The Hunger Games

Chapter Seven

"You two did well. You have lots of sponsors already. Especially Borris. A lot is in your favor."

I rolled my eyes at Brutus and gave a friendly pat to Borris's shoulder.

"I don't know about you but I am getting this stupid crap off."

Ebinora laughed and nodded.

"Make sure to hand the clothes up. An Avox will be around to collect them for archives."

I rolled my eyes and made it to my room. I immediately started untying the stupid corset and quickly trying to get the torched chamber off. I walked over to my wardrobe grabbing a hanger to hang the god forsaken thing. I peeled the remaining clothes before turning the shower as hot as I could. I scrubbed my skin like my life depended on it. I kept going until my skin was raw. I punched the wall frustrated. The tears came down my face. I was going to die. That is all I could think. From today forward I have 5 days until I am thrown into an arena. There I am accepting the fate that will be greeting me. I slid down the side wall allowing the water to hit my skin. My skin was raw and I no longer could feel the grime or anything on it. I weakly reached over shutting the water out and just stayed there. I stared at the clear doors that were fogged over. I don't know how long I stayed there but I did think about the same thing. Cato. I had to win for him. I had to win for my brother. I took a deep breath before standing up. I weakly got up, opening the door, drying off and putting on some clothes. I ran a comb through my hair letting the long locks fall around my shoulders. My hair was still long. I fell to my mid back and now had little red highlights running through it. My eyes looked tired. There was still a little black grime rimming my eyes. I grabbed a washcloth and started scrubbing the rest of it off. I turned walking to the main room where Borris sat looking worried.

"Kit, you good? I heard a bang and I thought..."

"I am fine."

He shook his head. He didn't say anything, he just came over and gave me a hug. I was tiny compared to him so I came up to the bottom of his chest. I hugged him back and allowed my silent tears to stream down my face.

"How does it not bother you? The way they look at us?"

He pulled back and looked at me with furrowed brows.

"Who, Kit?"

"Everyone, the Capital looks at us like livestock and the other tributes look at us like monsters."

"Oh Kitty, they are just scared. Scared like you and me. The capital, well they are just sick."

I went back to hugging him. Well there goes the idea of no attachments.

"Borris, I don't want you to die. I don't want to kill you."

He let out a breath.

"I don't want to kill you either Kit. I hate to admit it but you have grown on me."

I laughed and stepped away and whipped under my eyes. I shook out my wet hair and put on a smile.

"Food?"

Borris chuckled and nodded.

"Food."

We walked out to the dinning hall where another massive meal awaited us. It was dark outside, showing that the whole drama of makeup and 'cleaning us up' took all day. No wonder why the capital stylist was so cranky. We took the same seats as last time and we ate in silence.

"Kit, I should have told you, but you have a lot of sponsors interested in you as well. You will be well off in the games."

I nodded and put my fork down.

"I am willing to have Borris as an alli."

No one spoke for a second but they did stop eating.

"I can't kill him even if I want to. Like I told him in the other room. I don't want to. I will hesitate and it will get me killed."

"Short stack, you know I will alli with the other careers."

I looked at him and shook my head no.

"I won't alli with them but know if we come across each other, I have your back, as long as you don't try to kill me. I am not saying anything about District 1. I will kill them no hesitation."

Borris nodded.

"I can live with that."

Brutus smiled and clapped his hands.

"About time! I mean Kit you had me worried. Ok we have some planning to do. We will put it that if you come across each other you help each other, before other alliances ok?"

Borris and I both nodded our heads.

"Home before them."

Borris smiled.

"Home before them."