Feathers - (The Hunger Games Remake) MARVEL

Chapter 3 - Tribute Parades and Partners

The view is breathtaking. As our train pulls through the forestry, we are greeted by a vast body of water, overlooked by the skyscrapers of the Capitol. I'd walk through the whole of Panem just to live here.

"Enjoying the view, are we?" my eyes snap to the direction of the voice, and I find Adrius standing in the doorway. "Might want to close your mouth, sweetheart. Don't want the flies to get in, do we?"

"Shut up," I turn my head back towards the window, concealing my blush. My mouth wasn't open, was it?

Adrius lets out a laugh and joins me at the window. "It gets better, just watch."

As we exit the tunnel, a large green meadow comes into view - it's full of life, something I wouldn't expect from the Capitol. My state of awe is stopped short when a crowd of strangely dressed people enters the picture, but I pull myself together and wave. The screams get louder as they spot me, and we can hear them even from the train.

After passing through the enormous crowds, we slow down and eventually pull to a stop.

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"Don't get too settled, children. We'll be switching rooms later on so that you're with your partners," Effie explains, heels clicking loudly on the expensive ivory floor of our storey. "Go and take a shower so that your stylists can get to work straight away."

I take a look around our floor of the tribute skyscraper, finding myself blown away by the view from the windows. Effie realises I'm still here and scolds me, but I think I've worked my way to being her favourite. Once I reach the bathroom of my temporary bedroom, I find a black silk robe hanging from the door. I strip my clothes and hop into the shower, pleased to see a vanilla body wash and shampoo. I'm at ease for the few moments of my shower, but soon grow anxious when I remember that later on, I'd be working with a totally new person. I'm partially excited by the chance of being paired with someone good, but knowing my luck I would be stuck with some weeping 12-year-old. Miraculously, there is a TV in the bathroom, which is unheard of in my district. I decide on watching the Reapings from other districts - to scope out the competition and potential partners. From District One, there are two confident looking girls who are probably around my age. There's a boy with green eyes so vivid, I can see them on the TV. He was hasty to volunteer, so he's probably one of those arrogant career tributes who will do anything to win. The other boy is nothing special. The girls from District 5 are scrawny 12-year-olds who will probably die in the bloodbath. A boy from 8 gives a charming smile to the camera, but he is noticeably nervous. A girl from 11 looks exhausted but determined. There's really no telling who will instinctively turn into a cold-blooded killer, or who will shut down and cry their way to death. Shaking the thoughts of the Games out of my head, I switch the shower off and climb out.

My stylists are already waiting for me in the hallway, but I am in no way prepared for the monstrosity that they call fashion. There is a lady with fluorescent blue hair, which is contrasted by the deep red wings of glitter beneath her eyes. The man standing next to her has platinum blonde hair with a streak of pink in the middle; he wore a matching faux fur jacket and pants.

"There you are, darling. I was starting to wonder if you'd ever come out!" Effie shrieks in her silly Capitol accent. "This is Ylva," she says whilst pointing to the lady, "and this is Othello," she points to the man.

"Hello, Marina! I can't wait to get to work - just look at that hair!" Ylva gushes, walking me out of the hall and to the elevator, with Effie leading the way. She presses some random button and the machine takes us down. It doesn't take long to stop, and once it opens a long, dark corridor is revealed. We reach the fourth door, and Effie ushers me inside before turning away from the door.