The Tournament of Life

Part 3

  Before I know it I and my brother are standing next to a chariot, dressed in brown jumpsuits and boots. My outfit consists of a brown suit that extends to my neck and down to my knees, where my matching boots sit on my feet. Max is in something similar, but instead of the fabric reaching his knees it goes all the way down to his ankles. A nice pair of boots to match it with and Cinna steps back to admire us. He gives me a switch, and he tells me to pull it when we are leaving the dome-like structure and in front of everyone. I nod. Cinna lifts my small body onto the chariot and I turn around to help my brother up. Once we're both on I look forward and out by the other chariots, everyone looking amazing.

"How are we going to win?" Max says from beside me. "I don't know. But I'm going to keep you safe in every possible way I can." He nods and the loud music that starts to play from the front catches my attention. "Let's do this," I say to myself. Once our chocolate colored horses start to move, I get anxious. I hold the button in my hand, and slowly we start moving faster. 

I press the button when we get into view, and the crowd goes wild. I look at Max, and he's completely transformed into leaves. the crown upon my head takes the prize, and I notice I'm wearing the most elegant dress made of leaves on my body. "Aspen! Aspen! Aspen!" People shout my name over and over, and a newfound confidence sweeps over me. I wave, and as we get to the place where President Snow makes his greetings, the button clicks off.

 We stay in our costumes, and the people seem to love it. I'm getting glances of envy and hatred but I'm fine as long as the attention is on me. That might sound selfish, but I need sponsors to keep me and my brother alive and safe. 

"Happy seventy-third Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor." With that, we're transported back to the Training Center where our group awaits us. Cinna helps me down and I help Max down, somehow making me grateful I've made friends with Cinna. "Let's go up to your rooms, yeah?" Johanna says across from me, and I follow her even though I'm not a big fan of her yet. 

I'm getting scary looks now and I want to go to my room as soon as possible. "You look incredible by the way, Aspen." Johanna comments from over her shoulder. I smile, knowing she probably meant it. 

"That is true," Cinna says sweetly. "Thank you." I reply. 

Once we're back in our own headquarters, I wander off to the nearest bathroom, preparing to take a shower because that's what Pamela told me to do. I rid myself of my clothing, step into the tub, and look up at the "Shower". Or that's what Johanna calls it anyway. 

I turn a knob and water comes pouring down gently on my back, causing my eyes to flutter closed and a sigh to escape my lips. "I might be a bit of a tomboy, but wow does it feel nice being a princess for once," I say to myself, and suddenly I get the feeling of absolute dread. I cup my hands over my mouth, let out a shaky breath, and that's when the tears begin to fall.

"How did I get here?" I ask myself, now sitting on the tub floor. I whimper when the water becomes too hot, and I stand up and hurriedly wash myself with Maple scented soap. When I'm done showering, I wrap a towel around myself and rush out of the bathroom, careful not to slip and fall. I quickly get changed in a pair of light-weight pajama pants and a shirt, and immediately lay down on the soft, big bed that is laid in the middle of the room. 

I pull the covers over me and all the way up to my shoulders, folding my hands and putting them on the side of my head as I lay sideways, facing towards the window to the city. Silent tears emit from me and when someone knocks on the door I wipe them and get out of bed to unlock it. 

"Yes?" I say, with a worn-out voice. "It's supper time, Love," Pamela says and guides me by my hand into the dining room. The table is filled with delicious-looking food, from leafy greens to a white paste poured over a cooked fish, and I can't stop my stomach from growling. 

"Let's eat," Johanna says and sits down in her chair. I sit between Cinna and Max, the closest people that I like at the moment on either side of me. I fill my plate with a salad of those green leaves and a slice of the fish, almost done when I grab a small piece of bread with a square of melting butter sitting on top. 

"So, tomorrow, you two will be training. I want you to learn everything you can, wait for your private lessons to show any skills. Do you have any?" I think about it for a moment. I'm very good with an ax, knives, and sharp sticks. Max is good at hiding. Maybe he can hide and we can- Okay I'm thinking too far ahead. "Her best skills are fighting with axes," Max says for me. "She can throw them from fifty feet away. It's awesome." Johanna looks almost shocked, as do the rest of the table. "Remind me not to get on your nerves when you're around an axe." Cinna says, cracking a smile out of me and laughter from the others. 

"We're both very good at running, and Max is good at hiding." I finish, with my hand under my chin, holding my head up as I eat the salad and a bite of fish. "Interesting." Johanna says, surveying me and Max. "Tomorrow there are Interviews. Go to bed to get a good nights sleep, then meet me here for breakfast tomorrow. Got it?" Johanna asks and we nod, heading our separate ways into our own bedrooms. 

I crawl back under the thick fabric and fall straight to sleep. My last thought, How am I going to get us both out of there?