Secrets & Tears

5

        A few hours later, I found myself in a beautiful bathing suit. It had an illusion neckline with a deep v connecting it to my top.

Ruched bottoms and a transparent overskirt that showed my belly, and with what Vesta had planned, we would look extraordinary. At least, that's what she had told me.

"This is the latest technology from District Three. It'll look real to the audience, but you'll know the secret," She winked.

I went to take a closer look at the mirror and found I was different than I remembered. Only my lips. They were...fuller. I didn't think they would change anything, not that they haven't for past Tributes, but I wasn't unhappy with my face, nor my body, beforehand, so this was a surprise. I looked down to see if any other change had been made, but my lips seemed to be the only alteration that was made to me.

I looked around for Nyle, and I sighed in relief when I saw he was wearing an almost identical costume as mine.

He saw me and started walking towards me. Nyle wrapped on a giant bear hug. After we parted, he squeezed my shoulder reassuringly and whispered, "Are you ready, little sister?"

I nodded as our stylists led us to our chariots. Beautiful horses were going to pull us into the tribute parade.

"Press this button when you're ready," Vesta said as she adjusted our costumes. "Don't forget to win the crowd with those pretty faces," she said with her Capitol accent. She quickly jumped off the chariot and she and Nyle's stylist moved out of the way for the other district chariots.

The massive doors opened, and we could hear the cheering of the crowd even though we were far away. I suddenly grew nervous. This, all of this, is what I have dreamed of since I was a child, since they sent Golden Boy to compete. I don't know if I'm ready for it.

A waving hand catched my attention and I saw GoldeーFinnick. I see Finnick waving at me, giving me a thumbs up right before our chariot departed.

I feel a bit more confident than I did before and I smile as I reach for Nyle's hand, something he gladly accepts. It's our turn to go, lights washing over us as we exit into the Avenue of Tributes.

Everyone is cheering and I look at Nyle for confirmation. "Button?" I questioned.

He nodded. "Button."

Now, Vesta had said the technology from Three was still experimental, she didn't even know if it would work. I had expected our names in the sky, that way everyone would know who we were, or maybe some ocean waves that seemed like they might come to you but banished at the last second. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

It was not a shapeless cloud of mist, but a blinding, dazzling, silver animal. I narrowed my eyes at the blinding light, trying to see what it was. It looked like a horse. It was galloping silently away from us, making little ripples of where it had stepped, and into the audience, who in turn were jumping up and down to try and touch it. They cheered even more when a person appeared behind the beautiful horse. Not because it was pretty, but because the horse violently jerked him off and disappeared into the holographic waves of the fake ocean.

In front of me, I saw a beautiful woman, swimming in between the translucent hologram. I realised they were supposed to tell a story. She started singing and the men leaned forwards to hear her beautiful singing, but just like Nyle's horse, she pulled him in, drowning him, showing her sparkling fishtail.

I looked up and saw me and Nyle on the screens, showcasing our costumes which glittered in the light.

My smile widened as I looked around me, and as I waved everyone waved back.