Scars That Never Fade- A New Generation of Hunger Games

Chapter 9

Tybalt unfolded the dress, revealing one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. Truly, the dress was magnificent. It was long, silky and pure white. It was embellished with beautiful diamonds. I gaped.

"Run along and put it on," Tybalt said, handing me the dress and waving me off. I ran with it to the changing room. I quickly slipped off my other clothes and hastily put of the dress. I looked down at my bony arms. Tybalt and Haymitch were right, I was pretty scrawny. After putting on the dress, I ran back out to Tybalt, who looked at me admiringly.

"Do you like it?" he asked hopefully.

"Yes, very much" I replied with excitement, "but what does my dress mean? It doesn't really have anything to do with District 12."

"You're a diamond, Fern," he said proudly, "a diamond in the rough. Every now and then, miners will find a diamond in the coal. You're the diamond." I beamed. Abraxas and Dagny came up.

"We did a good job," Abraxas told Dagny. She snickered a little, but turned serious again.

"You did indeed," Tybalt told them.

"They won't let you die now," Dagny said proudly, "you are too beautiful for the Capitol to kill. They won't let it happen."

"She's right," Tybalt said. He looked at his watch. "It's time to get going." As we left the stylists' room, I snuck a look at myself in a mirror. They had done an incredible job, I really owed them. My hair was impeccably curled and laced over my shoulders, and I saw diamonds shining in it. I looked at my face- not unrecognizable, but certainly different. The beauty I saw was not extravagant, but simple. Maybe the Capitol would like me.

We arrived at the Opening Ceremonies, where I saw Volker. He smiled at me, he was a spectacle as well. His hair was combed back in an interesting style. He wore a pure white tuxedo, encrusted with diamonds like me. What a team we made today.

Nervously, I boarded the chariot. My team- Lina, Haymitch, Tybalt and the rest of the stylists looked up eagerly. Suddenly, our chariot lurched forward. The pure white horses at its head trotted forward. I heard screams from the crowd as Volker and I made our entrance. Our smiling, sparkling faces appeared on several screens above.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Your District 12 tributes- Volker Pickhart and Fern Hawthorne!" A voice boomed from above. More screams and applause erupted from the crowd. I beamed, and looked over to Volker, who was blowing kisses. Now was the time for me to do the same. I waved happily at the crowd, even blowing a couple of kisses. As I did this, they screamed even louder.

Our chariot pulled up in a semi circle as a man stepped out from a balcony overhead.

"President Claude Snow!" announced the same voice that had just yelled for us. His cold, colorless eyes scanned the tributes. He was young, but the evil in his eyes was far beyond his years. His youth made him ambitious, deadly, and ruthless. I didn't expect this man to have any sympathy.

The new treaty of treason played once more, and I winced when Snow stepped up to the microphone.

"Welcome, citizens of Panem to the new Hunger Games!" His voice was harsh and unsympathetic. I hated him. "Today would have been the 100th annual Hunger Games, but today we are celebrating starting fresh! A glorious, new beginning! This is the new Hunger Games!" The Capitol people roared, and our chariots filtered out.

I saw my team waiting for Volker and I on the other side. Now it was time for the interviews.