A fate worse than death~~A Finnick Odair story~~

3. Are you scared?

He came from a different dorr the us. He wore a big charming smile and I could almosed see why he had become so popular in the capital, and  behind him came Mags.

Both of them settled down by the table that Jamie and I were sitting at. We were all quiet. Finnick took a piece of seaweedbread and began to chew on it as he studied us.

Then after an internationella silens, Jamie finaly spoke.
"You are our mentors right?" "Correct."
Finnick sounded so confident, almost arrogant, he was only two years older than me, but he sounded like he was over 20.
"Then mentor! How do you survive?" Jamie seamed like he knew what he wanted, just based on his looks I'd say he hade a fighting chans att winning,  he was muscleless and could probubly alreddy handle a weapon, I on the other hand would be dead before the first day was over final.

"It's all about making an impression!" Finnick said.
"Make them remember you, stand out!"
Blah blah blah blah.

What he said was probably important, I should have listened, but I couldn't bring myself to. Instead, I focused on the ring in my hand, memorizing every scratch and deformity on it.
Mom said she once got it from her mom, who got it from her mom, who got it from her mother-in-law.

Now it was in my hand, and I could only wonder if it would be reunited to my mother when my body was delivered, or if it would disappear into the arena. Carefully I placed it on my ring finger and almost immediately noticed it was too big, so instead I put it on my middle finger and hoped for the best.

"Elizabeth, what do you think?"
I flinched at the soft voice, it was Mags, she had asked a question but I hadn't listened. Now everyone was looking at me and I felt how close I was to tears.
"No...?"
When everyone looked at me in confusion, I immediately changed my mind.
"Or yes...?"
When no one said anything, I panicked, what had I done wrong! Why hadn't I listened!! The tears were so close that all I could do to keep them away was to stare at the floor.

But when the conversation resumed, I listened.
"The first impression is now, when we go into the capital, there will be people everywhere!"
Finnick continued to explain to Jamie who devoured all the information.

"Then at the trainings, then you should form alliances, get a good number at the private training and catch the attention of the capital's residents during the interview and then you're set."
"Okay, how do I do that?"
"During the interview, it's easiest to choose a role and stick to it, like brave, lovable, flirty or smart." "Finnick, how about you keep telling young Mr. Jamie, and I bring Elizabeth with me?"
"Sounds good Mags."
"Elizabeth?"

She sounded so careful when she spoke, as if she knew how fragile I was feeling right now. She held out a wrinkled hand to me and I took it, and we left the food cart.

We went down for a few carts before stopping in one equipped with soft sofas and refreshments.
"Come and sit."
Mags patted a little carefully next to her and I did as she said.
"Now, how old are you?"
I wasn't expecting the question, I thought we were going to talk about strategies, but I answered anyway. "12, almost 13."
"And, do you have someone waiting for you at home?"
I nodded before speaking.
"Mom, Dad and Ian."
and Melinda.
"Is Ian youre brother?"
I nodded again.
"Elizabeth, are you afraid?"
Then I broke.

I could only nod and let the tears flow. Mags held me and ran a hand soothingly over my hair as she whispered.
"So so, cry it out, it's okay, it's going to be okay."
Over and over again.

After what felt like hours of crying, I finally calm down.
"Feeling better now?"
"A little."
It wasn't a lie, the breakdown hadn't made me think I could win, but after crying my eyes out in the older woman's arms, the thought of my certain death no longer felt so worrisome.
"Does this mean you are my mentor?" "Oh no, we both are!"
Then she came a little closer and half-whispered.
"But I'm your favorite right?"
At that I smiled and nodded.
"Now, if you don't mind, I think we should talk strategy."
Again, I nodded.

Mags and I decided it was best if I was myself. She said that the role Finnick was talking about didn't really fit a 12-year-old, why I didn't know, but it was safest to take her word for it.

We talked strategy all the way, probably for several hours, but when we reached the capital I was so. lost. The buildings were bigger than probably a hundred of my houses on top of each other, there were bridges and glass and fountains and everything! But most important were the people, all of them had big hairdos of different colors, some pink others green, one man even had a blue muctach, but the clothes they wore were something else entirely. They didn't look like they could be sewn together, some garments didn't even look like they were made of fabric! Unfortunately, it didn't make them look any prettier.

People waved towards the train completely excited by our mear existans, some looked like they were shouting while others threw flowers, I just waved shylie back, which in turn led to many big smiles, but whether they were good or bad I didn't know.

~~~

I was scrubbed clean from head to toe until my skin glowed red. Then they started cutting my nails and removing almost every hair on my body that wasn't attached to my head. But I was determined not to skream.
This in turn seemed to be appreciated by the people around me as they could hold a normal conversation.
I heard things like
"Better than last year"
and
"Is she too young for this?"
Of course, none of them talked to me, only over me.

After I don't know how long, I was taken to a smaller, private room and told to lie completely still on the metal bunk in the middle, so that's what I did. After maybe an hour, a loud little woman came through the door with a clothing rack filled with various items.
"Hello Elizabeth, nice to meet you! I have your costume here, you will look stunning!!"

The woman talks fast and dressed me even faster. My costume, as she called it, consisted of a dress that ended just above the knee with spaghetti straps as sleeves. The dress was detailed with hand sewn crystals to look like fish scales and over my shoulders she had hung a fishing net.
Over all, it felt like they were trying to make me look older than I was.

Even so, I was quite happy with my outfit when I saw Jamie at our wagon, he had the same net over his shoulders, but his style hadn't seen that he needed a sweater. I wanted to laugh, but I couldn't, especially when Mags and Finnick came to wave us off.
"Oh my god!"
Was all Mags said when she got to see our costumes.
"At least one of you will stand out....Sorry Jamie, but they did you dirty. Elizabeth you.....It suits the capital."
Thanks?

That was all he said before he gently grabbed my waist, and with Jamie's help lifted me into the carriage.
"Good luck, and wave!!"
Was the last thing I heard from Mags before the roar of drums and the clatter of horses' hooves took over.

So as sunshine dazzled me and cheers nearly sent me tumbling backwards, Jamie grabbed me tightly, and then we did as we were told.
Smiling and waving at everyone and everything, and I could hardly wait for it to be over.