Not Supposed To Be

~4

I stood at the train window and watched the Capitol go by. Probably the only time I will ever get a look at it. I wonder if Finnick felt this way nine years ago. People started clapping and cheering as the train went by. I stepped away disgusted by them. Who could love watching children die and kill each other for entertainment?

The train stopped and the mentors talked about what was going to happen once we leave the station. That we would meet our Stylist and get dressed up for the Tribute Parade. The most pointless part of these Hunger Games. What does being dressed in bright clothing, favoring your district's industry have anything to do with killing children?

Once in the Remake Center I was stripped naked and pushed onto a table where all of my body hair, besides my hair and eyebrows was stripped off. The prep team grumbled about how skinny I was, how you could see my bones.

"Your brother is a Victor, how are you so sickly?" One asked.

We, as in the districts, can never win. The Capitol people plum or super skinny, it doesn't matter. But the districts have to have meat on their bones, and can't be that big. Wonder how District 12 or any of the poorer districts make up with not having enough food to eat.

"Well, we don't have medicine like you guys do here. We have to fight for our lives. There's no easy way out." I replied and gave her a smart-ass smile.

Soon after that nobody talked and I was handed off to my Stylist, Ace. He was a man who was trying desperately to look younger. So much surgery on his face, he could barely move his mouth.

I stood naked as he circled me and probed me. I wanted to slap him. Finnick or Annie never talked about this. Once he was down touching me he hand me a robe and started to walk away.

"Ahllow me." He said.

~~~~

The crowd was cheering as our chariot left the Remake Center. I was supposedly dressed like a water goddess. That's what Ace told me, as I was but into a skimpy sea blue dress with an elaborate headpiece that had pearls, that clanged together every time I gave even the slightest movement. It got annoying real quick. I gripped the chariot hard as we went down the aisle to the city center.

"Odair! Odair!" The crowd cheered for some while till it turned to District 12.

I saw the screen. They were on fire. It looked very cool and a lot better than everyone else's costumes. Our chariot stopped just below the balcony as President Snow stood up to give his speech.

I looked at the other tributes. The chariot next to mine was District 2. They two were dressed like a type of god. All gold with a crown that had wings.

The boy, Cato, looked over at me or maybe it was directed to District 12 who stopped on my other side. I looked at them to see the flames then back at the boy. He smiled then his chariot turned away.

Once in the Training Center we were whisked to our floor and to our rooms to change. I changed into black pants and a blue shirt and waited to be called to dinner.

Annie came to get me for dinner. She opened the door and gave me a big hug. She started to cry and I calmed her down before entering the dining room. Finnick was already at the table next to Mags. Annie sat on his other side and I sat next to Hector.

The adults praised us and the Stylists talked about our clothing and what inspired them. Finnick looked at me and rolled his eyes, I smiled and looked down at me food. I still couldn't eat much. My stomach can't hold much and the rich food, doesn't help that.

After dinner we watched the recap and again the commentators compared me to Finnick and again how exciting these games will be. I got up and went to my room and locked the door.

I laid on the bed and stare at the ceiling. Someone knocked on the door but I didn't answer. It was probably Finnick wanting to talk.  I can't have him know that I have no hope to winning.