CHAPTER 3
“So, what do you want to have in your outfit?” Asks Oran as he beckons for me to sit. My skin tingled and burned from all the stress it had gone through for the past 3 hours.
“Aren’t you supposed to determine that?” I asked, and Oran laughed.
“Yes, just wanting to know if you had any preferences, but we do have an outfit ready for you and your fellow tribute.” He chuckles, thin lines forming around his mouth when he, at least, attempted to smile. The skin on his face had been stretched far too tight.
“What is it?” I asked, as my stylist left the room to retrieve the outfit. He returned with a stunning gold outfit, which looked more like the armor for a god. This was too cool.
After I was finally in the shining gold outfit, Oran spoke up again. “You’d better hurry, the chariots are waiting. “ He said, walking out of the room, and I followed quickly behind.
We reached a gold chariot and Oran left my side. The horses were a light palomino, four of them, set in pairs, side by side. I noticed Cato standing on the back of the chariot, and I had to keep myself from gaping. He was so strong. So handsome. Focus Clove!
I forced myself to look away from him, glancing down at my feet as I walked up to stand beside him on the chariot.
“Wow Clove, you look deadly.” Cato laughs good-naturedly. A smile tugs at my lips.
“Thanks, you don’t look like too much of a push-over yourself.” I didn’t look up at him, but looked at the intricate carvings along the rim of the chariot.
“Might want to look alive.” Says Enobaria. I jump, I didn’t notice her here.
Cato nods and stands taller, and I look up and spread my shoulders back, as the doors open and the district one tributes roll out. They look pretty ridiculous; they’re completely covered in long, poofy, bright purple feathers. They look like some kind of tropical bird.
Then our chariot begins to roll along. The crowd is going wild; I look out over the people, lift my hand and wave. Cato does the same. The first few districts are almost always the favorites, so I’m not afraid of anyone stealing the spotlight.
I flash a smile at the crowd and they go absolutely nuts, and I feel pride and thanks welling up inside of me. That is, until I look at the screens and find that it isn’t me or Cato that they’re adoring. Those lousy tributes from twelve are on FIRE. No, literally, they’re burning with flames, but don’t seem to be hurt. Maybe I should pay more attention to them than I originally had thought I would need to. The outlying district tributes are almost always nearly no threat at all. But these two seemed to have the capitol people in their clutches, and that was far too dangerous for my liking.
My blood was boiling. I just lost at least 10 sponsors there. I locked my jaw tightly, and I glanced at Cato’s face to see his face was stretched tight in agitation.
The chariot soon slowed and began to trot around the city circle, coming to a stop next to the district one and three chariots. The horses formed in an arc, facing the platform where the all-powerful President Snow sat.
He stood, his white suite shimmering under the bright lights.
“Welcome tributes, of the seventy-fourth annual Hunger Games!” He called out, his voice booming over the entire square.
“It is both a privilege, and an honor, to have you all here with us today.”
Cato scoffed, I knew what he meant. Yeah, it’s just a huge honor to rip us all from our homes and families’s and lock us in an arena to fight to the death with each other. All for the Capitol’s enjoyment. Just a wonderful privilege for us too, Snow.
I felt a growl rumbling in my throat. These people disgusted me. But, they were my greatest ally in these games. Sponsors, were everything once you got into that arena. So, with that concept in mind, I put on my best most dazzling smile I could manage at the moment, and continued to wave to the crowd. Feeling my anger bubble up even more as the crowd continued to disregard us completely, their eyes locked only on the District twelve tributes.
“Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor.” I only then just realized that President Snow was still talking, however, as I looked back up at him, I saw that he was turning around again, and the chariots began to roll forward and out of the view of the crowd, as soon as the bright lights from the square were lost, I was plunged into darkness, with only the muffled cheering of the crowd, the horses hooves clattering against the cement pavement, and Cato’s steady breathing to accompany me through.
