Fair Fight

Chapter 10

Three doors lead off from my bedroom. One out into my floors living quarters that I share with my Team, another going off into a huge closet filled with garments and finally a door leading into a bathroom. I decide to take a shower, to help me think. I seem to be able to think clearer when I am in or close by to water. It is all my District 4 roots.

I take off my reaping dress and slide into the huge shower. I thought our bathroom in the Victor's Village was big, but this is on an entirely different level. There are  hundreds of buttons that make the water jets flow faster or slower and buttons to ensue what scent of body wash you desire, lemon sage, tea tree, coconut and a bunch of others with names I cannot pronounce. I pick a simple one, a scent that I am familiar with and that I use all the time at home, sea salt.

I massage my head with shampoo and conditioner and let the bubbles wash down the drain. I want to let all my emotions run down the drain too, help me forget all of this. But I am living in reality, not a made up world and I have to keep going if I want to survive.

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I am pulling on a pair of loose linen trousers and a pale blue blouse, when there is a soft knock on the door, playing out a rhythm.

knock, tap, knock, tap

Calling out, "Come in," I rest back on the queen sized bed. Finnick enters and sits down on the mattress beside me.

"How are you doing," he says.

"Besides the fact that in a week, I could be dead, I am feeling pretty good," I reply, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

A sigh escapes from Finn's lips, "You have got to start taking this more seriously. This is a life or death situation. If you want to live, then you listen. Tonight is the tribute parade. You will be expected to smile and wave, be proud to be representing your District. That will attract sponsors. Okay? You need to appear bold and outgoing, people will look over you for being the youngest, but bear in mind, you do have the status of being an 'Odair'. I know you can do this. I'm telling you this now, because I won't see you later. The President wishes to speak with me. I know you will do your best, Em."

I can't help but let a silent tear roll down my cheek and wish that Finnick could stay here all day, that this would be all over, but nothing works out as you imagine. Not in my case anyway.