Volunteers: A Hunger Games Story

Chapter 3: Tribute Ball

Thespie steps onto the train behind us and I notice that she's already wearing a different dress than she was on stage.

"I'll get your mentor." she said, with a smile that quickly vanished. "You'll have to share a mentor, because..."

"Because Vess killed herself and now Octavia is the only living victor from District 11." Ben finishes for her. Thespie's eyes are wide as if she didn't already know that, but she nods. Vess killed herself only last year. She was living in the Victor Village, but she had finally gone insane after the trauma that she experienced during the 32nd Hunger Games. She was only fourteen at the time and never quite bounced back. They never showed her on broadcasts that often. They preferred to show mentors that were fiercely training their tributes. You could tell that Vess never wanted to live that way. She probably would have rather died in the games. Thespie is clearly offended in some way and goes to retrieve our only living mentor. When Thespie returns, Octavia is at her side. Octavia is tall and lighter skinned than I, but similarly toned to Ben. Octavia's hair is almost black and she has sharp cut bangs. Her eyes are piercing blue, but what's most notable about Octavia are her tattoos that start at her neck and probably go down to her feet. She didn't look like she was ever from district 11. The sleeveless and backless top along with the geometrically cut, tight pants she wears reveals almost all of her ink. Freckles are the only feature that gives away that Octavia is from District 11. Her finger nails are long and golden. Her looks are extremely intimidating. I remember hearing how she had used a scythe as a killing machine and poisoned nearly eight other tributes.

"I'm Octavia, your mentor." she says, extending her hand to me.

"Mila Undersee." I respond.

"I heard that you volunteered. That takes guts. I like that." she says. Her voice is cool and light. Ben introduces himself to her as well. "I'm sorry that this happened to the two of you..." she says, solemnly.

"Really? Everyone is congratulating us."

"It's no honor, participating in these 'games' like they say it is." Octavia scoffs. Thespie pretends like she doesn't hear this and goes to sit down on one of the velvet covered couches. Octavia sits down at a table and Ben and I sit across from her.

"You were brutal when you were a tribute." Ben says.

"I had to be." Octavia shoots back. "District 11 is in poverty. No one from there was going to be sending me any sponsors. I had to do what I did so I could get my hands other people's gifts. It was the only thing that kept me alive. People are going to like you though, Mila. You volunteered to save your best friend's life. And you're from at outline district. No one from outline districts ever volunteer. You'll need more of my help, Ben." An avox brings a tray of food to the table. I cringed when he stood before us, offering us the food as if he didn't hate every single person here. They cut out his tongue and probably for no good reason. I thought of Ifira's brother, Isaac. I pushed the thought from my mind. I hadn't seen him in years and I wanted to stop myself from getting too angry. I knew that my temper was only going to make things worse for me. I had never seen anything like what was on the silver tray. We pass through many districts on the ride. This is the first time I had ever seen Districts like five, four, three, two and one. District one looks similar to the capital. District one is the luxury district, so I expected no less.

"We're almost there." Ben says, pointing out the window as we cross from District One to the Capitol.

"You say that like you're excited." I retort.

"Mila, that's not what I meant." Ben frowns. "I'm just as afraid as you are." he says, sitting down next to me. He sits so close that our legs touch, and I want to shift away from him. It's awkward now that we haven't talked since school. And now we're being thrown into an arena, expected to kill each other even though we're friends. "I'm terrified." he goes on. "I'm just excited to see the Capitol once before I die. It'll be nice to experience luxury before imminent death. Instead of corn and tomatoes, we'll be seeing diamonds and pearls." I want to tell him that it makes no difference to me, but I'd rather not continue arguing with him. I want us to be friends. I'm just disappointed that he no longer feels the same way about resistance. Immediately after we disembark from the train, we are rushed to a building where we will meet our stylists. Before we get a chance to meet them, all the hair on my body is removed, except for that which is on my head. They clean me unlike I have ever been cleaned before. Usually, I can only bathe about three times a week. Unlike District 12, we do have running water, but the water only runs indoors one day of the week. Usually, the only running water we have is for the crops. The scrub me from scalp, to toe. It tickles when they wash my feet. They also grind on my feet with rocks to make them feel and look softer than they were before. We often don't wear shoes when in the fields, so my feet always tended to be quite rough. Once they are done with me, I meet a woman with gold makeup creating intricate designs on her skin. "I'm Livia and I'll be your stylist. I know you probably don't want to make friends with me." she says, clasping her hands together. The woman had a sad look on her face.