The Hunger Games are merciless.
Every year, 24 tributes are chosen to fight to the death in an arena specially built by the game makers.
But these tributes aren't volunteers. Or adults. These tributes are between the ages of 12-18. And they're picke...
She had to remember the Capitol. It wouldn't leave her alone, not for a second. No matter what she did, it stayed, ever-present in her mind.
In the Capitol, they were handsy.
And it started when Jade was getting ready with Caligula.
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Her dress was modelled after a set of armour. 2 was often dressed as gladiators, the stylists were supposed to follow the theme.
It was a nice dress. And Jade enjoyed getting ready. She did.
Caligula braided Jade's hair into Fulani braids, securing them into a ponytail to keep them out of her face.
Her makeup was applied afterward and they had a little pep talk in the dressing room to hype her up before the party.
Jade enjoyed it.
And then it was time for Hestia to physically take Jade to the party. They rode in one of the Capitol vehicles, a fancy black SUV.
They were the last to arrive so Jade could make her grand entrance. And on the way in, Hestia had more to explain.
She explained to Jade that she needed to be on her best behaviour. Jade was going to be meeting many of her fans and needed to be nice to them.
Jade was also going to be meeting her top sponsors from the games and Hestia was sure to express the importance of making connections.
But the steps up to the palace were familiar. Jade had come here. To be told she would become a pawn for Snow. A piece, a token. A prize.
She walked slowly up to them, following Hestia who was dressed to the nines in a fully pink outfit. Pink hair, lips, clothes, shoes, makeup. All of it was a very bright shade of pink that hurt Jade's eyes.
The escort encouraged Jade to walk faster as they made it closer to the party. Jade could hear the music, smell the liquor and the scent of a hundred people's perfume mixing together.
To keep herself occupied, Jade looked around the palace grounds and noticed a few things had changed.
Some of the statues had been replaced by real-life performers. There were a dozen or so men and women performing dangerous tricks involving fire and swords as partial entertainment.
