The 72nd Hunger Games

Chapter 3

Bow

Im shaking,
my body is electrified, pulsating,
I can feel every beat of my heart like bolts of electricity.
I can see the girl whose place I am about to take, stood beside the stage -she's prepared to volunteer, with her silver dress and bangles , all ready to be shown to the capitol.
Little does she know that I'm also prepared, wearing a rhinestone dress of even shinier silver , even my hair is bejewelled with glittering grey and intertwined with intricate metallic braids and knots.

'Now, without further ado, let's select our female tribute' Our capitol escort Tassalt Brim bellows out, giving a knowing wink to the side of stage- where the selected volunteers from the academy are stood. Tassalt immediately plummets into the bowl, and draws a name. My heart racing now, i can see the girl readying her stance. 'Freda Ampie!' before the crowd can identify the girl, before the academy girl can volunteer i rush out of my section. 'I volunteer!' I call out. The entire square turns towards me. confused mutters arise, undoubtedly questioning wether this will be allowed.

After no one protests, Tassalt raises his brow towards the mayor, who shrugs, and gestures me to take the stage. Still shaking, I approach the stairs, The girl with the bangles is sniffling into a muscular boys huge arms. When she arises, she shoots me a deathly glare, and before i could grasp the banister, the girl has launched herself upon me. The force knocked me onto the floor, with her silver guilded hands shooting down on me. This is probably an attempt to prove that she would be the best tribute, so i punch her square in the face, and shove her off me as I rise to my feet. I kick her flailing legs away, and ascend up the stairs. I neatly tuck my hair back into place and shake Tassalts spare hand, a clear sign that I won the altercation . I smile at the crowd, though my temple is still aching from the imprints of her metal bracelets. Some chatter and cheers had begun, and overall the tussle may just of been a good thing, the Capitol will certainly enjoy it.

Axel

I pull up Azara from the ground.
I've Never seen my cousin so disheveled, her legs sprawled out like a weak animal and her dark hair frizzy and tangled.
I also don't think I've ever seen Azara lose a fight, but maybe the fact I've actually never seen her fight without prep and practice has something to do with her weak attempt at a attack.
I guide her away to her mother, who embraced her with a muddled expression, looking at her as if she may blow up at any point. I need her off my hands, I'm not letting her failure to volunteer hinder mine, what if this girl has a accomplice? Some equally buff boy steadying to take my place?

A large part of my brain is relieved, I wasn't looking forward to having too eliminate my cousin- which would've been inevitable considering our training in the academy. Yet my mind can't shake the thought of this girl, if she had thwarted Azara with such ease, a well trained and strong contender, what kind of threat may she be?
Maybe its best to suppress my anger towards her? At first I was sure to exclude her from the career alliance- but now? I think she's better off as a teammate.

Luckily my turn to volunteer went to plan. As expected, Tassalt read some lucky souls name, and I stepped forward, my hand raised- and volunteered in his place.
Once I had ascended the stairs i strode towards Tassalt and shook his hand. Once I found the camera I spread a grin across my face and when asked to shake the girls hand, Who had declared her name to be 'Bow', I smirked down at her and gripped her hand tightly. She grins and pulls my hand closer, and kisses it. I can't help but let my smile falter, what on earth is she thinking? If she's trying to start some sort of romance for the Capitol she can get lost- Ive only just decided not to kill her.

Once we had been led into the justice hall, My mother and father calmly wished me good luck, but no goodbyes, they know I'm coming back. We were taken on a short cab ride to the station, in which Tasssalt commended both of our performances at the reaping.
He had only just finished praising Bows chosen hairstyle, when the train arrived. Inside, the walls are of a metallic black and encrusted with tiny gemstones, while the floors are carpeted a thick red. The glamour is blinding, I've seen some gemstones and nice fixtures at the Mayors house when I accompanied my father to dinners, but nothing ever so elaborate, so unnecessary.
The shimmering and glinting of the walls reflecting off the warm afternoon sun makes rays of multicoloured beams of light, creating a image of opulence Ive never encountered before. Tassalt places himself in a chartreuse velvet armchair, and suddenly his bold and out of place Capitol look, seemed quite normal. He gestures to two matching chairs opposite, and me and bow take our seats. Though Bows silver dress and my perfectly tailored suit are quite luxurious and uncommon in district 2, we both look utterly misplaced in the glowing room. However, even the grotesquely neon chairs couldn't balance Tassalt's utterly abhorrent Capitol accent, it's odd pitch, the way he said 'dears' at the end of every sentence, disgusting.

Other than Tassalt, this Capitol life seems admirable- what I deserve, where I belong.