The Tournament of Life

Part 2

   "You.....My mentor? How did that even happen? Every year it's been Blight." I finish. Blight is one of the victors as well, but he has been the male mentor for as long as I can remember.

"He said that this year he'd pass it to me. Give me a taste of what it's like." She says, and plops down across from me. "Oh, I didn't know." I say. She plucks a grape from the plate in the middle of the table and tosses it in her mouth. "Of course you didn't, I was only elected as Mentor this year." She laughs like it's obvious. I stand up without further comment, and leave the room without even looking back. She's rude and probably doesn't care if I win anyway. I explore the train a small bit, and eventually stumble upon a room with my name on a piece of paper that's hanging on the door.

I open it and immediately fall in love with the wood carvings on the dresser. "I had someone make them for you and your brother." I recognize that high pitched voice and look over my shoulder to see Pamela there with a smile on her face. "They're beautiful." One was a black bear that we only get to see in spring, another was a Blue jay that flew by my window on special occasions, and the last one was of me and my brother, together. 

I start to wonder how she knew about the bear and the blue jay and I'm about to ask when she rushes me out of the door and says how it's "Supper time." 

When I walk into the room, Max looks up from his mushroom stew and gives me a small smile. "Welcome back, Az." He says my nickname, and I instantly knows he feels better. I mean, the kid hasn't seen this much food in forever so a full belly could really brighten his mood. Plus, he's only thirteen, He's not thinking long-term.

"Hey, Max?" I reply in a questioning tone, but sit next to him regardless. I fill my plate with orange rice drizzled in green gravy, a small serving of roasted asparagus, and some sliced mushrooms. I drink ice cold water in a glass cup, not trusting the other liquids they put in front of me. 

The whole meal was silent except for one time Johanna tried to make conversation but I quickly shot it down. "I don't want us to be enemies. I want to help you. You just have to work with me." She crosses her arms and looks between the two of us. I squint at her. "It's hard to work with someone who doesn't know manners, and doesn't respect other people but herself." That shut her up real quick.

I wiped my mouth with a napkin and stood up, not having anymore of this nonsense. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight, Max." I pushed the chair in and left them to their own devices in the dining room.

As I lay in bed, the blue jay carving is between my hands, and the thought of flying away from here and never coming back comforts me. But only birds get that luxury. I fall asleep to the sound of a television buzzing somewhere close but far.

   When I wake up the next morning, it's because Max is shaking me and telling me we're at the Capitol like it's Christmas day. I swat him away with my hand and tell him to leave the room. He eventually does, and I look down at the clothes I've had on since yesterday. I keep them on, mostly because I want to hold on to every single moment of home. One thing I make sure to do is throw my long, black hair into a ponytail. The hair that stuck out every which way made me look terrible, but who said I had to be presentable for these people? 

It all goes by so fast. One second I'm walking by hundreds of people dressed in colorful clothing and styled all sorts of ways, and another I'm taken to a room that smells heavy with chemicals. I crunch my nose and watch as people get remade in every way, but I wonder why I'm here at all. "This is Aspen, we need you to prep her for the tribute parade tonight." I'm introduced to four people who look like crazy flowers, and I squint my eyes. Before I can even say anything or ask anything, I'm whisked away to a place I've never seen before.

"What am I doing here? I ask as they strip me of my clothing and allow me to change into a paper-thin cloth. "We're here to remake you for the Tribute Parade tonight." They repeat what Pamela says, and It's already annoying me. "Whatever." I sigh and lay on the metal table. It's cold and uncomfortable, but I don't complain. My mom always told me to watch what I say around these people, because they can snap their fingers and command me to be dead in minutes.

"I'm sorry. I'm just afraid." I apologize for being rude, and it goes right over their heads. "It's okay, Darling. We understand." And just like that, I have them wrapped around my little finger. I smile, knowing they wouldn't hurt their dear, precious, sweet tribute. 

They start the job, waxing and plucking and shaving until I'm as bald as my father's head. Next, they trim my hair and cut it so it's even and flows down my back in a glossy curtain. Finally, they file my nails and toenails so they all look even and beautiful, and they paint them dark green. 

I thank them for a good job and they walk me back to a room that's cold and empty, something about making me wait for someone named, "Cinna". 

When he walks in looking as normal as can be I'm shocked, because I expected someone to be as heavily dressed in bright oranges and pinks and yellows like everyone else. But no. He's simply in a black shirt and pants that stand out against his dark skin, and a thin line of ice blue liner on his eyelids. "I'm Cinna." He also sounds normal. I smile, "Aspen." I look around the room, now aware of the outfit that's lying on a bench beside mine. He takes a seat next to me. 

"You're very brave for what you did, Aspen. Sticking up for that dying girl like that? People are interested in you in the Capitol. Tonight, I'm going to make them more interested. How does that sound?" He seems genuine, and I got the feeling to trust him. So I did. 

"That sounds amazing." I grin.