The 100th Hunger Games- Fourth Quarter Quell

Chapter 21

Carmen POV

We are lifted away. I still have my archer set with a extra quiver of arrows.

Soon later, we are brought to the same suite that we had stayed in before the Games. There are only the Avoxes and Lexi in the room. No one else.

Lexi comes over and takes my archer set with my extra arrows and sets them off aside. The Avoxes take the weapons away from Crystal and set them next to mine.

Without even greeting her, I ask,

"Lexi, why are we here? What's going on?"

She doesn't say anything for a moment before replying,

"This is a shock to me too. But they probably want to change up the arena. Since most of the tributes know the arena well, it's not really a show. Plus, I don't think the Capitol wants to slaughter their kids so quickly."

Just as Lexi finishes, Haymitch barges in. For once, he's sober.

"Sweetheart, welcome back." He greets Crystal and I.

"What's going on, Haymitch?" I question again.

"Well, Snow said that they wanted to keep the Capitol children in luxury for a while longer. But having only 3 District children in the arena isn't really fun. You never know. The 3 might become a alliance. Also, they probably want to change up the arena. You know? So that it's more entertaining." He replies.

This really is a game. A game of hell.

I nod slightly and run back to my room. I take a long shower and dry myself using a automatic dryer. Finally, I look through the closets. All hold Capitol pieces. All altered to stunning colours that sting my eye.

Just when I'm having problems with my clothing, Serena comes in with a simple navy dress with white. It is so soft and comfortable that I slip it on right away. It fits perfectly. After that, she tidies up my hair and braids the classic Everdeen braid. She slips me some blue flats and urges me to take a meal.

I head down to find a platter of gourmet dishes prepared. Crystal is wearing a clothing piece that is simply too overdone. With so many accessories and a 5 inch platform heels, she looks 20 years older than what she really is. She's munching down on a bowl of freshly made chocolate chip cookies.

As I almost gasps in horror when I see Crystal, she looks up and gives me a sympathetic nod.

"Stylist." She mouths at me.

I giggle a little before going to the dessert platter and taking the strawberry soufflé. The Avoxes know me too well and serves me a fresh bowl of strawberries and with some sweetened warm milk. I thank them and proceed to the eating.

As I dig in, Serena comes to check on us. She gasps loudly as she sees Crystal.

"Excuse her for a moment. Pardon me. I'm terribly sorry for disrupting this meal." Serena says as she takes Crystal by her hand to her room. They spend a long time there though.

After what seems like eternity, Crystal finally comes back for dinner. She looks way better. With no accessories at all. And with actually just flats instead of heels. Don't forget how that dress complemented her hair. Her hair was pinned up in a bun, with a white simple dress with a few brown assents all over it. She has on a brown open-toe flats. She heads back for dinner, definitely looking way better and more radiant than before.

We snack quickly on the snacks before Lexi calls us for a private meeting.

"Larts, I know that you guys don't really like me-" She starts off.

"More like we don't even bother to listen to you." I finish.

"Listen here. I'm sorry for not helping. Carmen reminds me of your brother's fighting spirit. Crystal reminds me on your brother's care towards me when I got stung by the tracker jackers. But I don't want to remember. I don't want to remember how Clifford was beheaded. I don't. I can't." Lexi finishes.

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Lexi POV

After voicing out my thoughts, I immediately burst into tears. Tears just erupted out of me. After these two years, Clifford's headless body still haunts me. Telling me that I didn't deserve to win. Telling me that he could have won. If I was the one beheaded.

Carmen remains neutral but Crystal gives me a hug. It helps as I feel my salty tears spill onto Crystal's white dress. When Crystal pulls out of the hug, my eyes are almost dry. Crystal exits the room though, leaving Carmen and I to peace. But as she locks the door, my walls break down again. And my icy tears paint my face.

Just as I break down, a hand swoops over and wipes my tears.

She wipes the "wallpaper" away and hands me a tissue. I accept it and she mutters,

"Thanks for telling me. Finally, someone has the same nightmares as me."

Carmen finally passes me a bright pink top and says,

"Wipe your tears with this. After all, the Capitol is below us!"

I giggle before she exits the room. I blow my nose into the top and dump in the basket at the sides. Then, I dry my eyes before my stylist comes and covers the redness around my eyes.

After my flawless makeover, the Capitol has decided to get all the alliances to take a photo shoot to decide who is "in trend" right now. So far, there are three alliances. The Lart twins. Renee and Lux. And finally, the three from the Capitol.

Crystal and Carmen are scheduled first for the photo shoot.

As I wait, I remember what Clifford said before he died,

"If you win, take care of my si-"

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Carmen POV

I head back to my room. I see a dark black dress that flows out at my knees. Then I see bobby pins, rubber bands, temporary colored hair spray and other hair items. Finally, I see the black 5 inch stilettos.

"Shocked? These will also be what I will be working with for tomorrow. Same dress. Same accessories. Same hairstyle. As long as you wear it at the photo shoot, you will be wearing it on Interview day." Serena explains.

I groan loudly. I hate high-heels. The higher the inch, the deeper the hatred.

Serena gets my prep team in and they start prepping. Flair adds texture and straightens my hair before starting on my nails. Ort goes with a dark palatte for my makeup with minimal light colours except for a white and champagne. Res finishes the look with a black-burgundy nail polish. And I'm prepped and ready to go. My prep team exits the room and allows me to be alone with Serena. Serena dresses me in the dress and braids the Everdeen braid with my straightened hair. She tops it of with a trendy black hat that shows off my facial features and the low braid. She adds a ring that looks like burning coals onto my ring finger and finishes it with the stilettos.

I walk slowly in them. They hurt so badly as I stumble my way out of the door. Lucky for Crystal. She's wearing flats. But her dress looks so tight. Mine is still comfortable.

As we head to the elevator, I almost can see Lexi mouthing,

"Good Luck, Larts."

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New Chapter!

This chapter is so long! But hope y'all enjoyed it!

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~carcarlolz