The Chamber [Sequel to Silence]

11

"Ouch! OW!" 

"Stop making a fuss, child. Arrian, help hold her still!" 

In all the years I'd been mentor, I had never once been asked to hold a tribute down during the makeovers. I guess there is a first time for everything. Riley kicked and squirmed as the Capitol women stripped her of hair and tried to tame her head of curls. My arms hurt from restraining her, and I found my mood worsening as the morning dragged on. 

"This had better be worth it, Riley," I muttered. She scowled as another strip was ripped from her leg. 

"It will be," one of the stylists insisted, standing back to get a better look at Riley. "A bit of makeup and she'll be perfect. If only we could do something about those teeth...they're so big..." 

"All the better to bite you with," Riley quipped, gnashing her teeth unattractively, spraying spittle on my arm. Despite my disgust, I was holding back laughter. Riley lay back in her chair and smiled at me, and I felt a rush of affection for the crooked tooth girl before me. The stylist was not impressed, and ordered Riley sharply to hold still while they did her nails. She said that I could go when they realised that painting her nails wouldn't be as much of a hassle as waxing her legs. 

"Go and find Roberta. She'll show you Riley's costume for the Opening Ceremonies," a stylist told me. I waved to an unimpressed Riley and set off to find Roberta. I'd met her several times before, and she seemed like a nice woman, though a little intimidating. She didn't often smile, her face set in a permanent scowl. Perhaps it was partly because of her eyebrows that she seemed so sinister, with dark shaped eyebrows curving from her temples to the top of her nose. When I found her that day, she was styling her short black hair with heated tongs. She stood to kiss both my cheeks, the studs on her white shirt digging into me as we embraced. 

"Hello, Arrian." 

"It's good to see you again, Roberta. May I see the costumes for tonight?" 

"Of course. Right this way." 

I followed her through a maze of sterile white corridors, catching glimpses through doors of the other tributes. We hadn't watched the replay of the reapings, so all the faces were unfamiliar, but it was evident where the tributes originated from. I saw a girl of similar stature to Riley from District One, with the District's signature blonde hair and incredible beauty. She was talking to her stylist whilst having her hair done, smiling with sugar sweet sickness. But she caught my eye as I passed and scowled, making me reconsider what was really underneath her skin. Shuddering, I glimpsed the male tribute from District 5, with red hair like Riley's and broad shoulders like Otto. He looked like he could be competition, but the biggest shock came when I passed the girl from District 4. 

She was tall and slim, with toned arms that were clearly strong. She had chocolate coloured hair to her knees. It fell in waves of silk, and she tossed it slightly as she paced around her room, trying on her dress and shoes. Though I never took an interest in fashion, the dress she wore was beautiful, with hues of blue highlighted as her dress swayed. When it rippled in the light, I realised what she was meant to represent. 

"Water," I whispered. I only realised I'd stopped when Roberta took my arm. 

"I promise you. Riley will look just as good when I'm done with her. Her dress is fantastic, I swear to you." 

"I don't doubt it," I replied, but thoughts were still on the girl. She was certainly sponsor material. Riley, on the other hand, had nothing going for her. I prayed that Roberta would make her memorable. 

We entered a room full of mirrors and shiny wooden flooring. Roberta breezed straight over to the wardrobe and removed a dress. I examined it carefully, Roberta allowing me to feel the fabric. It would be floor length on Riley, and was made of green lace material, the pattern forming leaves, and reflecting the lumber District from which Riley and I originated. The sleeves were long and wide, and soft to the touch. It was a lovely dress, but imagining Riley in it was hard.