"They look at me as if I wanted to be this way, like I wanted to become this monster hidden from the world."
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Daphne Dunn is just like every other teenager in the districts. Her name was written in a small paper, four times now that...
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The plush mattress under Daphne's back was no aid to her journey to slumber. It has been hours since the parade. Trinket had scrubbed her clean to the point Daphne worried she'd lose skin, Ardar struggled to remove her hair pieces with the thick amount of hairspray she had on, and Scoria took her precious time removing each part of her outfit, as if saving it for later.
Now, Daphne was in a much more comfy outfit and in the privacy of her own room. Her sweater hung loosely to her figure, and her flowy pants rolled up a little with the amount of toss and turns she did in the bed.
The room's total darkness, other than the sliver of light that slipped under the front door, didn't benefit her either. Daphne was terrified of the dark. She knew it was a childish fear, one she should have overcome years ago, but she just couldn't. There was something about not being able to see her surroundings that made her skin crawl.
The night continued, and sleep never arrived. Daphne's first day of training was in a few hours, and she knew she could use all the sleep she could get, but she also knew she couldn't just sit here and rot any longer.
She winced slightly as her feet came in contact with the cold, tile floors, and Daphne quickly slid on some slippers. She made it out of her room to the dimly lit hallway with only a few lights on. Daphne did her best to close her door as quietly as possible as she began to wander the halls.
However, she froze when she turned the corner.
"Can't sleep?" Finnick asked in a quiet tone as he walked closer, stopping a few feet away. Daphne gifted him a silent reply of shaking her head.
Even in the dim light, a thin layer of sweat that lingered over the exposed, sunkissed skin of Finnick was visible. The sight piqued Daphne's interest.
"What have you been up to that made you so sweaty?" she questioned, brows furrowed a little, forming a crease between the two brunette eyebrows. Usually, the golden boy was prepared to perfection, but he now looked a little disheveled.
And, it wasn't like the Capitol building was hot, either. Compared to her home in District Four, she was freezing. Daphne had to wear pants and a sweater just to keep herself warm under the already thick covers of her bed.
Finnick slipped his hands into the pockets of his plaid pants. His torso was completely exposed other than the open navy robe that hung from his shoulders. Daphne, of course, didn't mind such a sight.
"Getting you and Liam sponsors," Finnick answered, running a hand through his messy hair. "And, thanks to you both, it shouldn't be too difficult. The Capitol seemed to adore you at the parade tonight," he added not long after.
The Capitol always seemed to fan over tributes that were deemed attractive. Daphne and Liam were no different; they were desirable among the entirety of rainbow colored people. Their sibling bond and bubbly personalities also played a role in the Capitol's attraction to them. The Capitol always enjoyed a good show; it was a tale as old as time.
