Reliving Choas

Chapter Five

As we slowly got off the chariot inside, Jenolan pulled me away and started to spray the flames with foam, killing them. Moments later they're all out on everybody and we are able to go inside and up to our waiting floor. There is a complete floor for every district, including 13. The elevator carried us up swiftly and we all exited it, stumbling onto the floor. My feet carried me away, toward the room with my name. My eye lids started to close as I walked and I quickly shook my head.

"Stay awake. The day isn't over," I growled at myself. Once I reached my room, I decided to stay in the costume since no one had told me I couldn't. While I walked into the large bathroom, I unbraided my hair. The pieces of cloth were clipped in for now so I didn't take them out. My face blushed under the make up when I looked at myself and realized I still had the jizabell in my mouth. Lifting my hand I took it out and found a vase like container and set it in there, filling it up with water. Moments later I had my hair brushed, the jizabell in my sleeping room, and a little of the makeup washed off but not all of it. When I turned to leave my room, I saw a card under the door. My hand snaked down and grabbed it, opening it with a single movement.

Jizabell, you looked stunning tonight. I'm sorry if I stay oblivious and unknown until I die but I just had to tell you that.

???

I shut it and put it under my pillow quietly then turned back to the door. Who would want to tell me that? Obviously one of the boys but which? I thought quietly, walking down the hall. Prim exited her room, also still in her dress but she had taken off her pair of black heels. She shot me a look that I couldn't understand and walked forward. Slowly I walked after her, following into the dining room. Mom, Dad, Tiffie, Jenolan, Slevasta, Lionizing, Florham, Lysine, Zaniest, Albion, and Creasiest all sat at the table, waiting for all the tributes to come in and take their places. The table was even larger than the one on the train and once again Mom and Dad sat at the ends. Then on one side the 4 girl Stylist sat with Tiffie sitting next to them. That side had one extra seat which Tiffie was obviously sitting at. Then the 4 boy Stylist sat on the side closest to us. I walked around and sat next to Jenolan, who was right next to Mom. She smiled as I sat there and I caught a hint of happiness and secretiveness in her eyes. Prim sat next to her Stylist and as Shimmer and Angel walked in, they did too. As the boys followed in and sat like us, next to their Stylist, I noticed that everyone had decided to stay in their costume.

Mom stood up and said, "Welcome and nice jobs in the chariots. And very nice costumes, Stylists," she said before sitting down. Dad nodded but didn't stand up to speak.

"Yes, very nice jobs and the costumes were wonderful. I'd like to say though that every costume being different yet the same in many ways were magnificent. And the unitard costumes, delightful," he said, shooting me a look. I smiled slightly but the smile didn't reach my eyes. The conversation started to switch and form into almost anything when the meal started to arrive. I concentrated on the food instead of the glares and glances that came from all around the table, except from the Stylists, Mom and Dad, and Tiffie. A sweet mushroom soup, tomatoes the size of a piece of corn, rare roast beef sliced into thin pieces the width of paper, noodles in creamy yellow broth, and strawberry's the size of a baby's head. The conversation stilled for a moment because of something said and then it went back again, switching topics. One pair of eyes never left me unless I looked up to see who I was. I had a feeling that it was the boy who had put the paper in my room.

A cake and a platter of cookies were brought in and everyone was full enough to have barely any. When everyone was done, I stood up and walked into the sitting room to watch the replay of the Opening Ceremonies. The first three Districts were pretty in their costumes but after them it was more dull and boring. Until we showed up on screen, it seemed like the camera men were falling asleep. But once our chariot exited the Remake Center, cheers and calls and about every approving sound that can be made was heard. A few cameras zoomed in and showed us riding down the street, all flames and smoke. I held a lot more attention than everyone else though and that made them shoot more glances at me. Even Prim did.