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Later, the massive doors slammed shut behind them as Estella and Aries's chariot gleamed under the lights, making a dramatic entrance. The parade had ended, and silence now loomed as they stood before the full gathering of districts, from One through Twelve.
Twenty-four children, most of whom would be dead within weeks, faced the same grim reality.
They stepped down from their chariots, and Aries immediately began stripping away the extra layers of his costume like some disinterested performer backstage at a run-down club. Without a word, he handed the animal pelt over to Estella, allowing her to wrap it around herself in an unspoken acknowledgment of her insecurities.
Choosing to ignore the judgmental glares thrown their way, they noticed a giant screen suspended above the crowd. It showed a broadcast room where two male commentators were discussing them. One of them, Claudius, was introduced by the other in a booming voice before announcing, "From the first moment everyone laid eyes on them, they never once showed weakness. Many are already voting for them as the victors of this year's 74th Annual Hunger Games!"
"Yes! I'm one of those people!" the other man, Caesar, exclaimed with flair. "Their mentor Dennis Fling even has quite the legendary background. We're expecting big things this year!"
Estella, unimpressed, shifted her attention elsewhere, her interest in the spectacle fading. Her eyes found a dark-skinned girl from District 11 being carefully watched by Katniss—likely still just a child. The girl, shaky and timid as she removed her costume, tugged at Estella's heart for reasons she couldn't quite explain. She understood, perhaps even shared, Katniss's fascination with her.
"...The Games are meant to be family entertainment, after all," one of the commentators cheerfully quipped.
Estella's head whipped around, a snap of disbelief echoing in the sudden movement. Her eyes, wide with surprise and a touch of apprehension, flickered towards Aries. He stood there, a volcano on the verge of eruption, his face flushed and his fists clenched. It looked as though he was holding himself back with every ounce of his strength, teetering precariously on the edge.
Recognizing the imminent danger of an outburst, Estella acted swiftly. She reached out, her fingers closing firmly around his arm, and with a determined tug, she began to pull him away from the offending screen. Her grip tightened on his forearm, a silent plea for composure. She knew his quick temper all too well; she'd witnessed it firsthand countless times, and she already understood the simmering rage that threatened to boil over within him.
Thankfully, their mentors arrived just in time. "That was wonderful! Wonderful!" Iphigenia gushed, beaming. "I knew there was a pretty girl under there somewhere! And you too, Aries!" she added with a wink.
Aries merely rolled his eyes, not at all amused by the attention or the comment. Estella kept a firm grip on his biceps, anticipating another outburst, but he didn't resist. Instead, he simply shifted on his feet, visibly bored and impatient.
