𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐒𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐍 | 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀

SEVEN

My sleep is filled with comforting dreams. It's as if my brain knows what memory to play in order to comfort me in the worst of times. It's from the day our ancestors liked to call Valentine's day. It is a day celebrated with romantic love, friendship and admiration along with the lovebirds of early spring. Aurelia and I learnt about it as kids when we would read about it in old novels talking about all sorts of love and eventually it became a tradition between us to celebrate it together. We would sit in the meadows near the Fields having a picnic as we made bouquets and flower crowns for one another, then we'd go to the Centre holding them in our arms as we went shopping for each other before finally hiking up to the Cliffs to have dinner at our favourite restaurant and watch the sunset. It was just as good as Christmas or any of our birthday parties.

I still remember the day she had turned sixteen and how we had thrown a sweet sixteen birthday party for her. I still remember her smile on that day when she saw all her friends show up at our house and how happy she was talking to them around the bonfire.

I can tell dawn is breaking as small streams of sunlight break through the windows. The Capitol seems to have rather misty air as I can't seem to see much in the horizon. I let out a sigh, how is it possible for dreams to feel so real? It had felt like I was really back in District 4 until I had woken up to my harsh reality.

Slowly, I drag myself out of bed and head into the shower. I don't feel nearly awake enough to bother with the control panel so I punch the buttons aimlessly until the shower feels just right. I wash my body with the fancy soap they had which smelt like lavender and wash my face in order to wake myself up. The hot water doesn't do the trick so I go back to the control panel to adjust the temperature till it was icy cold and it's only then that I wake up. I dry myself off and moisturise myself with lotion before changing to the outfit I find has been left for me at the front of the closet. It's skin-tight black leggings and a short sleeved blue top and leather boots.

I gather my hair into a ponytail and secure it with a hair tie and find that whoever has left the outfit has also taken my costume and jewellery from the ceremony. I hope it has made its way to Valeria well. The outfit reminds me of my wetsuit for whatever reason and it's the first time since the reaping that I resemble myself. Perhaps it's the lack of fancy clothes and hair that makes me look more like myself and I find it comforting.

I head out to the dining room since I feel hungry and hope there will be food and there is. I'm not disappointed. I find Finnick and Dover talking to one another by the table and they greet me warmly, welcoming me to the table as I take a bowl of granola and a glass of milk. I take a seat next to them and they look at me weirdly.

"That's all you're going to have?" Dover asks.

"Yeah, why?" I ask as I pour the milk into the bowl.

"That's way too little, Oce," Finnick shakes his head. "You've got training today. Go get some eggs and some fruit."

"Alright..." I say reluctantly, walking towards the bowl of fruit and taking a banana and an apple before loading a plate with eggs. I'm not used to eating this much for breakfast, in fact, most days I tend to skip breakfast so I can get more sleep before school, but I know that they mean well. I take a bite into my apple before my mind wanders off.

I'm nervous about training. Of course, I already know that I'd be coached separately from Gill but there will be three days in which all the tributes practice together. On the last afternoon, each tribute will get a chance to perform in private before the Gamemakers. I feel nauseous thinking about having to meet the other tributes.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Dover smiles at me and I laugh before seeing Gill and Coral enter the dining room as we greet each other. Gill is wearing a different outfit as me and it's green instead of blue.