Submerged

Chapter 4

Sorry that I haven't udated this story in so long. My mom was in the hospital (She's better now), and then I had to work on my silver award with my Girl Scout troop, and then I was just lazy. I'm also sorry that I won't be able to update for a least 5 days.

I'm having trouble casting Delta. At first I had Bilie Piper, but I felt like she was a little old for the part, and Sophie Nélisse seemed a little too young. If anyone has any suggestions, please comment them.

 

Chapter 4

                The Capital’s glamour did not disappoint me. As a whole, it was extremely sleek and sophisticated. That is, until you see the people. If Adelyn Ryne was flashy and extravagant, these people were absolutely gaudy. I remember seeing a woman with the pink-feathered head of long-necked bird, and one man was literally shining as if he had bedazzled himself!

                Despite my fear, I had to fight the longing to giggle at the bizarre costumes as we were escorted from the train to the Remake Center. I wish I had snickered then, because I would soon feel like I would never laugh again- which, considering the circumstances, might be true.

                                                                                 ~~~~~~~~~~

                I bit back a scream as Pepper Mint- Who names their kid ‘Pepper Mint’? - rips yet another strip of waxing paper from thigh. The other two members of my prep team, Anaklusmos and Selena, winced sympathetically. I just sighed.

                Pepper Mint, Anaklusmos, and Selena didn’t look quite as unusual as the members of the Capital that I had already seen, but they were still weird. Pepper Mint was as pale as one could be and had green and red hair. Her eyes were an abnormal shade of green that reminded me of seaweed. Anaklusmos’s hair and skin had been dyed a deep blue, and runic tattoos swirled across his biceps. Craziest of all, was Selena. She was completely silver, and rhinestones had been arranged around her eye in the shape of a moon. In an odd, slightly disturbing way they were kind of beautiful.

                “Almost over,” Pepper Mint hums. For the sake of her safety, I hoped she was telling the truth. If that was a lie, I might have killed her.

                After tearing last strip of wax from my leg, Anaklusmos announce that I was ready for my stylist, Mara.

                The wacky trio leads me into a separate room marked ‘District One, Female’. I was left waiting for only a few minutes.

                I jumped when the door was suddenly slammed open and banged against the wall, revealing a small woman with wild, tangled hair. She looked like a tiny rainbow in human form.

                I couldn’t help but stare as the woman who must have been Mara strode in confidently.

                “I assume you already know my name, and I definitely know yours- Delta Rio, the girl who fought her way into the games. I love that moxie! It’s my job to present you as the fiercest competitor out there, and I intend to do my job correctly.”

                For a little multi-colored midget, she was extremely demanding.

                After stabbing me with several make-up brushes and squeezing me into a tiny costume that resembled a bikini, the worst torture of all came. Mara stepped out of the room, and, after a few moments, returned with a small, black bag.

                “I know you aren’t going to like this,” warned Mara, “But it is for the best. In a way, it might benefit you when you enter the arena.”

                And then she shaved my head.

                I must admit that I put up a bit of a fight. I screamed and cried and kicked and scratched, but my so-called moxie had no effect on the crazy woman.

                After allowing me to wallow in self-pity for a few minutes, Mara dragged me up from the floor and forced me to sit on a stool in front of a table with a large mirror.

                “See. It’s not bad,” She sympathized, “If you live, you’ll get over it.”

                I wasn’t going to live, and I wasn’t going to get over it.

                When my eyes were dry of tears, Mara worked make-up magic to fix my face.

Just before I was called to the chariot, she fastened an elaborate feather headdress where my hair was once.

Makeup: http://th00.deviantart.net/fs70/200H/f/2012/109/1/8/18c7b57bd840f94941ed4e7d069c8cff-d4djbhm.jpg