The Quater Quell: 50th Hunger Games

Chapter 8

          After a few hours, I was finally ready. I wasn't impressed at all really. It was always the same thing basically every year. Dressing us up as cows, pigs, or horses in some way shape or form. Sure, each District had to represent their own District in their outfit but these stylist had ran out of ideas about 25 years ago. I was spray painted white and had black spots scattered on my belly, legs, and arms. Around each glittery spot, I was bedazzled with black gems that shined when the light touched it. I wore a tube top that was decorated with a cow patterned fur and a black skort. For shoes, I was given black boots that resembled cow hooves. They were heinous. To top my costume off I was given a cow bell that was covered in crystals. My hair was made straight with two hot irons and my nails were painted a pale pink.

          "Gaah! You look wonderful!" squealed Ali. I try not to let her see my sarcasm and lies "Awe thank you. All thanks to you!" she hugs me and wishes me luck. Cicero and Waylon enter my design room and Cicero almost cries. "Ohhh! Who knew you could look so, so, so revolutionary!" Revolutionary? Really? Of all the words in the dictionary, you choose revolutionary? Waylon seems to mirror my thoughts and gives Cicero a funny look. Waylon looks back at me and smiles "No wonder why my cousin has had a crush on you all these years. You look beautiful Raven. Really." Waylon nods and I check myself out In the mirror. Well, I've seen worse. I guess I don't look to bad.

              A voice comes on out of nowhere instructing us tributes to head down to the capitols square where we will take our chariot rides and parade around the square. A formal "Hello World. This is me and we are about to kill each other in a few days." basically. The Parade, along with out interviews and Games will be broadcasted all around Panem, for all to see.

            I spot Dean, Larten and Maizey standing by our Chariots. I'm told I will ride with Larten and Dean will ride with Maizey. Great. They were dressed almost as identical to me except Maizey had a yellow bow tied at the end of her long hair. I had to admit that we don't look as mediocre as our past fallen tributes have looked from District 10.

             For the first time I am given a good look a the other Tributes. The careers look as fierce s ever. The blonde girl from District 1. She looks scarier in person then she had on TV. She caught me looking at her and blew me a kiss. I looked away. "What is it?" Dean asks and looks around. He catches the girl looking at us still and she gives him a wink and a kiss. Dean's face turns red and turn his body around. "Awe is someone still a virgin?" laughs Larten as he walks away. Jerk. I knew for a fact that Dean wasn't. I heard some girls in school one time gossiping about her marvelous night with Dean. Dean clenches his fist. "it's not worth it." I assure him. Dean looks down at me and gives me a faint smile.

           I look at the rest of the tributes. Most were aged around 16-18 this year, leaving the younger children with next to no hope. My eyes fall on the boy from district 12. Haymitch Abernathy. He was really handsome and had a gentle appearance to him. He was talking to the girl who volunteered for her best friend. As if he could sense i was gawking at him, he looks at me and shoots me a smile. This time its my turn to blush and look away. I look at of my peripherals and notice that the boy named Haymitch was chuckling.

              We mount up on our chariots. The tributes from District 1 produce a large amounts of thrown roses and name chants. "Apollo! Demetria!" Demetria. That was the blonde girl's name. The chariots kept rolling out. It took twice as long this time because there were twice as many tributes. By the time the chariot for District 9 came out the crowd was getting bored on cheers and throwing flowers. Dean and Maizey went first. Surprisingly, the crow was calling out Deans name and even looked up Maizey's name so they could cheer in unison. I guess Cicero wasn't joking when he said the crowd loved to see a couple of fighters from such an early start.

            Without a warning, the horses jolt forward and I am carried into a million lights. I am blind. I cannot see anything but I can hear the voices of the people around me. "Larten! Raven!" Wow. They are actually shouting my name! Roses are thrown at me. I decided before the chariot rides that I wasn't going to wave but I couldn't help it this time. I've never had so many people shout my name and adoration. I wave and smile. I even somehow manage to catch a rose. I give a curtsey into the direction from which it came and had a few extra shouts in respond.

            Our chariots gather in a semi-circle around President Snow. The president of the entire nation. We are his guest and these are his games. With a snap of a finger he blew up the entire District 13. I hated this man but I almost admired him for his power. "Welcome tributes, to the Capitol! It is my pleasure to have you as our tributes to represent your nations capitol in this year's Hunger Games!"

           After President Snows long and rehearsed speech, we ride our chariots back and are escorted back to the training center. Tomorrow, we will begin our three days of vigorous training to help prepare us for the games.