I think just about every single strand of hair on my body has either been plucked or waxed. I'm surrounded by people with brightly coloured hair and the strangest looking make up. The capital is so different from four, even my imagination didn't think it would be like this.
The buildings are so tall and shiny, everything is decorated in bright colours. Everybody's dressed in glitter and thrills.
"You're all done here, if you go through there you'll find your stylist, her name is Silvana. You should find her name on the door" A man with bright green hair tells me.
"Ok, thank you" I carefully get up and walk towards the direction they said. I sigh in relief as I look at a sparkly blue door with the name Silvana imprinted on it. I didn't fancy getting lost in the capital thank god I found it.
"Come in" I hear a cheerful voice say as I knock on the door.
"Umm hello I'm..." I begin to say before I get interrupted by the stylist.
"Aurora, the youngest tribute this year. You have the prettiest name" she says smiling at me.
"Thank you" I say slightly overwhelmed by all of this. Everyone here acts as though it's normal for a child to be ripped away from their home to die. Well I guess it is normal but nothing ever prepares you for being reaped.
"Sweetie there is no need to be nervous, I promise you are safe here" she assured me.
"For now" I mumble. Silvan a laughs at my witty remark making my eyes widen in fear.
"I didn't mean for you to hear that" I say quickly.
"Don't worry, dear you are quite funny, now let's get you glammed up" she says clapping her hands before walking over to the biggest wardrobe I've ever seen. You could fit a whole other world in there.
Silvana brings out a beautiful short dark turquoise dress. The dress had embroidery that made it look like fish scales or a net making it perfect for my district.
"Put it on then, don't worry I'll turn around until you need zipping up, I'm sure more then enough people have seen you naked today" Silvanna says, respecting my privacy, unlike the other I've met at the Capitol.
"Thank you, Silvana" I thank the older, raven haired woman.
"Please, call me Silvy"
"Ok. Thank you, Silvy" I smile at the woman whose shown me nothing but kindness. I take off my robe and slip on the dress. The dress fits perfectly onto my body. I was uncomfortable at first with the amount of skin that was showing but I'm sure that's just the capitals way of making the tributes look appealing. Shockingly, for a twelve year old I had more curves then most, I guess they wanted to expose that.
"You look beautiful" Silvy says as she zips me up. "Common let's go get you to the chariots" she says, guiding me out the room.
We get to the chariots, I look around and see all the other tributes in stunning outfits representing their Districts. It's crazy to think that the Capitol makes us think it's an honour to be sent into the games and kill other innocent children. I'm one of the few from a career district that see past the Capitols' bullshit. I look and see Casper dressed in the same colour and pattern as me but as a suit.
"M'lady" He sticks out his arm to help me onto the chariot.
"Why, thank you kind sir" we both let out a small giggle as we get onto the Chariot that's pulled by two large black horses. Me and Casper talked the whole way here catching up. I asked him why he stupidly volunteered and he explained to me why he volunteered for his older brother. We'd both do anything for our siblings, we've always had that in common. I don't think either of us will be able to return home without the other. Everyone is scared to be reaped but never in a million years did I think I'd be standing here with Casper. No one expects to go into the games with someone you love.
We wave at the people of Panem putting on brave faces. The chariots make their way back inside and we are relieved to stop with the fake smiles.
"You two were amazing, Silvy certainly out did herself with you" Helena said while giving both of us a hug. I'm not really used to hugs from anyone but my family and Casper so this was an odd feeling.
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"Right the next three days will be mainly training and interviews" Helena explains as we sit down at the dining table on district fours, floor. Mags gets my attention and signs to me.
"Care to translate for the rest of us" Casper asks, seeing the exchange between me and Mags.
"Mags was explaining to me that 'We need to be well liked, if we are liked than we'll gain sponsors. In the arena sponsors are key to survival. Answer the interview questions with passion and make them feel pity. This interview could be the very thing that keeps you alive" I explain
"Right" Casper sighs and nods.
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I spent the next three days training hard. I remember Mags advice 'Practice your weaknesses' so I choose to read all the books they had in the training centre. I refreshed my mind on how to treat an infection and wrap wounds. I read all the books on plants, I learnt that the brighter fruit tends to be poisonous, and the duller fruit are more then likely to be edible.
It was time for our assessment and I walked straight over to the knife station. I hadn't shown any of my knife skills in training so this was going to be a surprise to the game makers. I grabbed 4 knifes, throwing them at the moving targets. One in the heart, two in the head. I threw the remaining knife at the game makers lunch, hitting it directly into the centre of the turkey they where eating.
"I hope you enjoyed the show" I smirk and bowled, then I walked out before the dismissed me. If they are going to throw me into the games, I was going to piss them off in the meantime.
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Later on we were all sitting down on the sofa in the District 4 living quarters listening to the tributes scores.
Casper Woods score of... 8.
Aurora Nightingale score of an... 11.
Oh shit.
"Making Aurora the youngest person to receive ever an 11"
Caesar's voice echoed throughout.
"Well done Aurora" Helena says clapping and jumping up off the sofa to give me a hug. Mags just smiles, she has gotten to know me these past few days and knows I don't like all the attention.
It was our last night at the Capital before going into the games, It was our interview with Caesar Flickerman.
I slipped on my dresses, admiring myself in the mirror.
The dress was a metallic sea blue with sequin scales trailing down it making it look mermaid like.
"Oh you look beautiful" Silvy compliments, admiring her
work.
"I feel like a mermaid, it's magical" I say spinning around in front of the large mirror. I've always enjoyed hearing the tales of mermaids back at home. Every night before I went to sleep my mother would tell me the these stories of a beautiful fish like creature.
"I made sure you would be more comfortable this time"
"Thank you so much, Silvy"
I give her a hug. Something I have gotten more used to at my time in the capitol.
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"Just in time, they just finished with the boy from 3" Casper informs me as I join him.
"Thanks Casper, I like your outfit" I tell him as I admire his suit which is a similar colour to my dress.
"You look gorgeous" he smiles as he compliments me.
"Next up we have the youngest tribute of this year, Aurora Nightingale, from District 4"
Caesar shouts happily.
"This is me" I smile at Casper before walking onto the stage with a bright smile. I take a seat opposite Caesar. "Hello Caesar, it's wonderful to be here"
"Well it's lovely to have you here, you look stunning tonight" He turns to the audience. "Doesn't she just look lovely folks?" The audience cheer in agreement.
"Oh Caesar stop it you're making me blush" I laugh. It's like I see a camera and know how to act. Over my nights here I've been watching the previous tributes interviews, learning to mirror their actions until I perfected my act.
"I believe you have a message for someone at home"
"Yes I do, Avy I love you so much and I know you are too young to understand what's happening but I promise to win these games and come back home to you, I love you so much" tears well in my eyes as I look into the camera, telling my message to Avanna.
"Who was that sweet message for?" He asks touched by my story.
"My little sister" I swear if I didn't have Avy and mum, I'd just let myself die in these games.
"Isn't that so sweet everyone?, nothing stronger than two sisters bond". The audience aww in response.
"Now, Aurora, let's talk about your amazing score of 11, how does it feel to be the youngest person to get such a high score?" Caesar ask.
"It feels amazing and I'm honestly shocked I got so high"
"Please, Aurora, tell us your trick" Caesar asks curious about my score. It is a pretty impressive score for a small, delicate 12 year old girl. What can I say, I'm the best.
"Well Caesar you'll have to wait and see in the games" I tell him. I'm not giving Caesar what he wants if it means I'm comprising my safety. Yes the tributes now know I am skilled, but they don't know in what way. "I'm afraid my lips are sealed" I smile to the man in front of me.
"You're a tough nut to crack, Aurora". I laugh at his response.
"Well thank you for your wonderful company, but I'm afraid our time is up, Aurora, Ladies and Gentlemen give her a round of applause"
The audience cheer loudly as I walk off stage. I sigh in relief.
"You did good out there"
"Thanks C, good luck out there, make sure to talk about volunteering for your brother, the Capitol will love it" I advise the older brunette.
"Thank you, Rory" he says. We do our handshake, before Caspers name is called and he walks on stage. We came up with a handshake at school after becoming friends. I was being picked on by some older kids and Casper came to my rescue, ever since then we've been almost inseparable.
"Here we have Casper Wood district 4 volunteer, How are you?" Caesar asks the nervous boy in front of him.
"I'm great" he said smiling.
I could tell it was fake but it was picture perfect to anybody else.
"Now Casper you volunteered for your older brother is that correct?"
"Yes" Casper agrees. "I knew I had to volunteer myself to make sure my family would be able to survive. And they couldn't do that with me. I'm too young and weak, they needed him, so I volunteered"
"How very noble of you. Everybody, that's all we have time for tonight give it up for Casper District 4 male tribute"
Casper gets up, flashing a smile to the audience as he waves goodbye.
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It was the day of the games and to say I was terrified was an understatement. Whoever first made the games was a fucking asshole.
Silvy was adding the final touches to my outfit. "Right you have thick clothes so I'm guessing it's somewhere cold, I wish you the best of luck" I could see a hint of sadness in her eyes. I guess her emotions got the better of her and she got attached over the last few days.
I thank the woman before stepping into the cylinder shaped tube. The brightness of the lights blind me as the tube starts to move up, I feel my heart begin to race. This was it.
I was going to die. I can't afford to think like this so I shake my thoughts away and pull myself together.
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