The Hunger Games - The Rise of the Phoenix

Chapter 19

    I'm back in the styling room. Today is my last interview before I get to go home. I like that word, 'home'.
    "Doesn't the prep team usually do all this?" I ask Aneen.
    "Yes, but I wanted to see a little more because I wanted you to look perfect for the interview." She responds.
    When she's done my nails are a darkish green and my dress matches them. My hair is in two braids. I barely have makeup on.

    I'm about to go on stage for my interview. I feel a little nervous. I guess I'll have to tell Ceasor exactly what I told Henry.
    I hear his intro. Peacekeepers rush into a tube just like the one I was in when I entered the arena. I bang on the glass but I can't get out. So I scream. "HELP!" I scream over and over. It starts rising. I panic. When I can see what's above the tube it's the arena. I blink and it's gone. I stand there. I can't move.
    "Let's also hear it for her mentors and parents Katniss and Peeta Mellark!" Their tubes rise too. Dad sees my face and runs over to me. He hugs me.
    "It's okay. You're okay. I'm right here. You're in the capitol not the arena, okay?" He whispers. I hug him back. I want to cry. He takes my hand and waves to the audience making them go crazy. Mom is over talking to Ceasor. I walk with dad gripping his hand. We sit down on a long white couch long enough for dad, mom, and me.
    "Now Sage, you were incredible in the arena! What talent you had there!" Ceasor says. The audience applauds.
    "Thanks." Is all I can say.
    "What's on your mind?" He asks me.
    "We'll, I didn't know killing people is a talent." Dad shoves me with his foot and gives me a look.
    "I meant more like you are good at it, not that it was a talent. Anyways, let's watch the highlight reels of Sage Mellark in the 87th hunger games!"
    The first video that plays in of River and I holding hands in the chariot. I watch as our black outfits burn into beautiful fiery new outfits. The crowd cheers. The next clip is of Ceasor announcing my training score. "Sage getting a score of, you guys are not going to believe this but, twelve!" Then it shows my reaction. That's strange there wasn't any cameras in there. The next clip is of me twirling in my interview dress. Then, it flashes to me in the arena. It zooms in on my face. "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1" the gong sounds and I run towards the cornucopia. I get there first and while I'm grabbing knives Cannon stops me and asks or more so demands me to be apart of the career pack. I tell him yes and we start killing people. Then it shows me and River at the same time looking at each other. I mouth run. I grab my dad's hand and squeeze it tight. I really don't like this.