ends with platinum hair with dark purple streaks in it. Her used to be silver eyes now had the latest trend: purple with her skin pale in which it burned easily in the sun.

She wanted to capture the beauty of hwat she looked like. She look beautiful, and besides hopefully it would get her enough attention to get her on the front page of a magazine. One of the most popular ones or get attention from the press. Sadly, she doubted that would happen but still if she walked out. She could get fawn over by everyone by simply being the most beautiful person in whole entire Panem. She was just that great.

It was the reason why Artemesia signed up to be an escort. Sadly, it was in District 9 instead of being in District 1 where all the rich people and one of her most favorite district of all times. It was chosen by a pathetic escort named Karou something. She was one of the most beautiful person in the world, they should get her a reward for being so damn pretty.

"Are you finished yet?" inquired Artemisia in an impatient tone. "I have places to be and you're taking forever!" Her tone changed from impatient to being a spoiled brat, as if she cared.

"Just about," said the artist in a quiet voice. Ugh, she hated when people spoke quietly that she had to strain her ears to actually hear it. She had small hearing loss because of birth or something like that or that was what her daddy said, and she is unable to get her hearing first. It wasn't far! Why couldn't she get her hearing fix just like everyone else! She heard so many things about deaf people hearing for the first time and those pathetic blind people that was able to see again.

"But I want it done now!"

"Be patient!" snapped the artist as his dark eyes still lingered on the canvas instead of on her.

"Don't you know who I am? I'm Artemesia Blanes, daughter of Richard Blanes one of the most celebrities in whole entire Panem!" her bratty voice returned.

"Fine. Finish!" cried the plain looking artist. Ugh, she should have so chosen someone quicker and had better taste instead of having a plaid artist. She should have got it done in one of the districts, but no. The districts were closed off! That got her in a bad mood.

~All I knew this morning when I woke

Is I know something now, know something now I didn't before~

Tobias Ryton (22), District 10 Escort

Tobias hung one of his pictures on the only available space in his room. It was tiny, but luckily it was a small picture of a waterfall that was in Canada or what the book sadi. If the Capitol found out that he was hoarding illegal things in his house, he had no idea to do. It was a crime, but luckily the Capitol doesn't do a search check like they used to in the Dark Days, where he secretly been a rebel.

A rebel hat lost everything he had, his family, his friends and some of his possessions that were unable to be replicated. He sometimes felt a gaping hole in his heart when his brother been executed publicly for being a known rebel and tricking the Capitol, that he was a trusted figure. It made Tobias scared for his life, almost constantly worrying that someone might break into his home and turn him into an avox or executed for betrayment towards the Capitol.

He taped the picture of Niagara Falls, and looked out of the dark curtain, watching reticently in case someone decided to look up and find something they weren't supposed to. His dark green eyes stared at the rainbow, dark or light coloured hairs as people walked by on the crowded streets, not bothering to look up. Sometimes, he would get a curious glancer but see only him or a dark curtain the window. Scared of the sunlight was what people say when he only came out at night, only going to a shop or two than heading back.

Tobias squeezed his eyes shut at the countless whispering that was always in his head. Poeple who weren't their, but felt like they were real to him. The ghosts said things that made him feel guilty everytime or feel worse than he already was. It was usually things like "it's your fault that everyone you knew died" or "Someone is going to find out and you won't be able to explain before your dead." Dying was one of the things he feared about, besides being avoxed. He combed his dark hair away from his dark skin away from the ghosts that he was afraid might harm him, other than mentally.

He hated the Hunger Games truly, and knew why most of the DIstricts hated them. It was cowardness, bloody and it brought him nightmares every time he saw someone die in front of his own eyes. He thought he could help tributes by mentoring for them also. He didn't mind the sometimes smelly district and the countryside look that DIstrict 10 brought. They sometimes lasted a bit, before someone killed them all over again.

This year, Tobias was determined in getting a victor and probably someone on his side that this was wrong. America should go back as it was.

~On my own I'm only

Half of what I could be

I can't do without you~

Kally Marbel (31), DIstrict 11 Escort

Kally giggled ever so slightly as she acted like she was a child again. SHe was playing hide and go seek with her friend in the store, since it was one of her favourite games during her childhood. Her life was completely lucky and she didn't care. No one died, and everyone seemed to like her. Despite her childish tactic, everyone liked her or well acted like it.

It was one of the reasons why she chose to be an escort, she loved being the centre of attention. She was afraid of being alone for even one second, as she didn't want anyone to leave her.

"I'm over here Zanya," She cried out as if she was some child child that was extremely hyper. "Come and catch me!" She didn't had any care in the world if anyone stared, which would be one of the reasons why she was acting so childish.

"Aren't you scared about your reputation?" Zanya called out, her blue eyes frantically moving around in case someone tried to stare at them. Kally didn't know why she would care about reputation, but no one was too young to act like a child.

"No. I maybe in my thirties, but at least I know how to have fun," Kally pointed out. Her dark eyes staring into Zanya's blue ones. "And plus, it's the HUnger Games is almost here, and I'm super excited!"

"No duh."

"Anyways, do you know what outfit i should do?" asked Kally. "Like something that would match my white skin and dark auburn hair?"

"Red? Cherry red I mean. I heard that it would be next season since a lot of people are talking about it. Purple and red. How about burgundy?"

"Yeah!" said Kally almost a little too loud. "Come on. Help me find something!"

~I wear a town like a leather jacket

When the new wears off, I don't even pack it~

Renee Azkin (21), District 12 Escort

Renee danced around a bit, almost letting out a small ow as medle made contact with her knee. SHe was too clumsy and would explain why her right ankle is swollen as hell still, from twisting over someone's foot. Everything she wished she could fix.

"Ow. I have to stop doing that. I don't want to be mortified in DIstrict 12 by tripping over my two feet which somehow finds something i could trip over something," said Renee to herself. Renee always had a bad habit of talking to herself than her lack of social skills since it gave her an anxiety attack almost literally. "Come on, Renee. There are a few days until you go to 12, and I still haven't found a dress!"

Renee looked through the piles of dress, hoping to find something different instead the same orange dress she wore last year since orange was in style last year. A pitiful dress. It didn't even match her skin tone though so that it even worse.

After rummaging through several hideous colours of dresses, she found a black one that had fishnet tights and matching flats to go with it. The dress, however, was one of those old fashion one's that she vaguely remembered it a few years back, fitting in with her gothic style clothing back than. Renee was mortified being in that gothic style against the bright colours belonging to the Capitol.

How much she was excited about escorting. She believed that the Hunger Games controlled the districts from every rebelling again. The Dark Days were pitiful, and wasn't what she wanted to repeat. Renee didn't want to live in fear in case she might die, and that it might be her last day on Earth. One of her closest friends died during the Dark Days, so that wasn't fun for her.

Tributes:

1M: Merille Tesfa

1F: Affluence Cardeza

2M: Kairi 'Kai' Oriol

2F: Pandora Justice

3M: Breccan Herschel

3F: Veronica Alder

4M: Brine Clemont

4F: Audrey Holloway

5M: Killian Swan

5F: Kalia Haynes

6M: Casey Hearseman

6F: Joette Tauruaia

7M: Grover Woods

7F: Finley Ryland

8M: Auster Worthing

8F: Dorethea Winifred

9M: Consus Carmone

9F: Open

D10M: Dov Blair

10F: Reese Corpricorn Crolique

11M: Demetrius Deck

D11F: Jasmine Blanchard

12M: Flynn Madigan

12F: Alda Rushiv

Sorry this took so long. I had a small break with Hunger Games fandom since of a small burn-out, my depression was kicking in a lot during the past few months so that actually affects my well-being, because it's something that won't go away. Sure, it feels like I'm alright and I could actually see among my drowning inside my head, than when something bad happens depression kicks in. It's dormant, but I could still feel it. I think that's where everyone doesn't understand, it's not in my head. I'm leaving next Tuesday for Washington D.C. so I'm not sure if I will get a reaping in.