The 50th Hunger Games, Second Quarter Quell

Chapter Five

Looking out of the windows as the train slowed to a stop in the Capitol, Haymitch felt he was in a dream. The scenery was too bright like colouring turned up high. Too green, too yellow, too blue. The air was so clear, not grey and sooty like the Seam. Haymitch felt amazed and very homesick. When the train slowed to a stop, Haymitch peered out the window. They were at the train station now. This too was too bright, too clean. Outside the train were so many cameras. Haymitch ducked back down as Crocas came into the car.

"Ready to go?" He asked Haymitch.

"How do I act here?" Haymitch asked as he stood up. Crocas looked at Haymitch with curious eyes.

"Act like you want to be seen. If you want to be seen as a strong guy, walk out with your head held high. If you want to be seen as small, look down. Be who you want people to see you as." Crocas nodded and left to go find the other tributes. Haymitch inhaled deeply. He knew what to do.

There were two black shiny Capitol cars parked up at the station to take them to their next destination.

"I'll go with Haymitch and Maysilee." Claudia chirped up before anyone could say anything else. Crocas raised an eyebrow but nodded. He, Clay and Poppy got into the second car. The chauffeur drove them down the bright streets filled with people who stopped and stared in awe and excitement at the cars. The people were so different from the ones back in District Twelve. These people were as bright as the scenery and HAPPY. Not starving. Fat people here and there, fatness did not exist in the Seam.

"Where are we?" Maysilee asked as the cars stopped side by side in a covered garage. They all got out.

"Here we are. This is the Remake Center. Here you'll be beautified beyond belief! Then you'll all meet your designers." Claudia said.

"We're not going to look like people from the Capitol are we?" Poppy asked as they were led into the white marble building.

"Why?" Claudia asked in a surprise.

"Because I'm proud to be in the District I am. I don't want to look like a character from a movie." Clay sniggered at Poppy's response. Maysilee bit her lip to hide a smile. Even Haymitch smiled. Crocas coughed to hide a chuckle. Claudia scowled.

They didn't have any more time to talk or make jokes. They were seen into separate rooms. Haymitch was stood for only a moment before the door opened and a Capitol man walked in.

"Hello, I'm Zeno. You are Haymitch Abernathy. I saw you getting Reaped. I'm here to beautify you." Zeno clapped his hands together in delight. Haymitch took in Zeno. He had dark blue hair matching with a dark blue suit and a fluffy blue scarf. He stripped himself of the scarf and his suit jacket revealing a blue shirt.

"Let's get to work," Zeno said.

Haymitch was forced into a bath where he was almost scalded by the hot water. Zeno called in two others, one more guy called Avitus (bright red hair, black eyeliner and green suit) and a girl called Liviana (so pale that she could blend into paper with bright red lips and waist-length hair just as pale). Together, the three scrubbed Haymitch with gritty paste then washed him down. When he was allowed out of the bath, the water was murky grey. Haymitch was allowed in a bathrobe as he was given a shave and then his hair was cut and snipped. His nails were cleaned and primed. He gets lotioned down and then his hair gets combed and styled. Haymitch was horrified to learn he had to have make-up. However, it did not look too bad when he was allowed to look in the mirror. His eyes had been ringed in make-up to look either scary or defined. He looked so clean that he could almost see the shine off his own raw skin.

"What do you think?" Zeno asked. The three hovered behind him, watching in anticipation for Haymitch's reaction.

"I'm... Very clean." They all laughed.

"Indeed! Your stylist will be in very soon." Liviana said in a quite squeaky voice. The three left again.

Haymitch kept looking at himself. He was impressed with the way he looked. Nothing like a Capitol native, thankfully.

The door opened again. A woman with neon pink hair and a matching skirt and lighter pink shirt walked in. She smiled and stuck out her hand for Haymitch to shake.

"Haymitch. My name is Aquila. I'm your stylist. I'm one of four working for your district."

"One of four?" Haymitch asked. Aquila smiled as she walked around Haymitch, taking him in. Haymitch felt a bit paranoid about this but tried not to show it.

 "One stylist for each tribute. However we stylists have worked together to pick out your outfits. So let's get dressed shall we?"