Shattering Secrets [2]

Thirteen

   "You look so different with black hair Coral" Cruz tells me, brushing my hair out with a comb. "But it suits you oh so well"

   "Thank you" I smile, not taking my eyes off the girl staring back at me in the mirror. Dark blue lipstick is spread across my plump lips, a shimmering effect sparks when they're hit with light. Dark and bright blue eye shadow is carefully placed in my crease and is taken to my brow bone, making my eyes look larger and full. Dark makeup, dark hair, I am still in mourning.

   I am dressed in a tight dress, All black with coral crystals and scales flowing down the train, with an illusion that seems as if real waves are flowing behind me. I hate it. Cruz lifts a crown onto my head, with crystals and diamonds that I have never seen before. They must come only from the capitol, they must have been expensive. Something my district as a whole would never be able to afford.

   "You'll love it more when you press the button" Cruz tells me, pointing to my sleeve where I see a bright red dot. I sigh, it can't get any worse then this.

   Pressing it, I gasp as my dress seems to be blown away with dark waves and smoke, that toss my hair around my face. It feels as if I'm on a boat in the middle of a storm. Cruz helps me move the stray hairs out of my face, and when I look back in the mirror, me knees buckle.

   Liam's face is staring back at me, a holographic Image, his face being contorted into pain, a gun shot. The video that was leaked and broadcasted for all the districts to see is now being played over and over again behind me. At first I'm absolutely appalled that Cruz would even think of incorporating him into the dress design, but then it clicks. It's making a statement, and a very big one. That I won't go down without a fight, and I'm not scared of Snow, or the Capitol. Flinching away from his face, I look at my outfit. Black and dark blue meet my eyes, and now I understand the dark makeup. A tight and slim jumpsuit that looks like one from the arena is clinging to my body. Accents of gold and bright blue are added to the sleeves and bottoms of the suit, the high collar tickles my jawline. The best thing about this outfit would have to be the dark crown that now looks as if it's made out of spiky coral, or even dead coral. It looks like bones.

   Another thing that I love; is that now on my back, I can see a black trident strapped onto the back of the suit. Even though I absolutely love the design and how much hard work Cruz has put into this, the best thing about this is Liam. He makes a statement like no other.

   "Your brother was pure, so we decided to go with white" Cruz coughs, and presses the button once more, and I am transformed back into the white. "And the black for how horrible his death was, he will make the President shake with surprise"

   "No, he will make him shake in horror"

{~}

   "Nice dress" a female voice tells me , and I spin around to face Johanna Mason. Her long hair flows down the nape of her back, her dark green eyes stare into mine as if she's trying to read everything about me. "I hate it"

   "I hate yours too, let me guess, Lumber?" I laugh, stroking the mane of my chariots horse.

   "What gave it away? That I'm dressed as a fucking tree and my stylist doesn't have a creative bone in her body?"

   "I think it's the tree"

   "Who made you wear that dress? Seems a little old school, don't you think? You don't seem like a girl to wear bright pretty colors anymore" she looks at me with disgust, eyeing my up and down.

   "Just you wait" I tell her, and her eyes light up, and she gives out a sinister laugh.

   "Coral!" I hear Katniss call, and she ushers towards me. Johanna stays, and her eyes go dark when she sees Katniss holding her hand over her stomach.

   "You're not!" she grabs her wrist and pulls it away. A small bump is showing through her tight jumpsuit, and a dreading feeling creeps down my spine. The tributes won't be happy about this, maybe they'll even want her to die first.

   "Get your hands off me Mason" Katniss snarls , throwing her hand off her wrist. "Mind your own"

   Johanna shoots me a dark look, and storms off, cursing Katniss. "Wow, shes something else, huh?"

   "Yeah" she mumbles, placing her hand back on her bump.

   "I'm going to do everything I can to keep you safe Katniss, here, and in the arena. You're going to be the one to win" I place and hand on hers; and she smiles weakly, and backs away.

   "You're foolish if you believe that"

{~}

  "You ready?" Finnick asks, helping me into the chariot. Who would ever be ready for a thing like this?

   "Are you?" I ask looking at the dark makeup under his eyes, it really brings the brightness out.

   "No" he whispers. I feel him stiffen beside me and my stomach fills with anxiety.

   Hearing the loud music start to play , it rumbling the ground beneath us, the horses start to get jittery. I'm sure that they want to get this over with just as much as I do. The roaring of the crowd makes me angry, how can they root and cheer for this? What kind of sick people enjoy this entertainment?

   "They can't help how they were raised and what they were raised into , Coral" Finnick says sensing my frustration with the Capitols people.

   "I'll show them what they were raised into" I snap as our chariot starts to move.

   As we break through into the blinding light, I do not wave or look up at the people cheering down at us. I do not acknowledge them, and neither does Finnick. They shout our names, pleading for us to look at them. Roses and small gifts are being thrown at us, but none of that matters. What matters is hitting the bright red button on my sleeve.

   It's as if the audience abruptly stops when my white suit goes up in dark waves. It's like everything has stopped. Besides me Finnick's white suit also slowly turns black, matching mine. Hearing the gunshot and the crying of my brother almost brings me to my knees once more, but the face of the people cheering almost moments before keep me up. I see disgust written all over them. The disgust isn't aimed towards me. It's aimed at their president.

   Once I see Snows face appear before me, and see the tributes that had come out before me, I smile. I smile because I have the upper hand here. I smile because I've made my point. I will not let anyone think they can walk all over me, threaten me, and belittle me into cooperating. I am my own person.

   His face is absolutely horrified. His hands are shaking, and I can see the sweat forming on his forehead.

   He's scared , and he should be. Because the shows not over.