A Crafted Kind of Games: A Hunger Games Fanfic

Chapter Eight

Adam stared at the screen in disbelief. "I..I can't believe it. It's really Jason."

"We're going to see him in Training, you can catch up." I said. Not going to lie, I was happy that he found his brother.

"Training...crap, I had forgotten where we are." He said, shaking his head.

"Yeah, we're in the Capitol. You get to see your brother!" I didn't get why he wasn't rejoicing. I would have.

"You don't realize? Skylar, we're going into the Hunger Games. Only one comes out. If I'm going to live, I have to kill my own brother, and vice versa."

The truth suddenly sunk in. He was right. There was no way that he and his long-lost brother could both make it out alive. I stayed silent.

"I'm gonna be in my room." Adam said, and went down a hallway.

Anna and Julio came out from the threshold into the room.

"We heard everything." Anna said.

"I shouldn't have brought it up. Now I just made him upset."

"He would have found out sometime." Julio said. "Your room is down that hall on the left. Meet us for dinner at six thirty." Julio said, then went into the kitchen, Anna trailing behind him.

I walked slowly through the hall that Adam had trudged through, searching for my room. I soon came across four doors, labeled Anna, Julio, Male Tribute, and Female Tribute.

I hear soft crying coming from the room labeled Male Tribute. I decide not to go in. He wants to be alone, and I've done nothing but fuel the flames.

Six thirty comes too soon. We are given a small sandwich and are practically shoved into the Remake Center, where we will be prepped for the Tribute Parade that begins at midnight tonight.

We arrive at the Remake Center at seven, and Adam and I are lead to different rooms.

I am sat down on a small chair that leans backward so far, it's almost like a bed.

I grit my teeth, and try to not think about what's in store for me for the next five hours.

*****************************************

It's all I can do to keep from screaming as another piece of wax rips out not only my leg hair, but practically three layers of my skin.

One of the members of my prep team- I think her name was Pearlia- giggles at my face, as I try not to scream. "Sorry!" She squeaks, in that strange Capitol accent. Her face then sobers.

"Good news, though. This is the last one."

I grit my teeth and in ten seconds it's over. Finally done.

Another woman named Sunnis nods her head. "Good. She's ready for her stylist."

They leave the room, apparently pleased with themselves, and I am left alone in the freezing room with a red spaghetti strap shirt and blue shorts.

A woman, who I presume is my stylist, walks in. She looks normal by Capitol standards, but still pretty freakish to me.

"Hello, Skylar. My name is Effie Trinket. I'm your stylist."

I give a small nod. "Nice to meet you, Effie." I say politely, even though I'd rather scream to the heavens that I don't want to be here, being dressed by this strange woman.

"You...will do." She tosses a bundle of clothes at me. "Put those on in there." She says, rubbing her temples.

I walk in and she shuts the door.

Well. Someone doesn't like their job.

I somehow untangle the clothes and change into them. I look up at myself in the mirror.

I'm wearing a silver plaid cowgirl-style shirt that shimmers with every slight movement. Dark jeans that go down to my knees, and black lace up combat boots with a hidden zipper on the side (I actually own the boots and I wuv dem!). A silver belt hangs off my hips, and a silver cowboy hat rests on top of my head.

I had been worried all day about having to wear something stupid, but this...

This is something I like.

I step out if the small room, and Effie sighs in relief. "Thank goodness, it looks good." She walks up to me. "I have one last thing." She says. "Close your eyes."

That's the last thing I want to do, knowing that I'll never be able to see the world again in a short time, but I close my eyes, and I feel something metal slide onto my wrists. I open my eyes, and I see...

"My bracelet." I breath. The familiar shape of the music note catches a light, causing it to sparkle.

"They started to test the tokens when you came, and yours was the first to pass, since it was only a bracelet. The only other one I've heard of was the District Two boy, Jerome. He was trying to smuggle in an ankle bracelet. When you pressed the carving of an axe on it, the side turned into blades. He lost it."

I nod, but my stomach drops in fear. If he had that in his possession, who knows what else he and the other Careers may have up their sleeve?

"Ok," Effie continues. "You and your district partner will be dressed in similar costumes, except his accents are black, not silver, and he doesn't...erm...sparkle."

I stifle a laugh, as an image of Adam parading through the streets of the Capitol in a sequined costume appears in my mind.

Effie sighs, and I look at her quizzically. She sees my look, and immediately starts talking. "Oh, no no. You look beautiful. I just don't like my job all that much. I'd much rather be an escort."

She looks around, as if what she just said was terribly wrong. She then looks at the clock.

"Well, look at that. It's already 11:30. Let's get you to the chariots."