The Hunger Games | Rilaya

The Tribute Parade

I grind my teeth and bite my lip, preventing me from crying out as Venia yanks yet another strip of hair from my leg.

"Sorry!" She says, her voice laced with a Capitol accent. "You're just so hairy!"

Venia gives me a sympathetic look. "Good news, though. This is the last one. Ready?"

I nod, mentally preparing myself. She rips the final strip upward in a painful jerk. I've been in the Remake Center for three hours now and I still haven't even met my stylist. I was able to keep my side of the bargain with Shawn, having no objections shout from my mouth.

"You're doing very well." A guy named Flavius says. "If there's one thing we can't stand, it's a whiner. Grease her down!" He commands.

Venia and Octavia proceed to rub me down with a lotion. After they use tweezers to remove any last strands of hair, they step back and admire their work.

"Excellent!" Flavius grins at me. "You almost look like a human being now!"

I will myself not to scowl and instead force my lips into a sickly sweet smile. "Thank you. We don't have much cause to look nice in District 12."

"Of course you don't, you poor darling!" Octavia exclaims.

"But don't worry." Venia adds. "By the time Cinna is through with you, you're going to be absolutely gorgeous!"

"We promise!" Flavius shouts. "You know, now that we've gotten rid of all the hair and filth, you're not horrible at all! Let's call Cinna!"

They scatter away, reminding me of little birds. A few moments later, the door opens and in walks a young man, Cinna. Unlike most of the other stylists I've seen on TV, Cinna looks relatively normal. The only thing that keeps me from mistaking him as a regular guy from one of the districts is his metallic gold eyeliner.

"Hello Maya." Cinna greets. "I'm Cinna, your stylist."

"Hello." I say cautiously.

"Just give me a moment, all right?" He asks. Cinna looks me over for a couple minutes, until finally he asks "Who did your hair?"

"My mother." I answer.

"It's beautiful. Classic really. And in almost perfect balance with your profile. She has very clever fingers." Cinna compliments.

"You're new, aren't you?" I ask. "I don't think I've seen you before."

"Yes, this is my first year in the Games." Cinna nods.

"So they gave you District 12." I say flatly. Newcomers always get stuck with us.

"I asked for District 12." Cinna says, surprising me. "Why don't you put on your robe and we'll have a chat."

I pull on my robe and follow him through the door. We sit on the couch. Cinna presses a button on the table and a second table rises, holding a gigantic platter of food.

I look at the luxury food, wondering how it feels to live in a world where food appears at a single command. Where there was no death by starvation, where no one had to worry about their next meal.

"How despicable we must seem to you." Cinna says, his words making me look at him.

"No matter. So, Maya, about your costume for the opening ceremonies." He gets straight to the point. "My partner, Portia, is the stylist for your fellow tribute, Riley. And our current thought is to dress you in complementary costumes. As you know, it's customary to reflect the flavor of the district."

"So, I'll be in a coal miner outfit?" I ask, even dreading the thought of it.

"Not exactly." Cinna says. "You see, Portia and I think that the coal miner thing is very overdone. No one will remember you in that. And we both see it as our job to make the District 12 tributes unforgettable."