Torn: Sequel to Ruthless

Chapter 3

Octavia

I wake in an unfamiliar setting, sharp pains jolting through my body. Quickly surveying my surroundings, my heartbeat speeds up as I notice I'm in a white room. An empty white room, to be exact. Everything smells like roses. I sigh in relief since nothing is restraining me. What happened? Why am I here? I ask myself. I must've said it out loud, since I get a response. 

"Miss Meyer," a voice coming from a wall says, "you're here because Miss Parker was unfortunately killed in an accident. Since The Capitol is all about efficiency, District 2 will not reap another female tribute. As a result, you and Mr. Leigh will represent District 2 in the 76th Hunger Games."

Mr. Leigh. Apollo Leigh. So Apollo is alive. 

"How long have I been out?" I ask no one in particular. 

"Only a few hours, Miss Meyer. Don't worry, you won't miss the chariot parade."

Some secret door swings open and three Peacekeepers walk in, grabbing my arms harshly and dragging me out of the room. I yell in protest as jolts of pain run through my body. Being Peacekeepers, they ignore me. 

I get thrown, both figuratively and literally, into some sort of expensive vehicle.

I arrive in the Training Center a few minutes later, before being dragged out by some other Peacekeepers and once again thrown into the elevator. The doors close behind me and I reach my arm up just enough to press the two button. At least I think the button I press is a two. 

The elevator doors open and I see a group of four people enjoying what looks to be lunch. A boy, a girl, a man, and a woman. I recognize the man immediately. Finnick Odair. The woman looks familiar too, but I can't figure out her name. If Finnick Odair is here, then this is the District 4 apartment!

"What are you doing here?" a voice snaps me out of my thoughts. 

The salty smell of the ocean fills my nose. Then, a face appears in my clearing vision. A gorgeous face. A boy's face. Finnick. My gaze immediately flits to his eyes. They are teal, lighter than Finnick's, but darker than Missy's. Not Finnick. They are the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. I step back, heart racing, and I feel my face flame.

"Uh-"

I hear the sound of two chairs scraping against the floor before Finnick speaks. 

"Who are you anyway, pretty girl?"

"The female tribute from District 2," I reply casually, trying to keep my face neutral. 

"No, you aren't!" the boy shoots back, shaking his head. "I watched every single one of the reapings, and you aren't in there."

"I am," I begin, "El-"

"Enough, both of you," Finnick cuts in. "Kai, you bring the pretty girl back to her apartment, and don't take too long! You still have to get ready for the Tribute Parade!"

With a sigh, the boy, Kai, shoves my back ever so slightly, and we get in the elevator, him pressing the two button. It is at that moment that I take a good look at him. Dark blonde hair that is almost brown, slightly tanned skin, and a pair of gorgeous eyes. His eyes. They're an unreal shade of teal. His body is equally beautiful. Broad shoulders, toned legs, and every inch is tanned. He's wearing a dress shirt and a pair of shorts, which I assume is his Reaping clothes. 

The elevator dings, and it is then that I realize Kai's been staring at me too. 

I have never thought of myself as beautiful. I think of myself as the innocent yet not-so-innocent type of person. I have never truly cared about my looks. That was Missy. Now, everything feels so different, and for the first time, I'm self conscious of my appearance. In front of a boy I met about ten minutes ago. What is wrong with me? 

"Uh, see you later, I guess," I tell Kai hesitantly before leaving the elevator. 

Enobaria, my mentor, appears in my vision. 

"Why were you with Kai Sanders?" she asks. 

His last name is Sanders. 

"It's a long story," I reply. "Don't I have to get ready for the Tribute Parade?"

"Okay," she sighs, "you're off the hook for now, but I expect a full explanation tonight."

A man with a powdered green wig steps into the room. 

"That's not Elsie," he remarks. 

"You're right. She's Octavia Meyer, the girl Elsie volunteered for. You need to get her ready, I'll explain later," Enobaria shoots back. 

The man doesn't even tell me his name before dragging me into some random room. My body gets cleaned, waxed, then cleaned again. My hair is washed and trimmed and my prep team does who knows what to my face and nails. I stay silent the entire time, letting the three talkative girls gush over anything and everything they can think of. Meanwhile, I block them out with thoughts of Kai. I'm attracted to everything about him. His looks, his body, his personality, his smell, his everything. 

The green haired man rushes back in with what I presume is my parade outfit and forces me to put it on. I find myself in a two piece, revealing outfit. A gold crop top and a flowing gold skirt with a slit. Then, he puts a gold crown of leaves on my head. I look again and realize the entire outfit is made of leaves. The prep team applied so much makeup to my face that I can barely recognize myself. Luckily, they just touched up my curls, so nothing crazy happened to my hair. 

Apollo is waiting by the door with his prep team, stylist, and mentor. He is wearing an outfit of a similar color to mine, a matching crown of leaves on his own head. I hear his stylist tell his mentor Brutus that Apollo is wearing something called a toga. 

I look ridiculous, he mouths to me as we pile into the elevator. 

I smile in return. 

When we arrive at the Avenue of the Tributes, the prep teams scurry away, leaving us with a significantly smaller group of six people. The stylists leave soon after, reassuring us that we look amazing. Brutus and Enobaria leave as soon as we get to our chariot. 

The District 1 tributes talk to us for a few minutes before leaving to supposedly "greet" the other tributes. Well, more like talk to Apollo. I only get addressed once, when the boy asked me who I was. Apollo and I make easy conversation with each other until it's time for the parade to start. I hop onto the chariot, which is attached to two gray, almost white, horses. It lurches forward, pulling us into the Avenue of the Tributes. 

I just wave and smile the whole time, not really caring about the Capitol's reaction to me being there. After President Snow makes his speech, the chariots roll back into the Training Center. 

The District 1 tributes show up less than a minute after the Parade ends, three other tributes in tow. Kai is one of them. He's practically naked, only some blue fabric covering what needs to be covered. 

"Apollo, would you like to join our alliance?" the girl from 1 asks, batting her eyelashes at him. 

Not would Apollo and Octavia like to join our alliance, no, just Apollo. 

My district partner cuts off my thoughts with one word. 

"No."

"Why not? The Career pack is traditional, you know," the girl cocks her head. 

 "Why would I? You'd be a liability anyway."

She jerks her head toward me. "More like she's a liability."

"Just because she's younger than you doesn't mean she's a liability. At least she as a brain!" Apollo's voice rises with every word. 

"We're out of the alliance," a female voice cuts in. 

I turn to see Kai and his district partner walking away. Hearing a grunt behind me, I turn back to see that the girl from District 1 has punched Apollo in the face. 

That's the end of the chapter! So, did you like it? If not, tell me what I could have improved. I'd also like to know whether you guys want to hear Kai's perspective of the story or not. I'm considering it, but I'm not sure yet. Thanks for reading!