Chapter 5.
When I wake up the next morning, I feel disoriented. I look around the room and realize where I am again: In the Capitol, preparing for the Games.
"Good morning sunshine!" A voice sounds from the door, startling me. I turn my head to see who it is: Brynn.
"Good morning." I murmur.
"You've slept in late. Did you know it's near to twelve already?"
"Near to twelve?!" I look at the digital clock on the wall. It is indeed nine minutes to twelve. Back at home I wouldn't even think of sleeping that long.
Brynn must have noticed the alarmed expression on my face. "Don't worry, dear," She says immediately, "We are still waiting for the tributes of District 11 and 12 to arrive before prepping starts. I don't think you and Zircon need that much work, but I've seen some of these other tributes and gosh, do they-"
"You're awake just in time." Auria appears behind Brynn in the doorway. "Our lunch is on the way. Are you both coming?"
After I've changed my nightgown for a simple jeans and a cashmere sweater, I join the others at the dining table for lunch. While we wait for the Avoxes to come and deliver our food, Parcival and Auria tell us about the other tributes.
"So Auria and I met up with some of the other mentors this morning." Parcival starts. "We've discussed several things, but probably the most important thing to focus on for now is alliances."
"We think you should try to become allies with the District 2 tributes first. The boy is a really good fighter, and he's very strong. The girl is very clever and knows a lot about weapons as well. They seem good company for the first few days of the Games." Auria elaborates.
Zircon sighs. "But what if we are the last three left? They will definitely kill me first."
Three? Aren't we with four then? I think. Then I realize what Zircon is saying: He assumes I'll already be dead by that time. I open my mouth to protest, but then the door opens and two Avoxes walk into our room with the food. The chattering quiets down once the five of us start eating.
"Bring me another one of those cinnamon rolls." Zircon orders one of the avoxes around with his mouth full. The avox puts one of the cinnamon rolls on a plate and puts it on the table in front of Zircon, who puts it in his mouth immediately.
"So, did you speak to other mentors as well?" I eventually ask.
"Yes, we got to know a lot about these tributes." Auria replies.
"From District 3, there's Leic and Sophie. Both sixteen years old. They aren't really fighters, but they're very clever. In a fight you'll definitely be able to beat them, even Satin. As you can already guess they'll be likely to avoid combat, but they might outsmart you in a different way. So it would be best to keep an eye on them." Parcival says.
"Then there's Irvin and Nerida from District 4." Auria says. "Irvin has just turned fifteen last week, and Nerida is sixteen. They can handle weapons, but not very great. However, they do know how to swim, how to build rafts and how to fish. This could come in handy, so I would consider them for your alliance as well."
"Someone I would also consider is Aran, the boy from 9." Parcival adds. "He seems very strong."
"Oh, that boy has problems." Auria contradicts him.
"Does it matter? He can help them to survive longer. And when the time comes they can finish him off."
"Hmm. That's true."
In the distance we hear the elevator zoom by again.
"That must be District 11 arriving." Brynn notices. "When 12 arrives, we are expected to be downstairs. You two will meet your prep team there and they will prepare you for the tributes' parade. It won't be long before they'll arrive, so finish your lunch and make sure you're ready."
Just as I'm taking the last sip of my tea, a voice sounds over the PA: "Tributes are to present themselves downstairs in five minutes for prepping. Tributes are to present themselves downstairs in five minutes."
Brynn, Zircon and I get up and make our way to the hallway. I turn around to see if Auria and Parcival are coming, but they are still seated.
"We will stay here for now." Auria explains. "We will meet you later."
When we walk into the elevator, there already are people inside it. I recognize the faces of the girl and boy from District 6. I believe Auria said their names were Trix and Endre. With them is an elder looking man, dressed in Capitol fashion. He must be their escort. The six of us stand in the elevator in silence. The sunlight falls over Trix's copper hair, lighting it up like a flame. She eyes me with her hazel eyes, then she looks away. I'm not sure what to make of her. Endre isn't paying attention to either of us. He stares out of the window, apparently enjoying the view.
Once we're downstairs and the elevator doors open, Brynn leads us through the training hall to another hallway. At the end of this hallway are twelve doors that are all numbered. Brynn walks through the door with the number '1' on it. We end up in another small hallway with two doors, where a man and a woman are waiting for us.
"Ooh, look Doozie! Here they are! Aren't they wonderful!" The woman chirps. She looks like she's in the end of her twenties, with a pale skin and hair in a light shade of orange with pink streaks through it. She smiles her pink lip gloss smile at me and gives me a hand. "Nice to meet you. My name's Peach."
I shake her hand and introduce myself. Then the man, who looks a lot younger than he probably is with his long and dark curly hair, in which he wears a bright green bandana, walks up to me to introduce himself. "And I am Doozie."
"So the lady is going with me," Peach tells us, "And the gentleman is going with Doozie."
Zircon follows Doozie through one of the doors, and I follow Peach through the other one.
"Are you excited for tonight?" She asks me, but she goes on talking before I've even formed an answer in my mind. "I know I am! Tonight is your chance to show off, you know. The sponsors are going to see you for the first time, so we'd better make you as pretty as possible. Although that probably won't take too much effort, just look at you! You're a natural beauty. Good thing Doozie and I picked out just the right outfits for you two! But first, let's get you cleaned up." In the room are three other people waiting. Two other women and one man. "Sweetie, meet the rest of your prep team: Nimmo, Juniper and Arlue."
"You can lie down here." She says, pointing at the cot in the middle of the room. I walk up to it, but then she stops me. "Oh, you'll need to take your clothes off first."
"All of them?" I ask.
"Yes, all of them."
When I hesitate, she adds: "Don't be ashamed, it's not the first time we see naked tributes before us." Then she hands me a small paper gown. "You can wear this if you want to. You know, to cover up." She winks at me.
Quickly, I take off my clothes, including my underwear, and slip on the paper gown. I lie down on the cot and try to pull the gown down, to cover up as much of my upper legs as possible. I decide it's impossible to get comfortable in this position, so I eventually stop trying. While Peach and Arlue examine the skin on my lower legs, Nimmo and Juniper roll in a sink on wheels in which they start to wash my hair.
"I think it's necessary to take a bit of the ends off." Nimmo says in his low voice.
"I wouldn't take off too much, though." Juniper replies. "Her hair is so beautiful and long." She smiles. "I wish mine was like that."
I eye Juniper, with her dark skin and short, black curly hair that is blue at the ends.
"Then why don't you grow it?" I ask her.
"I'm working on it." She replies. "But it will never be as beautiful as yours."
Peach places a strip of tape-like material on my leg. I open my mouth to ask what it's for but then she rips it off and I feel like my skin is coming off with it. Tears well up in my eyes and I yell.
"Aah! Why would you do that?!"
"Oh, oh. Don't worry sweetie." Peach tries to reassure me.
"We are only removing the hairs." Arlue adds. "It will hurt for a little bit, but when it's done you will be even more beautiful."
About two hours later, I feel like every stray hair, every dead skin cell and every inch of dirt has been removed from my body. I've never felt barer than this, even though I'm wearing the paper gown again. Peach and the rest of the prep team have walked out of the room to gather my outfit for tonight. In the meanwhile, an avox brings a meal for me. When I've finished it she takes away the empty plate and leaves me alone in the room. Fortunately, it doesn't take long for someone to return. Nimmo and Arlue walk into the room and start working on my hair and make-up. They are almost done when Peach and Juniper return with my dress. My mouth falls open at the sight of the dress. It's made of shimmering, golden fabric. The skirt is decorated with a net of silver thread and transparent glass beads. It reminds me of one of the chandeliers I've seen inside the City Hall.
"It's beautiful." I say.
"Why don't you put it on already?" Peach proposes. "It's good, Arlue, she's done."
Arlue puts down the brush and she and Peach help me into the dress. The body of the dress fits like a second skin, soft and comfortable. The skirt takes some more getting used to because of its weight and size. After a few minutes of practice, I manage to walk around in it without stumbling.
"You look fantastic!" Peach says, eyeing me. "You should see it for yourself! Do you want to see yourself?"
I nod. Peach takes one of the mirrors from the wall and holds it up in front of me. I blink a couple of times in surprise when I see myself. I never realized my eyes were so big and vibrant. They are decorated with gold and silver eye make-up, and my hair shimmers in the light.
"This is wonderful. Thank you so much." I say to Peach. She smiles in response.
"We should get going. I believe Zircon and Doozie already headed downstairs earlier." Peach says. The two of us make our way through the long hallway again. At the end of this hallway is a door that leads us to a small square, where the twelve chariots with horses in front of them are already waiting for us. Several tributes have gathered next to their chariots already. Peach and I walk past the chariot of District 4. Both tributes are dressed up like sea creatures. Nerida reminds me of a water nymph, with her long, light blonde hair, light blue eyes and her turquoise dress. Irvin is dressed up similarly but doesn't look as striking to me. The tributes of District 3 haven't arrived yet. Then we see Magnus and Elza from District 2, both dressed up in gladiator costumes that make them look even more dangerous than usual. Then, in front of the line, I spot our chariot. Zircon is already standing next to it, patting the horse's neck. He is dressed in a similar golden suit, that's also decorated with the silver thread and the glass beads. He looks like a business man attending a party: Spoiled, stiff and arrogant. Maybe I should try not to see him that way, I think, I do want him as my ally, after all. But then again, I don't need him to be my friend.
"Hello." I greet Zircon. He looks at me and murmurs a greeting back.
"So are you ready to do this?" I ask him, trying to initiate a conversation.
He scoffs in response. "I was born ready."
"Good."
"Yikes. I hope you two will get along better in the arena if you want to be allies." Brynn walks up to us, followed by Auria and Parcival.
"Okay, one last thing before the parade starts." Auria says. "During the parade, the sponsors will see you for the first time. This is your chance to leave a good first impression. Show them your best side, because if you manage to get a lot of sponsors it will surely increase your chances of winning."
Zircon frowns, and turns to Auria to say something, but he is interrupted by the voice that sounds over the PA.
"Tributes mount up. Tributes mount up."
"Okay, it's time." Doozie says. . He and Peach reach out to help me get on, which is a lot harder in this enormous dress. Two game makers walk by, checking if everyone has indeed mounted up. Then they open the fence in front of our chariot slowly.
One of the game makers turns around to yell instructions. "First chariot in Three, Two, One."
It takes a few seconds to regain my balance once the chariot starts moving. I grab hold of the bar in front of me. Once I'm used to the motion and stand solidly, I feel confident enough to release one hand and wave at the crowd with a smile on my face. In the corner of my eye I see Zircon doing the same. I'm taken off guard when he suddenly plants his elbow in my side, which causes me to almost lose my balance. I'm not sure whether it was on purpose or not, so I pretend like it's not a big deal and go back to my waving and smiling again. I look at the crowd, clapping and cheering. It's for us. For me. And when that sinks in, I enjoy the attention and try to connect with the audience. I try to look people in the eye, remember faces. Maybe they'll remember me as well. Too soon the chariot comes to a halt, in front of the stage where President Snow is seated. He eyes all of the tributes, waiting for every chariot to arrive. When the twelve chariots are lined up in front of the stage, President Snow walks up to the microphone.
"Welcome." He says. The cheering and clapping slowly fades, until it's completely quiet.
"Welcome Tributes. We admire your courage and your sacrifice to present yourself in front of us this year, for the 57th annual Hunger Games. We wish you happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor."
Then the chariots come in motion again, and in the same order we ride back to the square we come from. The whole team is already waiting for us when we arrive.
"You did so well!" Peach exclaims. "Both of you looked absolutely gorgeous."
"Good job." Parcival agrees. "Now let's go upstairs and get that make-up of off you."
Half an hour later, I sit alone in my room, looking out the window. Down in the Capitol, the party is still going on.
"It's fun to see, isn't it?" Auria says, standing in the doorway. "You should really go to sleep though, training starts tomorrow and it's going to be rough."
"It's a shame we're not allowed to join the party."
"It is, but then again, you'll want to be as fit as you can for the games. And keep in mind that it's you who they're celebrating." The left corner of her mouth curls up. "Good night, Satin." She says, as the door closes behind her quietly.