Chapter 3: Chariots

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I am lead through long and crowded halls before I enter a room with a hospital bed and a large trolley full of equipment that I've never seen before. The door slams shut behind me and the peace keeper that was leading me is gone. I walk forward and stand there awkwardly until someone comes along.

It is not long before three capitol members enter the room. They are bustling with excitement which cause a small smile to fall on my lips. They quickly strip my on my clothes and start the prep work.

The three members of my prep team get to work almost immediately. They scrub my down until my skin is left raw, almost more raw than the other day in the shower. They use a number of creams, gels and scrubs to clean my body. Each is of a different colour, texture and smell.

Venia gets to work on stripping my legs, arms and everywhere else of my hair. Her spiked aqua hair remains perfectly stationary as she moves around. She slathers wax strips over my legs and begins to rip them off. I do all that I can to not squirm or react to the stinging sensation. I watch as her eyebrows and small golden tattoos move upwards as she raises and eyebrow before putting on more wax.

A plump woman with pale pea green skin works on my nails. She cleans them, scrubbing away the dirt that I was unable to remove. She then begins trimming them to a uniform shape, all while complaining about how I bite them.

"Oh honey, you have to stop biting your nails. How else will you look pretty"

Whilst Venia works on my legs and Octavia on my nails, a man with unnaturally orange corkscrews works on my hair. He washes it and puts a funny smelling liquid through it. I mentally cross my fingers that he knows what he is doing. After a while I hear a funny snipping sort of sound. I sit bolt up from my lying down position. Everyone stares at me in shock whilst I look at Flavius with wide eyes.

In his hands are a pair of large scissors. I raise my hand to my hair to feel that half of it has been chopped off. A funny gargling sound comes from my mouth and I lay back down in shock.

Flavius gets back to work and I do all that I can to hold in my tears as he cuts my hair.

After what seems like hours I am standing up with my team walking around me. They each hold a pair of tweezers as they look for any stray hairs. Three large smiles beam at me as they step back.

Octavia has the largest smile. "Oh you look beautiful Fianna."

"You look like a human being now."

Flavius' comment causes me to laugh despite the pain I have endured. They then scurry out of the room and I left standing there. I feel awkward standing there naked so I grab the gown provided and put it over myself. I make myself comfortable on the hospital bed as I wait for my stylist.

A man with closely shaven skin walks into the room and comes up to me. He asks me to remove the gown so he can check me. Whilst he is looking me over I study his face. His face is bear apart from a small strip of gold eyeliner. His natural appearance sets me at ease and I find myself feeling comfortable around him, despite being naked.

"You can put your gown on now."

I shrug the deep blue gown back on. He then leads me to the couch in the room where we both take a seat.

"Are you hungry?" He asks, as he presses a button which causes some food to rise from a hidden compartment in the small table.

I take some bread before looking at him.

"So my name is Cinna and I'm your stylist. I'm proud of you so far Fianna."

I smile, "you can call me Fi."

He grins, "So I heard from Flavius that you panicked when he was cutting you hair."

"Yeah... I've only cut my hair once and that was when I was ten years old. I didn't want my hair to be cut in all honesty."

"And thats okay. Now you're from district twelve, the coal mining district." I nod, and he continues, "So we are going to give you a costume that will represent you district and what you district does which is coal."

I'm going to be either a coal miner or naked with black powder all over me.

"Now we aren't doing a coal miner outfit, because that's overdone." He sees my horrified face, "and you won't be naked either."

Relief floods me and I can feel mu shoulders relax.

"Let me ask you Fi. What do you do with coal."

"You burn it."

"Exactly. Now I hope you aren't afraid of fire."

A large grin falls on my face and I nod my head in excitement at the prospect of this costume.

A few hours later I am walking down the halls with Cinna by my side. We are walking to the starting point of the chariots. I'm wearing a black one piece outfit with a long cape that falls to just past my knees. My hair is elegantly braided and my face has minimal makeup.

"We want them to be able to recognize you, so we won't have too much make up."

We arrive to where the Chariots are located. We find Peeta and his stylist, Effie and Haymitch. We walk over to them.

"Hey, nice outfit."

"You too. You know I think we look similar, but I'm better looking."

I laugh, "yeah right. I think you need to get your eye checked Peeta."

We both laugh and all nerves that I had before are gone.

My eyes wander the room where all the other tributes are congregating. Every district has a different outfit and I will not lie, I am beyond amazed by it all. As my eyes pass over two tributes with golden armor the boy looks up towards me. He has a smirk on his face and I can feel myself go red. I look away and continue talking to Peeta, trying to ignore the butterflies in my stomach. I can feel his eyes still one me and it takes all my will power to not look.

Cinna and Portia; Peeta's stylist, usher us onto the chariot. Our horses are midnight black to represent coal. They are so well trained that they do not need us to guide them which is a relief.

"Remember the flames aren't real, just synthetic. And don't forget to smile."

Cinna then leans forward and sets our capes alight. I expect to feel heat and burning of the fake flames, but all I feel is a faint tickling sensation.

The chariot begins to move forward and all butterflies from nerves and the boy from district two vanish. Cinna says something that I don't quiet catch.

"I think he said hold hands," Peeta whispers. I look at him and raise one of my perfectly arched eyebrows. I give a small nod and we clasp hands.

We exit the building and outside to the large crowds. Loud roars startle me and I nod to Peeta. We both raise our hands that are clasped together. If it was possible the cheers coming from the thousands of viewers double at us. I have a large and sustained grin on my lips as I wave to the audience. I blow out some kisses and they go crazy, trying to catch the kisses as though they were real.

I look up and see myself grinning and waving on the large screen. I look beautiful and I love the confidence that is being shown.

I return back to waving at people. Some are throwing flowers and I manage to catch a large red rose and I wave it in the general direction to who ever threw it.

Our carriage slows down and comes to a halt just before the presidential podium, where President Snow will speak.

"Welcome. Tributes. We welcome you. We salute the courage and your sacrifice. And we wish you happy Hunger Games. And may the odds be ever in your favor." President Snow finishes with a bow. The crowd that was silent for a small minute is roaring again.

The chariots drive off and I find myself staggering out with the help of Peeta. I let go and massage my fingers.

"Sorry if I was squeezing to hard, I was nervous."

"Hahaha... No problem."

Haymitch, Effie, Cinna and Portia walk over with large smiles.

"Well done guys, you look amazing."

Portia puts out our flames and I feel relaxed. I roll my shoulders as Peeta converses with the others. I stand back and turn around to admire others outfits. My eyes land on the deep pink outfits of district one.

"Excuse me." I say to the others before walking over.

I walk confidently over, chin up and shoulders back.

"Hello." I say.

The two tributes of district one turn around and look at me. Both of them tower above me intimidating me.

"I wanted to come over and tell you guys that your outfits look amazing. My name is Fianna." I say before holding out my hand.

The boy takes it, his large hand encasing mine. "The name is Marvel, and this is Glimmer."

Glimmer smiles at me and shakes my hand as well.

"You guys have such cool name... and I think they suit you very well."

They laugh and thank me.

"You don't look to bad yourself Fianna."

"And you have a lovely name too, but why did you come over to us" Marvel asks.

I smirk, "Well I was standing there when I saw you guys, and I was just marveling your glimmering outfits and I just had to come over."

They laugh at my joke with their names.

"You're funny Fianna. I like you."

Glimmer agrees before fare-welling me. I'm about to walk off when I see the tributes of district two glaring at me. I smile at them before walking back over to Peeta and the others.

"What was that all about."

"I just wanted to say hi, and you know get on their good side."

Haymitch rolls his eyes and chuckles. "Told you that you would do fine in these games."

~~~ Cato's POV ~~~

I brush my stylist hand away from my face.

"Quit fussing. I'm fine." I growl.

Carlia backs away with a terrified look on her face. She then turns to Clove and starts fussing over her.

My eyes wander the room and land on the girl from district twelve; Fianna. She is shorter than I expected with everyone around her towering above her. She wears a tight black one piece that accentuates her curves. Her hair is done in an elegant braid and her makeup is almost non-existent. She laughs at her fellow tribute, and says something that cause him to laugh as well. I want to walk over there and pummel him for talking to her. She shouldn't be laughing at him, she should be mine. Mine.

Her eyes wander around the room and the stop on us, I smirk as she looks at me. I can see a blush forming on her cheeks as she looks away. I can tell that she is doing all she can to not look which makes me smirk even more.

Carlia taps my shoulder and ushers me onto the chariot. The chariot moves forward and I am meet with screaming people. I raise an arm to them and wave. My face is neutral and doesn't show the confusion and the craziness of my mind. We are nearing the front when I hear the sound of the crowds double.

I look behind me and see district twelve riding along. Both tribute are sporting large fires behind them. I face the front and do my best to control my rage. How could she stand there and look so beautiful. How could she take away my spotlight. How?

When we reach the finish point I climb out of our chariot and walk over to our mentors and stylists. They go about congratulating us, but I don't listen to a word they say. I watch as Fianna walk away from her people and towards Marvel and Glimmer; the tributes of district one. They talk to each other and laugh and I can feel my rage and anger bubbling up again. As she turns to leave she catches me eyes for the second time that day. Her eyes then flick to ahead as she walks away before leaving with the others.

I want her.


Word Count: 2184

A/N: She talked to district one... say what!! You know I think someone is a little jealous that she was talking to Marvel. Hahaha. Anyway enjoy the story. Don't forget to hear, comment, follow and share. ❤

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