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THE SOUND OF hooves beating against the concrete was one of the many deafening sounds in the dark chamber leading up to the parade. The first chariot reeled forward and then the next and so on. Her heart was hammering in her chest, the air was thick and suffocating as she attempted to take full breaths in. Her spine had been frozen stiff. She had been congregated to the left side of the chariot, hand clasping at the bronze railing with a vice-like grip. Her face had remained placid, looking forward.
"Can I hold your hand?" Cassian's voice was low and broken. Meeting his eyes for the first time, she noticed they had been colored a light shade of ecru brown, reflecting a youthful anima with the light streaks of silver reflected in his eyes. She had noticed the small crack in his exterior just like in the car when she had heard the far away whimpers escaping his lips as their escort raved. A sigh brushed past her thin lips as she nodded, looking forward again. Holding out her right hand for him. His fingers intertwined with hers, palms flat against one another.
Their chariot lurched forward, their grip tightened both on the bronze railing and on each other. The bright stadium lights were blinding as they entered the long stone hedge pathway. There was a small moment when she was completely frozen, stuck in a world where everything moved around her in blurs while she was frozen in time. Her eyes drifted towards the large television front, and she saw herself.
Turn your heads high, bright smiles, and wave. They are going to love you.
Apollo had done his part, now it was time for her to fulfill hers. She had to make a decision now. To keep a promise, and try her best to survive.
Her lips lifted to a bright smile chin turning up. Her left hand had slowly loosened on the bronze railing and lifted up waving at the gawking crowd. They were all staring at the tributes from eight, cheering throwing flowers at the pair. Orianna had caught one of the pink roses thrown at her, blowing kisses to the crowd. She saw the citizens catch her false sentiments as if they were real tangible things, fanning their faces. Then Cassian rose their conjoined hands into the air and the crowd went wild. All screaming and cheering for the pair from the textile district. The bold white lights made not only the gems glisten on her dress, but the intricate embroidery-stitched to her sleeve stood out. Even the smallest details had meshed together with glimmering iridescence glowing from her dress.
Their chariot veered into the loop of the city circle, following the other chariots as they too circled around. The stallions slowed to a stop at the foot of President Snow's balcony, where he stood peering over the edge to observe the tributes with a keen eye. The thin man with wisps of paperwhite hair recited the same speech that he did every year expressing his false gratitude for the noble sacrifice of the tributes securing the peace and prosperity of a nation and its people. Orianna's gaze had been trained on the man. He waved to the crowd with his rugous hand hidden beneath white silk gloves. And then he turned to look at the tributes, catching Orianna's eye. When he did his lips had quirked up into a malicious grin.
