KILL FOR YOUR LOVE ― the hunger games

(021) to kill the girl

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KILL FOR YOUR LOVE.

act two. 

(chapter twenty-one, to kill the girl)

capitol train, 75 ADD.

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JUNIPER STILL ALLOWED HER tears to roll down her cheeks steadily, letting them drip onto the bed. She granted herself this little time of vulnerability. This was the only moment she was allowed to cry. After this, emotion was no longer allowed. Juniper Hale had to be emotionless, cold-hearted, the Juniper Hale that the Capitol, for some reason, loved. And the Juniper Hale that wouldn't get hurt. 

So, when Nadine knocked on her door slightly and announced dinner was ready, the woman hurriedly wiped her tears away and cleaned herself up. No more emotion, no more vulnerability. 

And so, she felt lighter and emptier as she exited her bedroom. She went down the hall and before she even reached the dining cart, she could smell the wondrous dinner the cooks had conjured up. She closed her eyes momentarily to cherish the scent. But when she opened the door to enter the cart, she had to snap her eyelids open when Nadine Groves let out a huge screech. 

"Your hair!" Nadine screamed. Lucy and Brent both jumped high in their chairs. "Your hair! What did you do?"

"I cut it," Juniper replied simply and she eyed the escort, who hurried over to her, grasping her locks in her manicured hands. Brent grumbled something under his breath and turned back to his dinner whilst Lucy eyed the two women with amusement twinkling in her pupils. 

"You cut it?" Nadine shrieked again. "This is horrendous! This isn't even straight nor good!"

"I think it's smart." Lucy nodded, interrupting the yelling escort. "It's strategic."

Nadine scoffed quickly as she turned to face the mentor, asking, "How is this strategic?"

"So I'm not running around in the arena with my hair whipping about everywhere." Juniper rolled her eyes. "It could get me killed."

"That would be a shame..." Brent grunted. 

"How's your nose?" Juniper sneered as she sat down next to Lucy, across from Nadine as she too simmered down, still eyeing the new haircut. 

But Brent didn't answer and Juniper didn't care. She became focused on the pasta and spinach dish served in-front of her and immediately tucked in, pouring a sort of red sauce over the top and dipping her bread that was in a basket on the table into it. It was accompanied by a juice that tingled in Juniper's mouth and everyone was enthralled with the meal. No-one spoke whilst they ate, the only sounds being cutlery scraping against the plates and the odd person slurping on their drinks. The food was too good to stop and consider conversation. But alas, it was soon all gone and their plates were taken away by the Avoxes, leaving them all in an uncomfortable silence. 

"So..." Lucy mumbled. "This year is obviously different."

"No shit." Juniper rolled her eyes.

Lucy ignored the Hale woman's comment and carried on speaking. "Everyone in this Games is experienced. They know what to do. They know what to say for interviews, know how to act for the Parade, know what to do for training. Don't let your guard down. Don't expect things because they will surprise you."