Rue's Fight

Chapter Three - Welcome to the Capitol

Chapter Three - Welcome to the Capitol

I wake in the morning to a knock at my door.

" Wake up, Rue! Today is a big day! You'll get to meet your stylists! And, not just that, you'll be in the tributes parade this evening! Oh, how lucky you are!"

The tribute parade happens almost a week  before the games begin, the tributes from each district share a horse drawn carriage, and ride through the streets of Panem, to the presidents mansion. Where President Snow will give a speach. It's really just for the bidders, to see us all together for the first time.

At the breakfast table, we serve ourselves with servants watching. They never speak, which is strange, but maybe they aren't aloud to. They simply tend to my needs and do my bidding, not really servants, I don't suppose they are paid. More like slaves....

Seeder looks across the table at Thresh and me. Its an awkward silence, what with Fonda running around wild.

" Oh today! It's your time to shine!"

Her face drops when no one replies, Seeder places down her cutlery and gives Fonda a knowing look. The look means give it a rest, no one really cares right now.

" Tonight, the opening ceremonies...."

Seeder begins, I hang onto her every word and when I turn I see Thresh is too.

" Once, in the capitol you will be put into the hands of your stylists. They'll do your makeup, hair, dress you and escort you to the parade. Fonda ands I will be there..."

She gives Fonda the same look she did a few minutes previously,

" To support you."

I'm nervous about the stylists, about the capitol, about the parade. What if I don't make a good impression? The parade if where you are shown off to the sponsors, and they can make the difference between your life and death in the arena. If you are badly wounded and need medicine, it costs money. You need a sponsor to buy it for you, and your mentor, will send it into the arena for you.

Sponsors usually sponsor you because they're betting on you, and the cost of being your sponsor will be doubled if your betting. It's an easy way to make money, but I can't imagine anyone in the capitol being poor or living with rumbling stomachs.

In a matter of hours later we arrive at the capitol. Its shining, with such bright colours. As the train slowly pulls to a stop at the station, strange faces wave in at me. They're smiling, with happy faces, excited to watch us all die for their entertainment. It's sick, I turn away but Fonda tells me to wave.

" Sponsors will be out there! Wave!"

So, I stand and I slowly wave, from the looks Fonda gives me I force myself to make my lips curve into a smile, but it's really difficult.

Once, I'm off the train and out the taxi I'm led straight into this enormous building. It looks like it's made internally out of glass, and when we walk inside my jacket, and what little luggage I have is carried away by a girl in dressed in red.

" Thank you."

The girl turns away as if she's ashamed. I feel a pang of hurt hit me in the stomach, as if my thank you wasnt enough for her.

" You are not to talk to them unless it is to give an order!"

Fonda shrieks. Seeder tries to calm her down, but Fonda refuses. She ruffles her hair and walks off.

" What did I do wrong?" I ask.

" That girls an avox. She's a servant, you aren't to talk to her, unless it's for an order."