Estrella Vasquez- District One, 18
Crystal handed me my outfit as I sat staring at the empty glass tube. I looked at the thin t-shirt and blue jeans and knitted my brows in confusion. It felt odd, being so close to death and not feeling the slightest bit scared. I only felt prepared.
"This is it?" I asked her.
"That's it," she said. "I hope it's warm in there." A bell went off, and I stepped into my tube. It rose slowly into the darkness. I took a last look at Crystal, with her diamond-crusted eyelashes and purple hair, and raised my eyes to the ceiling.
Two wasn't the only one that could play at that game. One wasn't just baubles and bubbleheads. They were going to find that out. Two, with their three Victors in a row and their crowded Victor's village. Two with their gloating voices and judging eyes. How would they feel when they were the ones dying?
The tube dissolved around me and my platform raised above the ground. The air was warm and the sun shone down from a cloudless sky. Brightly colored metal and plain wood platforms stretched on as far as I could see. Instead of the normal, cone-shaped Cornucopia, a pile of weapons and supplies teetered at the top of a twisting rainbow slide. A chain of throwing knives dangled from the support struts. Multicolored pebbles covered the bare patches of ground. Swings stirred in the breeze. One of the Tributes, the little boy from Five, squealed in surprise and delight and nearly jumped off his platform before he caught himself.
The countdown began. My eyes swept over the platforms as I waited. My only competition for the Cornucopia would be the pair from Two. I caught Kyler's eye and we shared a look. With my District partner at my side, we'd show what One was made of. I analyzed the Arena, looking for the escape routes the others would try to find. The wide, flat box of sand. The long bridge made of thin slats of wood. The covered slide and the enclosed tunnels. Other places, like the long monkey bars and the row of seesaws, would be less helpful. I had to smile when I took it all in. With my light pink shirt and my faded jeans, I looked like I was here for some after-school fun.
It was a lovely playground. Too bad I wasn't here to play.
Appearance notes for blog:
I'm sure it will surprise know one to hear that Estrella's ancestors were Mexican. She's quite the beauty queen back in One, though, and prefers to dye her hair barbie doll blonde to fit the style. She was rich enough to have her eyes colored pale blue. Her skin and other features remains Latina.