The Chamber [Sequel to Silence]

17

  The next day passed in a blur of frantic stylists and speedy makeup brushes. I watched once again as they transformed Riley into a new person. Roberta tamed her wild hair into soft curls and brought out her features with subtle pastel colours, highlighting the youth of her face and the innocence her eyes held. The dress she wore was a work of art, a floor length gown with a scatter of maple leaves on the collar. Soft transparent material hung over Riley’s arms decoratively. But for once, Riley had nothing to say at all. In fact, I was worried about her. She was acting differently. Perhaps reality had finally struck her. She stayed silent all day, barely responding to Roberta’s light hearted comments and jokes, her teeth digging into her painted lips nervously. Shadows hid beneath layers of makeup under her eyes, and I wondered whether she’d slept much.

 The time came to escort her to the stage where the interviews took place, and she clung to my hand like a frightened child the whole way. I guess that’s what she was. I took her aside gently when we reached the backstage area, cupping her small face in my hands. She looked up at me, her eyes piercing and swimming with unshed tears.

 “Are you OK?” I asked gently, aware that it was a stupid question. She sniffed, a tear sliding down her cheek.

 “I’m scared, Ari. I just want to go home,” she whimpered, shaking uncontrollably. I pulled her into a hug, her tears making a wet patch on my shirt.

 “You’re being so brave, little Whirlwind,” I soothed “Just a while longer, sweetheart. You can do it, I know you can. I believe in you.” I felt her nod against me, and we pulled apart. I used the sleeve of my shirt to wipe her tears away, though I suspected they would reappear during her interview. The final call from the director for tributes to step onto stage came, and I pressed my lips to Riley’s forehead lovingly.

 “Knock them dead.”

 Riley smiled weakly, clenching her fists and lightly tapping my chin in a punching motion. Then she scurried away, hitching her dress as a man helped her onto the stage. Antonia appeared behind me, taking my hand and squeezing it gently. She stared thoughtfully at a backstage screen which allowed us to see the stage. Riley was seating herself next to Otto, who was dressed in a white suit pattered with the same leaves as Riley’s dress, and we watched her share a secretive smile with Milo.

 “Do you think you may have children some day? Even if there is the possibility of them being reaped?” Antonia asked me. I smiled, imagining Pandora cradling a baby in her arms, a serene expression set on her perfect features.

 “I’ll marry that girl someday,” I murmured to myself “Pandora, I mean. It will be a small affair, just close friends and family. We don’t need anything fancy. Grandmother would give Pandora away, and you and Raven could be bridesmaids. And yes, I know we’d want children. I don’t know how many. In my mind, I always saw myself with three. Two girls and a boy. They’d have Pandora’s beauty, the guts of my Grandmother and the selflessness my parents had before they died. I’d love to teach them to swim and climb trees in District 10, though I know it’s not ideal. We’d have to live in 13, of course. Pandora could teach them sign language, at least, and how to read and write. I want them to be educated, you know? Raven’s husband could teach them the true history of Panem. Who knows? Someday they may be the future of the rebellion. They could play and train with Raven’s children-”