Come Away To The Water

Chapter 11 : The Victors

Under bright white lights, on a cold metal table, I am examined by multiple Capitol doctors. This is protocol for the victors who are involved in the sexual services forcibly provided by those of us attractive enough to do so. With all the unusual, impersonal, and sometimes violent sex acts we have to endure, it's imperative we have regular extensive medical checkups. I have to bear these invasive and uncomfortable checkups at least once a month, sometimes more frequently. I'm on several medications to make sure I stay infertile and clean of sexually transmitted illnesses. It would be a rather annoying problem for the president if his most popular prostitutes were becoming diseased or pregnant while working for him. When my examine is completed and I am confirmed clean and safe from pregnancy, I finally am able to dress back in my own clothing and leave the facility. From there, I am taken back to the hotel room I am staying in for the night, along with Gloss, a fellow victor. We will also be joined by an extremely high-paying Capitol man who was given the pleasure of both Gloss and I for the night.

When I arrive at the hotel room Gloss is already there, sitting on the bed with a book. He puts it down when I enter and jumps up to give me a back crushing bear hug. When he releases me I plop down on the bed, still smiling from our warm greeting. It makes life in the Capitol so much easier knowing that the other victors are here to support me and I them. It's comforting to have someone who knows exactly what I'm going through in excruciating detail and someone who I can relate to in ways no one else knows. It's no secret that Finnick and I are the closest among our small group, but I also get along well with the twins Cashmere and Gloss. I have found them to be shockingly down to earth even with all the excitement that surrounds them. They're not blood thirsty Capitol lapdogs, as I would've thought before meeting them. They can be kind and caring and helpful. They are human, we all are, even though the Capitol makes us out as Gods in the media. The celebrity and fame and fortune does little to bring relief to our tortured minds that have been destroyed by the games. We are all just as broken as the next and completely reliant on each other to survive each day. I take a second look at Gloss and see that he's fully clothed in one of the most casual outfits I've seen him in. Usually he'd be dressed in some sort of skimpy gladiator outfit if we were meeting a client, but not tonight. "I've never seen you so normal, Gloss. It's a pleasant change." I tell him and I see a flash of his dazzling smile. "It won't be this way much longer, I'm afraid, but the costumes are usually set aside for the more extravagant parties. Tonight is meant to be more just about the sex not anything else." He shrugs as if it's nothing, but I know he hates how indifferent we have to be when it comes to sex and all the strange requests that come with it. None of us want this life, but we tolerate it, and we play our parts well. It's what keeps us going and what keeps our loved ones safe. "I'm happy that we're together tonight. It's rare for us to be paired together for a client." Gloss says and I frown, not understanding his train of thought. "I just mean that I'm happy it's you instead of Cashmere. I know that sounds weird but I'm just glad to be doing this with someone I'm not related to." He explains himself and I nod in agreement. Clients often request the twins as a package deal. Incest is one of the most disgusting and cruel things we can be asked to do and Gloss and Cashmere have to deal with it almost on a daily basis. They are constantly forced into sex acts together as some form of perverse sexual desire for clients. It's appalling. "Right...well. I think I'm gonna go get cleaned up." Getting poked and prodded by doctors all day has left me feeling kind of dirty even though I'm sure everything they used was sterile. In the small window of downtime before we have to meet with the client, I take a relaxing and long shower to ease my mind and prepare myself for what is to come.

Around eight in the evening, our clients arrives, looking much like I expected. An obviously wealthy, middle aged man. He's tall, but less so than Gloss, with fair hair and black eyes. From what Gloss has told me his requests for the night were to have sex with Gloss while I watch and then also for Gloss and I to have sexual intercourse while he watches. Of all the things we've been asked to do, this seems simple enough. So we do exactly that. The client assumes a sexually submissive role as Gloss penetrates the mans backside in such an aggressive way, it's almost painful to watch. I've never seen anything like it. The sight makes my stomach turn, but I know it's my job to watch. I've seen men have sex before, but never quite in this way, this close up. From what I can tell Gloss is good at it. When the client has been sexually satisfied in multiple ways by Gloss, It's my turn. The client whispers something to Gloss, in his ears. Gloss nods, then he comes over to my side of the bed and climbs on top of me. Carefully, as if not to hurt me, he turns me around and holds me by the back of the neck. I feel safe, even under the circumstances, in Gloss's hands. I know he doesn't really want to hurt me and somehow the thought is comforting, even as he pushes my body physically to places I never wanted it to have to go. The pain is temporary at least. It passes and the client leaves and the night ends and I take comfort knowing that no matter what I am forced to endure here it will never be able to touch the ones I love back home.