Through a Fox's Eyes

Chapter 7

I woke up from the fiasco in the parade. My eyes were droopy, and as I made my way to the bathroom, a girl was cleaning the mess I did last night. Avox, I said to myself. That was what Marvel could’ve been if he was caught running away. Tongue cut and unable to speak, turned into servants.

She must be in her early twenties, and she signaled me to wash my face full of smudged make up. She must be the one who changed me into the pants and shirt I woke up wearing. I lathered up and rinsed my face and went downstairs, I think it’s time to eat, my tummy is grumbling.

Dinner was quiet, no one questioned how I was feeling, and I didn’t bother to ask why. They were silently listening to Ilignma chirping out our schedule. Great. Tomorrow’s the start of training. I can’t wait. I ate my last serving of Marshmallow Tea and hurried to the balcony Marvel was talking about. Excitement rushed through me as I clumsily ran through the hallways and into the balcony. And there he is. Magnificent as always. He is wearing a blue shirt and black pants.

“Marvel!” I screamed so loud he was surprised. We hugged and he didn’t let go.

“I missed you my little fox” he whispered in my ear. I missed his teasing a lot.

We sat in the balcony, staring into the night sky. Hundreds of lights illuminate the Capitol, I think this place never sleeps. It has varying colors and sizes, each is unique in their ways. The lights complement Marvel’s blue eyes even more. His hug was tight, and we sat there for a long time.

“How did you get to One?” I asked out of the blue. I was really worried for him in the past years and now he’s here. With me.

“I ran into the woods. Had Peacekeepers in my tail, I ran faster. Found an abandoned house in the woods of Three, I lived there for about two weeks, then when I felt they were led astray, ran again. The woods were my refuge, until I can’t take it anymore, collapsed in the woods of District One. Luckily an old man found me, some genius who cheated my data in the Capitol data and poof, I’m a legal citizen of One. Pretty crazy huh?” He  said.

“Oh Marvel, I thought you were…” I stopped, thinking it might be rude

“Dead?” He continued. I nod. He snickered

“Emi, don’t underestimate me, remember, I’m Marvelous Marvel.” He was laughing, and I was laughing too. It continued on, me telling him stories of District Five, him telling me how he learned to mine for gold, being a tribute and all.

“One is as hard as Five, but I like it more there. The things you harvest are not burns, but jewels, luxuries. It’s funny that the Capitol loves those jewels, but we just find them in the dirty ground, filled with icky things.” He murmured. He held me until the bell rang. That bell signals people that it is time for sleep. He slowly kissed me goodnight, and as he was walking,

“Hey Marvel, care to sleep with me tonight?” I hollered at him. He ran to me and carried me.

“Whatever you want, my princess.” He said in a ridiculous voice. We were laughing and quietly went inside our room. He dropped me in the bed and lied down beside me. I huddled in his warm embrace and closed my eyes. He kissed my forehead and we slept like there’s no games to play, no killings, not nightmares, no pain. But that can never happen. And it ruined my mood for the night that in the arena, only one of us will have the chance to win and come home, and the next days will be our only time of being happy with each other.

I woke up, and Marvel’s scent is still in the sheets. He went to his room, probably, because little interaction may be done with tributes in the games. I stretched and as I was folding my sheets, I noticed something shiny in the bedside table.