Her Victory, Their Life| F. Odair

3. Tribute Parade

Emory had woken up and was eating breakfast. Evan was telling them more about the arena and she was taking notes at the table as she ate more food even though she had more than enough last night. That was one of the things her uncle had explained to her: you needed a full stomach when you went in so that you didn't starve to death in the first few days. It would help you survive even longer without food.

"What about getting sponsors?" Emory asked, looking up from her food.

Evan smiled at her, "you won't have to worry about that. You need to get people to like, give them a reason to watch, a spectacle, get them interested."

"Woah," Emory said, looking out the window. It was the second time Emory had ever seen the Capitol, but it still amazed her. It was huge and decorated with some of the most expensive things ever. They made it to the station where hundreds of people were there to welcome them. Coran stood next to her as they waved at the people outside of the window.

District 1 got off the train first, then two, all the way until District 12 was off. Porter put her hand on Emory's back and directed her through the crowd.

She was taken somewhere and forced to get undressed so they could clean her. They hosed her down, plucked her eyebrows, waxed her, brushed her hair.

After they were done, she was left in a blue hospital gown in a stone room until a man came in. She sat up as he introduced himself, "Hello dear, I'm Demetri," he said, shaking her hand.

"Emory," she smiled at him.

"Now, I know you're young and this isn't ideal, but I'm here to make it better, I'm here to help you make an impression," he smirked, crossing his arms. "So, we normally do outfits for the tribute parade based on districts."

"Mine's power."

"Exactly, we have a lot to work with and I think I have something that'll be perfect for you."

Demetri had put her in a yellow and gold dress that was mesh at the bottom with light. Her shoes were heels that had crystals on them, and she was wearing diamond earrings that made a bright glare in the sun. She felt very pretty. She still looked young, they were playing off her innocence for this, trying to earn sympathy points.

Coran was dressed in a gold/ yellow suit that played off hers with lights on the ends of his jacket and on his tie. He was off talking to one of the careers. He was trying to form an alliance, thinking it was better. Emory however, kind of wanted to go alone. She looked like a scared little girl, hiding in a corner.

She was standing by her chariot, waiting for them to call for them when a mentor came up to her. "Emporia Falkum, beautiful name."

She looked at him with a smile, "thanks, I go by Emory, what's yours?"

"Finnick Odair," he held out his hand. "Last year's victor, this year's mentor."

"Right, youngest to ever win," she nodded. He chuckled and smiled at her. His smile gave her butterflies, and she couldn't help but smile wider.

"Think you can break my record?" He asked. She looked down, nervous, "I can always try, can't I?"

"Yes, yes you can, uh, parades about to start, I'll see you around," he waved and headed off.

"Yeah, bye," she waved to him. They were called to mount their chariots and Emory got on before Coran climbed on with her.

"Remember what Demetri said, smile and wave, smile and wave," Coran muttered to himself as District 1 set off. Their chariot started to move and soon they were out of the tunnel and in front of thousands of people. Their faces were on the flags. Emory put on her best and biggest smile as she raised her hands, waving to people excitedly.

Their chariot rounded in front of the President as he got up to speak. "Welcome. Welcome. Tributes. We welcome you. We salute the courage and your sacrifice. And we wish you happy Hunger Games. And may the odds be ever in your favor." The crowd went crazy as the Chariots rounded back to the tunnel for the tributes to get back.

"That was perfect," Porter told them as they dismounted the chariot.

"Really? It doesn't seem like we made an impression," Coran said worriedly. Evan laughed, shaking his head.

"Don't worry, you still have plenty of opportunities to do that." He gestured to Falle and she grinned, grabbing both of their hands. They followed Falle to the tribute center as other tributes did the same with their escorts. "So, each of the districts got their own floor," she started as they got in the elevator, and she pressed 5. "I'll give you a tour." The door opened and they entered the living room. "So, this is the living room." Emory and Coran gasped. Everything was new and colorful, looking like it was made of marble.

"Now, your rooms are right over here. Why don't you go clean yourselves up a little before dinner," Falle told them. Emory nodded and entered her room. It had a conjoining bathroom. She first went into the closet and grabbed pants and a shirt before making her way to the bathroom.

After dinner she sat on the bed and grabbed the remote on her bedside. It changed the window to her side to a forest. She pressed it again and it was a beach. Again, and it was a waterfall with the sounds. She smiled and put it down. She got into bed and let the tears fall.

"I'm gonna die in two weeks. I'll be dead and I'll never see my family again," she curled up and cried into her pillow until she fell into a not so peaceful sleep.