The Girl On Fire (undergoing editing)

9. Public Appearance

I pick up the vase and throw it, violently, into the bin.

"So, who was it from?" Peeta asks cautiously.

"No idea." I say, blankly. "Tell Haymitch I've gone down to train. I need all the practice I can get; private sessions are tomorrow."  He nods and kisses me lightly before letting me go.

I walk in the training room, to find Aloe and Moss sorting the poisonous and non poisonous plants into separate piles. Aloe smiles evilly when she sees me. I roll my eyes and purse my lips. Naive little child.

"So nice of you to join us, 12." She laughs, arrogantly. "You know, I kinda admire you, in some weird way. It's bad enough to be shown up by someone half your age, but it's just shocking to see you standing here, acting Superior to me. Acting, as if you think you stand a chance against me, as if you think I'll hesitate to kill you the second the games start. I just love your false hope" 

"What do you mean by 'shown up.', Aloe? I haven't been shown up by anyone. I think someone is a little scared of the competition." I touch her arm and pretend to be concerned.

"Get  off me, 12!" She hissed "You'll be sorry you ever messed with me. Just you wait until we get into the arena. I, personally, will hunt you down and kill you in the most painful way, imaginable. I wonder how little Cinna would react after watching his mother die." I feel my face turn red. "What's the matter? Katniss got your tongue?"

"That little 'pun' you just did there, was so unoriginal and so not funny. And if you go anywhere near my son, It'll be you running, not me." We stare at each other, eyes narrowed, for a while until she suddenly turns around and grabs Moss's arm.

"Let's get outta here, moss. She needs the practice more than us." I hiss at her and turn to go to the knifes.

"You watch out, 12. Three more days. and then I'll get my hands on you." Moss's voice is so low and tough. It seems impossible to be coming from him. It sends shivers down my spine. I watch them walk out and follow soon after, not trusting myself with any kind of weapon at the moment. 

I run through the door and freeze when I see who's sitting there.

"Cinna!?" I cry. I must be imagining it. He's not alive. I saw him being dragged away on the opening of the 75th hunger games.

"Hello, Katniss. I'm Cinna and I'm going to be styling you. It's very brave what you did. Volunteering for your daughter, even though t meant going against your son." I blink repeatedly in shock.

"Cinna, I know who you are. This isn't funny. I missed you so much, I named my child after you. They told me you were dead." He looks at me in confusion.

"I've never met you before. This is my first year as a stylist for the games. I understand what you mean, though. I feel like I've known you for ages, like we have a really close friendship. The power of fate, eh?" This isn't happening. When will Snow just leave me alone!? I paid for ruining his 'empire' more than twice over, and now he does this!?  He sends back the one person who saw me for me, but sends him back with no recollection of ever meeting me. Snow is going to pay! I feel mad even thinking about him being alive, but the proof was overwhelming!

"You must know who I am. I was the Mockingjay. I was the leader of the rebellion against the Capitol. I Killed Coin! The president who took over Snow for about five minutes!"

"What rebellion?" He asks innocently "You'd be stupid to try and defy the Capitol!" He laughs at the thought. "Anyway," He continues " the Chariot entrance is tonight and I have a perfect idea." He tells me what he's going to dress me in. A few hours later, I'm stood in a black bikini, My Cinna next to me in a black speedo. He keeps trying to cover himself every time someone looks at him.