I walked over to Mox who was waiting outside of the bathroom for me. "What did the tests say, Ruth?" Mox sked me about the tests and I looked at him in complete shock and horror. "I'm... I'm pregnant with Roy's baby." I said as Mox's face turned from one of content to one of horror. "This is not good for any of us." Mox said sadly as he hugged me for reassurance. We then walked to where everyone else was to tell them about the news. Roy came running over to hug me but was stopped by Mox's hand as Roy is now confused. The others came up behind Roy with questioning looks on their faces. "Ruth has some news for the three of you." Mox said with a serious and sad tone. Joan's face switch from confusion to oh on in 2.5 seconds before putting a hand on Roy's shoulder. "You better want to sit down for this, Roy. It's going to make you faint in shock." Joan said to Roy who's more confused than ever. We then sat on the couch so I could speak to all of them with Mox standing behind me. "What's the matter? Why do I have to sit for the news?" Roy asked looking between Mox, Joan and I. "I'm pregnant... with Roy's child." I said as I looked down and everyone but Joan and Mox looked shocked at the news. "What? Really. This is great." Roy said as he got up and ran to hug me in happiness. "This is not good, Roy. Not only will you two be in the arena but your baby will." Clive said screaming at us in anger. But Joan calmed him down before handing him a drink that'll also help him be calm. "You two need to be with Finnick, Mags, Wiress, Beetee, Johanna, Katniss and Peeta in the arena. Tell them about the situation quietly and secretly. Once Snow hears about this, he'll try and kill all three of you in the games. Be careful to who you'll tell this to and stay safe in the arena." Joan said about the games and allies. We nodded in agreement and everyone went their separate ways but Roy and I. time skip. Having been through prep with Flanks, Venus, and Octavius numerous times, it should have just been an old routine to survive but I hadn't anticipated the emotional ordeal that awaited me. At some point during the prep, each of them burst into tears at least twice, and Octavius kept up a whimper throughout the whole morning. It turned out they had all become attached to me and the idea of returning to the arena had undone them. Combine that with the fact by losing me they'd be losing their ticket to all kinds of big social events. Especially, my wedding and the whole thing became unbearable. Or maybe I was being too harsh. The idea of being strong for someone else had never entered their heads. I found I was in the situation of having to console them. My anger rose since I was the one going to be slaughtered not them. It was interesting though I thought the people in the Capitol would like it. They had no problem in watching 26 children being murdered every year. But they knew too much about the victors, especially the ones who had been celebrities for ages, to forget they're human beings. It would be more like watching your own friends die. More like the games for the people in the Districts. By the time Cinna showed up, I was irritable and exhausted from my prep team, especially their constant tears reminding me of the ones being shed back home. Standing there in my thin robe with my stinging skin and heart, I couldn't bear another look of regret. So the moment he walked in I snapped at him. "I swear if you cry, I'll kill you here and now." I said and Cinna smiled. "Had a damp morning?" Cinna said laughing a bit as he put his arm around my shoulder and led me into lunch. "Don't worry. I always channel my emotions into my work. That way I don't hurt anyone but myself." Cinna said about his work. "I can't go through that again." I warned him. "I know. I'll talk to them." Cinna said about the prep team as lunch made me feel slightly better. A selection of jewel-coloured jellies and tiny versions of real vegetables swimming in butter, and potatoes mashed with parsley. For dessert we dipped chunks of fruit in a pot of melted chocolate, Cinna even had to order a second pot because I was eating the stuff with a spoon. "So what am I wearing for the opening ceremony?" I asked as I scraped the second pot clean. "Virus in test tube or fire?" I asked as I knew the chariot ride would require District 14 to wear something lab related. "Something along that line." He said giving me no hints. When it was time to get into my costume for the opening ceremony, my prep team turned up but Cinna shooed them away saying they had done such a spectacular job there was nothing else to do. They went off to recover, thankfully leaving me in Cinna's hands. He did my hair first, half braided then the rest left down curled. Next was my make-up. Last year he used little so everyone would recognize me in the arena. But this time my face was almost masked by the dramatic highlights and dark shadows. High arching eyebrows, sharp cheekbones, smouldering eyes and deep purple lips. The costume looked deceptively simple at first, just a fitted green to white jumpsuit. He placed a half crown like the ones I received as a victor on my head, but it was made of heavy black metal instead of gold. He adjusted the light in the moon to mimic twilight and pressed a button. I looked down fascinated, as my outfit slowly came to life, first with soft golden light but gradually transforming into an whiteish blue like test tube burner. I looked as though I had been coated in glowing crystals – no, I was the glowing lab-made crystal straight from a lab. Then coming from the back was sparks that left a trail of colour. "How did you do this?" I said in wonder about the costume. "Portia and I spent lots of hours watching fires. Now look at yourself." Cinna said about the fire as he turned me towards a mirror so I could take in the full effect. I didn't see a girl or even a women, but some unearthly being who looked as though she lived in the volcano that destroyed so many in Haymitch's quell. The black crown, which now appeared red-hot, casted a strange shadow on my dramatically made-up face. Ruth, the girl on Fire had left behind me flickering flames and bejewelled gowns and my girly candlelight frocks as I was as deadly as fire itself. "I think... this is just what I need to face the others." I said to Cinna about the others. "Yes, I think your days of blue lipstick and ribbons are behind you." Cinna said as he pressed the button putting the stop to the fire and now it looked as though I was just wearing a simple jumpsuit once again. "Let's not run down your power pack. When you're on the chariot this time, no waving, no smiling. I just want you to look straight ahead as if the entire audience is too below you to be worth your attention." Cinna said about the power pack. "Finally something I'll be good at." I said about not smiling. Cinna had a few more things to attend to, so I decided to head down to the remake centre, where everyone lined up before the ceremony. I was hoping to find Roy and Mox but they hadn't arrived yet. Unlike last year, when all the tributes were practically glued to their chariots, this scene was very social. The victors both tributes and mentors stood in small groups talking. I knew them all I just couldn't bring myself to go and join them all I was going to have to kill them. I stroked the neck of one of my horses and tried not to be noticed but It didn't work. The crunching hit my ear before I even knew someone was beside me. "Hey, Finnick," I said as I turned around and met his famous sea-green eyes. Finnick smiled as he popped a sugar cube into his mouth and leant against my horse. "Hello Rut." Finnick said smiling at me. "Hello Fin." I said to him also smiling. "Want a sugar cube?" He said offering his hand which was piled high. "They're supposed to be for the horses but who cares? They've got years to eat sugar. But we... well if we see something sweet, we better grab it quick." I said laughing at how many he has as we were something of living legends in Panem. Since we won our Hunger Games when we was only 14 and 16, Finnick was still one of the youngest victors. Being from District 4, he was a career, so the odds were already in his favour, but what no trainer could claim to have given him was his extraordinary beauty. Tall, athletic, with golden skin and bronze-coloured hair and his beautiful eyes. While other tributes that year were hard pressed to get a handful of grain or some matches for a gift, Finnick never wanted anything, not food or medicine or weapons. It took about a week for his competitors to realize that he was the one to kill but it was too late. He was already a good fighter with the spears and knives he found in the Cornucopia. When he received a silver parachute with a trident – which was one of the most expensive gifts given in the arena – it was all over. District 4's industry was fishing. He'd been on boats all his life. The trident was a natural, deadly extension of his arm. He wove a net out of vine he found, used it to entangle his opponents so he could spear them with the trident, and within a matter of days the crown was his. The citizens of the Capitol had been drooling over him ever since. Because of his youth they couldn't really touch him for the first year or two. But ever since he turned sixteen, he'd spent his time at the games being dogged by those desperately in love with him. No one retained his favour for long. He usually went through four or five in his annual visit. Old or young, lovely or plain, rich or very rich, he kept them company and took their extravagant gifts, but he never stayed, and once he was gone he never came back. "No thanks. I'd love to borrow your outfit sometime, though." I said laughing about the sugar and his outfit. He was draped in a golden net that's strategically knotted at his groin so that he can't technically be called naked, but he's about as close as you can get. I'm sure his stylist thinks the more of Finnick the audience could see, the better. "You're absolutely terrifying me in that get-up. What happened to the pretty little-girl dresses?" He asked about my other outfits. "I outgrew them." I said about them as well. "It's too bad about this quell thing. You could have made out like a bandit in the Capitol. Jewels, money, anything you wanted." He said sadly about me leaving. It would appear to anyone that didn't know them that they were flirting but they always played a game – it was mere taking the mickey out of the Capitol, as they were the Capitol Darlings. "I don't like jewels and I have more money than I need. What do you spend all yours on, anyway, Fin?" I asked about his money. "Oh I haven't dealt in anything as common as money in years. With secrets." He said softly as Finnick grinned at me. He tipped his head, so his lips were almost in contact with mine. "What about you, Girl on Fire? Capitol Darling? Warrior Queen? Do you have any secrets worth my time?" Finnick asked me and I stood my ground. "No I'm an open book. Everybody seems to know my secrets before I know them myself." I whispered back and he smiled. "Unfortunately, I think that's true." His eyes flickered over to the group of careers – Brutus, Enobaria, Cashmere and Gloss. "I'm sorry you had to cancel your wedding. I know how devastating that must be for you." He said about Roy's and my wedding as we stared at one and other before grinning cheekily. I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him before whispering into his ear. "How is she?" I asked about Annie and Mags. "They're okay." He said about them as well. "I love you big bro." I said to him. "I love you too little sis." He said as we stepped away. "Fin." I said sadly smiled at him. "Rut." Finnick said before sauntered away back to his chariot. I looked around and saw Roy walking over with Cinna as Roy stood next to me. "What did Finnick Odair want?" Roy said about Finnick. "Nothing." I said looking away from him. "I was only asking." He said about asking me. "Well next time don't." I said about it then there was suddenly, an announcement for everyone. "All tributes to chariots, all tributes to chariots." The announcer said to everyone and Cinna handed us each a button. "Press these when you're ready." Cinna said as the crowd exploded into cheers as the Victors began to ride out. But the whole crowd erupted into screams when Roy and I rode out but neither reacted. I simply fixed my eyes on a point far in the distance and pretended there was no audience, no hysteria. I couldn't help but catch a glimpse of them on the huge screens along the route, and they weren't just beautiful, they were dark and powerful. They were both unforgiving and I loved it; I was getting to be myself. Finally, as they curved around into the loop of the City Circle, I could see that a couple of other stylists had tried to steal Cinna and Portia's idea of illuminating their tributes. The electric-light-studded outfits from 3, where they made electronics, at least made sense. But livestock keepers from 10, who were dressed as cows, with flaming belts? Broiling themselves? Pathetic. Katniss and Peeta has a burning coal ember that blended well with ours more than others. Roy and I on the other hand, were so mesmerizing with our fire costume – most of the other tributes were staring at them. The morphlings from 6 as both bone thin and their skin was yellow. They didn't take their eyes of Roy and I even when President Snow began to speak. The anthem played and the Victors made our final trip around the circle. I glared at Snow, and he continued to stare at me until I was out of sight. I waited until I was safely inside to relax. Cinna and Portia were there and were both pleased with Roy's and my performance. Joan and Mox had come down but was standing with District 11. I looked at him and he nodded at me as I began to make my way over to them. "Ruth!" Cato shouted from behind me as he probably wanted to talk to me. "Go away." I yelled back slightly bitterly and walked quicker to them. "Ruth what have I done?" Cato asked about himself as I rolled my eyes. I reached Haymitch, Joan, Mox, Chaff and Seedar. Chaff a man known to always be drinking with Haymitch. He'd dark skinned, about two metres tall and had a missing hand. The Capitol offered him an artificial one, but he refused. Seedar, also dark skinned was around sixty. She was strong and didn't drink or take drugs. Seedar hugged me before I could stop myself the question slipped out. "The families." I asked referring to Rue and Thresh's families. "They're alive." Seedar said softly before letting me go as Chaff slung his good arm around my shoulders "Alright little Rut?" Chaff said as I chucked and nodded as Chaff glanced behind me. "Well I don't think we've met." Chaff said slyly as I looked behind me to see Cato and Roy. "Chaff this is Cato and Roy. Roy, Cato this is Chaff and Seedar from 11." I said as Roy wrapping an arm around my waist while Cato wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "Cato let go." I said as I knew Roy would mad at him. "I don't know what I've done." He said as Roy pushed him off not so gently. "Stop touching my girl, man." Roy said as Cato looked between me and Roy. "What! When did this happen?" Cato asked about Roy's and my expressions. "I'm sorry Cato." I said as Roy, Mox, Joan, and I walks away. Cato watched in misery as we got into an elevator with Mox, Joan, Roy, and I. Johanna walks in as she pulled off her headdress of leafy branches and tossed it beside her not caring where it went. She won her games by portraying herself as weak and helpless so that she would be ignored. Then she demonstrated her wicked ability to murder. "Hey Rutty." Johanna said to me smiling then nodded to Joan and Mox. "Hi Strawberry." I said chuckling softly at my nickname for her. It was a long-standing joke since Johanna hated strawberries and everyone in the victor family knew about it. "Isn't my outfit awful? My stylist's the biggest idiot in Capitol. Our tributes have been trees for years under her. Wish I'd got Cinna and you look amazing." Johanna said about her stylist and Cinna. "Yeah. He's my favourite Capitol person. Well one of the only ones I like." I said as Johanna smiled. She asked Roy to unzip her dress and let it drop to the floor. Except for her shoes she had nothing on. "That's better." Johanna said as I rolled my eyes as Roy tried not to check her out and Joan and Mox smirked to themselves as they watch Roy being helpless.
