the ruler [THE HUNGER GAMES]¹

Twenty one.

PERSEPHONE has done it again. She's made me look more beautiful than I could've ever imagined for the interviews. I'm wearing a sheer green gown that hugs my figure nicely but has a skin-toned undergarment so that I'm not indecent and she's put minimal makeup on my face except for my eyes which she's adorned with dark powders and long lashes. Beautiful jewels hang from my ears, of which she says are mined in District One for their luxurious Capitol clientele.

"Thank you Persephone," I whisper as I stand in the mirror in my bedroom. She smiles from next to my shoulder and places one final pin in my hair to hold it up.

"It's my job to remind the world of how beautiful you are Fawn. Because I know you don't see it yourself, and you really are beautiful." She says.

I have to look away to stop myself from tearing up, because this is probably the last good time I will have with my stylist. Because she's one of the only people on this planet who reminds me of my self-worth and beauty, and because she is a friend. I don't have many people I truly trust, especially not ones who don't share my trauma and who I don't constantly worry for the safety of. When I'm with her I can switch off from everything.

"Hey," she says gently, tilting my face towards hers to dab at my bottom eyelashes with a tissue, "what's wrong?"

I wrap my hand around her wrist, trying to find some grounding on my seriously slippery life situation. "I'm not going home, P. I'm scared." I admit.

She studies my face and puts the tissue in her pocket, "I know you'll find a way."

    I chuckle sadly, "a way to what?"

    Persephone takes my hand from her wrist and clasps it in both of hers, "to make it count. Everything you believe in. I know it will come out on top."

    I can't help the singular tear that rolls down my cheek when she speaks. I hope with everything in me that she is kept safe if the rebellion succeeds, because I would never be able to live with myself if she got stuck in the crossfire.

—

    I'm escorted to the interview backstage by some peacekeepers and deposited with a bored Enobaria and Brutus, Jacinth sat just opposite them getting his face re-powdered. My district partner looks striking in black suit pants and a white button-down shirt that is buttoned down as far as it can possibly go. A lot of people in the crowd will be swooning for my friend tonight.

    "You look great," I spin around to see Katniss Everdeen getting her dress adjusted by Cinna and her prep team.

    A wedding dress.

    "Is that..." I can't even get the words out. Katniss in a wedding dress means only one thing.

    She glances down at it and laughs, "a wedding dress? Yeah. Snow said I should wear it."