Emerald Eyes (The Hunger Games - Annie Cresta)On Hold/Being Edited

Chapter 5

We are led into a large circular auditorium with several elevators evenly distributed around the edge. Thernia and Finnick come rushing over towards me.

"You did wonderful!" squeals Thernia sounding thrilled.

I give a weak smile. The closing of the metal gates to the training centre had blown out the spark of confidence I just had, I was back to being shy little Annie. I climb out the chariot, steadied by a strong hand belonging to Finnick, and allow myself to be led towards to nearest elevator. I presume it's decided that depending on the District we are from decides on which floor we stay on. It can't be a coincident that we are staying on floor four. Lavina is chattering on about how amazing the parade was and how nobody outshone us. And we are defiantly going to have sponsored queuing up. I just stand there, pretending to listen leaning on Finnick, his arm around my shoulder. I'm going to miss that when I'm in the arena. The lift stops and Lavina quickly punches in a code. I'm guessing that's so uninvited guest, such as the other tributes, can't make their way unexpectedly into our quarters.

When the doors open I'm shocked at the layout, everything is so smart, pristine, and luxurious. I didn't believe it could be possible but there is a clear sense the décor is more expensive and glamorous than the train. Well the Capitol must want the tributes to live the high-life before they die. I got to give it to them. This is nice!

"Your room is over there." pointing to the right "Go get showered and dressed and meet back at the lounge in half an hour" Lavina tells Kieren "Annie your room is to the left, go get freshened up too" she says as she totters off.

"Okay" I walk to the left where she gestured.

Finnick goes with me holding my hand leading me to my room. With his free hand he pulls open my door revealing a plush king sized bed and a glass window that spreads across the whole of one wall and a massive fish tank above the head of the bed set back into the wall.

"You can admire the room later. Lavina will have a fit if you're late"

"See you later" I say before giving him a quick kiss

I head over towards a door which I presume is the bathroom, but it has no handle and it won't push open either.

"You have to say open."

"Hey I thought you'd left!" I say spinning round

"I was going to but your door shut and it'll only open your voice. Just say 'open' and it'll do just that"

"Open" both doors open simultaneously "Now go on. I'd like some privacy please"

"I'm going. Everything is voice activated by the way say the command and it'll happen" Finnick leaves.

I go into the bathroom and get in the shower. I try out all the different things I can think of. Temperature, pressure, smell, foam even the lights can be changed. I get out and similar to the train I am blasted with a current of warm air which dries all of me apart from my hair. Out of the wall a screen is presented in front of me with an instruction of picking a hair style; I chose a waterfall braid, the dryers turn on again only drying my hair. When it finished I put my hand up to my head and it's all done up. My eyes flicker to the mirror and it looks gorgeous. I'm starting to get jealous of the Capitol people they have it so easy.

I head over to the wardrobe where a screen is set into the wooden door, this time depicting clothes. Scanning through them quickly chose a white dress with bluebirds on and a pair of white wedges. A draw at my feet pops open revealing the shoes which are lined up with a multitude of other, I pick my shoes out and head to the wardrobe door which has opened, this section contains a horde of clothes with my dress hung neatly in the middle. I slip it over my head quickly and slide on the shoes. I say "Open" and the door opens for me and not surprisingly Finnick is waiting there

"Hurry up or we are going to be late!" he says grabbing my hand gently.

We sit down and Lavina says "Just in time we have 34 seconds until the reaping replay and parade evaluation start and where on earth is Kieren?"

"Is she always like this?" I whisper to Finnick

"No. It's normally worse"

"Fabulous. I have to spend the last week of my life before I'm throne into an arena with this moron"

"Surprisingly you won't have too. The training sessions take up most of your day so you have to spend the evening with her and the prep day for interviews. Anyway if you think you've got it bad mine was worse. Tee wouldn't shut up half the time and we had to arrive everywhere exactly 3 minutes and 21 seconds early"

Kieren comes in and sits down.

"You're late! The reaping replay is about to start and I wanted to talk to you all!"

The telly turns on and starts playing the Panem's anthem. We all stand and join in. As the song comes to a close I hear I sharp intake of breath from my left"I just love that" Lavina says almost crying.

The reaping reply starts playing; I take note of the tributes again. From District 1; 17 year old Winter Hall and 18 year old Darrinton Jarvasis are reaped. District 2 reaps two siblings, Masie Janhon, 13 and Aaron Janhon, 15. District 3 provides the games with Flicity Quating and Haran Darne, both who are 16. Next come the District 4 results; Kieren and I. District 5 supplies 12 year old Josafine Laymoss and 17 year old Garathe Loughton. So far the competition looks strong but it appears to go downhill from here.

The 32nd games resulted in District 6's Teresa Hayland winning, this year's draw results in her 14 years old daughter Sarah-Jayne Hayland being reaped with no volunteers. She looks like and adequate opponent but the boy looks battered and weak. John Oswald is only 12 but is missing one of his legs from above the knee. 12 year old Karenina Walkring and 15 year old Harrison Falarde are both supplied by District 7. The male; I want him as an ally. District 8 has two 18 year olds, Darlia Sparks and Wesley Gartinisha. District 9 has two volunteers, which is a first, Una McCarti, 18, volunteered for her sister Jahanna, 12 and Jordan Flassish, 15, volunteered for 12 year old Noah McCarti. The odds aren't in the McCarti's favour at all. District 10 had Tami Hales, 16 and George Jackson, 14. District 11 reaps Marina Ventia, 13 and Raye Attleby, 17. And last but not least District 12, Haley Young, 14 and Casper Taylor, 16. It's defiantly a mix bunch this year. I still have no idea who to ally apart from Harrison. But maybe that better, I only have to kill them anyway if I want to get out alive.

"The chariot parade next, yay!"

"That women seriously needs to lose a bit of her bubbliness" I whisper to Finnick

"Your right she does" he whispers back "I have a plan! So, you don't have to put up with her and neither do I"

"Ooo, I like that sort of plan"

"Pretend to go to sleep and I'll carry up back to your room"

"I guess I can do that for you..."

With that I lay my head on his shoulder and slowly let my eyes droop and after a couple of minutes Lavina exclaims how I've fallen asleep.

"I'll carry her to her room, she's got a big day tomorrow and I don't want to wake her if it is unnecessary" Finnick says.

"I suppose your right, off you go. Oh my, would you look at that its gone midnight! I was having such a wonderful time I didn't realise. Kieren you should be going to bed soon too but that shouldn't have to be for another couple of hours you are 18 after all."

I feel Finnick get up careful not to 'disturb' me, gently he scoops me up into his strong arms and holds me close against his chest. Only when he lays me on the bed do I open my eyes.

"You do still have to see her tomorrow though even if I have gotten you out of another hour of torture tonight"

"Even an hour is better than nothing" He kisses me interrupting what I was saying. I feel an urge of want fill up inside me 'I wish I was older'

'Why?'

'Then we could actually go further than this'

'What's stopping us? What are they going to do, kill you?'

'I think they've got that angle covered, these wall a sound proof, right?'

'Yep' I kiss him before he can say anymore.